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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-06-24, Page 111. N , r 133YEAR-25'e WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24,1981 50 CENTS PER COPY ' Variance granted for new health spa Lamor Enterprises has been granted a second minor variance within a year, the most recent to accommodate the addition of a health spa to the rear of the Hayfield Road minietenell. The committee of adjustment made the ruling Tuesday at a public hearing, granting Larrior a minor variance to construct a 66 by 45 foot addition onto the rear of the building. The mini -mall now houses Pizza Train and Fihnspeed stores. While some councillors were in complete disagreemert with the minor variance application, council did not lodge a formal objection with the committee of adjustment. The mall is located on a G3 highway commercial zone and laltalitne Lamor was granted a variance to add a coin laundry and dry- cleaning depot to the list of permissahle uses. • - Thee- eete vette !*r•url tiolotaell trann Ova skull/nu bylaw and a health spa was added following the ruling of the committee. Building inspector Doug Harrison explained that the committee has the power to grant modifications to bylaws and grant minor variances. "They are going to build a health spa onto the rear of the existing building and the committee has the power to grant such requests without amendments to the bylaw," he said. "We must circulate the changes to property owners within 200 feet as in a rezoning. They have 21 days to object." There was some concern at the coimeil table in view of the fact that Lamor was previously granted a minor variance, extending the use of highway cormuercial property. Deputy -reeve Bob Allen auggested the rules were being bent too often. "We bentthe rules for him to damply and then he goes lathe conunitteebTentigtiniatforatid then changes again," he said. "The use will not comply with highway commercial and therefore we might as well not have an official plan. The committee of adjustment must establish what a minor variance is" Elsa Hayden introduced a motion asking that the clerk file a blame' objection to the application by Lamor, since it altered the bylaw recently passed by council. The motion was defeated. A healthspa was to be part of a second mini -mall on the corner of Hayfield Road and Suncoast Drive but an objection was received relative to that develop- ment and forwarded to the Ontario Municipal Board. Allen said that Lamor Enterprises originally had an agreement with council and when the committee of adjustment agreed to the first minor variance, to allow a coin laundry and dry-cleaning depot, it altered the bylaw and agreement "Why do we have a zoning bylaw when we don't stand behind it?" Allen said. "We are updating the official phut and looking out for every eventuality." Council objected to the first application by Lamor for a minor variance but their written objection was not sent on time. It came as a pleasant surprise to the staff at Bluewater Centre last Wednesday when Frank Drea, Minister of Community and Social Services, delivered his thanks to the Volunteer Association. Read about Drea on page IA. Library has friends A small group of concerned citizens in Goderich, known as Friends of the Library, are determined that the one historic building in this town that seers to be sadly neglected will be repaired and improved. See Joanne Buchanan's report on page 1A. .* ett Two students of Queen Elizabeth School in Goderich will be travelling to Ottawa next month to represent tics region when the mentally handicapped from across Canada meet for the National Games. Read about swimmer Mark Albert and bowler Darcy Doak on page 1A. Regular Features Tid Bits Pg. 2 Classified.... Pg. 13-15 Newborns. Pg. 2 Real Estate .. Pg. 16-17 Editorials Pg. 4 B. Board Pg. SA Columns Pg. 4 Farm Pg. SA Sports Pg. 9-12 Birthdays Pg. 9A ',I -Guide 4. iri .DalArai ' i= Smiling faces and flailing arms were the order of the school students were dismissed at noon on Tuesday hour on Tuesday as these Victoria School kids made to begin over two months of holidays (Jason Ainslie their final departure until next Sep(ember. Public photo) Committee gears up for fund- raising drive More than $13,000 in pledges over a three-year period have already been received for the proposed new addition at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital The project includes an expanded four -bed in- tensive care unit, an enlarged physiotherapy department, establishment of a three -bed day surgery unitand four additional chronic beds. Cost is estimated at $495,000 of which $250,000 will come from local hospital funds. The remaining money wilt be raised through a community fund- raising drive to be spearheaded by a number of in- terested communily leaders. Architects of Tillman Ruth are drawing plans for the addition Which is to be raised over the new laundry facility on the north side of AM&G. A much needed up-to-date enlarged intensive care unit (ICU) will comprise about 50 percent el the new space created by the addition. In his report to the board ea Monday evening, Dr. James Rourke, president of the medical staff, suggested the planning include individual patient cubicles enclosed in glass that would facilitate in- fection control and proper privacy, care and management of critically ill patients at AM&G. The Medical Advisory Committee has urged that the four -bed unit have the ability at times of overflow to accommodate a fifth bed which can be enclosed by curtains. By rearranging present hospital facilities relieved by the proposed addition, the), package will allow for four extra chronic care beds as well as a day care surgery unitto free up more active hospital beds, and an expanded and improved physiotherapy depart- meatand pediatrics ward. The board has found that the Ontario Ministry of Health capital building fund is committed for the next five years. As well. a "wish list" composed of building projects requested by hospitals throughout the province totals $112 billion. It was pointed out that even if the ministry con- tinued to spend $120,000,000 per minima on capital building projects, it would take years before AM&G could secure funding the ICU and accomtmaying improvements. Campaign Committee Chairman is Bob Dempsey; vice-president, Isobel Sully; secretary, Gerry Zur- brigg; fulltime co-ordinator, Jo Berry. Mary Donnelly and Muriel Murphy are co- chairmen of the public campaign sub -committee. lain Bain chairs the public relations and publicity sub -committee. Bob *trier heads up the business, industrial and individual large gifts sub -committee. Anna Melski is chairing the service dub and foundations and government campaign subcommitt' eet. Gordon Crabb is chairman of the finance and audit sub -committee. Bob Dempsey asked Monday evening at the board meeting that board members take the lead by turning in their pledge sheets on or before June 29. He reminded their' that all persons giving one percent 42,500 - of the total objective of $0,000, would have their names engraved on a plaque to be included in the new addition. Hotel unaffected manager says The manager of the Duke of Bedford Hotel claims the hotel's operation is not adversely affected by investments made by Sylvester and Associates of London. One month ago, it was announced by a group of investors that a management consultant had been retained to investigate a number of investments made by Sylvester. Sylvester and Associates had been investing a pool of funds through three holding companies, Lon -Med, Med-Lon and Arcturus The Hotel Bedford was linked to the investment consortium and the actual purchase and renovations were financed by a provincial government loan totalling $1 million. Hotel manager, Brian McCallum, said Sylvester and Associates are no longer associated with the hotel. He explained there is no daeger to the business. "Sylvester was only a menet. ement firm giving direction to small development companies but Sylvester has been relieved of his duties," be said. "A consulting manager has been hired and Dr. Jack Sales is now president of the three holding corn - The mortgage on the hotel is held b local investors McCallum said, some of whom are doctors. "Local people are involved in the mortgages on the hotel and we are not adversely affected by the in- vestment group.- he said. "There are Wee local mortgage holders and several shareholders in town." However. McCallum did admit that investment problems did affect some areas of the hotel's operation. While a great deal of money was spent on rehirbishing the interior, some. of the renovation plans are on hold_ "It put me in a tight position since some of the capital was taken.- he said. "Most of the renovations have been completed but other areas, such as work on the k itc hen. will net be completed." Smother area affected is the purchase of the Livery Theatre. The investu tent group hail applied for a loan from the Ontario Development Corporation, and while that deal may still be completed, it is not being pursued at present. McCallum said the hotel is sound financially and the economic conditions have not necessitated staff cutbacks or reductions. He said the payroll is being met, although it was slow at one point The investment group was to hold a general shareholder's meeting in June to discuss ;116Zr q "FT el the management consultant A Vendors wanted •at farmer's market The Goderich version al a farmer's market opened at the Roll Feagan Memorial Grandstand Salurday and will coatinneto oiler home grown produce, baked - goods, crafts and other products throughout the mom mer. Although vendor participation was limited on aPeniag day, recreation direct"' Jane Netskesaid the number of vendors at the market will increase substantially as produce becomes available. The farmer's market will ke hal_eackSaturday from 8 am. to noon on the main floor of the grand- stand. Vendors w1 be charged $5 for weekly space and they must supply their own tables. There is no restriction on the items offered for sale and last year's market offered baked goods, co* plants, fruit and produce. Anyone requiring space* the weekly market is asked to contact the recreation department. Hospital isolation room The medical staff at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is concerned about the lack of availability of private rooms for cases that need isolation from otherpatients. That concern was voiced Monday evening at the regular meeting of the board of AM&G by Dr. James Rourke, president of the medical staff. Dr. Rourke claims the concern is part and parcel of the severe on-going over -crowding at AM&G. He said sa ,s3,--L.,-.mof grovolpg aee,-.1k.ti-ratte chronic care beds in this area of Huron County. For the last year, the 20 chronic beds at AM&G have been running at well over 100 percent. That means that on most, days, chronic patients are spilling over into active care beds. And that means there are fewer activecare bdsa,ailaNe for regular care on a day -today basis - thid much less flexibility in the safe placement of patients in those beds. AM&G has a large number of semi -private rooms and some four -bed wards. There is only one private room at present available at AM&G. One more private room is in the planning for the lartioaset--new additioR Over ttle taimity along with an enlarged up-to-date Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and improved physiotherapy; day care and pediatric facilities. That addition is the -one presently on the drawing board, estimated to cost $495,000 and to be Wilt• without any government funding. The hospital board has pledged $250,000 to the project and a public canvass this fall for the remaining amount is being organized right now. "The new project won't cure the problem but it should help it," said Dr. Rourke. New board member Dr. Mario Cauchi engained the flaw= begctitrgr, when persons must share a semi -private room or a ward. He said it is Possildle to place a patient alone in a semi -private room, but that only intensifies thespace problems at the hospital Dr. Cauchi agreed with Dr. Rourke that if the hospital could consistently utilize its full complement of 50 active beds, the problem would be greatly alleviated onmost occasions. Some discussion was heard Monday evening on ways the board at AM&G could push for More chmic care beds in the community to which lung -stay pagienee CUIENAVIC ideL'""". It was recommended that if and wiien more lbeds • are built at Maitland Manor, the hospital shouldseek Turn to page 3 Council says it can wait until September for loan repayment • Town council has decided to wait until September before demanding $3,000 from the Goderich Trotting Ansociation, part repayment for electrical repairs at thera :11ACtarliD..-- In Mardi, council agreed to pay a bill of $7,700 10 Goderich Electric for repair work at the racetrack. The Trotting Association had originally requested a $5,000 loan and a $5,000 grant to pay for the repairs. Council compromised and agreed to pay the entire bill and asked the association to relinquish a $3,000 bond they held_ That motion appeared on the council books March 16 but the bond was never forwarded. At the June 15 meeting of council, Jim Searls and Stan Profit in- troduced a motion requesting the association to forward the $3,000. Some councillors argued that the motion was out of order since a similar motion was already on the books. Mayor Harry Worsen ruled the motion was in order but councillors John Doherty and Elsa Haydon introduced a motion to table the matter wgIl Sep- tember when the racing season was finished and the association would betat alletter finameial "---t• 'Profit 1 tf-S-7. been done and if not, requested that the matter be urused. "Nothing has been done," Searls said. "Either we follow it up and do something or dr ap it, but let's settle the issue." , Councillor Doherty suggested the matter be tabled until the first council meeting in September. He suggested the association would be able to pay the debt from profits of nine race dates. The racing season begins in July and will feature nine weeks of racing on Thursday evenings. The Trotting Association will run an outdoor beer garden and the Agriculture Park Committee of the recreation board will install portable washrooms at thesite at a cost of $200. "O• Hohnesville Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Eunice Cunningham had a little difficulty seeing David Smith fazqe entzr tie cozgraittakte *Wet) on successfully completing his first year of school. Despfte his precariously -placed mortarboard. David was obviously pleased and proud. ( Photo by Cath Wooden )