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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-25, Page 1Goederi� 1 139 YEAR — 47 GODERICH ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY Aquatic Centre rebuffed Goderich Town Council chose not to take advantage of an opportunity to re -open the issue of building a municipal aquatic recreation complex in Goderich; instead voting to "receive and file," a written re- quest from a local couple to have the mat- ter studied further. "Please reconsider your discussion at the October 5, 1987 Town Council meeting, and at least refer the Aquatic Centre Com- mittee report to your committee structure for feasibility and financial study. We sincerely feel that Goderich needs an aquatic centre," said the letter signed by Mike and Joanne Cicchini, of Goderich. The letter, dealt with by council at their meeting of Nov. 23, referred to council's decision to "receive," a report by the volunteer Aquatic Centre Committee at their Oct. 5 meeting, recommending the construction of a $3.1 million facility. Councillor Bill Clifford made the motion to receive and file the letter and Deputy Reeve John Doherty called for a recorded vote on the motion. Councillor Glen Carey spoke against the motion, indicating that if Clifford hadn't "beaten me to the punch," he would have motioned the matter be referred to the Ad- ministration and Personnel Committee for study.. Carey also noted that at the Oct. 5 meeting,.motions both.�for and against fur- ther study of the matter were defeated by virute of four to four tie votes. Carey was absent from that meeting. "Council was deadlocked and in my view • that means council hasn't really decided," Carey said. "I" think we should refer it to (Ad- ?< ministration and Personnel) and I think we should look at it and choose to act or choose to ignore it, but we should do ; something more than say that we physical- ly received the report," Carey contmued. Councillor John Stringer, who voted in favor of further study of the proposal at the Oct. 5 meeting, said he could not support • refering the new request to Administration and Personnel because the Aquatic Centre Committee has since disbanded and the administration committee would have no. one to discuss the proposal with. Councillor Peter McCauley said he agreed with Carey that the matter should be re -opened in order to "keep the dream alive". However, he said there would have to be more government grants available before he would support the construction of an aquatic centre. Doherty said he was unwilling to re- consider the proposal under the current financial situation. "Until somebody proves to me where we can get $3.1 million, I'm not about to con- sider any of these proposals," Doherty said. The motion to receive and file the re- quest was passed in the recored vote by a 5-3 margin. Councillors Stan Profit, Jim Searls, Clifford, Stringer and Deputy Reeve Doherty voted in favor of the mo- tion; while Mayor Palmer and Councillors Carey and McCauley voted against it. Reeve Harry Worsell was not present at the meeting. Services need co-ordination Huron County has a good number of sup- port and assistance services for senior citizens, but needs a means to co-ordinate access to those services. Twenty representatives of a variety of service organizations addressed a crowd of about 60 people at the MacKay Centre For Seniors,in Goderich, Monday night. The meeting was chaired by Ralph Smith and included a panel consisting of Bea Sparling of the MacKay Centre, Jane Levan of Town and Country Homemakers, Everett Mcllwain representing Goderich Township, and Bill Vanstone representing Colborne Township. Speaking to the issue of service co- ordination, Brenda Fraser of the Universi- ty of Guelph said Huron County is the pilot site for the concept of one-stop access. Fraser said one-stop access co-ordinates services and helps people know about the availability of those services. It might con- sist of an office where one phone call would put the caller in contact with the specific service they need. Bluewater Centre's Carl DeGrandis said the centre views community service as part of the rehabilitation process of young offenders. The centre provides manpower for senior citizens and shut-ins at no cost. DeGrandis said the centre is presently negotiating to help with Meals on Wheels. "We are available to respond to any need about whcih we are informed." DeGrandis said. Helen Watson of Community Living said her group's focus is on support for those traditionally isolated from or rejected by society. "So often the disabled have been shunted aside and have no way to earn a living. We provide a way for them to get established and involved in the community." While Community Living operates two Turn to page 2 • Receiving an early Christmas present, a bag of candy, from jolly a turn on Santa Claus' knee when the old gent held court at the old St. Nicholas hiniself, is three -and -a -half -year-old Ryan Park Theatre Saturday, following the annual Goderich Santa McPhee. Ryan was one of a long line of local youngsters.who took C aus Parade. (photo by Patrick Raftis) Committee to consider cash in lieu of subdivision parkland BY PATRICK RAFTIS The Goderich Works and Property Com- mittee has been authorized to investigate the posibility of negotiating for a sum of cash, in lieu of providing parkland, from a developer planning to create a new sub- division in Goderich's south end. Goderich Town Council referred the question of parkland compensation to the committee Monday night after several councillors noted, during a discussion on re -zoning and Offical Plan amendment for the proposed subdivison, the developer, Len Gillis of Cambridge, had not provided the town with any parkland, or cash in lieu, as required under the Planning Act, 1983. The area of the proposed subdivision already contained 3.5 acres of parkland, in three separate parcels, designated as such to the town by previous landowners before development plans fell through. Gillis, the current owner, said he was under the im- pression that the existing designated parkland fulfilled all the requirements for the area when he purchased it. "I was told what was purchased was a subdivision with designations already in place," he said. Gillis' assumption was actually correct, as far as it went, as Administrator Larry McCabe pointed out, the parkland designated under the Official Plan amendernent presented at the meeting did fulfill the requirements for parkland in a subdivision of the proposed size. Confusion arose because the Official Plan amendment presented at the meeting simply re -aligns the parkland and con- solidates it into one parcel, while the developer was given corresponding parcels of land for residential develop- ment in exchange. "The developer hasn't given us any parkland, it's just a straight exchange," declared Deputy Reeve John Doherty. Since the designated amount of parkland, under the amendment, is suffi- cient for the proposed subdivision, Mc- Cabe recommended that rather than con- sider. changing the parkland configuration, which would create delays in the approval process, council have the Works and Pro- perty Committee consider having the developer pay a sum of cash in lieu of parkland, in order to conform with past policy of developer contributions. Council passed a motion to this 'effect, after passing a by-law approving th'e Of- ficial Plan Amendment allowing the re- alignment of parkland. Any cash received would be put into a Parks Reserve fund, for development of parkland -in Goderich. Council also passed a Zoning by-law amendment to provide increased height and density provisions for three apartment blocks, as requested by the developer. The by-law allows the apartment blocks to be as high as six stori s, with a density of 40 dwelling units per are. The previous by-law allowed for only five stories and 30 units per acre. The increased density will only be allowed if a six story building is constructed, otherwise the 30 -unit limit would be in effect so as not to contravene accompanying open -space requirements. A resolution, designating the above changes as minor variations, was passed, allowing council to approve the ammend- ments without giving further public notice. McCabe said provincial approval for the zoning changes is expected early in 1988, after which engineering work on the sub- division would be the next step. The proposed subdivision, to be located south of Suncoast Drive and West of Bayfield Road, would contain 79 lots for single-family housing, seven medium den- sity residential units, four aparment blocks and one park. Increased traffic in the area, as a result of the proposed subdivision, was one con- cern addressed both at a public meeting prior to the regular council session and during the council session as well. Scott Tousaw, of the Huron County Plan- ning Department, noted the bulk of the traffic should flow down Balvina Drive (the major artery of the proposed subdivi- sion) and onto Bayfield Road. He said diverting traffic to an already busy artery was preferable to increasing traffic flow in other areas of town. "I think that area (Bayfield Road) is already very congested now," said Coun- cillor Jirn Searls, who recommended the entire proposal be sent back to the Works and Property Committee, "to be reworked completely". Local Real Estate Agent Bert Alex- ander, acting as representative for the developer, said he did not anticipate any problems with traffic as a result of the subdivision. "I haven't seen a traffic jam yet in Goderich, so I think we're a long way from having any problems of this kind," Alex- ander said. Councillor Glen Carey cautioned council against overemphasizing potential pro- blems with the development. "The town needs this sort of develop- ment. The town is crying out — or at least it ought to be — for just this type of develop- ment," he said. Mayor Eileen Palmer also stated her support for housing development . "We need land development in the Town of Goderich. We are relentless in our quest for new industry and with the housing situation we have now — should we be for- tunate enough to attract a small -to - medium -sized industry — we would be hard-pressed to find a place for the workers to live," said Palmer. Plant workers arelaid off. Champion Road Machinery Ltd. has an- nounced a layoff of hourly -paid employees at its Goderich plant, effective Friday, Nov. 27. Approximately 25 workers are af- fected by the layoff notice. The employees, members of Local 1863, The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, will be laid off according to the union's seniority agreement with the company. "Orders for new graders have not met expectations. The shortfall has forced us to make an adjustment in the workforce," explained David Million, Champion vice- president of manufacturing. "Officials of the Unemployment In- surance Commission will be available in the company cafeteria of the main plant Wednesday, Nov. 25, to collect applica- tions for unemployment Insurance benefits. The current layoffs, combined with a the layoff of 73 hourly workers on Oct. 2, leaves the company with a workforce of approximately 450 hourly employees, com- pared to approximately 540 on staff in September. Big Sisters need board The Goderich and Area Big Sisters organization will be one step closer to ac- tual formation next Tuesday evening. A general meeting to form a Board of Directors for the association will be held Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen Centre on Keays Street in Goderich. The idea of creating a Big Sisters organization for Goderich and area began in June of 1986 when Kinette member Adele Drennan made a proposal to the Goderich Kinette Club. After discovering a need for such an organiza- tion in this community, the Kinettes decided to commit themselves to the pro- ject with Adele Drennan in charge. Since then, meetings have been held for per- sons interested in the Big Sister -Little Sister program. A steering committee, comprised of Adele Drennan, two Kinette members and Judy Petty of Family and Children's Services of Huron County, is looking at drafting a constitution and by-laws, ap- plying for membership with the Big Sisters Association of Ontario, develop- ing program, policy and standards. At next week's meeting, the steering com- mittee will evolve into the Board of Directors. Anyone interested in being on the Big Sisters Board of Directors is urged to at- tend this meeting. The meeting will con- sist of a brief history of the Big Sisters background in Goderich and question period followed by a social time. A board will also be established at this time. Although the Kinettes will continue to support the Big Sisters movement, the board. will take over formation of such. Drennan stresst d that anyone, e, r t just women, are invited to attend the meeting since a wide range of professionals representing the community are needed for the board. She said the Big Sisters organization should be in operation by the spring of 1988. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Vikings win The Senior Vikings Girls' Basketball Team won back to back games last Tues- day and Thursday against Stratford Nor- thwestern to win the Huron -Perth cham- pionship. The team moves on to the WOSSA basketball tournament. For pic- tures and story, see the front page of the Sports section. Santa in town Santa Claus came to town Saturday afternoon and despite the bitter cold winds and occasional snow flurries, hun- dreds of parents and children circled The Square to catch a glimpse of Old Saint Nick. For pictures of the parade, see the front page of the Community section. Aquatic Centre poll We are looking for your opinions. The Goderich Signal -Star is conducting a poll on the viability of an Aquatic Centre for Goderich. On Page 4 of this section, the Opinion page, we have asked a question concerning Ian aquatic centre. Please take the time to read, answer and drop off your response at a designated area. Thank you.