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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-04-07, Page 2PAGE 2-GODERI0 SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1977 uilders hire lawyer fi Lawyer Paul Rivers told town council Monday evening its impost bylaw was . not written and passed in ac- cordance with the guidelines set out in the Municipal Act, and suggested the legislation designed to collect an impost fee of $1,000 per nep dwelling unit constructed should immediately be repealed. Rivers was representing a number of builders, other tradesmen and potential new home buyers who had signed a petition to have the bylaw scrapped by town council. There are 99 names attached to the petition, Rivers told council, and if there had been more time, many more signatures could have been affixed to the document. The bylaw was drafted and cir- culated "in the space of a week". Loss of income, discrimination against building tradesmen and new home buyers, and "exor- bitant" extra costs to persons planning new homes were listed as the reasons for the opposition to the bylaw - Bylaw 12 of 1977. Rivers strongly suggested that council should "im- mediately repeal the bylaw"` since it was "null and void in any event". The local lawyer put forth an alternative proposal, however, urging council to at least pass a new bylaw which would extend the effective date of the impost charge for 60 days so that "further proposals can be brought to council concerning how the bylaw should be set out". If council fails to take either suggestion, Rivers warned, his clients would have no alternative but to "bring the appropriate ac- tions to have the bylaw quashed". CASE PREPARED In explaining to council the concerns of the citizens he represents, Rivers said the net effect of the impost bylaw is to "impose an extra $1,000 on each residential lot". "The effect of that added cost has caused potential purchasers of property to refuse to buy or to construct," Rivers argued. He explained that an ad- ditional $1,000 on an average $31,000 mortgage over the length of the agreement would result in a total added cost of $3,000. "Building will slow down and will cause loss of income to building tradesmen, their employees and small businessmen in the com- munity," Rivers added. He charged that the bylaw discriminates against the building trade and adds "exorbitant cost" to new homes when basically, the provincial government is attempting to provide more low income housing both in the form of privately owned homes and rental ac- commodation. "Is $1,000 the right figure? We don't even know how Special meeting to deal with filth The Huron County Board of Education is planning a special public meeting April 25 at 7:30 p.m. to take.a look at a claim that secondary school students in the county are being subjected to "literary filth" ,in the books used in English courses. • Lloyd Barth of RR 3, Blyth, spbke to the board at the meeting Monday bringing the board's attention to material from novels taught in secondary school English literature. Barth said he didn't really expect the board members to know about the filth since their other vocations . com- bined with the high number of books used in schools would not permit them to read all material, but he asked who might be responsible for the selection of books. He con- ceded that he, as a parent and former teacher himself, would not have known of the material in the books had his daughter not brought it, to his attention. He referred to three novels used in schools regularly - John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men", Margaret Laurence's, “The Diviners" and' J.D. Salinger's, "Catcher in the Rye". One selection he read to the board came frorn "The Diviners" and read "When apples are ripe they should be plucked, when girls are 16 they should be...." "When I taught school this filth was not there," he said. The former teacher told the board that he had written letters to education ad- ministrators up to and in- cluding Ontario Minister of Education Thomas Wells. He added that everyone up to Wells had the letters and had said a "total of nothing". Barth pointed out that former generations didn't use the kind of language used today by children. He said if people in his day , and in the days of the board members' childhood, had written ob- scene things on walls in school they would have been expelled or at least received a very severe thrashing. "If that was the case then and it isn't now, who is responsible for the change?" he asked. "No one wants to lay blame but someone is responsible. Who selects the books for classes?" Superintendent of Education Jim Coulter said the department heads in each school meet with their staff members and go over the material available -from the ministry of education. He said they select the books they wish to use adding there is no prescribed list of books to choose from as there was in Barth's teaching days. A suggestion to turn the matter over to the education committee Was rejected by Trustee Eugene ,Frayne, who said the subject is one the entire board should be looking at. Frayne said that when situations where "boars members and parents are not filled in enough on what children are being taught it's time it got looked at". Frayne also indicated that he felt the board should hold a special meeting and that it should be closed to the press and public. The trustee later withdrew his motion for a closed session asking that irrather be . advertised as public. Board chairman Herb Turkheim praised the move and suggested that the English department and principals be asked to attend the meeting. BILL'S BAYVIEW TOURIST TAVERN HWY. NO. 21, 7 MILES NORTH OF GRAND BEND Family Dining at its Finest SPECIAL ROAST BEEF DINNER Complete with btalm.rt 8 say.ray* . ;5 2s HOURS: FM. - S-4. SAT. 114, SUN. 11-11 LICENSED UNDER L.L U.O.. i $1,000 was arrived at, what it means" he said. "Perhaps a lower figure shogld be con- sidered." Town Administrator Harold Walls said the impost bylaw was passed - under Sectidn 309 of the Municipal Act. "That section doesn't authorize passing a bylaw," claimed Rivers. "It -is an auditing provision and relates to how money is to be spent. There is no mention of any special charge being levied." Impost bylaws can be passed under Section 359 of the Municipal Act, according to Rivers, but such bylaws require the permission of the Ontario Municipal Board and must be passed according to "very specific guidelines" and for specific purposes. Rivers pointed out that usually impost charges are approved to be applied to new subdivisions and not privately owned individual lots. "But your bylaw refers to all lots," Rivers insisted. "What it does is impose taxes upon municipal owners of property and it applies to everybody that owiis vacant land, no matter if it has been owned for 40 years." TRADESMEN NOT INFORMED "An awful lot of people didn't even know this was happening," Rivers said. "Where were the - building tradesmen when this was being publicized?" asked Councillor Dave Gower, who told Rivers 'the newspapers had carried stories about the impost bylaw. I'm not a building tradesman," said Rivers; "but some I talked to did not know that the bylaw was being considered. There was no official notice in any paper, no official notification, no public meeting for that pal'ticular purpose. Administrator Walls confirmed that no impost fees had been collected to date. Rivers claimed this was indeed fortunate. "If people pay in, you'll be in a very difficult position," he warned. "It might be very difficult to reimburse those people." - Reeve Bill Clifford said he's never found it difficult to get people to take money in the form of refunds. "How are the surrounding municipalities collecting impost charges if they are not valid?" asked Gower. He ht im issued a challdhge to the spokesmen for the tradesmen to "take action to prove -the bylaw is not valid". Rivers told Gower it was not illegal to pass an impost bylaw and collect the impost charges, providing the,bylaw is passed under proper procedures. He said •he believed other municipalities where impost charges were in effect "didn't - pass a com- plete, general bylaw on all vacant residential land". He said he, personally, would be pleased to take action on behalf of his clients against the town since "that's my business'. Rivers also felt confident that ;,kris clients would probably initiate the action if there was no other way. "But that course is ex- pensive to everyone con- cerned," Rivers commented. Councillor Bob Allen said the town's administrator had spent a great deal of time getting sample bylaws from other municipalities across the province. Allen claimed impost bylaws "are not, new in the province". • NOT MANY LOTS IN REALITY He also reminded Rivers that the number of vacant lots privately -owned by in- dividuals in Goderich would not be more than 10 or 15. Allen indicated that most building lots are owned by developers. Allen said that when Suncoast Estates came to town council with its most recent proposal to build over 200 more homes, that's when it became apparent that expanded facilities - sewage, drains, roads etc. - would be a' major expense for Goderich taxpayers. "How would the builders feel," Allen asked, "if no new homes could be permitted in this municipality because this council hadn't had the foresight to make financial provision for the necessary services? Surely that would dry up their potential market even quicker." Councillor Stan Profit told Rivers it wa "a little unreasonable" to e>f , ct council to repeal the bylaw immediately. He claimed' if council did that, it would be a bunch of ',;run for thehillers".. "But what happens in the meantime?" asked Rivers. "What about those people who may be paying in the interval?" "The people are not OPEN Good Friday SPECIAL EASTER SUNDAY MENU EASTER DINNER Set your appetite with .. . Marinated Herring Shrimp Cocktail Smoked Oysters 2 00 2 50 2.25 then warm your tummy by sipping Homemade French Onion Soup 1.25 Beef Bouillon with Egg , 1 25 EASTER ENTREES --0.-- Wiener Schnitzel Viennese Style pork cutlets covered with Sauerbraten bread crumbs, sauted golden brown Delicate Roast of Beef marinated Ina sauce of red Wine and spices Rainbow Trout-Meunlere Sirloin Steak Panfried in butter, served with drawn butter, onions and lemon Tender aged steak with onions broiled to your preference We invite you to serve yourself from our chefs fine salad bar, e wondrous iarlety o/ enticing salad.. Pr'r. v" nind., $6.75 hiij,.n under 12' $4.00 Now we wish you a HAPPY EASTER and GUTEN APPETIT Easter Dinner Served Easter Sunday 12 noon to 8 p.m. The Bavarian Tavern BAYFIELD FULLY' LICENCED UNDER L.L.B.°. • post levy breaking the door down yet," Gower reminded Rivers. Reeve Bill Clifford, chairman of the finance committee where the impost bylaw originated, said•it had been the committee's in- tention to leave a 6b day in- terval between the date the --bylaw was passed and the date it would be im- plemented: "The purpose for that was to give a certain amount of stimulus to the building trade," Clifford said. "But by majority vote of this council, the implementation date was effective at the time of the third reading." WANT POSITIVE INPUT Clifford suggested the finance committee would be pleased to sit down and discuss the matter with the tradesmen, but warned that the committee would be looking for some "positive suggestions" about ways and means to generate additional dollars tet provide the ad- ditional services required when new homes are brought onto the market in Goderich. "You say 99 people are upset about the.. impost charges," Clifford told Rivers. "There are 7,000 people upset over the taxes, particularly in view of the budget we now have before us." Mayor Deb Shewfelt told Rivers council would be "open-minded". This remark came after Frank Graham stepped forward from the audience to suggest that if the fin We committee had spent so" much time looking into the bylaw, there seemed to be little use in "going back to the same committee" for reconsideration. In a recorded vote which THE CLUB GRILL WILL BE CLOSED EASTER 'SUNDAY. showed only Councillor Dave Gower opposed, council voted to refer the matter back to the finance committee for review and recommendation. For the present, however, the impost charge of $1,000 per new dwelling unit, payable at the time the building permit is picked up, remains in ef- fect. SMALL TOWN SYS G.D.C.I. APRIL: 9:00 - 3:30 p.m. As our contribution to Jubilee Three end Edu the Geography Department of- GDCI 1s sponsor possum on small towns. Guest speakers and pane, will present viewpoints on the small town from perspectives. Prof. R. C. Longman - kewynote Spee (Althouse Collage of Education) PLAN NOW TO BATTEN EVERYONE IS WELCOME a IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I IIIIIIIIIIjlllll Illllllllltllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 111111 1 1 1 1 II I I II III Ilillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I III IIIIIIIIt11111111101111 Mrs. Watkins invites you to visit her Newl Redecorated OUNTRY KITCH-Ey in the Take Highway 4 or 8 To Vanastra Road then follow the signs to the Vanastra Shillelagh CHILDREN5 PRICES IN EFFECT ALL WEEK LONG Banquet an Dining Cen VANASTRA PARK, CII BEGINNING FRIDAY, APRIL 1st Mrs. Watkins will be preparing her delicious full course SMORGASBORD Monday- Saturday F3OM 5-10 p.m. ADULTS $3.49 CHILDREN UNDER 12 $1.99 Pre-schoolers No Charge' FOR Ins 01 RESER uu. AT Mn 482 OR 482; ater real atii g of opt: You will be pleasantly surprised with the quiet atmosphere and delicious menu now available nights a week. A SPECIAL TREAT AWAITS YOU EACH SUNDAY:.. BREAKFAST BUFFET Served from 8-11 a.m. SUNDAY DINNER 5 is available from 12 NOON. until 7 F%.111• g. OPEN NIGHTLY -MONDAY TO SATURDAY 5 P.M. TO 10 P.M. ITi F. . 482-3644 The Vanastra Shillelagh 482.954 iiII11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIIOIUIIIIIII11111111111IIIIIIIIIItl111111111111 lel III iornil11111111uIHI111t11t1II11t1111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII iimi111IIul1111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIlliIIIIlltllui , WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS EASTER SUNDA Nominations for Jubilee 3 Queen MUST BE 80 YEARS OR OVER AND A RESIDENT Of GODERICH A written Nomination, accompanied by the consent of the Nominee, to be filed in a Drum at the Cabin HQ on The Square, starting NOW and continuing until June 29. - On Octogenarian Day (July 6) a letter will be drawn from the Drum and the Nominee will be the Jubilee 3 Queen. Electee will ride in a private car in the Mammoth Parade (July 9) All other nominees will be the Queen's court. Trophy will be awarded the Winner. NOMINATIONS FOR. JUBILEE 3 QUEEI ort to Ian( ch, ad alr one of fi for ip of re: y on as ant old ry y Cone a ope an e wal eve wnf g tl wol d wl pmt M SH WH REI RII PI u