HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-18, Page 8PAGE 8, —THE GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1979
Malone's discour t gas bar closing could hike r
BY "The gas bar has been closed for two weeks,"
SHIRLEYasB J. KELLER 'said Lamb. "Three men have been put out of
Malone's Gas Bar is closed, and according to
Harold Lamb, a part-owner of the busines-a work. No wonder kids are leaving town.;'
which was destroyed by fire early last year, th Lamb told .eouncil he has lived in Goderich
people of the town of Goderich are the poorer for 40 years, and feels he has taken "an awful
for it. He said citizens can expect higher gas slap in, the face".He said there is reason to
prices right away because the discount ?suspect the fire was the result of arson; that the
operation was forced out of business when the ' fire truck was delayed when a police officer on
town wasn't able to grant a building permt' '` duty made a mistake concerning the location of
sooner for the reconstruction of the building. ''/ he blaze; and then 'the town officials were
"It is just not feasible to run this busines unable to speed things along so that the building
from a trailer any longer," Lamb told council. / could be. reconstructed before rezoning .was
Although council agreed recently td approved.
"There is no justice in this action what-
soever," charged Lamb. "I still believe the
town has a moral obligation in this case."
Reeve Eileen Palmer said she'xagreed with
Lamb that the town has Tome moral obligation,
but she urged him to understand that certain
procedures must be followed.
support Lamb and Malone if they were to apply
to the planning board for rezoning and an
amendment to the official plan to allow the
operation to be rebuilt, Lamb indicated it was
probably too late. He said his partner Malone
was "fed up with things" and likely would not
reconsider his decision now.
"We're talking about the Jobs for three men."
said Councillor Stan Profit. "Where would the
town be if the building permit was issued, the
building was put up and the property zoned
later?"
"Behind the eight t ball' with the Ontario
Municipal Board," said the reeve.
Ken Hunter, commissioner of works, agreed.
He said the OMB could rule that the building
would have to be removed.
Palmer said the town's solicitor had been
consulted on this matter, and was now advising
the town that the property could be•rezoned. •
Councillor John Doherty said he was per-
turbed by the delay caused to Lamb and
Malone.
A "Bylaws have been changed fore for a hell
of a lot lesser reason," said oherty. "Cir-
cumstances have to alter ever case."
would make'to the planning board for rezoning.
Reeve Palmer seconded .the motion and it
passed unanimously.
But Lamb suggested he and his partner were
not interested in waiting any longer for the red
tape to be cleared away to permit the con-
struction of a new gas bar in the former
location.
"I know what planning entails," said Lamb.
"It takes two 'years two years in a town the
'size of Goderich - to get something through. Mr.
Malone has already spent too much money on
this."
Councillor Elsa Haydon wondered why
Malone and Lamb had not gone through
"proper channels" long ago. She said the
owners could have "served theirown purposes
better" by attending planning aboard and
Doherty made the motion that council sup- starting the wheels in motion to get the zoning
changed.
port Lamb and Malone in any application they
Councillor John Doherty told council he
understood Lamb or Malone had been to
planning board, but had been turned down.
However,\following the meeting, Lamb said he
had not approached planning board and didn't
know for certain that Malone had met with that
group either.
I'm only ere to talk to you from the hear,t,"
said Lamb who admittedhe was bitter about
the whole affair.
He claimed that he had help from Councillors
Jim Searls', John Doherty and Stan Profit on
this matter. As for "some of the others on
council" Lamb said he agreed with his wife.
"She says you'd rather see people on welfare
than working," concluded Lamb.
When you want to sell if fas
sell it with
Goderich
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