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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1987-11-10, Page 01WARDEN BRIAN McBURNEY was honored Friday as friends, rela- warden's chair next month. Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunningham tives and colleagues gathered at the Brussels, Morris and Grey presents a gift to Mr. McBurney on behalf of his. fellow county coun- Community Centre for a dinner to mark the end of his term as warden- cillors. Looking on are Mr. McBurney's wife,_ Brenda and Usborne of Huron County. The Turnberry Township reeve steps down from the Township Reeve Gerald Prout. Turnberry council learns of town's annexation plans The Town of Wingham is proposing to annex, much, more of Turnberry than had earlier been reported, Turnberry council members have learned. Turnberry Reeve Brian McBurn- ey told the first regular November meeting of township council that although Wingham presented its case to a representative of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Muni- cipal Boundaries Branch during an in -camera session on Oct. 20, details of the town's proposal have come to light. "In conversation with the mayor (Wingham Mayor Jack Kopas)," said Mr. McBurney, "I've learned the land they want is more extensive and covers all the built-up land (in Turnberry) around Wingham." "They really intend to take a sweep," said Turnberry Councillor Mery Baker, who claimed he also had heard of the town's plans. Police board impressed by ADAPT program The Wingham Board of Police Commissioners will send a message of congratulations to the F. E. Madill Secondary. School in Wingham and the Huron County Board of Education for the recently - instituted drug and alcohol awareness program. The Alcohol -Drug Awareness Program for Today (ADAPT) has generated a great deal of interest among local teens through the use of special speakers and presentations, said Holly Keil at the police board's November. meeting. She called the prWam very powerful". Wingham Police Chief Robert Wittig agreed with Mrs. Keil, as did the other members of the board. r However, as Councillor Paul Elgie pointed out, fact -finder Don Taylor of the Municipal Boundaries Branch had also told the township council to aim high in its requests.. "Would it do any good to sit down on neutral ground and try to work this thing out? " asked Mr. Baker. "No, this has got to go the route now," said Deputy Reeve Doug Fortune. "We (the township) are saying, no, they can't have a piece of Turnberry... We have to consider the long-term future of this township and I don't consider this (an- nexation) in the best interest." Councillor Nelson Underwood agreed. "This annexation is the most ,important one the township will ever face... If we appear willing to compromise this time, we're opening the door in the future." Mr. Baker asked if the township is willing to spend a lot of money to fight the annexation, only to possibly lose in the end. "It's not a given that they're ( Wingham) going to get land," said Mr. McBurney, who suggested the township consider hiring a municipal lawyer to defend its in= terests. However the other, members of council did not appear eager to hire legal counsel, at least until the true details of Wingham's annexation proposal have been made public. Recorded vote denies request for designation In a recorded vote at its regular November session, Wingham Town Council turned down a request from a couple seeking a heritage designation on their property. Heritage Wingham, the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, recommended drat council approve the application of Michael and Joyce McDougall to designate the property at 401 Josephine Street as one of ar- chi tnral and -or historical value. During discussion of the LACAC recommeacjWA, council spent con- siderable time debating the philosophy of designation. The recorded vote on Councillor James McGregor's motion to refuse the application was " in favor of turning down the request. In addition to Dr. McGregor, those voting in favor of refusing the ap- plication were: Deputy Reeve Bill Harris, and Councillors Ron Beecroft, Don Carter and Bill McGrath. Those supporting the application were: Mayor Jack Kopes, Reeve Bruce Machan, and Councillors Ward Robertson and Doug Switzer. .While he said he did not want to give up any township land, Mr. Baker said he does not want to stop the tovm from growing. "It's not really our concern what's best for Wingham," said Mr. McBurney. "We have a duty to see that dustry (in Turnberry) is compatible with our agricultural base," added Mr. Fortune and the only way to do that is to hang on to all lands zoned industrial in the township. Turnberry council also must take into account the interests of the people living within the area proposed for annexation, said Mr. McBurney. Oen a separate, but related topic, Mr. Fortune pointed to the apparent indiscretions of some, members ,of Disagreement gets sports byl A disagreement on times has sent the town's proposed bylaw to regulate the hours in which the public . may use the town's recreational facilities back to the Wingham Recreation Committee for clarification. At its regular November session, Wingham Town Council decided to send the draft bylaw back to the recreation committee in order to be certain the times stated on the document agree with the town's suggested policy for sporting facilities. The proposed bylaw results from action taken by Wingham Town Council at its October, meeting to repeal the bylaw governing Sunday sports in the town. Council was advised by its solicitor John Skinner of Stratford, that the old bylaw could no longer be enforced. A large turnout attended the October meeting to hear presen- Wingham council as an illustration to stress the .importance of never repeating what transpires in a committee session of council. "I hope when we have a closed meeting, it stays a closed meeting," he said. As far as the annexation issue is concerned, Mr. Elgie suggested that Turnberry wait until the full details of Wingham's proposal have been made public before taking any further action. Mr. Fortune also pointed out to Mr. Baker that since he owns propertynr Wingham, he should check with a lawyer to see if there is any possibility of a conflict of in- terest regarding the annexation proceedings. on times aw delayed Cations , made to council by representatives from the Wingham Ministerial Association, The Riverside Ratepayers Association and the Wingham Baptist Church. Each o: the speakers expressed opposition to allowing sports to be played in the town before 1 p.m. on Sundays. In the new bylaw the recreation committee is recommending that municipal recreational facilities — Lockridge Memorial Arena, Josephine Street and Riverside ballparks — be available for public rental from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and from 12:90 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. An exception clause, however, allows games to also be played between 6 a.m. and 12:90 p.m. on Sundays for special events and tournaments as determined by the Wingham Recreation and Com- munity Centres Board. OMB hearing date set for E. Wawanosh An Ontario Municipal Board hearing into appeals launched regarding East Wawanosh Town- ship's comprehensive zoning bylaw has been scheduled for Jan. 4 and 5 at the township municipal building. A total of three appeals have been Algid to date, says Clerk -Treasurer Winona Thompson — two by township residents objecting to agricultural distance requiranente or zoning and one by the Town of Wingham about zoning of the town'$ waste disposal site kueated In East Wawanosh. -The 17 -acre landfill site currently is zoned devdaMental and the remaining 89 acres of the parcel is zoned extractive resources. The town would like to see the entire property zoned developmental. A. meeting has been scheduled between the two councils on Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. to see if the matter cannot be rectified before the OMB boning, One possible solution would be to grant the town a tempocarriuse bylaw to use the lanmu eke am operatiam there are 01800d ent. Town wants MOE report on sewage capacity tests Wingham Town Council will request a report on tests conducted by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment which will have a bearing on the town's application for funding to upgrade its sewage treatment system. At its regular November session council directed Clerk -Treasurer Byron Adams to request that a report on the tests be seat to the town's public works committee from the MOE's London office. Included on the agenda for the November session were copies of a letter from Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell — asking Environment Minister Jim Bradley to take prompt action in expediting Wingham's application for funding — and Mr. Bradley's reply to that Residents want the speed limit lowered in lane Wingham Town Council has referred a letter requesting a speed limit of 10 miles per hour along York Lane to its public works committee for study and recommendation. At its regular November session, council was presented a petition signed by 12 residents of the York Lane area. The petition asks council to post the reduced limits at both ends of the lane in addition to installing speed bumps "where necessary to protect pedestrians (children) going to and from school and play." York Lane runs from Patrick Street to Alfred Street between Minnie and Leopold Streets. The works committee is expected to, make a recommendation on the request at council's next regular meeting, Dec. 7. Town to provide parking spaces for handicapped The Wingham Board of Police Commissioners is recommending that town council amend its parking bylaw to provide for the establishment of several specially - designated handicapped parking spaces. 4 Wingham Police Chief Robert Wittig reported to the November police board, meeting that several handicapped parking. spaces already have been established near the town hall and at least two more will be added next year on Diagonal Road and Josephine Street. The parking bylaw, must be amended to allow the police to en- force these new parking zones through the use of fines for those parked ,improperly, Mr. Wittig explained. 'lobe board agreed to recommend that a $25 fine be issued to offenders. When Wingham Mayor Jack Kopas asked if the handicapped parking spots will be clearly iden- tified by signs, Mr. Wittig replied, yes, and the wheelchair logo also will be painted on the pavement. letter. In his lett Mr. Riddell points out that the funding request was stalled at the Project Priorities Evaluation Committee because of insufficient data with respect to the possible pollution of the Maitland River. The MOE tests were to have supplied the missing data for the committee. Mr. Riddell also places emphasis on the urgency of proceeding with the Wingham project, both from the point of view of the possible pollution which could be caused by the current inadequate system, as well as the limitations now .imposed on industrial expansion and other development as a result of the present 'situation. Although Mr. Bradley's letter does little, more than acknowledge the correspondence from Mr. Riddell, he notes that MOE staff would be willing to consider a trade-off between development already ap- proved and not,implemented "with more pressing development elsewhere." However, council is in agreement that such a trade-off would not be in the town's best interest. "Perhaps it's time we invited Jack Riddell to one of our, meetings, either the finance and management committee or full council, to see just what he can do for to," Councillor Bill McGrath said. Santa Claus Parade is November 21 This year's Wingham Optimist Club Santa Claus Parade will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. Six bands have already indicated they will attend the event — F. E. Madill School Band, Lucknow Central School Band, Brussels Legion Pipe Band, Palmerston Army Cadet Band, Wingham Salvation Army Band, and Listowel Salvation Army Band. Also con- firmed is the appearance of the Wingham Canadettes. Another highlight of this year's parade will be the performance of the Ontario Provincial Police Color Party. The parade will include floats, clowns, horses and, of course, Mr. and Mrs. S. Claus, Seniors housing survey .......... Page 2A No changes to animal bylaw .... Page 2A Madill commencement .. Page 3A Ironmen win ...... Page 26 Track photos ..... Page 313 Inside Crossroads Holland - 40 years after liberation ... Page 3A H. Gordon Green .., Page 4A Microwave Cooking ......... Page 5A Crossword Puzzle ......... Page 4B Peter Trueman .... Page 86 Show Bizzz ...... Page 12B Town's planning advisory committee chairman resigns The resignation of the chairman of the town's planning advisory committee .,was accepted -by Wingham Town Council at its regular November session. Following a -committee of the whole session held in camera, council rose to announce it was accepting the resignation of James A. Currie as chairman and member of the planning advisory committee, chairman and, member of the committee of adjustment, and member of the property standards committee. Philosophical differences between Mr. Currie and the town's zoning administrator have been cited as the reason for the resignation. Following council's acceptance of the resignation, Councillor James McGregor made a brief statement to recommend that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr. Currie for his many years of past service. "This (letter) should note and recognize the sincere effort and the many hours of service rendered on behalf of the Town of Wingham by an enthusiastic and sincere citizen, Dr. McGregor said." Dr. McGregor said that although he, personally, had not always agreed with Mr. Currie's position, "I recognize and respect the sincere beliefs strongly presented." The Town of Wingham, ' Dr. McGregor added, "would benefit if other citizens were as willing to come forward and express their feelings on civic matters, and, to give of their time as Mr. Currie has done over the years." RAAIES CLINIC -- David VuN, left, of RR 1 Bltrevete, was one of many area pet owners to take advantage of Ow tables conic held Saturday at the Wingham Veterinary Clinic.. Above, Dr. John Campbep gives rabies shot to Mr. Yule's pet CO. ,*