The Times Advocate, 2008-11-12, Page 1IMES-ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, November 12, 2008 $1.25 (includes GST)
wHURON TRACTOR
EXETER
519-235-1115
*HAwww.hurontractor.com JOHN DEERE
INSIDE
For,"
Deputy Chief
Former South
Huron grad on
Aylmer police force
Page 13
Home Tour
Skating Club hosts
annual tour
Page 24
INDEX
Editorial 4
Sports 18
Announcements 22
Classifieds 25
TIMES -ADVOCATE
424 MAIN ST.
Box 850
EXETER, ONTARIO
NOM 1S6
TEL: 519-235-1331
FAX: 519-235-0766
WWW.SOUTHHURON.COM
DSR
HAWKS
vs THAMESFORD
FRI., NOV. 14
8:30 RM. — SH REC CENTRE
SPONSOR: USBORNE
ik:WV
`1I1t
Gaiser Kneale
Insurance
Brokers
MULTI -COMPANY
AUTO
QUOTES
519-235-2420
1-888-235-2420
Serving Exeter, Grand Bend, Otonj
JAMES MAR$ HALL
74fA5, \71 PENH
-VICTOR G S i�ER_S
1111 tERt sT,vii l f
ter„
Exeter Bram.:
-- HOURS
o.ASSD-
FROM THE VILLAGE OF EXETEit
C S . ' CANN R BAR E 1 E�. -. LD
EJO
Standing guard Sgt. Matt Donovon (left) and Cpl. Jeff Henry from Middlesex Huron 2923 Corps Royal Army Cadet Corps were the
honour guard on Sunday during the Remembrance Service at the Exeter Cenotaph For more pictures see page 31. (photo/Pat Bolen)
"We don't live in a police state"
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
VARNA Comments about anonymous com-
plaints as the reason for a proposed bylaw to li-
cense bed and breakfasts (B and Bs) in Bluewater
drew sharp responses from business owners at a
planning meeting Monday night.
Several said the bylaw would hurt tourism and
Claire Soper, owner of Clair on the Square in Bay-
field, said the owners were very concerned about
the municipality using a few anonymous com-
plaints against all the B and Bs.
We don t live in a police state, said Soper.
Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said the purpose
of the meeting was to gather information from the
public and that no decision would be made Mon-
day night.
Chief administrative officer Lori Taylor said the
process started some time ago and that the pro-
posed draft of the bylaw was just a starting point.
Soper, president of the Bluewater Bed and Break-
fast Association asked council what the purpose of
the bylaw was.
Taylor said some complaints have been received
and for public safety, municipal staff was directed
to draw up a proposed bylaw but the complaints
couldn t be released due to privacy concerns.
Dowson said the bylaw would not be a financial
gain for the municipality and that it was intended
to exert some control.
Asked if the complaints were investigated, Dow -
son said they were all followed up on.
Soper said with tourism the second pillar of Blue -
water s economy, and with the economy declining,
the bylaw would discourage the bed and breakfast
business.
As well as penalties of up to $50,000, owners of the
B and Bs were concerned over powers in the draft
bylaw that stated the municipality has the right at
any reasonable time to inspect any vehicle, goods,
articles, books, records and other documents of or
relating to the business.
Soper outlined several points in a letter from
lawyer Allan Patton, who has been retained by the
association and who said the bylaw had several
things wrong with it including vagueness illegal
inspection and overbreadth of requirements.
Asked if the proposed bylaw had been prepared
by a lawyer, Taylor said it was reviewed.
Joan Karstens, owner of Brentwood on the Beach
in Grand Bend, said that while governance is im-
portant for health and safety, fees and regulations
can be negative.
The existing regulations have met the needs of
the bed and breakfasts, said Karstens. Excessive
burdens will force some out of business.
Karstens noted that there are few areas in Ontario
that have enacted bylaws to license B and Bs and
that they are generally in areas that have hundreds
of such businesses. We have nine or 10 in Bluewa-
ter.
Allan Brokenshire, owner of Brokenshire House
Bed & Breakfast, read a letter from Goderich Mayor
Deb Shewfelt, which said Goderich has no license
fees for B and Bs and that the official plan covers
them under health and safety rules as well as park-
ing.
Shewfelt added that the town has never had any
problems with the facilities.
If this goes through, our B and B is done, said
Brokenshire.
EXETER
oivRpoet+W�Q°/0E,�9
519-235-1525 FivEkas71.--;
WSW
136 MAIN SL N., EXETER 00000
CHRYSL
"Your Neighbourhood Chrysler Dealer"
PLUS
PWI
HT ONJTtH[
HEAR US ON'®4.9?4e-!
"LITE NITS RIR ONTARIO'S WEST COAST"
SERVICE & PARTS OPEN SATURDAY 8 - NOON
View all our inventory at www.exeterchrysler.com;