Times-Advocate, 1985-07-10, Page 1imes
dvocate
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex . & North Lambton Since 1873
One Hundred and Twelfth Year
EXETER, ONTARIO, July 10, 1985 Price Per Copy 50 Cents
Residents take plea to council
Group home bottle continues
plaited that group homes were not testing the location of thegroup home. the John St. residents. Chris Turner
covered in bylaw 30, 1978. Bylaw 27, Veri also handed clerk Elizabeth said she had been told by someone in
1985. which is at the core of the pre- Bell a letter from George Dobbs, who the Huron County assessment office
sent controversy, amends the could not attend in person. Mrs. Bell that homes would devalue by a
previous bylaw to include a definition read the letter aloud. It stated that minimum of $10,000.
of group homes, and permit them in neighbours had objected a few years Veri returned to the argument to
areas zoned institutional. The ago when Veri applied for approval to bring up the possibility of
disputed site is so zoned in the original build a mobile home trailer park. neighbourhood children witnessing
bylaw. Council at that time protected proper- sexual acts performed by the group
Mayor Bruce Shaw added that legal ty owners by requiring Veri to create home residents in "front yard, back
advice suggests group homes could a buffer of trees and park at con- yard, wherever".
have been built anywhere in Exeter siderable expense to the developer. Concern about the esthetic ap-
under the old bylaw. He said citizens the letter stated. As that (was not pearance of the neighborhood, a new
have until July 9 to appeal the new possible at the George and Alexander regulation requiring a separation
hylaw. site, Dobbs said that council should distance of 300 meters between group
Veri produced a 60 -name petition protect these property owners by 'lames, a query as to why residents
and a number of individually signed establishing a new location for the from as far away as Goderich and
photo -copies of a letter, both pro- group home. Lambton counties had to be accom-
Continuing with his verbal objec- modated in Exeter, and why the home
tions; Veri said Exeter seems to be could not be rebuilt on the present site
"blessed" with more group homes per were also voiced.
capita than other communities. He Eventually Association lawyer
11 noted -the town's official plan states Randy Evans was given an opporluni-
such homes should be developed in ty to counter the arguments and give
the core area, and suggested the more the other side of the issues which had
sparsely populated region around the been raised. He said studies had pro -
new nursing home would be a more ven that property values around
suitable location; prospective proper- group homes did not go down. He ex-
ty buyers would have a choice as to pressed pleasure that the delegation
whether or not they wished to locate was concerned about the residents'
near a group home. Veri intimated safety, agreeing that Andrew St. was
that if present zoning was carried to not designed to take the flow from a
its extreme, group homes could highway, but noting that danger was
sometime be located at places like the not limited solely to mentally han-
institutional-zoned, curling rink. dicapped adults.
Veri said he did not agree with the
assumption the John St. residents
were being moved to a safer location,
listing the distance of the new location
from the downtown area, the extra
traffic engendered by the nearby beer
store and hotel, and the absence of
traffic .lights.
Other members .of the delegation
began speaking out. One gentleman
pointed out many cars use Andrew St.
as an alternative to Highway 4. A
won}an said she was concerned about
the clients' welfare, and putting them
in an isolated loeatiOn meant "the
neighbours would all have to share
More than two 'dozen unhappy
residents from the neighbourhood
where the South Huron and District
Association for the Mentally Han-
dicapped plan to build a group hoots
overflowed the public gallery of the
Exeter council chamber at the first
regular July session to demonstrate
their opposition to such a home at
George and Alexander Streets. Many
of the objections raised at a public
meeting the previous week were aired
again.
Len Veri led off by saying Exeter's
official plan makes no provision for
group homes on institutional- land.
Councillor.Dorothy Cha 'anon. past
chairman of the planning board, ex -
Firm faces crisis
but silil optimistic
Doug Holmes, manager of the offered to work through their regular
General Homes System plant in lien- vacation if that • would help the
salt, stated Monday that as of this company.
date, the company is not in receiver- Holmes is quite optimistic about the
ship. .Holmes said the parent com- future of the Hensall plant. He pointed
patty. Commodore Corporation of .out it has been in operation for over
Syracuse, Indiana, went into volun- 30 years, and in that time has
tary bankruptcy four weeks ago. established a reputation for turning
"The Hensall division has not fail- out a good quality product. Holmes
ed. Unfortunately, we're affected. by said negotiations are currently under -
events elsewhere that have a pro- way with a number of potential
found effect on the operating ability buyers, all well qualified, financially
of this plant", Holmes explained. sound, and Canadian.
Holmes said Citibank, a major Holmes speaks from experience. Fie
creditor, has asked the Toronto went through a similar crisis in 1975.
branch of Cooper and Lybrand; a when appointed vice-president, of
chartered accountancy firm, to act as Canadian operations for Commodore
their agents. , When contacted in Canada after the parent company in
Toronto, Fairley Cohen. a member of the U.S. declared voluntarybankrupt-
the firm, confirmed that,the company cy ten years ago. He held the four
was not in receivership, but would not - Canadian plants together for 18
comment further. months, at which time a buyer was
Holmes met wittr40 in -plant union found, and the four were sold -intact.
officials last week, outlined the situa- Holmes can not speculate on the
in a wide age
im-
tion,
tion, and asked for fullest cooperation mediate future of the Hensall plant the responsibility of caring for them. residentsrange, shows_
during this crisis from the entire staff ri ht rtoYy,,= f lte scenacioas--stiN�- — Jtm and mem tiy Quiriii yveee war- "*Monty eight`b`fliiagc Tiny liquor Quit
- ctillSi>;titirdrIl iff ee7andrmanage- changing. However, his is confident ried about the devaluation of their side Hensall.
ment personnel, and 136 production a viable, working plant will arise property. They said a prospective The same survey also shows that
workers. Holmes reported the staff's "like a phoenix" from this temporary buyer for their house had lost interest only four patronize the local hotel.
reaction was very responsible. They emergency. after reading about the relocation of Thirty-eight of those polled live in
Hensall and nine were from the im-
mediate area and five were listed as
" from '~elsewhere".
While patronage of Hensall stores
was high, those polled cited the need
for the village to have a hardware
store, clothing store and pharmacy.
Also getting some mention were a din-
ing lounge, variety store. furniture
store, shoe store arid restaurant. . A 14 -year-old Exeter youth sustain -
A swimming pool was listed as top ed facial lacerations after colliding
priority by 18 respondents and youth with a parked vehicle on Saturd(ry.
activities were seen as being needed
most by 27. Other services those poll-
ed would -like to see are a taxi, license
office, fitness club and dentists.
At the present time. only 58 percent
of those polled buy drugs outside of
Hensall, 52 percent go elsewhere for
clothing. 44 percent for shoes, 35 per-
cent for hardware items. 10 percent
for furniture and 13 percent for
gloceries.
-The need for local stores supplying
the needs of the community was given Damage was listed al $9.300 in
higher priority as the age of the another Saturday morning collision
respondents increased. between two vehicles. Drivers involv
•
Teetotallers
prevail
...or stills?
A recent survey on shopping habits
in Hensall indicates the village may
have an exceptionally high number of
teetotallers or there may be some
back -yard stills.
, The survey undertaken by summer
student Dave Rowcliffe from 52
(
GET ATTENDANCE AWARD - The Exeter Post Office staff has won an award in attendance manage-
ment. Above, Zone postmaster Robert Doyle presents a prize to Exeter postmaster Ken Dobney, Pam
DeJong, William Jennings, Bill Lenk, Henry Dyck and Yvonne Phillips. Missing were assistant postmaster
Doug Sweet, Jean Estey and Pauline Brintnell. T -A photo .
Veri upset over competition
from town -owned property
l.en Veri had two complaints when
he appeared before (he .Iuly :t session
of Exeter Council :After acting as one
of the spokesmen for a delegation ob-
jecting to the relocation 01 a group
home -for, mentally handicapped
adults at George and Alexander
streets. Veri stayed on to protest ver-
bally and in writing council's pro-
posal. arrived al in secret. to buy 30
acres of land for Iece1opment
purposes
As someone paying -'upward of
$100,11141 fp property taxes' Veri
resented helping to finance -'unfair
com pet ition ••.
Mayor Bruce Shaw explained that
. property and pefsonnel matters are
invariably discussed in camera. and
the outcome of private; deliberation is
public decision. Shaw said council had
been led to believe high land 'prices
had discouraged development Ile
stated his contention council had an
obligation. to provide land. which in
turn would mean more jobs and a
reduction in the residential tax base.
Veri replied he would buy that
argument if there actually was a
shortage of industrial land. but said
the town still hadn;t bi1111 on its 28
acres. and another 90 was still
available. Ile wanted to know if the
town, like private -dei-elopers. would
bear the cost of servicing the land,
and whether or not those costs wook,
be passed on. 11' warned servicing
could cost Exeter added tnillions,
especially if no land was sold tor a
long period of time.
Veri said he was all in favour of the
acquisition if the town had a waiting
client, but in his opinion land specula-
tion was not in the taxpayers'
interests.
Reeve Bill Mickle told k`eri the
municipal office had tried without
success to obtain a "ballpark figure"
on the selling price of land Veri owns.
Veri replied that many variables such
as lot size, servicing and frontage had
to be taken into consideration, but
that he had provided a "bottom and
top figure".
/Councillor 1)rJrothy Chapman broke
Woman victim
in local assault
A 73 -year old Exeter woman is
'reported in fair and stable condition
at South Huron Hospital following an
assault at her north -end residence
early Saturday morning.
Exeter Police Chief Larry Hardy
said police were called to the
residence and reported that the
woman's 47 -year-old husband is
suspected to have committed the
offence.
At press little. Hardy said the mat-
ter was still under investigation and
charge are expected shortly.
•
t
in to say that the few towns without
their own industrial land are at the
mercy of private developers. She said
council must determine what is best
for all taxpayers, not just one or two.
Veri offered the town two options:
it he is forced to keep his land zoned
industrial to protect the town. he said
Exeter should at least reimburse him
for the currying costs; otherwise..,, he
asked for commercial zoning on part
of his holdings to enable him to sell
some land and retrieve part of his
investment.
• "I can't afford to carry mine and
yours -too he told council. "When 1
had a chance to sell for '100.000 an
acre, 1 couldn't get zoning. You fought
me to death."
Rather than buying the entire .;n
acres at this time, Veri suggested
buying a small portion now and tak-
ing 9n option on the balance.
Society was at a crossroads. the
mayoi philosophised. Shaw said al
one time private enterprise and in-
itiativewere all-important(but in re-
cent years more and more agencies
• with social obligations were entering
the field. He confessed council was
torn between supporting individuals
trying to make an honest dollar on
theirinvestment and taking a roilte
that would benefit the celtmunity as
a whole. Ile promised council would
consider their course of action very
carefully.
As to saturation, Evans said the "It's our job to find places to house
new home would only relocate people the mentally handicapped.. if we on -
already living in Exeter. Ile explain- Iy located where we got the red carpet
ed that the ministry of social and rolled out, we wouldn't locate
community -services stipulated that anywhere... complaints don't deter
for every local group home resident. us... we have been advised the proper -
another from outside the area had to ty is properly zoned... we are going to
he taken in too. buy the property and proceed to build
Evans said the Association was a - a home. We know we won't convert
large employer and ratepayer in the you, but that won't prevent us from
area. choosing to pay property taxes going in', Evans informed his
even though entitled to an exemption. opponents.
lie reiterated what had been said at At this point. Association director
the public meeting about the un- John Gray intervened to elaborate on
suitability of the present site for what Evans said. He promised
renovation or expansion. adding the 24-hour supervision -for the residents,
Association did not plan to build an then pointed out the purpose was not
ugly monstrosity. just to provide room and board, but
Despite the opposilion,.Evans said. to train the clients to be as indepen-
the Association would go ahead with dent as possible. The proposed loca-
its plans Please turn to page 3
BOWLERS IN TOWN -- The Ellison 'travel sponsored mixed pairs
bowling tournament was held Sunday at the Exeter greens. Above
two former Exeter residentsBetty Tilley, left and Fred Tilley. at the
right look over a bowls decision with Lois Haines of Clinton.
Youth suffers cuts
in crash with car
The youth. etho can not be iden-
tified. was riding south on Main St
when he looked down to see what gear
he was riding in. Ile then collided with
the rear of a Vehicle owned by Bon-
nie Baynha►n. Exeter. The youth was
tossed over thehandlebar:s of his hike
and smashed into the ear's rear
wvindow
Damage to the bike was set at' Sim
and $150 the car.
ed were Mildred Chalmers. Exeter.
and Joan F'earney, London. The lat-
ter was northbound 00 Main and the
Exeter driver was pulling out of
George St . to go south on Main when
the crash occurred.
The drivers .rscaped with only
minor injuries/
t )n friday afternoon. a hyo -car col-
lision occurred at the intersection of
Sanders and William St. Drivers were
Marilyn Skinner. Exeter. and Verna
Leitch, Ailsa Craig. The Skinner vehi-
cle was cvastbound on Sanders and the
Leitch vehic•!e was southbound on
1t'ilttam.
Total damage to the vehicles was
estimated at $94111.
O
•
CONCENTRATION -- Jason Jones (left) Jerry Corbett, Stephanie Hovius and Becky Corbett work with
crayons and pictures at the Daily Vocation Bible School of Hensall United Church.
Elstons to discuss health budget
Father, son meet offically
The Huron County Board of Health
is not happy with the province's three
percent budget increase limit and its
chairman intends to meet officially-
with
fficiallywith the ministry of health.
Such a meeting -could bring
together father and Son in a political
forum.
Board of health chairman Bill
Elston said he would he telling the
provincial minister of health of the
hoard's dissatisfaction with the three
percent increase. The minister just
happens to lie. Elslon's son. Murray.
MPP for iluron-Bruce
"it's a distinct gratification for the
people of our riding." Morris
Township reeve Elston said. of his
son's recent appointment in the
Liberal government
"I'm sure he'll try to (10 the .lob to
the test of his ability... said the senior
Elston -
As for the hoard of health's t913.;
operating budget. Reece Elston s;nrt
the county had been expecting a 1 )1
1ercen1 increase over last year's cost.
The Huron health unit had asked for
$1.166.252 for its general program. but
will receive SI.104.400. For family
planning. the health unit had asked
for $31.449. but actually received
$51.737
"This is something I'll he inform-
ing hint Murray . of" said the health
hoard chairman.
Reeve Elston said he hoped his
sons appointment would be beneficial
to Huron County
1