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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-10-24, Page 3Reeve aspires for mayor ry.d� Council to get new look Reeve Deb Shewfelt has an- nounced his intentions to seek the office ..of the . Maypr for the Town of Goderich • in the Decembkr 2 municipal election. He reached his' decision after the . announcement two weeks -d DEB SHEWFELT ago of Mayor Harry Worsen. who is retiring from council of-, ter nine years of service. Bur Reeve Shewfelt is hoping he will 'have some serious lop - position for the post, In fact; he is anticipating plenty of interest • in allpositions on council. hope there's an election for all, seats", Reeve Shewfelt told council last week, ° Reeve Shewfelt spent four years 'as a councillor before becoming reeve two years ago. He is presently the chairman of the Public Works Committee of Council. He is with the W.J. Hughes Real Estate Company Ltd. here in Goderich, and is also a direc• tor of Delbar Investments of Goderich Limited.' Reeve Shewfelt and his wife Barbara have three children. They reside at 210 Keays Street. The decisions of Mayor Wor- sell and -Reeve Shewfelt have set off a' chain, reaction of changes on council. Deputy -reeve Stan Profit has' announced he will seek the BY PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU PRIME MINISTER The Throne Speech opening the 30th Parliarf`ie't commits ,my Government to .a set of programs to tackle inflatiron in what promises to be one of the busiest sessions in history. Inflation is the major problem.facing Canada and the best of the world, but it is a problem to be diagnosed and dealt with in a sense of priority and not panic. The Government clearly states in'the Throne Speech that it will exercise all possible restraint in its spending • - short of measures that would deliberately cause slack in •the economy and throw people out of work. The three main thrusts that the Government has already followed in combatting inflation and to which new impetus will be added•are:- steps to increase the,supply of goods and services so that shortages will not shoot prices up. Among the measures proposed to increase food production are incentives to farmers and fishermen, including the stabilization of in- comes,and markets protection of those least able to help themselves. Legisla- tion in this area includes more aid for older citizens and war veterans; including,lension increases and lowerin�of some age,tequirements cushioning of some of the harshness of inflation experi- enced by Canadians. For example, we will ask authoriza- tion for the one -price system for oil across Canada. The list of legislation introduced at the opening of Parlia- ment touches every. Canadian. ; Food production will be assisted by continued international action to ensure •that Canada has full coastal rights, incliding conservation of fish stock. . - The Fpod Prices Review Board will be_ extended through 1975 to continue its watch`on prices. - Consumers will be, helped byt anti -profiteering legislation to ensure against unacceptable profit -levels, The Combines 'Investigation Act will be amended to crack down harder on uncompetitive business practices such as m'is- • leading advertising. , - Home seekers .will be aided through federal financia1 assist- ance, to reduce the cost of serviced land and encourage land assembly. - The Registered Home Owners' Savings Plan also w• ill help home buyers. - Energy supplies will be furthered by the establishment of Petro -Canada, the national petroleum corporation: - There will be greater 'financial and other support for small business. - Job hunters will be helped by increased ,manpower efforts to ensure that trained Canadians are in the right place at the right time to fill job vacancies. ,,, • - Steps will be taken to increase, Canadian- processing of the, country's natural resources bound for 'export, ' thereby making more, jobs available. Transport" remains a keyconcern to people in a country as big as Canada, and muirh attention will be given in this Par- liament to improving this prime factor in the country's social and economic life. • • I believe you yvill find that our program is well-planned and- imaginative, We are ready for a very heavy session. We ex- pect it to be a very profitable'one for. Canadians. 0 position of reeve and Mrs. Eileen Palmer,, elected to coun- cil two years go, will seek to fill the Deputy -reeve's seat. Another two-year councillor, Bill Clifford,` has decided to contest either the •I,eeve's chair or the deputy -reeve's post. However,- when interviewed by the Signal -Star on. Tuesday of this week, he still had made no firm decision about which position he' will cntest. The remaining, four coun- cillors will ,seek re-election to coupcil. Councillor Dave Gower announced his intentions two weeks ago. Councillors Elsa Haydon, Leroy Harrison and Frank Walkom made their decisions'public only this week. This, ' of course, leaves 'two 1975-76 council seats vacant at the present moment. The nomination period closes Tuesday, November 12 at: 5 p,rn. Persons seeking election to a council position must have ten signatures of citizens who will' support them in their bid. Forms •are available at the municipal office. (lOI)ERICH SIGNAL, -STAR, TLUJRSPAY, OCTOBER, 24 1974 PAoE; 3 `4 d, .,..Pro.". ,. Bulldozers went to work on the site of the recently approved Suncoast Plaza only hours after the approval was given. Tuesday afternoon representatives of A&P were at the location to check over.their new store Location in Goderich. The men were accompanied by representatives from Suncoast and the town. From left to right are Dave Gower, chairman of the Goderich ,Planning Board; Don Snider, representing the ar- chitects; Bert Alexander' of Suncoast; Stan Profit, deputy- reeve; Ken Hutchins of Suncoast; Bill 'Beacom, assistant manager of the Goderich A&P; and Gard Hall, district meat merchandising manager for the A&P. (staff -photo) Approve Suncoast p�azq...... (continued from page 1) she was opposed to the proposal to revoke Bylaw 34. She called it a "good and proper bylaw".and she said•no new evidence had been presen- ted throughout the course of all the discussions to convince her otherwise. 'As far as I am, personally • concerned, she stated, "it is •still a good and proper bylaw." She • also made it perfectly clear she was not opposed to the establishment of a shopping plaza in Goderich. She, was only opposed to the condition set slut by the businessmen that, Bylaw 34 be revoked and a new bylaw passed. "Are you willing' to accept the criticism of ,the ratepayers and the businessmen in this regard?" asked Mr. Shrives. • "Yes I am," answered Mrs. Haydon. ex,Mr. Shrives -then, informed t hearing that as long as there was one objection,'•no im- mediate decision could 'he reached on the matter the chair -'•and •a special council meeting got underway. Dan Murphy reviewed, in detail, the happenings leading up to .that present moment. He said the OMB approval of- the settlement • had been con- ditional upon Town Council amending; Plan Amendment 5 to conform with the proposal or dejtructiM and -provided put forth at the hearing -G that further that such reconstruc- is; making -the entire area boon- • tion shall;` be completed and ded by Nelson Street on the reuse commenced' within two' north, Victoria Street.:o the• years frim the time of such east, Elgin Avenue • on ,the n damage• or destruction." .• south, and the area to the back Murphy called these com- property lines on the west :side promises "not perfect • hut •of ...South Street . and North reasonable". Street, general commercial with "It is up . to council to residential uses permitted. The decide, he'c•ommented. plan also called for the Councillor Dave Gower said Colborne Street district to he. was. not "totally satisfied" remain residential ,and the with the financial settlement Montreal Street block to be between Suncoast and the designated Restricted Commer- businessmen. He said some tial. 'Market Street was zoned costs had been, incurred by the residential.,town in these proceedings• and Also , to he amended was .he felt that some consideration Bylaw 2,of 1974 to spell out the shpuldhave been made for this. maximum gross floor area of •"There should have been the •Suncoast plaza (100,000 som-e'resti'tution as far asthe • feet) m4nicipality is concerned," this ' section, he prohibited by this .bylaw; provided that such residential dwelling was in existence and esed for such purpose on the day of the. passing 'of this bylaw and is- • continuously used for the pur- poses ' of a residential, dwelling 'up to the time of such. damage Mr. Murphy then asked for a `'quare The Oeficial Plan was to be Grower pammented. Ministry of Ho'sin'g freezing Shrives and resumed his seat. 10 minute recess duringdwhich amended by adding 'the-,, the process. of P commercial development in the _Ici_a.telephiine interview with time he said he would speak following: "and for this -put- gassing the necessary bylaws Township of Goderich". Mr. Thompson Tuesday • to Mrs: Haydon". After the pose, re•asonable,efforts'should began: Bylaw 47 was passed to "Unfortunately; no action evening, it was learned that recess, Mrs. Haydon told the be exercised by •council acting amend Bylaw 2 (size restriction was taken, under this recom- although ••Goderich Township board she would withdraw her in cooperation with the on the plaza floor spac•el. • mendation 'until after a had been assured it would be • objection. She said she'd been businessmen of the central Bylaw 48 was. passed to , • building' permit was authorized able to make a presentation at reminded, that i.f Bylaw 34 was business district,• to provide repeal Bylaw 34 and pass a .• for •issuanc:e by Resolution of 'the hearings . this, •week, revoked and a new one passed, adequate off -'street .parking new•hvlaw do amend Bylaw 29, the Council of the Township of hearings ended before 'their that new •bylaw would have to •1 f h t C h 1972 ( ning some portions of Goderich during the month Of brief was •hea•rc}• be circulated and citizens in - that further news of tenants for the plaza would be reported in the -• upcoming, weeks. He promised a more complete run- down of plans for the .plaza next week. BUSINESSMEN CRITICIZED While $un'coast officials were elated over the turn of, events which permitted them tor• go' ahead with their plaza; plans, the downtown • businessmen cane in for some criticism' for their part in the agreement. The financial settlement was the greatest concern for most bystanders. In a release from the Goderich Businessmen's Association handed to the press Monday afternoon following the hearings; the position of the local businessmen was clearly Outlined. It was duly noted that in August of 1973,, three mon- ths prior to the issuance of the ''building permit to' Rockledge. by Goderich''Township Council, the businessmen had requested Goderich Town Council. to seek a "ministerial Order from the convinced their case was strong and would have stood a good chance of receiving a favorable decision, felt a plaza was inevitable even with a favorable OMB'�hearing. They reasoned that since, they had not been able to test their case against Suncoast in Court, Sun - coast should return a " least a portion Of the businessmen's expenses to them•. Obviously, Suncoast agreed. 'The $6,,500 in a trust account - for improvements downtown will achieve this end of retur- ning money to the merchants in a way to benefit all equally. TOWNSHIP POSITION . R. E. Thompson, clerk for Goderich Township, sat quietly at the OMB hearings in. Goderich Monday, until nearly the end. Then he asked if he might speak on behalf of his council. He was' told by Mr. Shrives that he could not speak without a proper resolution of 'council being presented to the board. Mr. Thompson thanked Mr. Winter .racing still possible for Goderich facilities or eac par o sus rezo ' district (either. •directly • or. , the` downtown district). On this .. November 1973," the brief 'Mr. Thompson said , the valved in it would ha ve . through any parking authority. b,vlaw,r Councillor Haydon painted 'out: ' Township of Goderich had no it. It established for' the purpose), asked for a recorded vote. This Then, on the same day as the • objections to a shopping plaza portunity to object to would' not necessarily becomeOMB hearing; grit underway in in . the •town of .Goderiich: • -In and ,to _upgrade sidewalks; vote showed the was the only fact, the tciwnsliip has no objet law. lighting wand landscapii'ng •ap- councillor opposed to 'the Goderich — .161v 15, 1974 — "You still, have a •bat -g various member of �'tlne tions to several plaids in tleground on which to fight it,". retaining ately, all with a view to decision. Goderich, said Mr. Thompson. Mr. Shrives agreed.' . retaining the- charm and $,law. 49 was passed to Association °'received by mail The township does object, ofthe economic viability of the sen adopt the minutes of sets lement c cipies of a restricted a"tea though, to the location of the That little delay out tral business district centred on presented at the hearint, f,arlier bylaw (Bylaw 34) which had way, the OMB officials lost no the Court House Square so that • in the day, si ned by the Suncoast plaza, On the g the effect of inipoSing serious perimeter of town, right across tir>?te in handing clown a the same will be encouraged to solicitor on -behalf of the town. limitations upon the ability of decisii>n in fever of the Com --remain a retail commercial ' Mrs. Haydon was also opt osee! the central business district til the highway from township promise They promised that h'th t f th Bylaw l retail commercial uses property; the township is, con centre competitive with a o to is • 'enlarge i I . ' providing the municipality ac- the shopping 'centre to he • Then Councillor Bill Clifford beyond those locations where cerned about complaints,' from ted "with dispatch" on its part shoppers and plaza tenants • of the a ree'ment, "the board established under this. amend- intreduc•ed -a motion, the wor such 'ties .are presently. g % f h'` h uggekted by 1„ would `.`do everything in 'its' to speed up the process. k' Mak that upon the presen- that r to July 15 1974 the alike. Since the prevailing menta, it being the intention ding o w, is was s situates -` winds are westerly, the that the foregoing provisions Suncoast solicitor Earl Cher- The Association complained town - power SPECIAL' COUNCIL MEETING Representatives of Suncoast, the businessmen and town council left the hearings to reconvene almost immediately in the council chambers. Mayor Harry Worsell was attending a convention in Oshawa and Reeve Deb Shewfelt was 'on business out of .4own, . but Deputy -Reeve Stan'Profit took s Ainslie Market Limited 106 THE SQUARE s2a..ess, STEAK SPECIAL Porterhouse, Centre Sirloin, & T-bone Steaks (Save 80c from August prides) ••V� ib. ° ► .aa► .. ,J. ►..aw. .. .aa',.r•+*...v.- ►ah.'v....a.-a:d.•+►.0rve.haW ►i. •.....W,... Extra lean GROUND CHUCK STEAK 88c ,Ib. "►..1..- ►..' .., ,1�d.• ,. M'!.V..'i�.." .. ►.:°ar..".,r..1.:'Ar..'�.:y►.. Ie....1H. `01....0.,."a •0 No Back fresh "g MEATY' CHICKEN LEGS 79c Ib. r.aa�,►,.wA.-►.aY�...1►a.r►..:•�.a:•'�Ar•�i�.*►.iN+►•ao..!t e•►A. ,iN•�.aN•r►.."a.�11W1.+H�a►� FREEZER SPECIALS- (Cut free) HIND QTRS. BEEF $1.1.5 lb. a Lear~ SIDES OF YOUNG PORK P E 69c Le. -ship feels farm odors -might relating to off-street par ing prig , facilities shall be interpreted on teflon of plans and specs which businessmen were not con cause concern for. the plaza.All- this would not be so bad the basis, that when one or . comply with Bylaw 2 of 1974 as suited in relation to matters if It thick could be more • such 'facilities. is amended and building bylaws, 'contained in' that bylaw, if Godo that Township move would:be established to serve, a liar- Of the town of" Goderich, .the • Accordingly, the' Association amade d take this farmland out, titular •part of the central building inspector he "directed brought formal objection -of production • because of the business district, then thereaf and "'authorized to issue a against Bylaw 34 and its com possible, odor problem. ter consideration will he given building permit"(), Suncoast panion, Amendment No.. 5 to Goderich Township is anxious ' to the reduction or elimination Estates. ' ' ' ' the Official Plan of Goderich• land fus of the need for on-site parking ."I'' am completely in Objection to Amendment 5 to agricultural to retain thispuposes. at each . separate business agreement with this motion," the. Official Plan was referred There is a feeling as well by• location in respect of retail said Councillor Haydon: "I am to the OMB. Goderich . Township 'Council commercial establishments now pleased to see that the wording • Ho•wevgr, • when . the, that , development follows existing sir hereafter developed in noway is tied down to the' Rockledge building permit was , development. This fact further. within such particular part. • wheeling and dealing ;that has found to' be valid •and,.,when the threatens the agricultural land The financing for such off- gone on just,recently. Association.' received a letter to the south of Goderich, Coun- street parking may he accom- Everyone chuckled and the from the legal department of the plished either by the Town or vote was unanimouscit feels. Development ..to the . the Ministry of Housing in- east, however, would not con- cern by the Town and .the ;• (Heating that "it is the present cern Goderich Township Coun- husinessmen• of the central SUNCOAST UNDERWAY intention of the Ministry not to oil since this area is already business district." Early Tuesday morning, take proreedins to attempt to considerably built up and the Murphy explained that_ this there was .plenty of -activity at set aside' the .Order of --the land is not all that suitable fore portion does "no more than the Suncoast plaza site., By Division Court" which ruled farming operations in the first reflect the present intentions of noon, Gord Hall of A & P's the permit vtilid, , the place• the council". Toronto office was in town for businessmen acknowledged" Goderich Township Council 4' "There is no legal obligation. picture taking at the location of '''that a plaza' was assured for further believes that Highway on the "council to spend his company's new store in the Goderich. • tiers boor access to the town anything," he said, "but• ter- plaza, Decision was reached 21 a two-lane winding highway tainly the Official Plan is a • Mr. Hall 'advised the store ,therefore, that if a shopping "as opposed to a four-lane guide •t'he council should would he located -at the, north plaza is •to he a fact, then the follow." • end of thee plaza, He said it straight throughway alo g the J Association would prefer to Highway 8 approach. ,,, The bylaw ti, replace Bylaw would he ' a big modern store see such a Shopping centre 34 was to have the• following annex: Nothing in this•hylawvenees of the larger city the Town of Goderich where are all' in the south-westerly • contained shall prevent the •ens cii4'. He said. it would he proper, .planning ' controls part of the municipality, it is reionstruction for re -use as a modelled, after the rtes A & P c,Nist'- , - further cause. Goderich re 4idential' dwelling' of, any store in Stratford. Expenses to that date for the furthe hip cause for to believe residential ,dwelling, damaged Incltided in the store,' Mr.. .businessmen -were in excess of that it is poor planning to'have or destroyed by act of God .or Hall advised, would be a $15,000, This money had been a plaza in the Same distt•ict. It fire or other similar cause not- • delicatessen as well as a com- necessary to. complete surveys �« puts every child in the withstanding tits• si.ic•h recon- plete line of fruits and and to prepare a case for the municipality in child ,because struction and reuse of such vegetables;' cheese, frozen foods OMB hearings.— a case which of the increased Inger , tau'decoe residential dwelling wouldt - etc. was now never to be presented, dingfto Clerk Thompson, • were it not•'foP the provisions of Bert Alexander announced The. businessmen, although Winte) racing~" at the Goderich Raceway may still be a possibility despite the delayed communications between Goderich Town Council, the Trotting Association and. Lon- don promoter, Loren Cassina. The issu as assumed closed when ` r. Cassina failed • to present his. proposal for the winter racing project= to the' council two weeks ago. The London man was to meet with a special council committee but could not make the commit- ment. The rumor surrounding the lack of communication was that council was reluctant to deal with Mr,. Cassina, accor- ding' to Reeve Deb Shewfelt: Mayor Worsell denied the claim and said that every effort had been made' to expedite .matters but •for some reason Mr. Cassina could not meet with 'the . committee. Following the council meeting Mr. Cassina and the committee arranged an early morning meeting but again the London man could not be here. Finally last Friday after another failure to meet, the town submitted their proposals to the Trotting Association to be forwarded to Mr: Cassina. ' This 'done the company 'proposing the inter,races will snake. any adjustments to the agreement they' feel necessary and return their proposal to the town for decision. . The terms of the agreement between the town and the promoters were designed to protect the town from any liabilities that may be incurred - during the track's operation. Three major items that the town insisted on were a perfor- mance bond against any new construction an insurance policy against liability and a• fire insurance policy- on' the grandstands and barns. ' with all the variety an d Add to this the fact that all can developed within the limits of schonl5••4and recreation facilities' The.performance bond is for a minimum of $100,000 in new construction. This protects the town' against any judgement of -payment on building costs. If the firm faits to pay the bills the town cannot be approached by the building ,supply coffi- n Pay. , The liability insurance policy is for the one million dollars and covers the . starids,, barn area and. .park. This would protect the town from lawsuits by anyone who is injured -while at the races. The 'town required a fire in- surance policy that adequately covers the barn area and the -grandstand and this policy • must he produced prior to any (continued on page 6) Mr. Thompson spoke of the •increasing "pressure" on town- ship 'council to turn over agricultural land for develop- men°t.' He felt that more.concern must be shown for soil con- ditions when planning develop- • ment in rural areas. He pointed out the `"`gravelish soil" to the east:of Goderich which lends it- self so well for development but is not all that valuable as far as farming operations is concer- ned. WHAT'S NEXT? It is doubtful if the battle is iwer where plaza development is concerned in Goderich and area. There is'still time for ap- peals, There is :still time for deals. Are two , plazas possible? Anything is possible but it is doubtful if two plazas are probable. As the businessmen's brief stated: "While this Association questions the - feasibility of any new shopping centre being developed in the' vicinity of • the ..Town, .of Goderich, no one contends that feasibility exists for two such shopping centres." But wait. One man did con- tend that 'two.shopping plazas would be "the best thing that ever happened to Goderich". He's .Jim Magee, a man with 40 years of planning experience who is now a member of Goderich Area Planning gbard. He made the statement at a public meeting October 16 in the assessment office attended by 70 people to discuss the businessmen's complaint about the restrictiveness of,Bylaw 34. The wisdom of Mr. 1Vlagee's .statement may be challenged - but in'the meantime, the game questions posed 1!y the Signal. Star in the December 6 issue last year may still be pertinent: "One plaza? Two plazas? No plazas?"