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"an in -- pA ---- 3: p 4 #5 pe He Ad EFA ' Te' * Fhe Lis Sat AY ASS Ie 8, SSK 1 An Yan B_ Beato sional Gis beige | FX NSE Historical Society Annual Meeting Greenbank resident tells of his frustrations fighting expropriation "History should be pre- served, not bulldozed." That was the message conveyed by guest speaker Dr. Morley Pitts, D.C. to an audience of more than 30 members and visitors at the Lake Scugog Historical Society Annual General Meeting held Mon- day, January 19 at Town Hall 1873. Dr. Pitts is a resident of Greenbank and operates a Chiropractic clinic in his home. For the past four years he has been involved in a battle with the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munication in a personal effort to keep his home and property from being expro- priated to make way for highway improvements of Highway 12 north and south of Concession 11 at Green- bank. Believing that expropria- tion is a direct threat to job, marriage and living place, Dr. Pitts remarked that the ordeal of challenging the government during the past four years has been a very disturbing time for him, and it is not over yet. "If you decide to fight, it can last up to 15 years," he stated. "I've already wasted four years CAESAREA COMMUNITY CHURCH SUNDAY: 10 A.M. - Sunday School 11 A.M. - Morning Worship TUESDAY: 7 P.M. - Youth Night - now occupying my life with this struggle. Admitting that he was at first unaware of his legal position regarding the chal- lenge, he stated, "If you can afford a good lawyer, get one." Without sound legal advice and some political strength, there's no way you can win," he said. "Initially, the government offered me 60 per cent of the market value for my entire property. Their second offer was to expropriate only part of the property, but that would mean cutting down the trees at the front of the lot, and re-directing the high- way to within one foot of the living room window," he exclaimed. Dr. Pitts remarked that the idea of his home being situated so close to a heavily travelled high- way gave him more than one nightmare. He cited the large snow plows and tractor-trailers as being a definite cause for personal concern, at that stage. As the battle went on and surveying by government continued, Dr. Pitts said that he was informed of an altern- ate site for the highway development. This piece of land was already owned by the government, but if used instead of his own property it could have posed even great- er safety hazards to the people in this area, he claimed. After numerous meetings and two hearings of necessity, the question of expropriation was still unanswered in his mind. "I had been told they were going to seek an alternate site only to hear later that PLT ToT ICICI SCC TalaTaToTele ASA 525e5¢5¢ 25¢525252525252525¢25 § < = Q ICCC OPEN: Mon., Tues., <3 Paar 203 Queen Street - Port Perry OPEN: Thursday & Friday -9to 9. 3 - EAR PIERCING - BY APPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS : - WATCH & JEWELLERY REPAIRS - H 0 Wed., & Sat.-9to06. la TaTL TT ATATAT 252525252525 25257575252625 25252626 - BELTONE HEARING AID BATTERIES - COC Top Lop Lon Lop Lop ap am ST a kT 525252525252525¢5e5¢5¢5¢ Teh Tako Tels co To ae [ca oh [ce [oh Tc [cb] 525¢5¢ Any 4 Items ona 12" Pizza Mon. - Thurs. 4to 12 P.M. Fri. & Sat. 4to 1:30 A.M. Sunday 4to 11 P.M. PIZZA BONANZA Mon., Tues., & Wed. Only thru Jafuary 1981. SHURE 80 WATER STREET - PORT PERRY Wi *4.44 985-8448 they were gearing up to use my property," he explained as he described the see-saw battle. "I strongly urge anyone who is facing expropriation to seek as much community and political support as they can," Pitts advised. 'This support can aid your case if you have to attend hearings, etc., rather like strength in numbers. Fighting any government action takes a lot of clout", he added. Dr. Pitts also spoke on the tactics used by government representatives which confused and at times frus- trated him during the ordeal. "They've got the time and funds to hold out, that increases power for their side," he claimed. Morley Pitts and his family have not won their struggle against expropri- ation and an even more costly aspect still looms in their future. The fight for his land has been lost, but he says, "We will have the house moved. The house itself is irreplaceable, so we'll just have to look for a suitable site for its reloc- ation. As yet, we haven't been able to acquire the land," claimed Pitts. The cost of the move is estimated in excess of $85,000. The purchase price of the new site will have to be added on to that, he added. Dr. Pitts says that he will appeal to the Land Compen- sation Board sometime in the spring, in an effort to recover part of his financial loss from the expropriation settlement. But he stated, "The toll on the human aspect is very high." There is no compensation for that. Pitts said he was support- ed in his struggle by Scugog Mayor Jerry Taylor and Bill Newman, MPP for Durham- York. "You have to have some political strength and support in a personal dealing with the government," he advised. In his closing remarks, Dr. Pitts stated that it is a very expensive venture setting out to fight expropriation, win or lose. '"'But,"' he said, "people must put forth the effort where personal or historical properties are concerned. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The meeting Monday night was chaired by the president of the Lake Scugog Histori- cal Society, Barbara Phair who expressed satisfaction with the increased interest the paying public has shown during the past year regard- ing the activities of the society. Also held during this meet- ing was the election of the 1981 slate of officers for the Society. They are as follows. Executive: Past President-Barbara Phair; President-Dora Martyn; Vice President-Russ Baird; Secretary-June Baird; Trea- surer-Marg Bruce; Histor- ian-Barb Short; Curator- Trish Holman. Directors for 1981 are: Al Bertrand, Bill Brock, John Bruce, Bill Graham, Jack "Kane, Dorthea Koch, Doug Miller, Beryl Pearce, Wilmot Phair, Iva Phoenix, Charles Reesor, Joan Scott, Hazel Slemmon, Marg Van Camp, and Fred Christie. LY nlp dalidrasden snaidin Morley Pitts of Greenbank has been involved in a four year battle over expropriation of this house to make way for highway widening. He spoke of the experiences at the Scugog Historical Society annual meeting in Port Perry hm es ee ce ee sn Fl LIE a Fd AA NE eid tate A] ' Fes BPE) - NESE Sh 1 I PA pe dagh h rebalidsitam ify' wpb inin ore AG th atin PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed., January 28, 198) -- 3 ' Men's - Ladies' - Children's COATS & BOOTS 25% to 50% DISCOUNT ON Ladies' Dresses 25% OFF Ladies' Sweaters Winter Velours & Brushed CHILDREN'S WEAR RACK Assorted Garments 25% OFF -- AW. BROCK | DEPARTMENT STORE = QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY (Merchandise Not Exactly as Illustrated.) Weblog Ab AA HAN ip Vir Sse SerdorTctin ' : ANY Olen Housecoats Re Cf. BEE re ie