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-- Sis ts cs Se oe SW ens "i 6 figs Subdivision contract goes to Don Sherk Tender choice causes council rift "We're completely violating the tendering procedure. We have set a precedent that we're going to find very hard to swallow."' That's what town councillor Mary Rogers ha' say about the decision made by council The Penetang citizen 46 pages Wednesday, April 20, 1977 Thursday night to reject a report by con- sulting engineer Dr. Philip Jones calling for the acceptance of the lowest tender for the installation of services in the town sub- division. of Colour Comics uishene Vol. 10, No. 16 20 cents A group of about 35 interested citizens Monday. night elected the 11 directors of the Pen Glen Corporation for 1977. The directors, named at the meeting held in the gymnasium at Ecole St. Joseph, are Dr. David McQueen, of Glendon College, - Dave Phillips, of Georgian College, Dr. Fran Wilson, John Bayfield, Marcel Bellehumeur, Rejeanne Guay-Galbraith, Martin Lalonde, Sister Angeline Moreau, Jim Park, Gil Robillard and Mary Rogers. Also nominated were Ray Baltax' Roland Desroches, Ellie Van den Heuvel, of Georgian College in Penetanguishene, and Len Maheu. Only four of the elected directors are new™ members of the board. They are John Bayfield, Martin Lalonde, Jim Park and Gil Robillard. They replace Ray Baker, the former president, Roland Desroches, and Len Maheu, who failed to get re-elected, and Joan Northcott, who decided not to run again. At a meeting of the board after the public meeting, Martin Lalonde was named president of the corporation, Sister Angeline Moreau was named vice-president of the corporation, Sister Angeline Moreau was named vice-president, Gil Robillard was named treasurer, and Marcel Bellehumeur was given the post of secretary. In opening the meeting, outgoing president Ray Baker told the assembled group that 1976 had been a successful year for the corporation, and that they had "welded together a team of people who had not worked together before." He noted that they had incorporated, and made up a con- stitution, setting up ground rules. "It's been a year of hard work,' he said, and he thanked everyone for their active participation. After the meeting; he said, "'I'm pleased with the way the elections went. They have a strong team...a new team."' In the annual treasurer's report, Marcel Bellehumeur began with the preliminary, "If the words aren't to be more numerous than the dollars, I'll be very brief." He said the corporation did receive some considerable donations over the year, but they had mostly been spent. At present, the group has $10.16 in the bank, and a rental payment of $15.00 for the post office box is due. The report suggested that the town accept a bid of $106,171.00 from Arnott Construction in Collingwood, but the five councillors present at the meeting voted three to two in favour of accepting a bid of $106,536.50 by Don Sherk Construction of Penetanguishene. One of the chief proponents of awarding the contract to Don Sherk, Ray Baker, said, "'the jobless rate is terrible in this area. I think that the extra $400 is a good investment if it provides local jobs for local people." "My main concern is to keep those in the area who are employed working for as long as possible," he said. He pointed out that one of the main points made at the Industrial Development Seminar held at the Sandy Bay Inn a couple of weeks ago was that the municipality should begin by looking after industries which are already here. "There is a large amount of money to be spent, and we should keep it in the area," he said. } There was some question over the legality of the move though, as both Rogers and councillor Ron Bellisle, the two who voted in favour of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder, Arnott, pointed out that Don Sherk had been allowed to change his tender after they had all been opened. The three coun- sillors who voted in favour of awarding the contract to Don Sherk were Baker, Ken Tannahill and Frances St. Amant. The original tender from Sherk 'Con- struction had stated that the job could be done in 25 weeks, while the Arnott bid had promised to have the work done in eight weeks. Council was subsequently told that the Sherk company could actually complete the work in five weeks. Baker said he interpreted the time limit as a maximum, and he felt the company was now saying it could come in under the maximum it had quoted. He said it did no New Pen-Glen directors elected "If we don't do anything," he said, "we're all right for about four months." He told anyone who wants to donate any money to give it to him. "I won't be leaving town for a wee while,'"' he said. Dr. David McQueen told the meeting he was pleased with the progress over the past year, and said, 'the democratic nature of this meeting is a hopeful sign."' He mentioned that the group was hoping to have a French drama group use the site this summer, even though there are as yet no buildings. 'Place Concorde could, in a very small way, be operational this summer," he said. Re ay ik heli Mary Rogers told the group she was hoping there could be a meeting in the near future between the finance committee of the town, and the Pen Glen finance committee, with a view to renewing the financial commitment made to the project by last year's council. That agreement stipulated that the town would contribute one dollar for every two dollars collected by the Pen Glen fund raising campaign, up to a maximum municipal donation of $15,000. Exhibits were plentiful at PSS. P.S.S. teacher Don Limoges demon- Strates some of the finer points of the operation of the oscilloscope to two of his students at the P.S.S. open house Monday night. Displays were set up in a number of classrooms for the benefit of parents and interested outsiders who visited the school. Staff photo Numerous activities planned 4 Education Week is underway Education Week got off on the right foot in Penetanguishene Sunday, as an ecumenical program was held at Penetanguishene Secondary School. The master of ceremonies for the occasion was Don Beatty, the principal of P.S.S. Mayor Vince Moreau was there, representing the town, and Father Justin Desroches, Reverend Sid Maddock and Reverend Al Farthing provided the spiritual leadership. The program was bilingual, and the P.S.S. band under the baton of John Coull, provided the music. On Monday night, everyone was invited to P.S.S. once again for an open house. Every department had displays and demonstrations for the enjoyment of the parents and other interested people who came out. In the gym, physical education students provided displays of acrobatic skill on the trampoline, box horse and mats, while others showed off their skills at volleyball. On Tuesday night, parents were invited to Corpus Christi school to hear presentations on the proposed Family Life Program, and on Tuesday mor- ning, parents of Kindergarten students were invited to Ecole St. Joseph for an open house. Tonight, there will be an open house for pupils of the Annex at St. Joseph's, and the Galliard Ensemble Musical Trio will perform at St. Joseph's. At Corpus Christi there will be a science fair and a puppet show for primary classes and interested parents. Thursday, it's gymnastics at Corpus Christi in the evening, and open house in the afternoon for parents of Kin- dergarten pupils and grades three to eight at St. Joseph's. At P.S:S. it's the finals of the area three Fastmatics competition, and at Ecole Ste. Croix in Lafontaine, there will be an open house from 6:30 to 8:30. Parents are invited to meet the teachers and the principal, and to see displays prepared by the pupils. The week wraps up at 9:00 Friday morning with a discussion about Education Week at St. Joseph's. =_ yore? eT here Oe CL Leh elle ele lee ee ee le ee ee tet ee ee el ee ee ee en ee really represent a change in the tender. He also pointed out that the town is not obligated to award the contract to the lowest bidder, a fact which was made clear to all the bidders before tenders were closed. The town has scheduled another meeting for tomorrow night, in order to talk to representatives of Arnott Construction, but town clerk Yvon Gagne said yesterday he doesn't see how council could change its mind without appearing foolish. Meanwhile, Don Sherk said Monday he's willing to start work as early as today if he can get an agreement with the town signed. "T've been instructed to come in on Wed- nesday, and so we'll probably start work on Wednesday,"' he said. He said he was pleased to have been awarded the contract. '"'Our company needs the work," he said. Sherk plans to attend the meeting tomorrow night if it turns out to be an open meeting, to find out exactly what is going on. Gagne said Thursday's meeting will be an open meeting as far as he knows, although there is a possibility that council will vote to go into a committee of the whole and close the meeting. Another contract, for the restoration of the sand pit in the municipal sub-division, was awarded last Thursday, night to Disher- Farrand, a Willowdale firm. No decision on Wintario draw The Penetanguishene Chamber of Com- merce is still awaiting word from Global Television Network on whether or not the curling club is a suitable site for a Wintario Draw, but it is going ahead with plans for this year's Summerfest. Chamber office manager Ruth Rose said the Summerfest is definitely on for the weekend of June 25, and will be one of the topics of discussion at a meeting of the chamber's board of directors tomorrow night. She said she thought there was about a 75 per cent chance that the Wintario draw will be held in Penetanguishene, but Global is waiting for a report from Bell Canada on the suitability of the curling club. She said she hopes to get a yes or no soon. 29 Spring is a time when young boys take to the streets on their banana seat bicycles and demonstrate their balance and agility. One hot-dog cyclist in town over the weekend was An up and coming daredevil? Martin MclIntaggart of Chatham Street, proving you don't need a big engine to pop a wheelie. Staff photo Town, ratepayers disagree on -- proposed Brule Heights solution A draft bylaw to amend the town's zoning bylaw with respect to the Brule Heights sub- division came under heavy fire from ratepayers at a special meeting of planning board last Thursday night. The bylaw would allow for residential buildings containing not more than six residential units, on three lots facing onto Burke Street west of Dufferin, four single family buildings on Dufferin Street between Burke and Brule, two buildings containing not more than 18 residential units in total and not exceeding two storeys in height on the south side of Brule Street, and semi-detached residences along the north side of Brule on both sides of Le Carron. The town's planning consultant, Ross Raymond, told the planning board the bylaw was a result of negotiations between the town and the developer, Romeo Asselin, and between the town and the ratepayers. He said, "'I think we succeeded in being fair to Mr. Asselin and to the ratepayers." Raymond told the board Asselin had a subdivider's agreement with the town, and has already installed services in the area on the basis of the original zoning proposals. He said Asselin has agreed to a pattern of development with somewhat lower density. Raymond said he had been concerned that the population density in the original proposal had been too high. 'I told Mr. Asselin, I told the town, and I told the ratepayers," he said. He said he was now satisfied as a planner that the draft bylaw presented Thursday night was a good one. He pointed out that the "gross project density"' for both phases of the Brule Heights development was 18.3 persons per acre, within the limits set out in the town's official plan. Ross Spearn, a' member of the planning board who declared a conflict of interest in the affair since he lives in the Brule Heights, acted as one of the ratepayers' spokesmen at the meeting. He said it looked to him as though all the negotiations which had taken place had been between the town and the developer . He said the ratepayers were doing all the giving. Spearn said the development fits with the numbers, as far as density is concerned, but it still represents a substantial change from what the homeowners in the area thought was going to happen when they were buying their homes. : Don Charlebois told the board that ac- cording to his figures, the difference between the draft bylaw and the original proposal came out to a reduction of 16 persons in the whole subdivision. Raymond told Charlebois he felt he had gone as far with negotiations as is possible. He said he had made recommendations he feels are right, and the Ontario Municipal Board will have to make the final decision. Charlebois countered that there had been no open negotiations, and said the town was letting the OMB make its decisions for it. A counter-proposal to the draft bylaw was brought forward by Ken St. Amant, another spokesman for the ratepayers. ms His suggestion was that if single family dwellings were built along the north side of Brule, to the west of Le Carron and on four lots immediately to the.east of Le Carron, the ratepayers would not object to the rest of the plan. He added that the ratepayers would not object to a reduction in the frontage required for these single family dwellings so the developer could squeeze in a few more houses and possibly recoup some of his loss. The board agreed to consider the counter- proposal along with the draft bylaw before a regular meeting of the board tonight, at which time a decision will be made on whether or not to recommend to council that it accept the draft bylaw. Early this week, St. Amant said the ratepayers were reasonably optimistic about the results of Thursday's meeting. "TI don't know if we're going to get any place, but I thought the planning board thought we were reasonable," he said. "I was sort of pleased, but I have reservations."' He said, '"'I hope we don't go through an OMB hearing again..Nobody wins. We're prepared to, but I hope we don't have to."' St Amant said he was pleased with the presentation made by the ratepayers. "I found it nice in the sense that we could talk," he said. "We just stated our facts. We didn't want to go in yelling and screaming." He said he thought the main blame for the whole situation lay with the town. The town changed the very first Brule Heights proposal, which was for all single family dwellings, to multiple family after it was told by the Ministry of Housing that it did not have any plans for multiple family housing in the town. After it decided to let Asselin develop the area for multiple family housing, St. Amant claimed, it did not properly cir- culate the decision to the ratepayers, and a number of people bought houses in the area not knowing that the change had taken place. "Tt's the town that got itself into that box," he said. He said he thought the town's zoning bylaw was a great idea, because, '"'this mistake can never happen again. Unfortunately that doesn't help us." Meanwhile, the developer, Romeo Asselin, said yesterday he had no plans to change his proposal to bring it into line with the counter- proposal made by the ratepayers. '"'That's what the town and I agreed on," he said. "The town knows my position. The town asked me to consider the alternatives, and I did that," he said. When asked what he would do if the draft bylaw were not approved either by the town or by the OMB, he stated simply, "'I haven't crossed that bridge yet." Only for students Manpower Centre to open Students in Penetanguishene will once again be able to look for summer em- ployment 'at their own Student Manpower Centre. The office will be located on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce building on Main Street, and the person who will be taking care of it, named officially last week, will be Danielle Paille. Danielle is a resident of Penetanguishene, who attends Laurentian University in Sudbury. The office will be opening its doors on May 2, until that time, Danielle will be working in the Midland Student Manpower Centre, learning the ropes. She will be supervised throughout the summer by Sonya Mount, the director of the Midland office. Sonya said last week the main purpose of the Pentanguishene office will be to serve students in Penetanguishene. "We feel we can do it more efficiently and more ef- fectively if we have an office," she said. She said she did not know how many students were placed- by last year's Penetanguishene Student Manpower Centre, located in the Tiny Tay Peninsula Planning Board building on Robert Street, because the statistics were done collectively for both the Penetanguishene oftice and the Midland office. This year, however, separate Statistics will be kept. The Penetanguishene centre will be open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 to 4:30, probably until mid-July, although Sonya said it may stay open later in the summer depending on how much business it gets. The main problem she foresees is not getting students to come out to the centre; she gets plenty of students. The main problem is getting potential employers to list with Manpower. She urged any employer who needs summer help to call either the Student Manpower Centre in Midland, or the one in Penetanguishene after it opens, and let them know what their staffing requirements will be over the summer.