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No food bank at town hall By Sandra Bolan 15 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, July 23, 2015 sbolan@yrmg.com Not moving into the town hall is disappointing, but Joan Doble, treasurer of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank, is not worried. "I have prayed about this. ... I have a good feeling about it, something will come up. The Lord has a better place for us," she told The Sun-Tribune Wednesday morning. "I'm sure that something is going to come up and we'll be much happier," she said. Whitchurch-Stouffville council had four options to consider to fill the empty warehouse space of the Sandiford Drive building. Town staff did not recommend one over the other. One option was to house the food bank, as well as create multipurpose space. That option, along with others that would have had WhiStle Radio occupy space, was also shot down in favour of it being used solely for multipurpose and community space. The town is short 12,000 square feet of multipurpose space, according to Rob Raycroft, director of leisure and community services. Town staff will, however, work with the food bank board to find space either within its own inventory or in facilities owned by third parties. Mayor Justin Altmann did not agree with council's decision. "I believe that is the best fit," he said Tuesday night of the town hall. "For 25 years, these people have not asked for a cent from this town, they have been the best damn partners in this town," he said. In explaining why he opposed housing the food bank in the town hall, Councillor Hugo Kroon stated he had "concerns of potential, for let's say, interaction of this facility and the food bank facility." Doug McIntyre, who has been working with the food bank board to find a new home, told council the board members have already figured that out and have established some pretty tight rules. "I'm not afraid of letting anyone into our building," said Altmann, who admitted he is a former client of the food bank. The food bank currently has a number of rooms in the basement of Churchill Community Church, north of Musselman's Lake, that equate to about 1,400 square feet ­ about the same as the proposed space in the town hall. But the town hall layout would have enabled the food bank volunteers to make better use of the space, according to McIntyre. Ideally, he admitted, the food bank would like 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of space. Councillor Rob Hargrave suggested the parks' depot in Memorial Park as an option. It has about 1,600 square feet. It is being used, but can be looked into, Raycroft said. The town hall's empty warehouse space will be turned into storage lockers for town and community group use. There will also be 2,190 square feet of multipurpose space for community and town programming and a 484-square-foot board room for town use. "I don't think multipurpose rooms help lives," Altmann said, who was notably frustrated with the final decision. The estimated cost is $1.2 million. An additional $117,520 will be spent on renovating the south parking lot to create 25 parking spots. SPECIALIZING IN STEAKS & SEAFOOD Join Us for Lobster Fest through to the end of August 5402 Main Street, Stouffville · www.stakeoutdining.com For reservations call: 905-642-5557 OUR EXPERTS WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR VEHICLE. When you get The Works, you get an inspection of up to 83 points ALL including: Oil Change and Tire Rotation, as well as a comprehensive Vehicle Report Card that our Service Advisors will explain to you, FOR ONLY so you will be clear from start to finish. TM $ We have more Ford Certified Technicians than ever before! 69 99 S FIRST ! PLUS TAXES SALES SERVICE PARTS EE U COME S 905-640-4541 · billhoustonford.com Showroom hours: Monday ­ Thursday 8:30 a.m.­ 7p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.­ 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.­ 5 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAY 5786 MAIN STREET, BOX 1589, STOUFFVILLE, ONTARIO L4A 8A4