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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 3 Richard Ward victimized by process Richard Ward wants his cars back. By Monday, May 11th, Ward, who lives at the south east corner of Highway 115 /35 and Regional Road 9, ran out of appeals and time to clean up his property. On that day, the Municipality upheld their Property Standards Order and cleaned up Ward's property for him, the cost of which will be added to his property tax bill. Contractors were hired and six bins of debris were removed from Ward's property under the supervision of Durham Regional Police, and Clarington By-law officer Tom Vandrasco. Three vehicles, including two 1937 McLaughlin Buicks and a S10 pickup truck were also removed from the property, as well as a truck frame. According to Vandrasco, none of the vehicles removed would start, nor were they actively being worked on, and therefore they were classified as derelict. Ward said he did not agree with the by-law officer that these vehicles were scrap vehicles. One of the Buicks was plated, and the other was a parts vehicle, according to Ward. Several appeals of the Property Standards Order were filed by Ward, but he was not successful in getting the Order removed. At Monday's committee meeting, Ward asked councillors for his vehicles back. Vandrasco told the Orono Times, the vehicles have been brought to the Durham Regional Police impound yard where they will be stored for 30 days. The municipality paid $400 to impound the vehicles, yet Ward need only pay the daily storage cost, to have his vehicles back, according to Vandrasco. Ward told committee he "feels victimized by the process." He was ordered to tear down his barn, which he did this winter, but he then had to deal with all the stuff that was in his barn. If the vehicles are returned to him, he will immediately be in a non-compliance situation again, unless the derelict vehicles are stored in a structure. Ward was issued the Property Standards Order on June 4, 2008. According to the Order, which was initiated by a citizen's complaint, Ward was not upholding Clarington's property standards. An investigation by Clarington's by-law department found that his yard was not kept clean and free of rubbish, debris, derelict machinery and vehicles, and an accessory building on his property was not maintained in a structurally sound condition. Ward was given until July 15th to bring his property up to standard. Specifically he was to remove and properly dispose of all rubbish and debris on his property, remove all vehicles that were not in a roadworthy condition and demolish the barn on the east side of his property. At Monday's committee meeting, Councillor Gord Robinson put forward a motion that the four vehicles removed from Ward's property be returned to him and the cost of doing so be bourne by the Municipality. Mayor Jim Abernethy warned that councillors were setting a dangerous precedent if they approved this motion. "If an individual brings additional cars onto their property and claim they have historical value, you have set a precedent that will be very hard to undo," he stated. Councillor Trim, who seconded Robinson's motion, then filed a tabling motion for one week to allow for further information from the Clerk's Department. This is the second time Ward was served with a Property Standards Order. In June 2001, he was served with a similar order to clean up his property. By the winter of 2002, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to have the Order rescinded, and the municipality cleaned up the property. The 1937 Buicks were on the property at that time, but were not removed by the municipality. Eight-year-old Spencer Lyon and his brother, ten-year-old Christopher, found some fun items at the Orono United Church yard sale on Saturday. SIGN Continued from front page councillors. Mayor Abernethy introduced a motion to table Trim's motion to allow the Clerk time to provide councillors with background information on timelines pertain- ing to the mail-in ballot system. No one seconded Abernethy's motion. The proposed new sign bylaw needs more work, and is expected to be before council for final approval at its last meeting prior to summer recess, in early July. Planning Director David Crome informed councillors that existing signs that are permitted and legal under the current by-law will be grandfathered into the new by-law. However, according to Crome, a large number of existing signs are not permitted and legal under the current by-law. ~ Happening s ~ Thursday, May 28, 2009 Orono Horticultural Society Spring Flower Show - 7:30pm, Orono United Church. Guest speaker: Gini Sage, Master Gardener; Topic: Irises. All welcome. Tuesday, June 2, 2009 Big Brothers & Sisters AGM - The Beech Centre, 6pm. Please RSVP by Monday, May 25, 905-623-6646. Thursday, June 4, 2009 Blossom Tea & Penny Sale - doors open at 12:30pm; bake sale starts at 1:15pm; Draws start at 2pm. Admission $1. Hampton United Church, CE Wing. Saturday, June 13, 2009 The Sadies, Live in Concert - Orono Town Hall, doors open at 8pm, show begins at 9pm. Tickets $20 at Don's Auto, Hwy 115 and Hands on Music, Bowmanville. Thursday, June 4, 2009 8th Annual Spring Trade Show - A Showcase of Durham Small Businesses, Newcastle Community Hall, 6pm to 9pm. Free Admission, Free Giveaways Saturday, June 6, 2009 Salad Supper & Silent Auction - 4:00pm to 6:30pm, Orono United Church, tickets at the door: $12 adults; $6 children under 12 yrs. Buffet style Salad Supper; Silent Auction items include paintings, photos, gift certificates to Hair with Flair/Creative Strands, and Celtic Clues psychic reading, homemade pies, cakes, & baked goods, numerous other items.