Acton Free Press (Acton, ON), December 22, 1981, p. 17

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Acton Free Pross Tuesday Doc B7 who does it CAMERA REPAIR BOpifl to sit Pros within Your Today ACTON PHOTO CAMERA something for everyone in the Chlmnoy Oil and Furnace Cleaning Energy off no Discount on mora on John 854 2683 CHIMNEY REPAIRS Do it now before its too Coldl ed Mcmullen 8531818 Blood Is meant to I circulate Be a RED CROSS Blood D ACTON CHIROPRACTIC Wed am Tum Thuri am to Sot mornings by RICHARD M TELFORD C CHIROPRACTOR TOM THOMPSON CHIROPRACTOR 22 Main St Acton Monday thru Friday For appointment Monday Wednaaday and Friday until 9 DO pin P SCHMUKI CARPENTRY For phono 853 3655 offer custom building Improvamanta and rapalra and tiler MCM Concrata Co Ltd JohnMcMullan 8632726 AtffiiMtM CONTRACTORS Er Commaictal Sorvleoa Improvement Painting Carpentry ErOrvwaX Forfiaeaatimatea call Ron mm GUTHRIE CONSTRUCTION For all your homo and form 853 Quality Workmanship Over Fremos and Mat Boar da on profosaional alatt on duty to you ACTON PHOTO CAMERA Loaltiertown 8534260 da22 FERGUS or KARL S ELECTRICAL SERVICE HR Industrial Ft Acton L7J2L7 Phone SIS ALTON HILLS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING LIMITED Hour Sorvica Industrial Commercial Residential Prop LylaPruata rta BtlflfiHBM Johns Custom Farming 4183383330 cultivating ifladng com mat In Phone 8532174 YOUNG ST ACTON ONT SUPPLYING Petrolaum or Farm and Horns Hatting Furnaca Inauianca Emargancy Ssrvtca Fuel OU Budget Plan dot sfioemafcto Mill St East dan First Kayo Churchill dan GENERAL INSURANCE SO office hours Sim illiiHlilHM Johnson Milton Main Si Richard J Dr Harold Hctdan Yarmouth Street 8227160 Vinyl Hanging QUALITY WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED HANOUSEK OREILLY PAINTING DECORATING Call us first for your paint guars 10 Discount for Senior Citizens Call 8235619 WATER PUMP PROBLEMS m raw phona for at BOYES PLUMBING just nohth BARLOW PLUMBING STATIONARY fiUBQEn STAMPS THERMO ENGRAVED business BUSINESS FORMS NEWSPAPER ACTON FREE PRESS Willow Si Acton M Propaattoa 8770770 WESTERN GENERAL CONTRACTORS In Roof Faacia Barns Eaves roughing Aluminum doors FREE ESTIMATES Call or Erin collect a tor MILTON RENTALS CALL 375STEELESAVE Mm SNOWS SHARPENING SERVICE Saws carbides axes scissors drills knives blades Trafalgar Rd N Goo rg 8779425 SIDING HOOFING FIRST LINE TV SALES rx SERVICE Phone COUNTRY CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY Complete Recovering fiervica Rang Fabric a Acton SOFT WATER COMPLETE LINE of Watar Treatment Equipment or Homo FarmaandBuilna SELF SERVICE Salt Pick up or No to town hall restoration dish enters Ac Ion does get its fair shore of maintenance services roads and water sewer works but in other areas the community was lacking and it was time far Georgetown and councillors to come to the aid of ward one Tyler declared By saving the town hall councillor a could be leaders in the drive to revitalize downtown The councillors who had always been opposed to he town hall shouldnt feel guilty about changing their position nil theyd have lo do was cat a little crow which would be easy since fowl is In season Just it was too years ago when It was built the is a controversial Issue today and It was a good deal to it then and Its a good deal to save it now Acton wants to be part of Hal ton Hills and was asking for Its aboriginal rights Tyler said urging councillors hear the voices and feel the pulse of the community Council shouldnt allow the hall to create a Mason- Dixon line through Ha Hon Hills on the Escarpment Tyler said He asked council help Acton maintain its identity and get a pearl instead of a pea in the deal Betty Oakes questioned how the halls main nance and upkeep would be financed while Nan Hurst suggested nobody has nailed down exactly what will be done with the hall once It restored said both questions would be answered during the Grubbe and Knechtel moved and seconded the mayor 3 notice of motion of two weeks ago which stated Whereas the former Town of Acton Town Hall And whereas in 1B74 the former Town of Acton became a part of the Tow of If ills and tho former Town Hail became surplus for municipal administrative offices And whereas in 1977 tho Council of the Cor Deration of the Town of Hills received a petition to have Ihe former Town of Acton Town Hall saved and Whereas the Town of Hills In designated the building as a historical site by By law 7794 and Whereas the community have continued lo express their support for the possible restoration of the building by various fund raising activities and Whereas the Town of Hills have received confirmation of Eligibility for Wlntano Capital Grant Program and which confirmation has been extended by the Ministry of Culture and Recreation to facilitate the undertaking of a feasibility study which has not been completed and Whereas the feasibility study and B I A Study have identified the need significance the costs based on alternative scenarios Now therefore the council of the Corporation of the Town of Hills enacts as follows That the Council indicate their endorsement of the retention and restoration of the former Town of Acton Town Hall That the aforesaid commitment lo this project be on the basis that tho municipality is eligible to receive Wintario Heritage and Community Recreation Centres grants from the Province of Ontario That municipality make application to various agencies for confirmation or all eligible grants prior to proceeding with the project once firm tendered costs for the works are received That Scenario number an estimated cost of plus fees plus furniture finishes and equipment as outlined in the Feasibility Study dated December by Consultants Ltd bo the approved scenario That the municipal portion of the funding for the project be Included in the Capital Budget for consideration JAswtq and a Best wishes to all of our customers Elaine Cory CHICKEN PIZZA MILL STREET EAST flf 8532450 Deciding the fate of tho town hall been many years coming observed longer than she has lived in the town The consultants report said the building was sound and a significant example of the architecture of Acton as well bclrg the focus of the communitys unique social and political development Besides being an Important link lo the past the town hall was an anchor building crucial to downtown and Actons development tourist centre The would be a focal point far Acton and give the municipality a presence Inward one maintained Hills must preserve and respect the Identity of all the areas which went together to make up the amalgamated municipality Delving into the history of the hall Maltby said he had supported the idea of the community raising the funds to save the hall and couldnt back down from that pledge The fund raising has stalled several limes ho observed and council came to the rescue by extending deadlines backing the project with funds set aside for demolition and designating the building Maltby said hed like to see the town hall saved but couldnt go back on his stand that It shouldnt be done with tax dollars It might be a different situation Ihe community was raising more than the too required as matching funds for Wintario and the project wasnt going more in tax dollars It was true the municipality put tax dollars Into librarycultural centre project In Georgetown but tax dollars also went Into the Indoor pool In Acton so it couldnt be said the municipality helped ward one Halton Hills Is In a strong financial position because It pays bills as it goes along and Is careful hosald MalmysuggestedhacouldBupportthetown hall If the community had raised and not just over Halton Hills was being had because town hall Jus I wasnt needed as a community centre Moving the town and region offices to the hall would save HIIIb and the region over a year in rents which will be even higher next year Councillor Ross said He called tho town hall a 100y earold symbol of and while be wanted to see it torn down when ho first moved here he now saw the merits of saving the building Town hall backers have struggled to raise funds with no commitment and if council backed the hall It would be much cosier to gather donations Maltby should have used the same standards of community fund raising efforts for the cultural centre as he was expecting for the town hall said It Is third building Acton has tried to save after failing with the post and railway station said to objections of inaccuracy from As Acton grows in the years ahead municipal offices will be needed even more and it will cost the town less to save the than build a new facility Over tourists are coming to Acton and with Jack Tanners Table more are on their way In cluding bus tours and restoration of the town hall with help tho growing tourist business The town hall will have a spinoff for downtown revi tall Hon which will improve commercial assessment and bring more dollars Into the town treasury Good planning and financial management reasons support restoration because it will preserve an historical building encourage redevelopment downtown Increase commercial assessment and give the municipality offices all at a bargain price Booth surprised many by backing the town hall after long opposing the project The cultural centre will always be the Georgetown library and hamlets have community centres so Acton should have one too he said Bach area of Hills Is different and each should have a focus for maintaining Its identity He said the mayors backing of the hall had swayed his vote because with working for the town halt it meant the project would be a suc cess Councillors shouldnt be bigots and stick to old stands and commitments they made before all the facts about the town hall were known A new building would be put to belter use by the community than the town hall will be Miller predicted and moving the police station to the town hall would be a mistake because it would take the regional force off the main street Meeting rooms arent needed In Acton and there are places for the seniors Backing Ihe town hall would put saving the Stone School on thin Ice because the municipality couldnt do both Saving of the town hall would also force moving of the fire halt something which cant be afforded Miller said The hall would also create new parking problems in downtown area Saving the town hall for heritage reasons had some merit said but It would create tremendous budget problems In a year when run ning Ihe finances of the town will be very difficult The only way to handle the project would be to take funds out of reserves set aside for a municipal complex she warned There were too many questions still not answered on town hall funding and an example of restraint must be set at the Hills level because it Isnt happening at region Queens Park or In Ottawa need for the town hall hadnt been strongly enough Whiting countered the municipal complex and Stone School worries were red herrings since they would be financed by different methods If Acton Is to grown new fire hall more centrally located will he needed anyway he added The study shows there will be parking In the downtown bo that wan no problem Whiting said and council couldnt wait another year to save the town hall when financing might bo easier because tho project wont be there If restraint was needed now why wasnt It needed with the librarycultural centre he wondered region wants to expand its services In Acton but can without offices so the hall would give not Just Hills a presence In Acton but also the re gion Hall maintenance will be less than renting municipal quarters and consolidation of town of fices was deslrahle in Acton the same as it Is in Georgetown He predicted the building will cost less than to restore but the only way to get all the an swers was tenders Need for ihe hall hadnt been established making grants questionable Levy said adding the new Salvation Army building planned in Acton will add more meeting space to the community He branded the hall a pink elephant and a project pushed by just a handful of people who only wanted to save the outside of building the start of their cam paign The location isnt suitable for things like the Acton Social Services and Information Centre and many potential users wont be able to pay much In rent The fire hall and needed changes to the building will mean compromise on the Integrity of the hall appearance and will mean council Is creating a monument Levy said The 1077 petition contained names of school children and residents and was taken over a long period of time while a recent petition had been gathered on weekend and contained names of people of significant standing in thecommunlty To save the building to preserve Actons identity would go against the whole idea behind Halton Hills and Levy painted a gloomy economic picture for not just the town but the entire notion to back up his claim the hall wasnt affordable There were many if a surrounding restoration costs and cost to the taxpayers and he suggested the final cost would be about or a square foot The hall would odd between and to the average tax bill for just one project Levy warned Depltc hard work and strong efforts the fund raising for the halt hasnt gone well showing a weak interest in Acton in the He asked how Acton councillors could back Section to make the tax system fairer and then turn around and want to the financial situation by adding the town hall to the long list of projects municipality must fund this year Budget cuts would be needed to pay for the hall and Levy asked if council wanted to put ActlVan downtown road work and a new fire pumper for Acton in Is it any wonder that I am displaying such concern he said after reviewing the towns financial position He said if the town hall was saved he couldnt continue the tough Job as budget committee chair man Blehn said the consultants report shows there is no need for the town hall and while he appreciated sentiment for the hall he couldnt back a project which isnt needed The hall has never been a thing of beauty and wasnt physically worth saving Actons identity Is its people and not tied to the town hall Sheldon suggested and need wasnt est in the study Money should be spent on downtown revita Ilia lion not the town hall she said noting tourism won focus on the either She said she shared Levys concerns about town finances and there were too many ifs surrounding restoration costs and grants Its a funding night mare She couldnt support an unnecessary pro ject when roads arc needed In and the town shouldnt go out and spend thousands just to get grants should take advantage of grants McDonald said and the town hall was the first time Acton has put Its act together and supported a project since regional government Council didnt need to decide now to go for either total restoration or tear the building down It would be wrong to tear the building down now because remedial work could be done on the exterior with existing funds Pomeroy said he didnt become a town hall backer without first studying the plan carefully and suggested facts and figures were twisted by some members of council Total restoration cost will be closer to 500000 than mayor said and council could be flexible In working out the financing just as it was with the 1 million cultural centre Both Ihe and hall studies lean towards restoration the hall will give the town a presence In ward one at less cost than a new building The study also said there is a need for a community resource and government information centre In Acton and other grants are committed and will go to another if the hall Isnt saved by the municipality If the werent as high as the town expected then the project could be killed then Hills would never know how much It could get in grants if it didnt commit to the project and calls for tenders or architects estimates There was no question in the mayors mind the town hall will help the tourism movement in Aclon and there would be spinoff benefits for the com munity and municipality from the hall The identity aspect to the town hall was timate and it is important the communitys Identity Is preserved Pomeroy said The public must raise 83666 and said the project could be killed If the money wasnt raised though he was sure a commitment would bring the almost additional funds needed The project will cost about 225000 in tax dollars and he promised to work hard lo bring it in on budget about 56 a square foot Reserves will never municipal complex and that facility wont be built until there Is either a lot more growth or the project Is He felt the reserves would be well spent on the hall After the vote a move to have the staff look at price restrictions and methods of selling the hall was discussed Booth said nothing should be done with the hall until next year toaliow timofor the dust to settle Council shouldnt vote not to have the building and then turn around and sell It lo a community group Armstrong said Such a move would be a slap in the face to Acton He said council was Just pro longing thcagony Whlling asked Ihe matter be shelved for a while to give Acton groups time to put together proposals Clerkadministrator Ken Richardson said the town can rent or sell the building and added the municipality cant give a community group the 40000 set aside for demolition Levy agreed the matter should be deferred while the community considers its options and staff examines how the building could be sold Restoration chairman George Elliott said If the hall saved then donations will be returned with Interest Chip said without the towns and if the building Is sold at market value it will be tough for groups to save It Ted Tyler concluded all Interested groups will have to get together and consider the options Ac ta rio will continue for the rest of this year and if there isnt a town hall to fund the money will be used for other community projects Haton ranked third in rates Regions average annual re water and sewer bills ranked third highest among area re gions according to a report issued day The Regions used In the comparison were Durham Hamilton- and Peel According to the report the average an nual cost to a household who used gallons lost year was At the top of the list was Norfolk who charged its residents an average 230 per year Durham was second highest with The lowest rates were charged by and Peel Regions with and 120 per year respectively The report also said placed third highest for largo com mercial Industrial rates second highest for small ere Salin d and fourth highest Tor midsized commercialIndustrial rales

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