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Vol. 17, No. 47, Folio 93 Wednesday, November 21, 1984 28 pages, 40 cents. Four former can- didates f.OM7; Penetanguishene town council have indicated a willingness to let their names stand when town councillors sit down at their next council meeting to select a replacement for former councillor John O'Hara. O'Hara resigned from town council earlier this month after being ap- pointed secretary-m- Taylor inspects special assistants Ontario Solicitor-General George Taylor, left, listens to Daniel Monague and Irene Monague explain what Christian Island as assistants they do on to the Island's two Indian special constables. Taylor visited the Island last Friday. Provincial funding helps stimulate the con version of Ont. prope Provincial funding designed to stimulate the conversion' of properties into new rental housing means that ten apartments will be available soon in Alliston. announcement was aa, by MPP George McCague (Dufferin-Simcoe) on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Claude Ben- nett. McCague said a $70,000 provincial loan. has been approved under Ontario's Con- vert-to-Rent program for a property on Queen Street. An auto body shop at French immersion program high on SCBE's '85 agenda Simcoe County Board of Education is considering the introduction of a French immersion program at the Grade 6 level, effective September, 1985. A feasibility study is being done to examine funding and administrative issues and to determine the level of interest in the proposed program. Students now enrolled in Grade 5 would be candidates for the program in September, 1985. Students enrolled in Grade 4 would be candidates for the classes in September, 1986. Parents of students in Grades four and Five will receive a survey form on Nov. 22, to determine interest in a Grade 6 French immersion program. Responses to the survey will be received until Dec. 4. The information collected from the survey will assist the Board in determining if the proposed French immersion program is feasible. It is expected that a decision about the program -will be made by early March when the Board completes its 1985 budget. If the board decides to offer the program, meetings will be scheduled during the spring term to provide further details about the program and registration procedures. Questions regarding should be directed to C.H. Shanks, superintendent of program. parent information the survey 157 Queen St. is being converted into five apartments. A second floor is being added to the existing building and will contain another five apartments. The new development will comprise two one- bedroom and eight two- bedroom units. The Convert-toRent program offers 15-year, interest-free loans of $7,000 per unit to assist in complete or partial conversions. Eligible properties include vacant ~--fac- tories, schools and warehouses, as well as space over retail stores and offices which could be converted into housing. New rental ac- commodation could be connected to existing non-residential --_ prop- erty, or a combination of conversion and construction on non- residential sites could 'be eligible for loan assistance. rties In keeping with the program's intent of making better use of existing facilities, space in residential complexes that is not used for shelter--such as garage and storage areas--may also be converted. Adding new rental units on to existing housing projects would also be considered. Welch said: he was pleased with the co- operation of municipalities who often have to make zoning changes to allow Convert-to-Rent acti- vity. "The municipalities realize that this in- novative approach to the provision of rental housing has many benefits, including offering employment opportunities and bringing more stability to commercial areas," he said. anager of the Huronia Airport Commission. The four are Ken Tannahill, Bob Cascagnette, Jim Park, and William Geere. In the 1982 municipal election, Tannahill contested the reeveship, Cascagnette the deputy- reeveship, and Park and Geer ran as councillors. Mayor Ron Bellisle said on Monday that Hans Rick and Charlie Desroches, both~ of whom ran for council positions in 1982, were also approached but because of current commitments declined. Rick is on the Protestant Separate School Board and Desroches is an em- ployee of the Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene. Bellisle explained that councillors will follow a provision in the Ontario Municipal Act outlining the selection of council replacements. midway in a municipal term when they meet Nov. 26 to elect a new coun- cillor. Once O'Hara's resignation is formally accepted, nominations will be made by the councillors. They will be free to nominate any one of the four former candidates who have indicated an interest in sitting on council. As Staff party The Town ee i eres s Christmas party is scheduled to take place December 15 at the Brian Orser hall.. The annual party, which is attended by town councillors and all municipal employees. will be a little different well, any person paying (PREY oe ion Penetanguishene who is qualified to sit on council ean be nominated. Bellisle said that he has been approrched by other "Pier evang residents willing to serve on council but neither their names nor the names of the four willing former can- didates will be brought up at the council table at next Monday night's meeting. Referring to his informal canvass of former council can- didates, Bellisle said: "We felt this was the best way to do it."* "'This is a municipal act procedure.' The municipality could have held a special election for the vacancy, or it could have advertised the position as was done recently in Midland. Next Monday, a new councillor will be selected when at least 50 per cent of the coun- cillors at the table vote for a nominee. They will hold however many rounds of voting are required to come up with a consensus choice, dropping the name of the nominee who receives the fewest votes in each round of voting. Dec. 15 this year, Mayor Ron Bellisle says. '"'We haven't been recognizing years of service of members of the municipal staff," Bellisle said. This year. long-time employees will be saluted, the mayor said. Trio escapes house fire; probe begins An official with the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office is scheduled to arrive in Midland today to investigate the cause of a house fire late Saturday night at 352 Borden St. Three juveniles were in the semi-detached home when heavy smoke filled the upper level. All three ran from the house safely and phoned an alarm to the Midland fire hall. Sixteen firefighters with two pumper trucks responded to the call at 11:52 p.m., and quickly extinguished the fire in an upstair's bedroom. Four firemen suffered minor bruises and lacerations while bringing the fire under control. One firefighter is still off work with a leg injury. Damage to the house from fire, heat, and smoke has been estimated at $3.000. Arson has not been ruled out as a possible cause, although the fire is still under investigation. =