The Temiskaming Speaker

Page 1

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

THE TEMISKAMING

SPEAKER Vol. 106 – No. 1

www.northernontario.ca

Parking Matters

Concerns brewing over Tim Hortons development

Diane Johnston Speaker Reporter TEMISKAMING SHORES – There are calls to change an order for a new Tim Hortons in downtown New Liskeard. The loss of downtown parking and the costs that the municipality would face are head-

ing the list of concerns. The board of the New Liskeard Business Improvement Area (BIA) group wants to ensure that the cost of the leased land reflects the value of the property and the costs that the municipality will assume if the project moves ahead.

It also wants to see no loss of parking for the general public. The owner of an Armstrong Street eatery also worries that the drive-through restaurant would threaten the future of his own business. In a presentation to city council earlier this month, Marco’s

Place owner Basil Marchand cited the saying, “if we build it, they will come.” “But where will they park? Answer –- in the common spaces previously shared amongst the downtown businesses, including banks, insurance companies, stores, shops, restaurants,

SNOW MUCH FUN

These three little friends were having so much fun playing in the snow during the Go 2 Jo Mobility Mini Snow Cross races held last Sunday, February 13 at the Timiskaming Square Mall. From the left is three year-old Hannah Lavallee, one yearold Rebecca Morrow and her sister, four year-old Kristin Morrow. (Staff photo by Sue Nielsen)

Considering pay cut

Latchford council discussing 10 percent cut in pay Darlene Wroe Speaker Reporter LATCHFORD -- Latchford council is considering reducing the honorariums received by the mayor and councillors by ten percent a year until its financial problem is resolved. The mayor of Latchford re Wednesday

Thursday

ceives $600 a month and each councillor receives $400 a month. Latchford Mayor George Lefebvre recently requested that the town staff research the honorariums received by council members of neighbouring communities. Friday

With information presented at Latchford’s committee-ofthe-whole meeting Thursday, February 10, Mayor Lefebvre proposed that council should consider taking a ten per cent cut for 2011 and an additional 10 per cent reduction in the years following until town’s fi-

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See “Considering pay cut” Page 3a

See “Parking Matters” Page 3a

Saturday

Cubs up 2-0

nancial situation is resolved. Councillor Theo Cull suggested that the council should look at all avenues for reducing costs. He also questioned the wisdom of hiring consultant Bill Winegard to conduct a review of the town’s spending and costs.

lawyer’s offices, library, bars and tenants,” he said. A drive-through operation would also create noise and pollution, traffic congestion, and loitering, he said. He said he would also lose access for delivery vehicles at the back of his operation. The owner of the Tim Hortons franchise, meanwhile, finds the situation frustrating. Brent Gabbani said he’s addressed the concerns that have been brought to him. “Sometimes it’s human nature to be afraid of change,” he said. But he thinks people are missing “the big picture.” “This is good for downtown and good for everybody’s business down there,” he said. Temiskaming Shores council, for its part, is still considering all the options, Mayor Carman Kidd said after a council meeting earlier this month. “We’re looking at all the issues here. We’re trying to work with the BIA and work with the neighbours and work with everybody in the downtown to see what’s going to work out the best,” he said. NEW STORE Mr. Gabbani outlined plans for the new store in September, 2009. With the lease for his current location on Whitewood Avenue expiring in 2013, he proposed a new store with a drive-through on land leased from the municipality at the rear of the parking lot between Wellington and Armstrong streets. The new store was projected to create another 15 full-time and five part-time jobs. In an interview earlier this week, Mr. Gabbani said he has repeatedly stressed that there will be “very, very minimal impact to parking.” The new store will be comparable in size to the space now occupied by the planters and the recycling bin area, he said. He said the present store’s clients now use the parking lot. But more than half of the new store’s customers will utilize the drivethrough, thus eliminating the

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Sports Front

Frosty Frolics C Front


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