Controversy over Lynde House continues... WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1984, PAGE 3 Anderson criticized over resignation comments Recent statements made by Doug Anderson in his letter of resignation as chairman of the Whitby Historical Society's museum ccmmittee have come under fire from Coun. Marcel Brunelle and society president Philip Lakas. Anderson said that the Statement of Goals and Objectives recently submitted to Whitby Town Council concer- ning the future of the Lynde House Museum was not a draft as Lakas previously stated. It was, he maintained, the official policy of both the museum com- mittee and the historical societý's board until Brunelle - pressured them to change it. "Brunelle," he claimed, "applied pressure on the The Town of Whitby is one of 21 municipalities that will share $3.6 million of grants and loans under Ontario's Commercial Area Im- provement Program (CAIP), George Ashe MPP for Durham West announced Friday on behalf of Municipal Af- fairs and Housing Minister Claude Ben- nett. Whitby will receive $225,000 for the down- town. Since CAIP was laun- ched in 1983 as part of the ministry's PRIDE initiatives (Programs for Renewal, Im- provement and Development), Ontario has provided more than $9.6 million to Ontario municipalities for renewal, improvement and development of commercial and neigh- bourhood areas. CAIP is designed to assist redevelopment, renovation, consor- vation and infill development, and to help municipalities at-. tract new economic ac-' tivity whether it be related to tourism, executive in the form of a vieled threat that the town's annual grant might be in jeopardy." However, Brunelle said last week that he did not attempt to force the society to change its stance on the issue. "I only responded to comments made by them and I have not in- terfered with the policy making process," he said, adding that he ad- vised the society to "present it in a different manner, a more accep- table manner." Brunelle said that he was not consulted prior to the statements' publication and that he could not be expected to represent the interests of the society before council if he wasn't aware of what they wan- ted. "It is not for me to set heritage or industrial development. "Unlike the previous initiatives, CAIP is open to every municipality in Ontario including older commercial areas not in core areas," Bennett said. Municipalities can apply for up to $500,000 in grants and/or loans to improve municipal ser- vices, parking, street- scape enhancement and for the acquisition of land for redevelopment projects. The only preconditions are the establishment of a business improvement the objectives of the historical society," he maintained, "But they should work with me in preparing these kinds of documents." The centre ward councillor, who is the mayor's designate on the Whitby Historical Society's executive, was also critical of Anderson himself. "He has had sour grapes ever since he was kicked out as president and he's not prepared to follow the rules and procedures he laid down as president,' Brunelle said. He also maintained that the society has only been follofwing the policies he implemented while president, policies which led to the current situation. "The historical society is following the area (BIA) and the provision of community improvement policies within the municipality's officiai plan. Under the Commer- cial Area Improvement Program, the province will commit funding up to 50 per cent of the value of the project with the municipality providing the remain- der. The funding will take form of both loans and grants, with the grant portion not ex- ceeding one-third of the provincial commitment. direction and policies he set in place when he was president for two or three years," Brunelle said, "These arguemen- ts are against himself." However, he did agree with Anderson when the latter said that before any monies can be secured for the renovation and im- provement of Lynde House that the question of ownership has to be decided. Anderson maintains that the society owns the house while informed sources at the Town of Whitby say the municipality is the owner. Brunelle maintains that if Anderson is correct and the society owns Lynde House, then it is private property. "He has brought for- ward the thought that the Lynde House is still private property," he said, "It would be im- proper to spend public funds on private proper- ty." Brunelle admits that so long as the ownership is in doubt, then to raise money for renovations will be difficult. "It will be extremely difficult to get money for the repair of the roof as long as the ownership is in question." Society , president Philip Lakas said that last week that the statement of goals and objectives is a draft and that Anderson speaks only for himself when he says otherwise. "We're in the same situation we were in before Anderson made the comment," he said, adding his statement "wasn't anything of- ficial, that's nothing." Lakas added that An- derson is still a member of the society although he no longer sits on the executive or the museum committee. The president was adament that the statement was just a draft and Anderson's comments were "just a lot of nonsense as far as we're concerned." However, Lakas also admitted that until the ownership of the museum is settled, nothing can be done about its improvement. "We can't do anything until the property is set- tled," he said. The society, he con- tinued, is "waiting for things to happen" and is relying on the town to deal with Loblaws Ltd., the owner of the proper- ty the museum sits on at the corner of Dundas and D'Hilier Sts. UpI R i ea Ca. rs Whitby will receive funding for downtown improvement CURDS'N WHEY LTD. is pleased to announce the opening of our new store on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18,1984 featuring the full line of ELDORADO CHEESE PRODUCTS Opening Special !!! First 500 customers will receive a FREE cookbook with every purchase. (Limit one per customer.) NEW HOURS: Mon.-Wed. loa.m.-6p.m. Thurs.-Fri. 10a.m. - 7 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 128 DUNDAS STREET WEST WHITBY, ONTARIO 668-1621 MOLLY MAID "Specializing in House Cleaning For Purticular People" 666*21'44