PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1980, WIIITBY FREE PRESS Emm says he knows something.. Did ma&Ayor know of GM deat?0 Emm says yes. Gartshore says no. By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The ruxnor mils are stili saying that General Motors wlil purchase the now empty Frestone Canada plant in the industrial area on Vic- toria Street. Last week the Oshawa Timnes quoted Whitby Reglonal Counclilor Gerry Emm as saying that a deal ta purchase the facility wil be closed "Sometime before February. " The daily publilcation also went on to quote Emmý as saying that Mayor Jimn Gar- tshore knew about the deal and was caught off guard when reference was made to it during an ail candidates' meeting that was held two weeks ago. However, before this publication went to press Gartshore and his suc- cessor, Bob Attersley denied any knowledge of an imnpen- ding deal. "I have no knowledge of anything that I can com- ment on," Gartshore said adding that If a deal was struck publiclzing it would' have detrimental affects. "Maybe we're goint to blow the whole thing by publicizing it so much," he said adding that "I have no comment to make what- soever."Y Incoming mayor Bob At- tersley said that 'II know that GM was looking at the place ... and had shown an in- terest at that time, " but denied that he had any knowledge that a deal to buy the place had been made. "I'm sure that if, someone had said ta hlm (Gar- thshore, that a deal had been made), I would have heard," Attersley said. The plant was closed on July 18 and resulted in 650 people losing their jobs. Local industrial real estate experts have said that plant sites on 61.9 acres of land and has a floor area of 350,000 square feet. They have also appralsed the pr- operty's value at $6.5 million. A spokesinan for Firegtone Canada also denied that a purchase deal was forthcomlng acknowledlng only that the car manufacturer had in- spected the premises. "General Motors is one of many people who have been looklng at our Whitby land,"p Joe Barbera, public relations manager for the tire maker, said adding that it is only "ione of mnany who have been looklng at it."I As to wbether anyone had made an offer ta buy the facllity, Barbera replied that "I can't comment on any real estate transac- tion."I He did say, however, that the company had purchased the building and the land seven years ago for about $1 million although he did not put a price tag on it for sale in 1960. The rumor mills had said that if GM purchases the facility, it wWi be used to bouse their export division which is presently located in Oshawa in a building that was constructed somewhere around 1920. However, despite his denials that the plant wli be bought soon, Barbera did say that the company is wiiling to seli it. "It is for sale," he said, "and someone wli even- tually buy It. It is juat a question of who and when." A spokesman for the world's largest automaker also denled that the com- pany wlil buy the plant although he dld say that they have looked at it. "No decision bas been made," he said adding that GM did look at It to "ldeter- mine whether or not it could be used in our future plans."1 When asked for his coni- ments of the account In the Times, Emm was critical of it saYing that "I have neyer mentioned that GM was one of the companles"' looklng to buy the plant. "That's one of the mnac- curacies," he said. However, Emm main- tained that Gartsbore knows of an impending deal. "The mnayor knew what I knew and the mayor's not going to put anything in jeopardy," he said adding that "any statement (about a deal) wiil come from the mayor's office or the coni- panies involved."1 Emni also indicated that he knows more than he is teiling. "I'm not saying W.hat I know at this time," he said. "I'm staying quiet. " The veteran reglonal councillor also crlticized the Times, saylng that "1they were fishing for a story because what they did was repeat what they said the previous week." Did town seil c ore pro perty? According to a report that was published in last Satur- day's edition of the Oshawa Times, the Town of Whitby is about to sign a deal that will see an office building erected on a piece of the downtown land that the town presently owns. The Times said that while few details were available "The town has received an offer of close ta $400,000 for the land, located at the cor- ner of Dundas and Green Streets."' The Thompson chain newspaper also claimed that the council turned down an earlier offer of $M6,000 Wliitby grads Two Whitby residents recently received their Bachelor of Arts degree at Trent University's faîl con- vocation held November 1. Dianne Grace Delaney and Grant John Lailey were the recipiants. despite the urging of Mayor Jim Gartshore to accept it. Part of this -property is presently occupied by A and T Motors and was bought by the town for $160,000, the publication- said "After ef- forts to selI an adjacent town parking lot to a developer failed."' They also claimed that the two lots were then offered for sale together, adding that "in October, Garthsore brought a deal he had worked out with Gus Brown Motors and another flrm to purchase the property. " "6The proposa was narrowly defeated, with Gartshore inslsting the op- ponents of the deal were making a mistake. " The publication then went on to say that their sources reported that this proposai was not likely ta, run itot the same opposition and that it wlI be accepted., "The Town's sale of the land ia part of an effort ta build up the downtown, in much the same way Oshawa lias done with its core," the Timies said. AI press time, Gartshore was unavallable for comn- ment on the Times'report.