Editorial
Designation of the community hall was inevitable

Once the question of the future of the Nobleton Community Hall became talking point around the village, it was almost in the cards that some steps were coming to ensure its preservation.

In fact, that's just what happened Monday night, as Township council approved a recommendation from the King's Heritage Committee to have the hall designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

It is good that people in the community who care about this building have this reassurance, but it's unfortunate that it was seen to be necessary in the first place.

There has never been any suggestion that the building would be demolished. Township Clerk Chris Somerville stated that clearly in her report to council Monday night. There had been talk that it might be used by the municipality for storage, but that happened almost in passing, as members of council and staff discussed issues pertaining to the 2007 budget.

The basic fact is budgets are complicated and difficult things to put together. Sometimes people responsible for them can help stimulate ideas for possible solutions to the numerous problems they entail by simply thinking out loud.

We believe that is what happened here, with such musings being misinterpreted and getting out in the public domain before proper verification could be obtained. That meant that some in the community, including members of the local Lions club and Women's Institute, were caused some anxiety. It's unfortunate, largely because there is no reason to think that was necessary.

Part of the problem probably had to do with memories of the old local Masonic hall, which stood on Highway 27 in Nobleton up until almost a year ago, when the wreckers' ball turning it to a pile of rubble very swiftly. While that caused some grief in the community, the situation was different from the one involving the community hall for a number of reasons. For one thing, the Masonic building was in private ownership, was not being actively used and had fallen into serious disrepair. The community hall is a public building in active use. And while it might need some work, people who enter are certainly not at risk.

There was no reason to assume the Township had no plans for this public building beyond trying to figure out how it could best serve the community that cherishes it. That should have been clear from the start.