Black makes it clear
No plans to change use at Nobleton Hall
By Bill Rea

Mayor Margaret Black went to some lengths last Wednesday to assure people there are no plans to change the use of Nobleton Community Hall.

The assurances came at the annual general meeting of the hall board.

The status of the hall has been a talking point in the community for the last month, since the topic came up, almost in passing, during discussions of the Township's 2007 budget. A member of staff had mentioned the possibility of the hall being used for storage. It was such a casual reference that Black later said she didn't recall it being made.

"There's absolutely no decision or direction or even thought of changing the use of this building," she declared last week.

Council, at its last meeting, voted to seek a heritage designation for the building.

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw was also at last week's meeting, and he stated his position that the use of the facility should not change.

"I hope we can work together to keep the hall open as a community hall for a long time yet," he declared.

"We need your help," hall board chair Mary Anne Merritt told him.

Merritt also observed that just because the hall will receive designation doesn't mean its use won't change.

Robin Pereira, secretary of the Nobleton Women's Institute, one of the main user groups of the hall, agreed, pointing out the designation process was easy.

"So now the hard part," she remarked. "How do we continue using this as a public facility?"

Pereira already made one presentation to council, and she said a task force is working on a more detailed submission, which will be made to council as part of budget deliberations (she didn't have a firm date, but said it should be in the next month). She also had nothing but praise for the Township's heritage committee, which recommended the designation. She cited their p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , organization and dedication.

There is a 30-day period during which objections or appeals to the designation can be raised. Laidlaw said said it should be in place by the end of April, adding he didn't anticipate anyone would oppose it.

Black explained the matter of the use of the hall came up in a working session of council on the budget, when long-term maintenance issues involving 23 municipallyowned facilities were being discussed, including provisions for making them all accessible. "It was such an off-hand comment," she remarked.

Pereira cited a staff report indicating other uses could be considered, but Catherine Purcell, director of parks, recreation and culture for the Township, said that was just a point of discussion, not a recommendation.

Black added council didn't discuss that.

"I hope we can calm people down here," she said. "People are fearful and upset, and there's no reason for them to be upset."

She added there will be no changes to the use of the building as long as she's mayor, without a lot of discussion in the community.

Board member Joe Tasca, representing the Nobleton Lions (another major user group), wondered if those assurances could be put in writing. He said the Lions aren't interested in putting a lot of effort into maintaining a storage facility.

Black said council was unanimous in its decision to seek designation. "Certainly that's a strong indication," she commented.

"There was no reason for the upset," she added. "It was all blown out of proportion here."

Pereira suggested one reason people got upset was because no money had been budgeted for the hall.

There are a number of maintenance issues with the hall, including work that needs to be done on the roof and in the kitchen, and Purcell said both of those items have been added into the latest budget proposals, which have not yet gone to council. Laidlaw pointed out the work on the roof will have to be accomplished, no matter what use the building is put to.

He also pointed out the facility is "one of the most used halls there is in the township."

"It really is the community that's going to save the hall," he added.

There were also complaints that the board has been asking for more money for work on the hall for three years, but it hasn't been listened to.

Purcell expressed regret for the frustration, but pointed out there was nothing she could do about that. It had only been in the last couple of months that she was asked to deal with hall, and she asked people to focus on the future.

She couldn't explain why money for the hall had not been included in the capital budget over the last couple of years.

Black added council would not intentionally fail to keep up a building.

Pereira suggested pressure be applied to make sure these provisions stay in the budget, although she said she was not calling for angry pressure.

There had also been suggestions in the Township's Recreation Master Plan that the demolition of the building be considered. Black said that was mentioned in a study report, but there had never been such recommendations or direction.