"Tumbleweed with Velcro" operation sparks merchant outrage

By Carla Allen

THE COAST GUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Several business owners in Barrington never want to see their arena used for another event similar to the one that took place there on June 6.

On that date a company from outside the municipality held a furniture auction that attracted several hundred residents.

Paul Smith, general manager for Wilson’s Shopping Centre Ltd., and Garry and Dorothy Goreham, owners of Hilltop Furniture & Appliances Ltd., along with Wendy McGill, vice president of the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce, voiced their concerns at the sparsely manned June 8 Municipality of Barrington council meeting. (Councillors El-Jakl and Stoddard were attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Whistler, B.C., deputy warden Donna LeBlanc-Messenger declared a conflict of interest, and there is currently a vacancy in District 6.)

Smith was the first to express his disappointment in the municipality’s decision to allow use of the arena for the event. In effect, the tax-dollar funded facility hosted a nomadic company that was in direct competition with local businesses. “They come into the area for a one-shot deal and then they’re gone, leaving area residents to fend for themselves for future product problems, warranty issues and so on,” said Smith. “Our local businesses are having a difficult enough time as it is in these tough economic times providing employment for our local people and supporting organizations such as our local arena.”

Garry and Dorothy Goreham pointed out what they viewed as a contradiction in a bylaw, with one policy outlining rental cost of the facility for commercial events ($500/day plus HST) and a later statement forbidding the rental of space in the arena by any person, organization, group or business for the purpose of commercial enterprise.

It was explained by council that neither the policy nor the bylaw relate to this type of rental.

Councillor Shaun Hatfield said he sympathized with business operators’ concerns. “What I hear all of you saying is that you are not against free enterprise, but you are against a tumbleweed with Velcro on it blowing into town, picking up the money, and blowing back out again,” he said.

It was agreed that this matter be referred to the next Committee of the Whole meeting for further discussion. Legal ramifications from “discriminating against” transient businesses were discussed by council, which is consulting with the municipal solicitor on the matter as well as researching how other municipal units have handled the issue.

Meanwhile the municipality will not be renting municipal properties for this type of purpose until all relative policies and bylaws have been reviewed and clarification provided.