Thomas vs. Thomas
The mayor race in Centreville is heating up, and the village council's decision to sell the old Centreville School just two weeks before the election has added fuel to the fire.
Last week, Centreville's village council announced it was putting the old school up for sale and was accepting tenders until Friday, May 9, just three days before the May 12 municipal elections.
The news shocked mayoralty hopeful Debbie Thomas. She said she can't believe the council would make such a major decision without informing the residents. After speaking with several others in the community, she said, not one person knew about the sale prior to her telling them.
"That bothers me because news comes out on Friday, and, by Saturday night or Sunday, that paper is firewood," said Debbie. "So the two weeks would have come and gone, the tenders would have come in and they (council) would have made their decision. It would have been a done deal, and the town would have woken up and said ‘what did you just do? You just sold the only piece of Real Estate we have got left.'"
Incumbent Centreville Mayor Gary Thomas said council did not take the decision to sell the school lightly. After the village purchased the property from the Department of Supply and Services, he said, it was the council's intention to put it to good use. Fortunately, McCain Foods took it over for a year to use as office space, but the company left in November.
Since then, Gary said, the building has sat vacant while council searched for the best avenue to take. Though the village has maintained the heat and hydro throughout the winter, he explained, but costs proved to be too much.
"It is a heavy burden financially, and, from the day we took the building on, it was our intention to get it and hopefully we could put it to good use to benefit the village," Gary said. "It has been an on-going thing for the last two or three months. This was the time we decided how we were going to act on it and what we are going to do with it."
But Debbie feels the decision could have waited until after the election. She said community had no input on the matter nor did the council ask people if they have any ideas on bringing income into the building so it could sustain itself. The village should keep it, she said, and let the residents have a say in how it can be maintained. If nothing can be agreed upon or it can't be maintained financially, she said, then it should be sold.
"I know people who have lots of great ideas," she said. "It is the only piece of land we have left. It is beside our school, our swimming pool and our seniors' complex. I had some big plans and ideas for that piece of property to do things for the kids. (Now) they are going to sell it out from underneath us.Down the road, I think if it still needs to go because we can't hang on to it financially, so be it. But I don't think that is a decision that has to be made right now two weeks before an election."
Gary said the decision to sell had nothing to do with the election. Council made the ultimate decision, he explained, and it felt the time was right to put it on the market to attract potential buyers who could offer something for the community and the residents.
"We were looking to benefit the village and the people," said Gary. "By advertising it (now), I think we could get a whole lot of different ideas and maybe a good proposal that we would be interested in."
Beyond the school, other issues of concern include the future of employment in the village.
When asked about talk of the village's major employer Thomas Equipment Ltd. moving operations to Japan, both candidates said the issue is still up in the air.
Asked why she threw her hat in the ring, Debbie said she feels it is time for change in Centreville. She said she believes the mayor's position should be a more hands-on role. Being a part-time worker and a stay-at-home mom, she feels can be more hands on.
"I want people to know who we are and what we do," said Debbie. "Most people in this town have absolutely no idea what the council is doing. I think there needs to be more openness and transparency."
While she has plenty of ideas, Debbie said, she to hear from Centreville residents first.
With 20 years in municipal politics behind him, Gary brings a wealth of experience to the mayor's office. As mayor, he said, he helped put new asphalt on many of the village's streets, purchased new fire truck for the village and cleaned up old derelict buildings – two of which were in plain view on the corner of Main and Central streets – and replaced them with a park.
He said he tried to promote business opportunities in the community. He added he was pleased to see HSF Foods taking over Canusa Foods last year, creating 40 jobs for the community.
Gary added he and his council have some on-going projects he would like to see through to fruition. He explained the village in the process of installing storm drains, new asphalt and a walking lane on Mill Street. He also pointed out the village has partnered with the Centreville Community School to receive a grant from the provincial government to install a new soccer field and track.
If re-elected, Gary promises to continue to work with businesses to develop, promote and maintain employment in the village.
"That has always been my main focus, economics and development," he said.
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