Town Council passed a motion to buy the armories for $7,500 Monday night, with a promise from Mayor H. J. McFarland that he is prepared to buy the building “and turn it over to the children” if the town doesn’t want to use it.

Initially, the money is being taken from the parking meter reserve fund, but the mayor stressed that he does not want the building torn down for parking space, and the money will be returned to the fund eventually.

The mayor said he is confident that the building can be made to pay for itself.

Councillor Robt. Walmsley warned that if it doesn’t, the building could become a white elephant, costing the town up to five mills to maintain.

Councillor Andrew Jarvis said the cost is below what townspeople are willing to pay.

“It’s a good buy at that price.” he said, “and it won’t come out of tax money, but from the parking meters. I want to thank the mayor for helping us to get it (the armories).”

QUESTIONS ANNUAL COST

But Councillor Walmsley said: “I’m not clear what is happening to this, building. If it has been bought by the Parking Committee, I presume it will be pulled down to make room for extra parking. If it is going to be retained, we should give some consideration to the annual cost.”

“No,” said the mayor, “I want to get that clear: the building won’t be pulled down.”

He said that he foresees a special committee being set up to administer the building in the best interests of Picton and the County of Prince Edward.

“There are so many things this building can be used for – bringing in more than taxes,” he said.

The mayor added that he has received about 700 calls, many of them from women, from persons who want the town to retain the armories as a meeting place for various organizations.

DIVIDED OPINION

“To be honest. I don’t know what can be done with the building,” conceded Councillor Jarvis,” but this presents a challenge – to come up with ideas for using it.”

He added that there is “a lot of divided opinion” in the town over whether to leave the building standing or pull it down.

“My concern is chiefly this: the transfer of this building from Crown Assets to the town means a loss of four to five mills,” claimed Councillor Walmsley. “I am fully aware that getting the building at this figure is desirable … if it’s made to pay for itself.” Otherwise, he compared the proposed purchase with the winning of an expensive yacht by a poor man who cannot afford to run it.

“I don’t want to be negative about it. but I want to make sure that we are not bound to a specific plan,” he added, warning that the town might find itself with a white elephant and unable to change the situation.

Questioned by Mayor McFarland he arrived at the figure of five mills, Councillor Walmsley said this was based on annual operating costs of $12,000 when the building was used by the Department of National Defence.

He added that the town’s grant in lieu of taxes on the property will cease if council passes a bylaw to buy the armories.

“For your information, there was no tax on the armories or the post office until 10 years ago when I went to Ottawa and got it,” stated Mayor McFarland.

He restated that a committee will be set up to decide “what’s best in the interests of our children, in the interests of our teenagers, in the interests of everybody.”

“But it (armories) won’t be pulled down, or I’ll buy it and turn it over to the children. I’ll give you 30 days, then write a cheque for the amount if there is no agreement.

“All in favor? Carried.”

The motion carried.