Hub Staff

The Harbourlite Restaurant was again a topic of much discussion at the May 9 Committee of the Whole and Regular Council meeting.

John Mann, wearing a “Save Harbourlite” and “No boaters-only washrooms” t-shirt, gave an ardent delegation in support of the Harbourlite Restaurant, its owners and staff and against the idea of a boaters-only washroom at the Port Elgin Harbour.

At the April 25 Committee of the Whole meeting, a five year lease agreement between the Town of Saugeen Shores and the Harbourlite Restaurant owners, Joan and Tom Johnston failed by a vote of 5-4 because it included a clause requiring the completion of washroom facilities, the cost for which would be the responsibility of the Johnston’s. But a decades-old agreement, for which no documentation has been produced, was brought to light.

Councillor Dave Myette said an agreement made “20 years ago” between the then Town of Port Elgin and restaurant owners, requested an encroachment on the Harbourlite property to build the current Harbour Master’s office and public washroom facilities. “[The Johnstons are] going under the gun for the renovation to the tune of 20 to 30 thousand dollars or more, to build an accessible washroom, where they had washrooms before that were closed because of the Town’s requirements for the space,” Myette said April 25.

Director of Parks and Recreation, Jayne Jagelewski was in attendance April 25 and added that the washroom situation falls into a long term plan in which additional amenities are needed for boaters who use the Port Elgin Harbour, including a new or expanded Harbour Master’s office and “our vision is to have a boaters-only washroom”.

In his May 9 delegation, Mann called the Harbourlite “one of the legendary beach restaurants in the world” and added that it serves “the best ice cream and cheeseburgers and chocolate milk shakes anywhere”.

“The Saugeen Shores Council is currently divided on whether or not the owners of the Harbourlite be required to construct a washroom for their customers,” said Mann, adding there are public washrooms “right next door”.

And to the idea of boaters-only washrooms, Mann said that amenities should be accessible to everyone, that limiting public washroom use exclusively to boaters is “just plain wrong”.

Mayor Mike Smith wanted to make it clear that “the Town has not decided to close [the existing washrooms] to the public.”

Myette agreed. “We have not seen any definitive plans to close those washrooms but I have heard it said that there is a goal to have, at some point in time, a boaters-only washroom facility, whether that’s a new build or a reconfiguration of the current facilities, I’m not sure.”

Vice Deputy Mayor Diane Huber brought up the point that the Town operates the Harbour as a business and it therefore “has its own budget and, quite frankly, it exists really to generate revenue for the Town.” Huber added that she didn’t believe a discussion about boaters-only amenities would take place “outside of the bigger discussion of the Harbour as a business operation” and “without consideration for the greater population at the waterfront.”

Councillor Mike Myatt noted Mann’s “Save Harbourlite” t-shirt. “I haven’t heard any discussion around this table... about losing the Harbourlite Restaurant,” he said, adding that he believes there is genuine support for the “great job the Johnston’s do with running a restaurant down at the Port Elgin Harbour.”

Myatt also spoke in support of the boaters. “I think we need to give the boaters a bit of a fair shake too,” he said, adding that they contribute $350,000 to the Port Elgin Harbour operations. “It’s unfortunate it comes down to boaters versus Harbourlite and I don’t think that’s the way it should be. I think there’s definitely room for both. The Harbour operations is a good operation, the Harbourlite Restaurant is a terrific operation.”

Following Committee of the Whole discussion continued with Myatt asking for clarity from Jagelewski as to whether or not building a washroom facility has been part of past negotiations with the Johnstons.

“There’s been several discussions about the washroom facility initiating from our previous agreement that we just finished, the five year agreement,” said Jagelewski.

Councillor Cheryl Grace said she found herself “wondering what the historical facts are” since there is reportedly no written agreement; and wanting clarification on exactly what happened “back then”.

To which Smith responded that it’s “very unlikely we’ll find that.”

Myette was also looking for clarity. “What has changed or what is going to change that is necessitating this additional facility mere feet from where the facilities are now.”

Smith said, “I think we can satisfy this by just getting back to the main motion here and voting on it.” Adding that “a lot of discussion” had taken place and that he sensed it was causing some unnecessary tension around the table.

“I want to be very clear, the intent is to see that Joan and Tom can operate this business as they have in the past and that is what I think we’re voting on tonight.”

In the end, Council carried a motion to extend the lease for five years without the condition of a washroom.