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Owner of favoured site wants more money Ashburn's hunt for a park maynot yet be over Ashburns hunt for a park may not be over yet. Just when it appeared the hamlet's residents were going to get a 10.6 acre parcel of land to develop into an active and passive park the owner of the property decided he wanted more money than the town had offered. Council decided two weeks ago to purchase the 10.6 acre parcel instead of a 4.5 acre piece of property after receiving a report indicating that all 84 residents polled favoured purchase by the town of the former. Co-ordinator of Develop- ment and Treasurer Forbes McEwen reported, at.jthat time, that acquisition and development of the 10.6 acre parcel would cost approximate- ly $60,000. Apparently, Mr. McEwen, based his estimate on an appraisal of the land by a certified appraiser. According to Ashburn Community Centre Board Chairman Barb Forsyth, the appraiser believed the land to be worth $21,500. Owner of the property, Harvey Bath, wants approxi- mately $40,000, she said. "We just don't know what to do", said Mrs. Forsyth. "Mr. Bath said 'It's all off'. He's not interested now." Not so, according to Mr. Bath. "I'm willing to talk about it", he said. When asked if he could explain the appraisal, Mr. Bath said that, because there is a great deal of water on his property, it has been designated hazard land. "Someone cornes along with a paint brush, calls it hazard land and tries to wipe out my life sa.'ings", he said. "It's crazy". According to Mr. Bath, Department of Lands and Forests officials have told him that "The water is worth more than the farm". Mayor Jim Gartshore said that he did not question the appraisal but it surprised him. "It did surprise me because I know what you would have to pay for a one-acre building lot up there", he said and estimated that such a lot would cost approximately $30,000. 'I have been promoting a park in the north end of Whitby for a long time", said Mayor Gartshore. "They want a park; they need a park; they deserve a park; and they will get a park". Transit proposals studied Council's operations com- mittee will study a number of proposals for public transit within the town which were presented to council by the province's Ministry of Trans- portation and Communica tions. The ministry's Transit Projects Planning Office out- lined various proposals, their cost and implications to members of council who had asked for the transit appraisal in the hope of possibly improving public transporta- ion withîn the town. Town to stall plan Whitby's representatives to regional council were expect- ed to stall approval of the region's official plan at public meetings yesterday and today. Whitby Council asked the three to stall approval after Deputy Planning Director Kevin Tunney asked for more time to study stage five of the plan and report in the future on its implifications on Whitby. Mayor Jim Gartshore, a member of the regiori's plan- ning and development com- mittee, said that, although much public input has been incorporated into the plan, he is "not completely happy with it". "There is no way that document is completely acceptable to Whitby, nor will it ever be", Mayor Gartshore said. Whitby's mayor, Jim Gartshore, signs the guest book of the City of Longueuil as the. opening ceremonies of Whitby's eighth twinning with Longueuil draw to a close Friday night. Standing beside Mayor Gartshore is Longueuil's acting mayor Gilles Leduc, while at the far left is Councillor Don Lovelock, and at far right, Marjorie Gartshore. For a full report and pictures of Whitby's visit to Longueuil, see pages 2 and 8. Free Press Photo by Brian Winter Brooklin developer anxious Secondary plan study may be expedited Council has asked its administrative committee to study- three methods of expediting a secondary plan study of Brooklin. The three methods were proposed to council Monday by Somer Rumm of Consol- idated Building Corporation which owns and plans to develop on a large amount of land in Brooklin. The town has said it will begin the- study if and when it receives funding from the province. The province has indicated that the funding will not be available until regional council adopts the region's officiai plan and the Ministry of Housing approves the plan. The official plan designates Brooklin as a growth area but stipulates that significant growth should not take plan in Brooklin until the secondary plan study has been completed. Regional council is expected. to adopt the official plan but ministry approval could be a long time coming. Mr. Rurnm, fearing tiat possibility, laid out his pro- p mals for how to expedite the study. Mr. Rumm's first proposal was for the town to once again ask the province for total funding of the study immediately at a cost - of approximately $90,000. Failing that, he wants council to ask for $40,000 to hire a consultant to get the study started. Mr. Rumn's final proposal was fgr the town to conduct the study with financing from CBC. The administrative com- mittee. will report in the future. Senior citizens' apartment approved Council on Monday gave approval to the revised plans for- the 105-unit senior citizens apartment on the old Colborne Street School site. Construction could begin in July. The building, an Ontario Housing Corporation project, will be bounded by Dunlop, King, Colborne and Centre Streets. Firemen's mereases delayed by AIB "A lot of red tape" is preventing Whitby firefighters from receiving pay increases voted to them by council in April. The increases, ranging from $750 to $1,000 per year, were subject to approval by the Anti-Inflation Board. The firefighters are finding that getting AIB approval is a tedious exercise. According to Tony Van Doleweerd, President of Local 2036 - the Whitby Profes- sional Firefighters Association, "The thing won't be resolved in the next week". In fact, it could be "several months" before AIB approval gives the firefighters the increase, he said. Mr. Van Doleweerd out- lined the red tape which is delaying the increase. The association members, after presenting a brief to the board, were given forms to fill out-and return. The members compliéd only to have the forms. returned because they were not properly completed. They have to again fill out the forms and return them tothe board. ÀÀ Ai