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PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the Cou nty Town The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and Mil operate SERVING OVER 28,000 READERS ke Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor D k%,rern%& dvII%+ ;L'C uyvmyVVIILU viua'îirs Trlui tiy Uresioeni I. Published every Wednesday Assistant Editor - BlaketPr Community Editor - Brian Winter Contributing Editor - Jim ýu-% Production Manager - Marje Burgess by M.B.M. Publishing.Display Advertising Manager - by M..M. ublihingRobin Lyon and Photography Inc. Classified Ad Manager - Marlene Byroni Circulation Manager - Sharon Lyon Box 206, Whitby. The Free Press Building Mailing Permit No. 460 121 Brock Street North, ailnermit-N. Whitby, Ontario Phone 668-6111. Regionalism good for us We really can't understand the complaining being done these days by some taxpayers, politicians and would-be politicians. in Whitby and Oshawa about regionalisn- most notably with regard to the water and sewer bills which the region is sending out this week. A report from the corn- missioner of finance to the finance committee shows that Whitby and Oshawa are the only municipalities in Durham to realize a financial gain as a result of the implementation of regionalism. The report, entitled "Simulated Impact of Regional Government Implementation- Shifts in Regional Costs", further shows that Whitby is, again, one of only two munici- palities to benefit financially from the assumption of water and sewers by the region. You should also be rernind- éd that this town, before regional government was implemented, supported the transfer to the region of water and sewer billing. Maybe they "f'É1A Cûrn, IIETAI <E OU A UyA Y FRrL bA knew what they were doing after all. Tom Edwards keynote speaker ai seminar Unions and management should Whitby's Tom Edwards, Health Care Workers Co-ordinator for the Ontario Region of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, was the key- note speaker Thursday at a seminar on local governrnent at Queen's University in Kingston. Bob White: - Mr. Edwards was one of the few people fron the public sector to address this local govern- ment seminar, the right usually being reserved for university professors. The theme ofthe week- long seininar was -I umLian Resources Management in Urban Local Govern- men t". Mr. Edwards, in an address entitled "Labor Relations in Municipal Governmnent, Conflict or Co-operation", said "there isa need to destroy Sewer billing questionable, Letters to The Editor: Many reasons for the new method of taxing for sewers in the Durham Region are questionable. By using this theory, all water put through the meter, ultimately ends up going down a sewer, is almost laughable. Some immediate thoughts that corne to mind and are questionable as to whether they were ever considered are: Tenants that have existing leases' with landlords, stipulating the tenant pay their own hydro service charge are now faced with an'addi- tional tax bill. The Landlord paid the sewer charge when it was on the mill rate as part of- bis Municipal Tax. With< the Rent Controls that are now in effect, how can a tenant re-negotiate this new service charge with their Landlords. The Landlord is still payingthe same Municipal Tax, it was never lowered, and now either the tenant or Landlord is hit with another charge. I have never heard of any options announced by the Region, and surely there is enough contro- versy between the tenants and landlords? Another point is, to my knowledge, Churches are exempt from Munici- pal tax, but, they have to pay their hydro bills. This new method of paying will now be an added financial burden to Churches as they are now included in the tax base. To charge for water that is used for any purpose is one thing, but to put a second charge on the same water is ridiculous., Many gallons of water do not go to the sewer. We all use water for various uses, such as, washing the car, watering the lawn and even filling swimming or wading pools.' They've ,sure again. done it R. White. 40 Willow Park Dr. . .Whitby, Ontario. . i the myth that the private sector inevitably produces inefficiency, waste and tardiness". Mr. Edwares said many people preach that only private enterprise can answer the needs of society, and provincial cabinet members such as D'Arcy McKeough have said development would be more effective in the hands of private business- men. "Mr. anyone MKeough and e e who thinks the saine .vay should visit a private nursing home, and then compare it with a nunicipally-operated home for the aged if he wants to see where standards are set", he said. Mr. Édwards told the delegates to the seminar that management and unions should be co-oper- ating to provide the best possible expertise and efficiency in municipal administration. He reported that there appears to be a great feeling of insecurity among management in the field of municipal administration, who either express contempt for unions who appear to be looking for þfht, or see union refre ntives be co-operating as some kind of ogres taken willy-nilly", Mr. who are impossible to Edwards pointed out. resist. "Union officers were told To illustrate' the effi- of the threat to the job ciency of public rather security ofcity employees than private administra- and their co-operation tion Mr. Edwards stated was sought. After some that Ottawa contracted effort on the part of out garbage disposal in union officials a new 1960 and for the next approach to the respec- nine years, the cost of tive roles of both sides garbage disposai rose by in municipal service, and 83.5 per cent. co-operation has given a "By contrast, Toronto whole new impetus to despite restaurant pickup most em*ployees". and 'twice weekly home Besides outlining the pickup rose only 40.2 per benefits of co-operation cent", he said. "The last between unions and time I checked the Ottawa municipal administration, situation the city was so Mr. Edwards predicted disgusted with the stan- that non-monetary issues dard of service and the such as job security will recurring disputes they gain in significance in were considering return- future negotiations. ing to municipal "There should be a disposal". much greater attempt to "When the city of discuss matters of mutual Windsor was faced with concern between manage- the same problem, they ment and unions in the permitted its public public sector, away from works department to the frictions of the tender along with the adversary concept, objec- private companies", said tively, preferably in an Mr. Edwards. academic setting, Mr. "Their own employees Edwards told the were successful", he said. delegates. "Enthused by this success "It is an issde of such the works department potential value that we in tendered on some road local government, and construction and came in the general public through at two thirds the expect- elected people, have a ed-cost. mut-ual vested interest", se stçps were not he said. - ~' 6 dnie