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Whitby Free Press, 24 Jan 1979, p. 10

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PAGE 10, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24,1979, WHITBY FREE PRESS Crouch wants more men to strengthen the fire department During discussions on the budget there were several requests for more personnel in the town departments. The members of Council were not committing them- selves until they could see what finalized budget would be like. There are stili sev- eral meetings to be held on the budget before it is fina- lized and the taxpayer will know what the mill rate will be for this year, for Whitby. This does not include the mill rate set by the Region of Durham or the Board of Education budget mill rate. These will be added at a later ,date when the Town Council knows what the Region and the Board of Education will be demanding as neither of them have finalized their budgets for 1979. Fire Chief Ed C;ouch put in a request for 12 men for the Fire Departmý nt. He pointed out that the 2 men would give the Fire L vart- ment three teams, as the men are hired in teams of four and trained to work in the team when fighting fires or out on an emergency run. Chief Crouch told the Council of a recent fire at 112 Elizabeth Crescent. The tripck from the Manning Road.Fire Hall answered the :-alf and Chief Crouch' arrived moments later on the scene. The Manning Road hall is equipped with two men to a truck. The men were busy trying to bring the fire under con- trol and seeing that-all occupants were out of the house. Chief Crouch had his "hands full looking after a very badly burned person who was in deep shock." While making every effort to direct his men to the best locations for the hoses and other fire equipment that is used in bringing firestunder control and preventing the spread of the fire. He was relieved when the ambulance arrived and the' badly burned victim was taken away. Chief Crouch was able to turn his full attention to assisting his men who were doing a "heroic job at bringing the fire under .control." It was a fire that really demanded a larger team of firemen fighting the house fire. "It was an experience", that Chief Crouch said he would "never want to go through again." Members of the Council sympathized with him and added that they could see the need for at least four more men in the Fire Department but they could not see the need for an additional twelve men. As in the case with the W.A. Twelvetrees, P. ENG. Commissioner of Works Planning Director Kevin Tunney who has asked for at least one additional person for .his - department the Finance\Committee, which is the Council as a whole, pointed out that the budget had not been finalized as yet. When there are discus- sions in regards to personnel and salaries the Council goes into closed door meetings. It would be unfair to those hired for municipal positions to have their salaries dis- cussed openly and the reasons for hiring or not niring more people to worc in the various municipal departments. When it comes *to a point of agreement on hiring a person then the recommendation is placed before the Council at an open Council meeting for final approval. Organizations want $58,000 i grants "It bothers me, really bothers me, when we have to be judge and jury on what these people ask for," said Finance Committee Chair- man, Bob Attersley; at a town budget meeting last week. He was looking at the 29 requests totaling $58,000 on the list for miscellaneous grants. "I just don't know of a simple answer," he said. • Councillor Gerry Emm pointed out that "the Region has taken the easy way out. They are giving no grants. We are elected to do difficult jobs and we do difficult jobs, and grants is one of the difficult problems." He went on to say that "we, the Council, give the money to the volunteer or- ganizations" for them to try to "administer thëmselves." It is as tough "we are saying you do it for us. There are countless volunteers .doing countless hours of work but they need some help. I and we as a council know there Give your lung Join the Major are a number who are doing a good job of adminis- trating." The lengthy discussion -began when Councillor Bob Carson asked "aren't some of these organizations being funded by the United Way?" Mayor Jim Gartshore said he thought "we have to start cutting somehow. I think we will have to just take the bull by the horns and say yes or no." He looked at the requests for grants which totaled $36,000 plus another possible $22,000 for the operation of a handi-transit van. It was the general opinion of Council that "those Associations being funded by the United Way will not be receiving grants from the Whitby Town Council, in the future." Councillor Barry Evans said, "anything funded by the United Way shouldn't be funded by grants, as being funded by grants from a municipality is defeating the United Way." The question came up as to whether the Big Brothers Association Oshawa and District should be notified that in future the Town of- Whitby will not fund any Organization that is funded by the United Way. The members balked at this and said that policy should be set up first.' Councillor Carson pointed out that the double funding is unfair to the taxpayers. "The citizens and industry are donating to the United Way and again through the giving by means of grants to these people. Organizations are receiving funds and the taxpayers of a municipality, are donating again to the United Way through taxation." Councillor Emm asked how and when did grants start. Clerk Administrator Bill Wallace replied that grants began in 1974 when contributions were given to associations s and heart a break. D THAPAR Denture Therapist. 214 Dunds ŸSt. E., Whitby 668-7797n Ho URS: Mon. - Sat. & Evenings By Appointment Only , REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY DURHAMFOF DURHAM NOTICE CLOSURE OF SANITARY LANDFILL SITE The Oshawa Landfill Site on Ritson Road North was permanently closed at 4:00 p.m. on January 20, 1979. The Whitby Landfill Site commenced disposal operations on January 22, 1979. (See Directions below) The Whitby Landfill Site will be open to the public between the hours of: 8:00 a.m. to. 4:30 p.m. - Monday to Friday (inclusive) 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon - Saturday Effective January 1, 1979, the new Regional Waste Disposal Dumping Rate is $8.50 per metric ton ($7.72 per ton) W HWŸ.7 BROOKLIN (REGIONAL RD. 3) WMITuRV Y c --« L

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