The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE M. WEDNIESDAY . MARCII 4, 1981 ,WHITY FREE PRESS Force provides "ranp to the future".. . Task force to review reccomendations By S. GREENAWAY Free Press Staff Members of the newly ap- pointed Mayor's Task Force on the Disabled were in- troduced at the force's first public meeting last week to a gathering of some 30 people, by task force chair- man, Councillor Joe Drumm. The task force, set up in conjunction with the Inter- national Year of the Disabled, is divided up into eight levels of committee structure; accessibility and parking, education, em- ployment, housing, leisure and recreation, programs and special events, services and transportation. Each level of the commit- tee will receive copies of the Whitby Municipal Program - Public Service "Im- provements for the Han- dicapped" and the proposed recommendations from the Oshawa Mayor's Task For- ce. "The goal of the Whitby Mayor's Task Force on the Disabled is to evaluate the two reports and review past accomplishments in regard to each committee structure and research related needs in the Town of Whitby," said Drumm. The Public Service Im- provements For Handicap- ped paper was compiled by town administrator Bill Wallace "to assess the needs of the disabled in regards to their experiences." through the distribution of a questionnaire. The paper touches on eight points concerning depressed curbs, doors, exercise programs for the disabled and the possibility of attem- pting to obtain a Wintario grant to provide facilities to assist the handicapped. Parts of the report paper read; "I. Depressed curbs: All new and reconstructed sidewalks should allow for depressed curbs at corners for use by people in wheelchairs. Consideration should also be given to the reconstruction of corner curbs in the downtown areas of Whitby and Brooklin as well as at the north entrance of the Municipal Building. 2. Doors: The width weight and use of spring loaded doors should be considered for easier access for people in wheelchairs. 6. Through the site plan process the Town could en- courage development to provide for depressed curbs, ramps, etc. in newbuildings and developments." The second document which the Whitby task force Joe Drumm has chosen to study is a list of 90 proposed recommen- dations compiled by the Oshawa task force. These 90 points are divided into eight different categories (committees) each with separate sub- heads. Accessibility and parking committee touches on parking, access and parks, the education committee on facilities and accessibility courses and programs, sup- port staff, education of the public to the handicapped and education of the, disabled in coping with society, the employment committee, the housing committee, which touches on access, parking, design, planning, zoning, rent sup- pliments and programs, and housing registry infor- mation centres. The four remaining com- mittees are the leisure and recreation services commit- tee, the promotions, Programs and Special Events committee, the ser- vices committee and the transportation committee. John Stotts, co-chairman of the Oshawa Mayor's Task Force who introduced the recommendations to the Whitby group, called the force's efforts a "ramp towards the future." "We don't expect miracles," said Stotts, "just a plan." "From our experience in Oshawa the key to such a project's success is to get the disabled involved right up to the hilt." During the course of his talk Stotts suggested a possible Whitby-Oshawa co- operative event such 'as a dance party for the disabled at some point in the future. The Whitby task force, comprised of eight chairmen and advisors, must review the two reports and prepare a final report from each committee by the first week in September. The eigbt chairmen and corresponding advisors on the Whitby Mayor's Task Force are Ken Thoms and Bill Vaughan (accessibility and parking), Ann White and Chuck Roche (education), Vic Strickland and Vera Siblock (em- ployment), Jean Ach- matowicz and Sue Grenier (housing), Elizabeth Gomes and Fraser Stewart (leisure and recreation), Daryl Taylor and Carolyn Lawson (programs and special even- ts), Rev. Jack Roney (ser- vices), Marion Irwin and Jim McEwen (transpor- tation), Task Force co- chairman Altamae Eberlee and honorary chairman Mayor Bob Attersley. $40,000 office for Wallace The Town of Whitby will spend over $40,000 to build a new office for administrator Bill Wallace. Wallace's office will be moved from its present location in the clerk's depar- tment to an area next to the office occupied by Mayor Bob Attersley. Attersley claimed last week that the move was needed to streamline the town hall's operation. Prior to Attersley's suc- cession to the mayor's chair, the mayor had only a ' secretary. When he took of- fice, Verna Roberts was named executive assistant to mayor and council and a new secretary was hired. When Wallace is established in his new office, the mayor's department will have a three-member staff. The $40,500 construction project is expected to be completed before the sum- mer. 'Council voted to undertake the project after Attersley cast the deciding ballot in a four to three vote. THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM NOTICE OF DURHAM PUBLIC MEETING Take notice that the Regional Planning Committee will con- sider at a meeting to be held on: MARCH 10, 1981 AT 10:00 A.M. PLANNING DEPARTMENT BOARDROOM 105 CONSUMERS DRIVE, WHITBY A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE DURHAM REGIONAL OFFICIAL PLAN The purpose of the proposed amendment is to designate lands Residential, Industrial and Major Open Space, within the area indicated on the map below. In addition, a Type 'B' Arterial Road is proposed extending from Thickson Road, in the Town of Whitby, to Thornton Road in the City of Oshawa, within Concession Ill. J..T LOT LOT LOT LOT 21 20 19 S 17 IV TAUNTON #IOAD Towpof ;CON. > SITE RoSsiAND OAO Subsequently, the Regional Council will consider the recommendation of the Planning Committee at a meeting to be held on: MARCH 18,1981 AT 10:00 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, REGIONAL HEADOUARTERS BUILDING 605 ROSSLAND ROAD EAST, WHITBY Information related to the proposed amendment is available for inspection in the offices of the Planning Department, 105 Consumers Drive, Whitby. If there are any questions related to this matter please call Mr. L. Kotseff, M.C.I.P. Planning Department, (416) 668-7731. Requests to appear before the Planning Committee as a deputation concerning the proposed amendment must be forwarded to Dr. M. Michael, M.C.I.P. Commissioner of Planning, 105 Consumers Drive, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3, and must be received by the Friday preceding the meeting. Requests to appear before Regional Council as a deputation concerning the proposed amendment must be forwarded to the Regional Clerk, Regional Headquarters Building, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby. Ontario 11N 6A3, and must be receîved 48 hours prior to the Regional Council meeting. Gary Herrema C.W. Lundy, A.M.C.T. Regional Chairman Regional Clerk BONUS 112