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PAGE 6, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984. WHITBY FREE PRESS LETTERSTO THE EDITOR Former president raises concerns about C.A.R.A. Dear Sir: As a former . past president of the Corridor Area Ratepayers Associa- tion, I feel very qualified to pass com- ment on their latest caper and to express my concern and disappoin- tment with the apparent direction that C.A.R.A. seems to be taking. On Dec. 3, I made a deputation on behalf of 249 residents in our area, expressing our concerns with the proposed GO-ALRT maintenance facility. The residents are "100 per cent in favor" of the GO-extension. We do have legitimate concer- Whitby Hydro Electric Commission MONTHLY RATE SCHEDULE M FLAT-RATE WATER HEATING SCHEDULE NO. 246 400-watt element 450-watt element 500-watt element 550-watt element 600-watt element 650-watt element 700-watt element 750-watt element 800-watt element 850-watt element 900-watt element 950-watt elenent 1,000-watt element $8.86 per month 9.96 per month 11.07 per month 12.18 per month 13.28 per month 14.07 per month 14.81 per month 15.69 per month 16.43 per month 17.20 per month 18.06 per month 18.89 per month 19.68 per month Al element sizes of over 1,000 watts to be charged at the rate of $2.46 per 100 watts per month. 1,00013,000-watt elements 1,50014,500-watt elements 3,00013,000-watt elements 4,500/4,500-watt elements $ 20.91 per month 31.37 per month 31.37 per month 47.11 per month An additional amount of 5% shall apply to all bills not paid on or' before the due date. 128 BROCK ST. SOUTH, WHITBY 668-5878 OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday B. Thompson May, P. Eng. General Manager R.W. Cawker Chairman Effective January lst, 1985, all power used by our customers on and aft that date wilI be billed at the new rates. These rates, which have been a proved by our Commission and Ontarlo Hydro represent an average I crease of 5.0% over existing rates. This compares to an increase to this utility of 8.5% on bulk power pu chased from Ontario Hydro. The Whitby Hydro Electric Commission has been able to keep the rate I crease to Its customers 3.5 percentage points lower than that charged to u by Ontario Hydro due mainly to increased sales, an improved load factc and efficiency of operation. RESIDENTIAL SERVICE Crass of Energy Blocks & c per kwh service Minimum F.R.W.H. Bill Schedule Firmt Noxt Ail No. 250 200 addi kwh kwh tionai Regular 6.95 - 4.354 $4.50 # 246 No. Applicable to existing installations only. NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICE kw Demand Energy Blocks & c per kwh Class of Block char Frst Next add'i Service per kW 25012250 kwh kwh kwh 0.50 - General -----06.950 4.651 3.30' (0-5000 kw) 53.35 minimum bill - under 50 kw - $4.50 over 50 kw - $0.45 per kw for all kw applicable to the maximum billing demand during the previous 11 months or the contracted amount whichever is the greater. transformation allowance - rates are based upon service at utilization voltage. Where the customer provides transformation facilities, the following allowances will apply - for stepdown from subtransmission voltage - 45' per kw of biiling demand for month. for stepdown f rom distribution voltage - 45* per kw of billing demand for month. er p- n- ir- n- is or ns, which are verified by ministry documents and until these concerns are seriously dealt with, we will remain opposed to this facility ! Colin Duddridge, president . of the ratepayers, in no way represents our concerns in this issue and we do not appreciate his comments on.it! The role and purpose of C.A.R.A. is to represent and to support the area residents, but only after the residents have asked them to do so. It is obvious that Mr. Duddridge has not lear- ned this basic principle, which has successfully guided the association for so many years. On Nov. 5, both the ratepayers and myself presented separate but, similar arguments to Whitby's administrative committee, expressing our "opposition" to this facility. For some reason, Mr. Duddridge and the ratepayers ex- pressed quite a different point of view at the Dec. 3 committee meeting. He is now claiming, "that the Whitby yard is going to be a show place for the world." The fact is that Mr. Duddridge, who was not even placed on the agenda that night, in- terupted the resident's opportunity for questioning our coun- cillors. However, this did not prevent him from doing so. While Mr. Duddridge and the ratepayers are entitled to change their minds they do not have the right to interfer with the negotiations bet- ween the residents and the Council. Without the support of the residents, the ratepayers are required to keep their own opinion to them- selves. The residents and even some members of the associations who at- tended the committée meeting were shocked and very disillusioned with the association's change of heart. But I think that problem was put into proper perspective when the Corridor Area residents witnessed Mayor Attersley en- couraging them to buy $2 memberships to the ratepayers association and recommended that they take their problems to the association, before ap- proaching the town! The maintenance facility is one concern that the residents of this area have, now it ap- pears that neither our town council nor the Corridor Area Ratepayers Association want to represent them! Like it or not, isn't that their function? Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the Ratepayers have in- terferred with negotiations between residents and the Town of Whitby. Back in Sep- tember, when the residents in Rolling Hills and I tried to retrieve $123,000 of homeowners' money from the developer, thë association gave misleading and inac- curate information to Whitby Council. Why? We never did get any of that money returned! Last year, as président of the Ratepayers, I would not have tolerated this kind of nonsense. I am very glad that I decided, many months ago, to resign from my position. I do not take these comments lightly, for I really believe that many of the present Ratepayer executive members are honest, hard working people and don't deserve the criticiSm. To those people, please accept my apology. However, to Mr. Dud- dridge and to those who support him, please be advised that without the support of the residents, the Corridor Area Ratepayers Association does not exist! As one resident and member, so accurately stated, after the Dec. 3 meeting, "he never knocked on my door to find out how I felt about it!" Unfortunately, there are times when the residents and council do not agree on matters and when approached, the ratepayers were never hesitant about representing them. It is obvious that C.A.R.A. no longer wants to do this, if it means that they might have to fight for the rights of the residents. Perhaps, C.A.R.A. has outlived its usefulness! I hate political patronage. Dennis Fox, Kirby Cres. Whitby. Standards not met Dear Sir: Core French >in our schools is every parents concern. Durham Region is not even keeping up with the minimum recommen- ded number of hours, over a students school years, to achieve basic competency. The Ministry of Education recommends a minimum of 1,200 hours over a childs school career. At present a Durham student, who takes French until the end of grade 13, only receives 900 hours. Many students do not continue French in the higher grades, therefore falling even further below the minimum requirements. Our students are at a disadvantage, if they should move into another board's area. Our neighbouring board of York provides 40 minutes per day begin- ning at grade 1. Durham provides only 20 minutes per day begin- ning at grade 4. Also caught in this inequality are our teachers. Consider teachers who must in- terest a class, some of whom have come from other areas and have a higher level of com- petency, yet are the same grade level. The range in a class with even a few students from other areas makes it difficult to challenge and interest all mem- bers of the class. A report will be issued to the Durham Board soon by Mr. Bob Abrey (French consultant) with recommendations for change. As parents we can write a letter to our trustee (name available from your local school) and send it postage free via courier at our home school. Tell your trustee how you feel. We should not be so far behind other boards in the area of core French. The Durham Board will be voting on this subject soon. Please let your feelings be known. We should, at the very least, be adopting the Ministry Of Education's minimum requiremen- ts. Sincerely, Lynda Williams Stouffville. DID YOU KNOW that to a qualified owner who drives less than 3 miles one way to work, a policy is available providing $500,000.00 liability, accident benefîts, $250.00 deductible collision and $50.00 deductible comprehensive.for an annual premium of $337.00 (84 Chev. Celebrity 4 door used as example). A fur- ther discount is allowed to abstainers. VFor Further Details Cail: VICK INSURANCE 101 Dundas St. W. Since 1936 Suite 302, Whitby 668-3579