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While asserting that it would be a breach of decorum to apportion blame for Whitby coun- cil's failure to produce a major multi-purpose recreation complex at Iroquois Park, mem- bers of council will not break confidentiallity in the matter to clear up a chain of rumours and innuendo . pointing to town staff and con- sultants and, ultimately, the council itself. "I'm not convinced there's anything the public shouldn't know..." said Councillor Ross Batten last week. "But there's nothing to be gained by having a public inquest." The problem, as Mr. Batten sees it, is that the process leading up to council's decision not to adopt a $62 million proposal to expand the facility was too long and involved to ever be fully explained to anyone who did not participate in the process from the begin- ning. Asked whether anyone involved in the process had been less than adept, in the per- formance of their job however, Mr. Batten responded: "Yes. But I don't see what's to be gained by disclosing who." '<There was probably some information that came forward that was incorrect," continued the councillor. Asked whether town con- sultants Totten Sims Hubicki shared some responsibility for the misinformation, Mr. Batten replied "possibly." Asked if any of the councillors might be considered party to slip-ups that might have occurred along the way, Mr. Batten thought not. When he was asked if staff bore any respon- sibility for passing on incorrect information to the councillors, Mr. Bat- ten said "no comment." In a similar vein, Councillor Joe Bugelli said references he has made to confidential reports were not inten- ded to suggest that anything "monstrous" had occurred but rather were aimed at alerting the public to the fact that council had made a decision based on the accummulated weight of information which, in some cases, the public was not privy to. Councillor Bugelli complained that too much emphasis had been placed on the con- fidentiality of the relevant reports but conceded that he had had "difficulty" with some of the numbers and cost estimates con- tained in those reports. "I was concerned that the information I was getting (from staff and the consultants) was either incomplete or inaccurate," said Mr. Bugelli of the process which saw the Iroquois Park expansion proposal escalate from $3 million to $6.2 million over the course of more than two years of studies and con- sultation. When he was asked if anyone had been incom- petent in discharging their duties, Mr. Bugelli said no. "Because mistakes take place it doesn't mean there has been any incompetence. SEE PG.,38 Wayne Deveau resigns post After il years as would assume interim troversy and that Mr. from my doctor and 1 Whitby's director of responsibility for the Deveau had simply just decided if there parks and recreation, department until fur- decided to "pursue ever was a time to make Wayne Deveau submit- ther notice. oher career interests." a change it's now. I ted his resignation last Mr. Wallace, Mayor "In thelast year or so don't want to wait until Wednesday, effective Bob Attersley and other I've been looking at my I'm 50" said Mr. immediately. members of town coun- career situation and 1 Deveau in an interview A press release from cil and Mr. Deveau him- thought Id like to try Tuesday morning. town administrator Bil self have ail said that something new and dif- The former recreation Wallace noted that the the resignation is in no ferent. I'm 45, I'vespent director said he is department's deputy way related to the 25 years in thefield, I've leaving with a lot of director, Barry O'Neil, Iroquois Park con- ot a ean bi of health SEE PG. 38 Vol. 16, No. 16 Wedneday, Apil 23. 1986 40 Pages Whitby stude nt wins culinary award ..See pg 8 Town will study affordable housing ... See pg 6 Don't miss Bike Back See- pg 212 Draft plan identifies Whitby's recreation needs It was Appreciation Night 1986 Tuesday, April 15 at the Whitby Seniors' Activity Centre and a full slate of the community's seniors were honoured for their efforts as volunteers over the past year. At- tended by, among others, the Mayor, several coun- cillors and members of Whitby's Parks and Recreation department, the evening featured en- tertainment by country vocalist Marilyn Fries and the Smokey River Show Band followed by the volunteer presentations and refreshments. Among the many volunteers honoured this year were Reta Barsam, Ross Law, Thelma Fries, Vie Egglesden, Ivy Hicks and Tom Farndale. Free Press Staff Photo By MIKE JOHNSTON Free Press Staff The top five recreational needs for Whitby residents in the coming years are a gynasium, a fitness facility, a third indoor ice surface, a second in- door swimming pool and additional softball diamonds, according to a preliminary draft report of the town's culture and recreational master plan. The report, by Jean Monteith and Associates, was presen- ted to council members for information at a special meeting held Monday night. The report projected the population growth in Whitby over the next fif- teen years, and based its recommendations on those population figures. In 1990 the pop- ulation of Whitby is ex- pected to be 54,084, in 1995 it is expected to be 65,333 and in the year 2000 the population is expected to increase to 78,344, according to the report. Based on those figures, the most urgent need in Whitby is for a third indoor single pad arena. The town currenctly has two arenas, one located at Iroquois Park and the other at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Brooklin. The existing level of service for the two arenas is one for every 22,120 persons. The report states that local organizations have been forced to keep registration levels con- stant over the last four years in order for the two arenas to accom- modate their programs. As a result, organizations such as the Ringette Club and the Minor Hockey Association have had to rent ice time outside the town to meet their needs. The report recom- mends that a desirable standard of supply of indoor ice surfaces be one for every 15,000 people. The second ice rink to be built at Iroquois Park - recently passed by council - will leave the standard in Whitby at one ice rink for every 14,747 people. However, the report states that during the period of 1990 to 1995 a design of an arena to accommodate two more ice pads should be given a high consideration. Ministry of Tourism and Recreation guidelines suggest that one indoor pool be provided per 20,000 to 50,000 population. In the Town of Whitby, the in- door pool at Iroquois Park represents a SEE PG. 33 - ~4àAaa4'4 i 44 44 * $ I I $ ~ ....,.*, s 4 46 * $ j 4 4 4 ,4,., '.'.',Y~'.'Â' 6'4'4'4'4'~'4~44'4.'4'4'4 44, 4 Iroquois Park: Innuendo implicates Town Staff *1 Well Done! h i