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- - - riw vnnxr 1 ,-ly-t1lclz M~AV 9'7 1 PAGE 6, WHIT.UYFt'RU I-~Riftri:s r)-ýja, ALjzi un w VOICE OF THE COUNTY Publlshod ovory Wednesday DOUG ANDERSON By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668.6111 Y TOWN . • Publisher MAURICE PIFHER Editor PETER IRVINE Advertising Manager 'IIreoI~~aib~n ~4 ~jirpe ,il pet<trn thomNit ed arnn d uiptraised 1 b% ii » fi.rd rist' i Full consideration Whitby's representatives on Durham regional council just barely managed last week to post- pone a final decision on the location of a new regional administration building. The significance of that motion to "reconsider" a vote that now favors Oshawa as the riew site may be evident next week. Councillors had voted 13-11 for Oshawa, the alternative preferred by planning commissioner Michael Mofeed, planning chairman Marie Hub- bard and finance commissioner Jack Gartley (although Gartley admitted it was planning con- siderations, not financial reasons, which led him to favor Oshawa). But more important was the absence from the meeting of six councillors, including the mayors of four of the Region's eight municipalities. It will be their votes that will determine, once and for all, whether the downtown Oshawa site, formerly oc- cupied by General Motors, will take over from Whitby as home of the Region's offices. Those six votes were conspicuously absent last week on a multi-million dollar decision. No matter what decision is eventually made - to do nothing; to expand on the existing site; to go to Oshawa; or to adopt the Graywood developer's of- fer- the price tag is high in the long run. Ajax councillor and Region finance committee chairman Jim Witty, who voted against the move to Oshawa and wants more discussion on the matter, says the decision is the biggest made by the Region in recent years. His motion to have Region staff study further the financial implications of the move was defeated prior to the vote for Oshawa. Again, nine of Oshawa's 11 councillors voted against the referral motion in their attempt to seize the oppor- tunity. Witty had also complained that the process was not "open enough" and his motion was also to encourage more debate and discussion. And after some comments by Frank Clayton on behalf of Whitby and on behalf of a Whitby location, by Garnet Watchorn of Graywood for his offer, and continued argument by Whitby regional represen- tatives Bob Attersley and Tom Edwards, at least some of that necessary dialogue took place bet- ween council members. Some councillors questioned financial assum- ptions made in the report that recommended the Oshawa alternative. And Scugog councillor Lawrence Malcolm wondered if the front exterior of a new building would ever be like the building now shared by the Region and the Province on Rossland Rd. And just how about expansion on the existing large site owned by the Region, he wondered. Watchorn's offer to match Oshawa's free parking proposai, thus making both offers equal in cost (without Oshawa's ownership claim), went unmentioned. Maybe next week's meeting will see continued debate on such a huge decision that has led to questions of rural vs. urban image, planning vs. finance, and freshness vs. tradition, in the Region. A council session with full attendance by mem- bers is the only way to properly discuss and resolve questions raised and options given since eight municipalities have a share in the facility. Again, they will have to assess the image they wish to establish in regional government. Oshawa councillor John Aker stated that Oshawa has put forth as attractive a package as possible to land the headquarters. Representatives of the rural and rapidly urbanizing municipalities now must determine either the necessity of that package or its Oshawa location as compared to one in Whitby or elsewhere. The Region has been spared the criticism that has greeted the public school board which also wants a new, expanded office facility. That doesn't mean a Region decision is made easier. Parlor bylaw will eventually cost taxpayers To the editor: The May 20 issue of The Free Press has my blood boiling. To give a 4x6 headline for a survey which is nothing but a farce is very poor journalism. If Mr. Jeffery Harmon is giving us a sample of his company's polling ethics I hope the Town or anybody else who needs a survey, realizes what kind of fools he takes us for - to call the opinion of 20 people a survey when there are well over 40,000 living in Whitby., My wife and I haye never patronized any of these places but that does not give us the right to restrict anyone else who wishes to. I find their operations to be quite legal since they have all been gran- ted licences to operate and have also paid property and business taxes. Furthermore the owners have spent a lot of money on these properties on the basis of these licences. A business licence is a signed commitment from the Town to allow a particular type of business to be carried on in that location until the owner decides to either sell of close it. Anybody thinking that public opinion is going to chase them out of town or have the Town revoke these licences had better be Family history wanted To the editor: In connection with family history research, I am seeking descendan- ts of John Smith (born 1818 in Scotland, died Dec. 18, 1883 in On- tario) and his wife Jennet Balmer (died May 21, 1901 in Port Perry). John Smith emmigrated to Ontario in 1834 with his widowed mother and seven brothers and sisters. I am also seeking descendants ol Alexander Balmer (died Nov. 8, 1862) and his wife Elizabeth Ar- mstrong (born 1791, died Jan. 27 1857 of Whitby. Yours truly, F. Miles 72 Darby Drive St. Eleanor's, P.E.I. C1N 4V8 LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. All letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor,.Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N. prepared for a long and lengthy court proceeding at quite a cost to the taxpayer. My advice to the goody-goodies of the Town who insist upon forcing their opinions on the free citizens of this community, that is, if they are really sincere, is to put their money rwhere their outh is, form a com- pany and but these establishments at a fair price and then turn in the I forone as a taxpayer do not want to see my tax dollars wasted on a legal battle which could go as far as the Supreme court. No doubt the Town would lose at every stage. If by chance the Town should win, not one business would be safe from harassment and revoking of licen- ces. This would be totally counter- productive to the thousands of dollars the Mayor's office is spen- ding in promoting Whitby all over the world because every businessman would doubt the credibility of the system and there goes new tax dollars and jobs. The only solution would be for no new licences be issued but leave the established places alone. Helmut Hitscherich R.R. 1 Brooklin R, ki rhe Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont.