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PAGE 6, WITBY FREE PRESS. WEDNESDAY, DECEIvfER 20, 1989 v.JWILJU'U\J Put 1 VOUCE 0F THE COUNTY TOWN The on/y Whitby newspaper independentfy owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. iblished every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Imc. Phone: 668-6111 668-6112 668-6369 Doug Anderson E zm wA LiN 5S1 2nd Clasa Postai Reglstratlon #05351 Maurice Pifher Editor Peter Irvine Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager Last week Whftby couniclilors voted themselves a 6.3 per cent pay increase, effective Dec. 1, 1989, with another increase of that size to take effect ln Decemnber, 1990. That may seem hefty in light of the fact that just last February they got an increase of 29 per cent. By the end of 1990, councillors wiIl earn $1 4,648 and our mayor will earn $37,205. Earn? That's right - earn. Whether you agree with them or flot, whether you like them or not, whether you voted for them or not, by and large our councillors work hard, and they earn tI,-3r keep. If flot, we, the ratepayers, as their boss, can f ire Councillors take a hilke them in the next election. In addition ta their regular employment, the average councillor is out at Ieast three nights a week, spends numerous hours on Town business, even when at home, and for the most part have only memnories of reIaxing weekends. Yes, they asked for it. But we need them. And we need the work they do. The newest raise brings them Up to par with other municipalities, many smaller than Whitby and with far Iess growth. Before last year, they lagged behind other municipalities In their pay scales. If it weme up to us to give them their mises, chances are we'd corne Up wth the same Increase, or, perhaps even more. Sa why isn't Rt up to us? Councillor Tom Edwards notes that in Metro Toronto, there is a committee of three people representing labor, business and residents. It Is their lob to decide counciliors' raises based on a comparative study of other salaries. t has worked for Metro 'for -the past 10 years. It seems to take away the sting and stigma of voting yoursetf a ralse. What's most Important, Rt cornes from the employer - the people. And RI s employers, not empioyees, who are In the business of deciding raises. Courncillors vote for raises:e tough times? To th~edi&to-. Our town fathers have given themselves another part-timeê pay mcrease, the second within 10 months% thus an amount of 35 per cent. It seems they are tailoring A this whopping incease to workload (I wonder). When we are seeing all levels of elected officiais being told to tighten their beits, like the rest of us, why would Whitby elected Christmas carol cont est. officiais think they can abuse the public through in such an absolutely abrasive manner? We are a caring town with loads of people who serve in many non-paying voluntary ways, and although the mayor and .coumciiloe should be paid, let theni be responsible to the taxpaying public and understand that tough times could be ahead with higher taxes and oempan layoffs. Remember, one-third Of councillors' pay is tax-free - maybe that one-third could help our hospital building fimd. Your. ruy Plant a tree To thdeclor. We are now living in a tixne of environmental concern. We know Participation enj oyedl To t he Editor.. Not only was our Tree of Hope project financially beneficial, but our head injured survivors bene- fit greatly from having the oppor- tunity to take part in a com- munity effort. Our appreciation ta, those who contributed ta our success, ta Mr. Grocer and Jerrys Discount Drugs for providinig our loca- tions, ta aill who donated most generously, ta the Whitby F'ree Press for media coverage, ta, Lynda awson and Stuart Craig, Do'twn Whitbyl frInvit ing us to partîcipate, to our members and head injured survi- vors who -did a terrific job of exchanging Christmas bulbs for donations ta HIAD. To everyone, «Thank you!» HIAD wishes everyone the happiest of holidays and for the new year, peace, health, and prosperity. Snee Mary Connei Whitby that our trees help dlean our polluted air, and we are trying to stop the destruction of the world's rainforests, also, the log- ging of our own woodlands. o why can't we instead plant a tree for Christmnas? People in apartments, town- bouses and community living projects could pool the cost and plant a living tree, and ini the Christmas spirit, they could together decorate the tree. It would also, do wonders for com- munity spirit. Wydo we have t bring a tree inside ta enjoy the bauty of it? It is also said that real trees are bio-degradable. The other type are reusable. So why do we I trees for Christmas? Yours William Luchford whitby Barb Glen, editar of the Taber (Alberta) Times, published the following contest in Deoember last year. Each of the sentences trans- lates inta the titie of a Christmas carol. Answers are on page 28. 1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief. 2. Listen, the celestial messengers produce harmonlous 9ounds. 3. Nocturnal timespan of unbroken quietness. 4. An emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good given ta, the terrestrial sphere. 5. Embellish the interior passageways. 6. Exalted heavenly beings to whom hearkened. 7. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival. 8. The Christmias preceding al others. 9. Small municipality in Judea southeast of Jerusalem. 10. Diminutive masculine master Of skin-covered percussionistic cylinders. Il. Omnipotent supreme being who elici ts re pite ta ecstatic distinguished maies. 19, TMnquility upon --the- terrestrial sphere. 13. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of crystals. 14. Expectation of arrivaI to populated area by mythical masculine perenniai gift-giver. 15. Natal celebration devoid of color. 16. TI awe of the nocturnal time span characteized by religiosity. 17. Geographic state of fantasy during the season of Mother Nature's dormancy. 18. The first person nominative plural of a triumvirate of far eastern heads of state. 19. Tintinnabulation Of vacillating pendulunis in unverted metallic resonant cups. 20. In a distant location the eistence of an improvised unit of new-born children's slumber flirniture. 21. Proceed forth declaring upon a specific geographical alpine formation. 22. Jovial yuletide desired for the second person singular or Plural by us. upon a specific geographical alpine formation. 22. Jovial yuletide desired for the second person singular or -plural by -us.. P31 B likSretrth 131. Bock26,StreetOnrth. UNO Bo50, htyOt 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. Ail 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 ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailsiot at 131 Brock St. N. 2nd Ulass Postal Reglstratlon #05351