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Whitby Free Press, 31 Jul 1991, p. 1

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Ageement eachd omovePCBs à"Application by Rob*no last step, before relocation, Angling for action LYNDE CREER at Vict oria St. W. is old. Above Kacy, Cus sand Kevin a popuIlmrlesbing spot for young and patiently wait for a bite.]wËl C 0. ov.photo j- - - - - - - - - - - * *By Mike Kowalaki Plans for a mqjor overhaul of Whitby's Centénnial Building have been hailed by local histôfical and theatre groupa. Bôth the Whitby Histarical Society and Whitby Courthouse Theatre applaud Town council's reoent endorsement of a $5'2 million refurbishing of the former courthouse on Centre St. In fact, the histarical society feels so strongly about the scheme, it lias issued -a waning ta incumbent and would-be Town counicillors alike. Anyone not supporting the plan wilI face the wrath cf society members in the November munici»pal election. EâÏlher this month, cauncil recoinmended a.piýôva of a consultants' report callingfo expansion and renovation of the century-old building. A revarnped Centennial Building would house an enlarged community theatre, the Whitby archives and a museuni. Prepared by Sears and Russell, the 'Centennial Building Redevelopment Project' was referred ta next year's capital budget. A new council ta be elected Nov.- 12, will decide when, or if, the project proceeds.* >But if the histarical society lias anything ta do with it the vote will be a mere farmality. "We wi1l make sure council members vote for it,"promised society president Joan Pilniuk. fa1_,vur i ulor support behind those who SAccording ta Pîlniuk, Sears and Russell did a "fine job"prpaig the study and the society does not wata risk losing the project by having the wrong candidates letd. "We will investigate the people running, those who are for adaainst it," said Pilniuk.' "Their (position on the issue) will be impotnt" Hn'awever, Pilniuk hopes al candidates will reco gnize the need for the project and support council's decision. As she explained, the artifacts and potential' museum peces now in the society's possession are "at risk"in their present surroundings. The material is kep ion prtable units more conducive ta staring hosehold furniture than antiqusPilniuk said. .8 cally, we h ave a inarvellous collection depicin the heritage and devlopment ofWhIby$"si inu "People have been very generous .. we could easily accommodate a 5,000 sq. ft. facility." But unless a museuin exists ta Proteet exhibits Pilniuk said people are reluctant ta part witli expensive items. "People want ta donate but t1ey want ta be sure we have a proper and safe means ta proteet them." (Approximately, $500,000 of the $4.3. million construction cost includes providing 'environmental controls' ta preserve museum artifacts, the Sears and RusseqI setudy states.) .In anticipation of a favourable décision by a new coundil, the sciety has begun prepaing a "statement of purpose "sid Pilniuk. This document will define the "goals and objectives" of the future museurn, she said., In addition, a committee responsible for colecting new artifacts has aIso, been formed. For the Whitby Courthouse Theatre ensemble, the Sears and Russell study could nat have been better if the thespians had prepared it themselves.1 'ewere very, very happy. It's a s much, if not more than we were hopîng "for," said president h{enry Schregardus. "It takes inta account aur need for shiop space and frees up the theatre for other events the only thing missing is rehearsal space." A one-storey addition will be constructed on the west side of the building for backstage facilities. The theatre which will remain in its present location on the ground floor. Seating will be increased from the current 165 capacity toalahost 200. SEE PAGE 2 ByfMike Kowalski The long wait-maîy finallHybe over. A ««tentative agreemen t tarernove potentialy, dangerous PCBs ftrm the'derelict ferry boat in Whitby harbÃ"urhas-; been reached. Lawyers. for, the. Ontario Ministry of- Environment,' and Whitby. businessmni Art Robinson'.have.,aegreed* ta'termüs which wiIl pave the way for. transfer of the PCBs ta Whitby 'Tydro's storage -yard on Taunton Rd. Ail that is required now is'for Robinson owner of the Prince ... . ...... Edward lIsland ferry, ta formally apyfor permission ta move the If Robinson's application is approved by- the ministry's, regional director, work can begin on relocating alniost 500 gallons of PCB-contaminated material ta Hydro's site.10 Once the PCBs,. are off -the boat,,Robinson-can proceed,,with, selling the rusting vessel which has beený moored at. the -harbour s Ince 1987. ýA local couple plan, ta taw the-, ferry ta Toronto and turn it inta a restaurant and ýmuseumù. "There's still a bit of work'ta be done (but) we've tentatively agreed an the form of the are miient,» inistry lawyer Jim Jackson said Monday. «k"Inorder ta have it executed it's necessary1 for the campany (Robinson) which owns the boat to inake.formnaI application ta the directar. "The directar can then respond and issue an order author.ing the movement of- PCBs ta, Hydo's praperty." lospcfe how the PbBs will be storé,d and eventually, destroyed, added Jackson. (The federal. government has promised ta destroy bath Hydro's and Robinson's PCBs at a later date.) Although Robinson's lawyer was not available for comment, Jackson expects the application ta be filed shortly. "He (lawyer) said it would be done soan,'he didn't, think there was anything that would hold it oae up,» said Jackson. Negotiations aimed at remov- tSn ing the PCBs conimenced severalpg8 months ago between the pro- vince, Whitby Hydro and Robin- son. kn May, the Ontario cabinet passed an order-in-council absolving Hydro of any liability for the vessel's PCBs. The province will take ful responsibility if an accident in- volving the PCBs occurs whîle the chemical is on Hydro's pro- pery Teponcwill also absolve...... Hdoof any expenses involved h r ist in nioving and staring the PCBs should Robinson default on his part of the tripartite agreement. Business_ These. had been p rime con- 9 cerns of the Whitby Hydro Elec- p fric Commission whien it agreed Entertainment___10 ta accept the PCBs earlier this< What's On 11___i year. Recycler's Report - 14 PCBs (polychlorinated Br 1k ; __ ___ 1 biphenyls) are a m an-m ade che- - . Sport 1 -18 222 mîca utdiii sa ie1ils Production of PCBs was ban- bi tuary 22 ned in the 1970s after it 'was Crimestoppers- 23 q 'r eý îýý:4j >1 ý . - ý ý 1 . ý . - - ý , ', ý , ý . - ý ý ýý 1 ý, , ý - ý - . 'l ý . . ýý . > ý . . . ý ý ý - 1 . ý . « 1 . - 1 ý . 1 ý » - 1 .

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