The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

(2- Or>noWeeklyTlmes, Wednesdayï. JuIy:13, .1994 or-o-,hÔWeeKiy flme pu1kiçtions Mal Rogisttrio, Co 0$ ~3 an$tr.#t.-Oron<o, Ontarte LOB 1 Mo Telephori, 416-ffl831 RoO. Frxrester, Owner.Edltor Su bciption$1 7.00 Wper al num A five year tally, Generally we have known wbat has gone on in the past but the future is something else. There are good reasons for the council of the Municipaiity of Clarington asking for a five year operational cost forecast. In the climate of change that is taking place at the present urne much can change over a five year period and a number of changes may well ot even be predicable. In the past municipalities have, as a rule, called for a five year capital works forecast to estimated funds need for capital works to be considered in the future. It bas flot been a practice of municipalities to cail for an operational cost forecast but Clarington bas taken that step and expects to have the forecast before council in September. It is a report that coundcil and the general public sbould bc versed in before embarking off into a rather cloudy future of undertakings. It was only the last part of June that coundcil was informed that the Province would be costing out cons to the municipality relating to work associated to supplementary assessments. For Clarington it is a cost of some $80,000 a year depending on the amount of development that is taking place. 1Clarington no doubt will be faced witb additional building cons of the new fire hall as wel as accepting some cost for additional firefighters even thougb Hydro is bearing the load for ten years. Tbere is also the operational cost of the community centre, swinmmng pool, squash courts and proposed new library in Courtice, Even with some revenue from the recreational side of the project there sill is a sizeable operational cost, estimated at 6 to 7 percent. The Senior and Youtb commiîees are also viewing a centre in Bowmanvile that wil not corne wîtbout a cost. in operation. Not to be forgotten is the fact that within less than two years tbe sociel contract will be a thing of past as far as we know now. What fmnancial ramifications this may bring is difficuit to cornprebend. .With municipalities li the past couple of years coming ini at zero or near zero budgets they have set a pattern that the public secs as one being possible. If there was anger before on increased taxation it certainly will intensify if sizeable increase again become an annual event. Generally the taxpayer sees the bey-day of big tax increases as over. The September date for producing the five year operational forecast is well timed here ini Clarington - just before embarking on some major works and just before an election. Council deserves some create in tbis move. The opportunity for all to view and juLdge will be- available. Not surprising It is not at ail surprising that a another study is being devised by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority administration having a price tag of $50000 for a business plan te develop revenue for and froni the Ganaraska forest itself and the Forest Centre. The Au thority over the past years bas spent major time elements in studies for a reorganization, amalgamnation that bave involved tbree to four years with very little positive resuits. The business plan is expected te take a year to complete and then there is the implementation of a possible further year. A start on a plan could well bu made by the present-day staff for consideration before any action is taken by the authonity in approval. Somne interesting statistics do show a considerable dedline in the forest centre as an educational centre. Tbere may bu a number of reasons but during the past year 20 residential groups were booked into the centre for two and a baif days each, ten weeks in total of 36 possible weeks during the school terni. As to rentas for such as cub groups 100 overnighters at The Ganaraska Forest Centre has a prie tag of $395.00 up until Septembur 1 when it rises te $460.00. Tbe same outing at Hebu-r Down camp operated by tbe Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority costs a mere $35.00. There seemns te be a good reason for a'business plan at the Ganaraska but before they go about spending $50,000 tbere is some tbought to bu given tbrough the Ganaraska staff and memburs. LETTER TO, THE EDITOR: Dear ROY, It was witb disbelief when members of the Orono Horticultural Society heard of due proposed parking lot to be constructed on due beautiful tred, well-maintained grounds of due Clarke Branch Library within due Municipality of Clarington. As a community erganization we are very opposed te this recommendation. One of the purposes of a Horticultural Society is - encourage the improvement of home and public grounds by planting of trees, shrubs and flowers and by otberwise promoting Our Outdoor art and public beautification. Since 1921 the Orono Horticultural Society bas voluntarîly planned, planted and, maintained flower beds within due village and in recent years cared for the flower beds on library grounds adding beauty and colour te our community which belps make Orono "A Good Place to Live.' For yearsdue Or ono DRIA bas worked bard by beautifying due business section witb tree planting and flower containers, which we appreciate and enjoy. If this proposai goes through, it would spoil and devalue tbeuniqueness of the library grounds, the green space and our community with due ugliness of an asphalt parking Ilt Is there really a need for additional parking for the business section? If available present parking space was utilized - such as Park Street and Cburch Street and if business people would not park at their place of business, more parking spaces would be available for customers. No doubt there must 1bc more important projects to be considered in spending taxpayers money. Also, due five parking spaces east of the armory building are rarely used - se wby would people park at due library ground? We know parking can bc scarce on the Main Street at times and there is a need te park elsewhere, but that short walk is good exercise. If a customer receives friendly, quality service, that customer, will return to the businessregardless of wbere he/she hd-to park.-Would more parking spaces on the library grounds mean more customers for due business section? Please reconsider duis proposal and don't take away our lîbrary lawns, locust and walnut trees, and a haven for the birds, squirrels, cbildren and adults, needlessly. Let's leave duis beautiful green space for our children and great- grandcbildren - the future generation. Sincerely, The Orono Horticultural Society LETTEIP2R TO THE EDITOR: Dear Editer, RE: Letter-restriction of ammunition sales Last week's letter writer Peter A. Etmnanskie bas the control of gun's and ammunition mixed up. At the meeting held at the local Port Perry Gun Club, a few weeks ago, the tepic under discussion duat evening was guns. gun control and firearm acquisition permits. Legislation surrounding guns was,- and remains the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. So of course, the province wouldnt be able te pass legislation pertaining te f=rarins. SBill 181 (An Act te regulate the Purchase, Sale and Provision of Ammunition) was passed in one dayte deal with public shoetings in Ottawa and Toronto. The reason for this happening was due to all three political parties agreeing there was an 'urgency te pass legislation before the summer recess. The writer is wrong to say that this quick process didn't afford any public input. The Standing Committee of Justice, made up of members from ail three parities, held public hearings prior to passîng Bill 181. We were tàsked to examine, gun control, the control of the sale of ammunition and community policing. In the ligbt of that task the Clerk of the Committee selected experts on the constitution, vîctimns of crime and parents of victîms of crime, and a Metro Toronto police officer who was an expert on community policing, te appear bufore the committee. Also appearing before- the cemmittee was the Executive Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters. The constitutional experts gave advise on the problenis the province would face by way of a constitutional challenge should we become involved in gun control. They also gave advise in the areas of ammunition control which they said was witbin our jurisdiction. The victims of crime told the committee what they would prefer to see bappen in respect te gun and ammunition controls. The Metre Police Officer gave the commnittee an insight in what comimunity police progranis were the best and most efficient. From these hearings which took place over tbree days, the committee members then spent a day debating the issues, and then wrote a report on which Bull 181 was based. We recognized that we could not deal with or prepare any legislation dealing widu guns or their control. 1The writer is also completely wrong to suggest that 1 had used England as a sbining example of gun control success. 1 said that the method of control for ammunition, ie: the purchaser having photo ID and the merchant an ammunition sale control regîster, bave been used in England for 30 years. I neyer mentioned gun control at ail - why can't people get their facts night before buzzing off letters to the media full of outrageous misinformation. Finally, 1 did say in my column that the legîslation goes part of the way in the control of ammunition within Ontario. I didn't say it was the cure for ail ok- the problems. Would the writer have preferred us to have done notbing at ail? Sincerely, Gordon L. Mils, C.C., M.P.P. Durham East. St. SaviOur 's Angican Church MILL STREET ORONO, ONTARIO Interlm Mîister: Rev. Robert Hartley 983-9639 SUNDAY SERVICE. SUNDAY SCHOOL and YOUTH GROUP 9:30 a.m. (MONO PASTORAL CHARGE Minister Rev. a David Murphy Marlene o . Risebroeigh, Secretary 983-5702 Chureh Offce SUMMER SERVICES Services at Orono and Kirby Churches begin at 10:00 a.m. JULY 17, JULY 31 at Orono United Church JULY 24 Kirby United Church AUGUST 7, 14, 21,28& SEPTEMBER 4 Newcastle United Church Services begin at 10:30 a.m. A.A. meets every Thursday 7:30 p.m. ORONO, ONTARIO 983-5009 -7D àe 1 0