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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. February 4, 1998 Pace 4 file Canadian Statesman m Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climic 1854 - 1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 - 1947 • Dr. George W. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905t623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 For 144 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozcma, Suzanne Bennett, Tim Bowers, Kevin Britton, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldeway, Barb Patterson, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snoek, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuurnmo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison, Wanda Partrick Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Supervisor - Angela Luschcr, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Libby Smithson Editorials Do They Deserve A Raise? When is a raise not a raise? According to some elected officials, it's when the pay increase is intended to allow local politicians to recover that portion of their salaries which had previously been tax-free. Ever since Premier Harris and his government moved to eliminate the one-third tax-free expense allowance which was part of politicians' pay package, elected officials officials have been scrambling to either absorb 'the loss or pass new resolutions to increase their pay. Here in Durham, regional councillors currently have a base salary of $21,480. Of that amount, one-third was tax free. When that tax-free status is removed, councillors councillors will have to receive another $4,800 to make up the difference. To most citizens, this looks like a raise. On the other hand, to some councillors it's merely a re-adjustment of pay enabling them to avoid taking a pay cut. Durham's Regional Council couldn't decide whether to vote itself an increase last month, but a committee of citizens is being formed to look into the issue of compensation compensation for regional councillors. This idea is on the right track. Certainly, it should be an independent body which decides the going rate for local elected officials. This avoids the spectacle of municipal councillors setting their own salaries. It's a process in which some councillors councillors score quick political points as they fight any suggestion suggestion of more pay. Interestingly enough, very few of those opposing pay hikes refuse to accept raises imposed by the majority of their colleagues. Citizens certainly have a right to suggest what the rate of pay should be for all elected officials. Another option would be to impose the rates by a provincial agency such as the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, with standard rates of pay across the province. Of course, there would have to be adjustments to the pay scale, based on the size of municipalities. But, it isn't impossible to create a single pay schedule for every municipal politician in Ontario and set the matter to rest. Already, provincial school trustees are limited to a $5,000 per annum stipend. Using a similar system at the municipal level means that everybody running for office would know from the start what salary would be offered and when any raises might be forthcoming. They would know they couldn't increase their remuneration simply by passing a resolution resolution and by-law. Most elected officials would be grateful that this difficult difficult task had been taken off their shoulders. And, chances are that the taxpayers would welcome it too. ■ That's Entertainment Traditional readers of newspapers and consumers of radio and TV believe news is merely information, but they are only partially right. They are mistaken if they believe that what appears on their front page or on their television newscast is a completely accurate mirror of the day's most important events. That's because entertainment values cannot be overlooked. overlooked. The recent reporting of the White House sex scandal is a case in point. There are all kinds of things in North America that are more important than the question of one American president's president's personal life. Homelessness, health care, deficits, taxes, education, technology, global warming and the possibility of a showdown between the U.S. and Iraq in the Gulf would all top the list of subjects holding more significance. Even a local rezoning proposal or a water and sewer by-law might have a greater impact on our everyday life. ' But none of these holds the interest or shows the sheer entertainment value offered by a glimpse at what might be going on behind closed doors at the White House. Motivated by the fight for ratings and circulation, what else could the U.S. media do but launch an all-out feeding frenzy as each anonymous tip, unsubstantiated rumor and unnamed source came forward? It wasn't a pretty sight. But it should not be unexpected. However, don't leap too quickly to the conclusion that the media overlooked substance and balance while suspending most of the rules of journalism to invade privacy privacy and spread gossip. Our perception is that there was an even bigger feeding feeding frenzy among the general public, eager for the latest chapter in this real-life soap opera. The fact of the matter is that folks out there were reading, listening and watching this stuff. Didn't you? Another Groundhog Day comes and goes without much fanfare, leaving some folks wondering wondering if it will ever get the media hype it deserves. Letter to the Editor Newcastle Ratepayers' Assoc. First Year Letter to the Editor A Wet, Soggy Ride Dear Editor: The Newcastle Ratepayers' Association held its regular meeting on Thursday, January 22, 1998. This meeting marked an auspicious moment in the Association's history as this is the first anniversary of the formation of the Newcastle Ratepayers' Association. Guest Speaker for the evening was Mr. John O'Toole, M.RR for the riding of Durham East. Mr, Brcnton Rickard, Chairperson, gave a brief resume of the Newcastle Ratepayers' Association's accomplishments in its first year of operation: The Association's first meeting was held on Tuesday, February 4th, 1997, at the Massey House Restaurant. Fourteen interested interested citizens in the persons persons of Brenton Rickard, Carl Good, Jean Graham, Jean Allin, Glenn Allin, Pauline Storks, Janice Parish, Jack Gordon, John Mutton, Ron Hope, Irv ■McCullough, David Rickard, Murray Patterson and Frank Hoar gathered with hopes of being able to form an association. Brenton Rickard volunteered volunteered to act as Chairperson, as did Pauline Storks for Vice Chairperson, Frank Hoar for Secretary, and Carl Good for Treasurer. It was decided to meet again on February 25th. At the • February 25th meeting, The Newcastle Ratepayers' Association was officially organized. In addition to the above members of the executive, Directors Paul Bennett, Ruth Bonathan, Cecil Bowler, Teresa Murkar and John Mutton were elected. The purpose of the Newcastle Ratepayers' Association is: "to monitor and deal with various issues and events that challenge the quality of life in this area." Over the past year, the Association feels it was instrumental in: 1. Construction of George and Andrew Streets from Beaver St. east to the subdivision during during the re-construction of Beaver St. 2. Supported the Bond Head Community Assoc, re the development at the Port of Newcastle. 3. Met with Mr. Don Bourne, representative for the engineering firm overseeing overseeing the construction on Beaver Street. 4. Sent a letter to Clarington- Northumbcrland School Board supporting Hope Township Council's objection objection to Clarington- Norlhumberland Board of Education allocating $14,000.00 in support of a court application challenging challenging the Province's right to withdraw the Board's power to tax property. 5. In June, the Newcastle Ratepayers' Association hosted a public public meeting at the Newcastle Community Hall where Mayor Ham re was guest speaker. 6. In July, met with Mrs. B. Wakefield, School Board Trustee for Ward 3, to show the Association's interest in having a cairn built on the Newcastle Public School grounds to commemorate the old school that was torn down. This is still ongoing. 7. Upon approval from the Claringlon- Northumberland Board of Education to build the cairn on the old school property, a plan for the cairn has been drawn up by local resident Barry Jones and a local company, company, Sonbon Homes, has volunteered to erect the cairn. 8. Exchanging minutes Continued on page 5 To date - Marathon Cyclist John Veldlittis has travelled over 11,000 kilometres kilometres in his trip around North America. He was in Florida when this letter was written and reports that he has almost 4,800 kilometres remaining. The trip is a fund-raiser to create create scholarships for students students from Haiti studying in Canada. It is a familiar pattern by now. Early in the morning morning I start off with a T- shirl, covered by a sweatshirt, sweatshirt, covered by a warm jacket but by 10 a.m. the jacket comes off and between 11 o'clock and noon I am riding in just a T- shirt and shorts. As I ride south I am entering the huge pine forests of northern Florida and I am once again alone for miles and miles. Alone but not lonely. A sign along the highway highway warns me to watch out for bears for the next 11 km! I did! No bears are seen this day nor that night as I pitched my tent in the St. Mark National Wildlife Refuge. Actually, the only problem problem in the Florida panhandle panhandle is rain, rain and more rain. People who read or watch the news tell me that records arc broken and new ones set for the amount of rainfall received in January. My clothes arc all soaked and growing forests of mildew, my tent and sleeping bag arc always moist and I am looking forward to a break in the weather. My funds are very low and I am out of food so when I reached Perry, Florida I stopped in a supermarket to purchase some bagels and Italian bread to sustain me for the rest of the trip. As I emerged from the store Joe Hill, a former helicopter pilot in the Viet Nam war approached me and I soon am following him to his mother-in-law's property. Here I pitch my tent under the shelter of a huge awning. Tonight it can rain but I will be dry. That night for the first time in a long time it docs not rain! We talked about camping camping and life overseas well into the night and continued continued our discussions the next morning. At 11:30 I am once again on my bike heading south to reach my next stop 72 miles away (115 km) at Dunedin. A large portion of my route is on the Pinellas Trail, one of the many 'Rails to Trails' projects in the US where abandoned railroads have been turned into bike and walk trails. These trails arc fiat and very safe since they take you off the busy highways and show you the backyards of many homes. Landscaping has made these trails attractive to riders, walkers and property owners and is a source of pride to the city. Late that afternoon I reached my destination which is within a stone's throw of the Blue Jays winter home and once again a very pleasant time is in store for me. My friend from Haiti is not home but I managed to speak to him by phone in the Bahamas where lie now works and we make a promise to sec each other in the future. The next.day it rains cats and dogs again but I am off again to my next destination in Pinclla Park. I am anxious to get there because my mail has been collecting there for several months. Early in the afternoon I arrived and a large amount of mail is in fact handed to me. I enjoyed reading all of it. Some people have answered questions I asked, some send encouragement, encouragement, my son has included a picture of my granddaughter who I have not seen for a year and some cheques arc also waiting. Thank you all very much. That night I attended a meeting in St. Petersburg on race relations. This is a strange meeting, and I come away with more questions than answers. A visitor from Africa shares my frustrations. He also cannot figure out what the issues are. However the meeting is well attended and seems to be meeting the needs of some people. Friday the wind is just about perfect as I travel through fields of strawberries strawberries near Plant City. The view is interesting but the road is dangerous and requires my full attention since this highway has no shoulders on which one can ride. Early in the afternoon afternoon I arrive at my destination destination in Lakeland. The sun shines, the people are friendly and I will stay and rest here for a few weeks before I head North again to Kingston, Ontario and then to Bowmanville. Late in the afternoon I found a barber and I have my first haircut, since I left town. It feels great and I soon settle into the'routine of my hosts. As far as I can figure it out I have travelled about 11,200 kins so far. It is time for a little rest but it is only a rest. The trip from California to Florida was long and continuous, so a rest is both needed and welcome. Sincerely, John VeUlhuis Letter to the Editor Put More Money Into Roods Dear Editor: When the present provincial government was first elected, we heard a great deal about users paying paying for services rendered. This policy appears to have been completely ignored in the restructuring program that is taking place between the provincial government and the municipalities. Let us look at road user fees. Here we have the situation situation where the province is transferring total responsibility responsibility for the majority of the road system to the municipalities municipalities to be financed by the properly taxes, while at the same time the province continues iq levy the same road user lees. Road users will now have to pay twice for this- essential service. Meanwhile, even before the full extent of this financial financial transfer is known, estimates estimates for 1997-98 show the province is now collecting $1,275 billion per year more in road user lees than is being spent on our total , transportation system. All this while our roads continue continue to deteriorate. Road safety becomes a major issue and congestion worsens. worsens. To put it bluntly, a higher percentage of fees now being collected needs to be pul back into the roads. The Better Roads Coalition urges the provincial provincial government to carry out a full review of road financing practices not from a jurisdictional point of view (province and municipality) but from the road user perspective - the taxpayer that drives the roads and pays the fees. We would urge all road users to contact their provincial members of the Legislature to request that this injustice be corrected. The Belter Roads Coalition is a Coalition of road users dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of the total road system. ïonrs sincerely, Harold F. Gilbert A Lonely Afternoon