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pili, od asl im Jf 4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 4, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Candidates discuss the issues at Star's town hall meeting Howard Hall \ » 2% Doug The candidates meet offatt : John Wolters Ken Gadsden "Colin Kemp Glenn Malcolm Variety of issues discussed at packed meeting in Port By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star There is much interest and concern among Scugog voters in the 1997 munici- pal election campaign now into its final week. That was more than evident last Thursday evening as a standing room only crowd jammed its way into Town Hall 1873 for an all-candidates meeting featuring the three hopefuls running for the mayor's chair (Howard Hall, Doug Moffatt and John Wolters) and the four (Colin Kemp, Glenn Malcolm, Don Kett and Ken Gadsden) who want to be the township rep at Durham Region. Virtually all the candidates agree that the election Nov. 10 is the most important in the 23-year history of Scugog, as the municipality is facing a myriad of issues ranging from provincial downloading of services and who will pay for what, to restructuring that could alter the bound- aries of the township as we know it today. In keeping with this mood, the meeting was for the most part low-key and serious, and the candidates outlined their positions and responded to questions from the floor on topics ranging from taxation to job creation, safety on the roads and ¢rime in the community. Only once did things get "down and dirty": a very brief and angry exchange between regional hopeful Glenn Malcolm and incumbent Mayor Howard Hall over a legal challenge Mr. Malcolm launched and later dropped against members of the present council on the process by which Marilyn Pearce was named regional councillor 18 months ago after the death of Yvonne Christie. If there was one common thread that popped up several times during the meet- ing, it was the need for job creation in Scugog, especially in light of the fact the Lishman fur industry may relocate out of Ward 4 after failing to move to new and larger premises near Nestleton. In response to a question from the floor, Mayor Hall pointed out the incum- bent council supported the Lishman pro- posal in Nestleton, but the company backed away because of stringent provin- cial environmental requirements. "We (council) tried to work with the provincial government," said the mayor, adding the bid to move to Clarington is facing serious opposition and if it fails, the Lishmans may seek to relocate in Scugog again. Mr. Malcolm suggested the township ought to "take a developer like Lishman by the hand, walk them through the (approval) process." All candidates said that if the Lishmans attempt to re-locate in Scugog they would 4 4A Aa . support the effort, as some 200 jobs are at stake. In response to another question from the floor as to why a large food store was allowed on lakefront property in Port Perry, Mayor Hall said the municipality had no choice as the land was already zoned for commercial use. Regional council candidate Don Kett said the site plan is lacking as the store could have been built closer to Hwy. 7A rather than the lakefront. Mayor Hall noted the township was granted a ribbon of land along the shore- line that is now part of the lakefront pubic park system. . . Crime in spotlight Another issue that touched off a round of applause from the audience was what to do about the increase in crime in the community-- household burglaries, car theft and vandalism. Mr. Moffatt suggested the police force could hire less qualified -- and lower paid -- people to handle routine matters like traffic control and ticket writing, freeing up police officers to concentrate on pre- venting and solving more serious crimes. "Our police budget would go a lot fur- ther," said Mr. Moffatt, noting that money is very tight for all services including the police department. Mayor Hall, a member of the Durham Police Services Board, said this is now under discussion, but that there could be opposition from the Police Association. He also said police foot patrols help in cutting down crime, and he wants to see more of them. The loudest applause of the entire evening came when a member of the audi- ence stated that the police are doing the best job possible. "Where are the parents?" (of those committing local crimes and vandalism) she asked. Road safety an issue On the issue of safety on township roads, Mr. Gadsden said Scugog has recently set up a Road Watch Committee which works with the police to encourage residents to report incidents of speeding and dangerous driving. All seven candidates were allowed a couple of minutes at the start of the meet- ing to state their platforms and then sum up after the question and answer period. REGIONAL COUNCIL a Mr. Gadsden, a six-year council vet- eran representing Ward 3, said the town- ship needs continued "prudent manage- ment," and "co-operation" among councillors. He described the call to "get out of the region" a "simplistic statement based more on emotion than fact." He said Scugog must get together with its north Durham neighbors to "study all options" when it comes to re-structuring. 0 Mr. Kemp, an independent business consultant and Nestleton resident, said the "status quo (regionalization) is no longer acceptable." He said Scugog paid Durham Region $4.3 million in tax dollars last year, and aside from $400,000 spent on garbage disposal, he "doesn't know and can't find out" how the other $3.9 million was spent. He was also critical of regional bureau- crats for having so much control over what went into Scugog's recently com- pleted Official Plan which cost the Township $100,000. Mr. Kemp said Scugog should promote itself "open for business" by cutting the time consuming and expensive red tape for development proposals from two years to two months. 0 Mr. Kett, also an independent busi- ness man who has lived in Scugog for 20 years, described himself as having a "tenacious attitude to solve problems one way or another." Citing youth unemployment as a seri- ous issue related to rising crime rates, Mr. Kett called for policies to connect youth to local business job opportunities and incentives for business to create jobs for the young. Having a job, he said, will enhance the self worth of young people. And "they'll be too tired to get into trouble," he added with a smile. a Mr. Malcolm, a former Ward 4 rep on council who came within 100 votes of unseating Mr. Hall in the 1991 mayoralty race, stressed that since last August he has been living in Seagrave. He said taxes can be cut, not just held at present levels, and he described himself as a "good listener who knows the (munic- ipal) system" when it comes to ratepayers problems and concerns. "I believe in the public process and public discussions--not backroom deal- ings," said Mr. Malcolm, who did not elaborate on what he meant by "backroom dealings." THE RACE FOR MAYOR 0 John Wolters served three terms on Scugog council, twice as the Ward 4 rep, once as the area councillor, and in his bid for the mayor's chain called for a "strong partnership between the council and the taxpayers." The next mayor of Scugog, he said, must be no-nonsense and clear thinking: "My working background on council and in business has prepared me well for the mayor's job," said the Blackstock area resident. He pledged that he would not allow Scugog to be "swallowed up" by the Greater Toronto Services Board," and to keep taxes "at their lowest possible level by staying within budget and living within our means." A retired farmer, Mr. Wolters now works as a real estate agent and has served on numerous community boards. 0 Howard Hall is seeking an unprece- dented fourth straight term as Scugog mayor, and pointed to his record in office over the last nine years. He said Scugog has about $3 million in reserves, is debenture free, and has spent some $2 million on capital projects. As well he noted that five year average tax increase (local level) has been .07 per cent. "That's a pretty good record over nine years," said Mr. Hall, who described him- self as a full time mayor who "doesn't take vacations to Florida in the winter of Europe in the summer." He has lived most of his life in Port Perry and owned a downtown furniture store for nearly 30 years. 0 Mr. Moffatt, completing his first term on council as the Ward 1 rep, said he is proud of his "open government" approach which has included several "town hall style" public meetings in his ward during the last three years, a practice he will continue if elected mayor. Mr. Moffatt served a term as MPP in the 1970's and worked 17 years as an executive with United Parcel Service. He pledged to keep Scugog's "small town atmosphere" and keep it from being drawn into the Greater Toronto Services Board. Membership in Durham Region, he said, has its good points and bad. He would look at all the facts and the cost benefits of staying in Durham if restruc- turing is forced on the township. In response to Mr. Hall's quips about vacations, Mr. Moffatt said he will spend as much time as the mayor's job requires, but he doesn't think the ratepayers would begrudge himself or his wife a vacation once in a while. Moffatt supporters at the meeting sported lapel buttons featuring a pair of scissors with a bar through them and the words "no more cuts." The buttons, a sup- porter said, are a double-barrel reference to provincial cutbacks in municipal grants and the fact the present, mayor is invited to so many ribbon cutting ceremonies for business openings or expansipns. The candidates' meeting was sponsored by the Port Perry Star and chaired by former CTV news anchor Harvey Kirck, now a resident of Port Perry.