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pm "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 2- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 8, 1998 Caesarea hall needs more firefighters, says chief By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The Scugog Fire Department's Caesarea station is short almost a dozen firefighters, and that has Chief Richard Miller worried. "I'm concerned to a point, but I don't know how to overcome it," he said last week. "Becoming a firefighter is a very, very, very big commitment to the fire department and a lot of people are not ready or cannot give that." During a recent recruitment drive, five local residents applied for a position with the Caesarea-based Station Two, Chief Miller said. Only one applicant passed all the testing required; five were brought on board at Port Perry's Station One. "When we run the ads for more fire- fighters anybody interested can come to the station and fill out an application, if they live within the boundaries," he said, adding that the limits for Station Two firefighters have been extended to Blackstock in an attempt to attract more volunteers. "If we feel they might fit the bill then they complete an aptitude test -- it's pretty much a straightforward general knowledge test -- and then they are sent on to York University for a physical test set up for fire department roles," said the chief. After that, candidates undergo a medical test, and a short interview, said the chief. While he would not reveal the numbers, Chief Miller noted that some recent appli- cants failed the aptitude test while others couldn't pass the physical testing. Potential firefighters undergo a series of tests includ- ing taking a treadmill stress test, climbing a ladder and undoing a number of cou- plings, doing a body drag, and climbing a set of stairs with a hose. "If they can't pass the aptitude or phys- ical tests, we can't take them," said Chief Miller. But the failure rate isn't the problem; it's the low number of people who apply. "It's the size of the community, we just can't seem to draw anybody. People just don't want to seem to volunteer -- they're on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day," said the chief. "They get paid for their time at the department, but who wants to get up and leave Christmas dinner if they get called," he said, adding that changing lifestyles also play a part in the lack of interest. After two recruitment drives in 1998, Station Two has 19 volunteer firefighters; Port Perry has 31. Those accepted by the department most recently will begin their training on Dec. 16. "We need people that are very commit- ted to the fire department. Helping out the community and having the opportunity to do something good for the community is one of the key drawing points to joining the department.," said the chief. "We have a lot of fun but it's a big com- mitment, work-wise and time-wise. We expect them to be there when the pager goes off or for training on Monday nights." i CHRIS HALL/PORT PERRY STAR PAMPERED POOCH: Scugog residents were lining up last weekend at the Scugog Animal Hospital as Santa Claus himself was on hand to listen to the desires of pets, and to pose for some pictures. Old St. Nick made himself available to pet owners Saturday afternoon after clinic hours were over. By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The province continues to turn a deaf ear to concerns about the creation of a Greater Toronto Services Board, says Scugog's mayor. ) Shortly after a 90-minute meeting with Durham MPPs and local repre- sentatives wrapped up at the regional quarters Friday morning, Mayor Doug Bill 56 and the implementation of the GTSB is only days away. Meanwhile, the province refuses to listen to concerns smaller municipalities have about being included in the legislation, he said. "Sure, they listened to us today when ~ Moffatt told The Star that passage of we made our appeal... but they won't budge on the broad mandate (provincial-GTSB consultant) Alan Tonks has," said + Mayor Moffatt. "If this goes through, anything could happen because it would be dominated by Toronto... they'd get whatever they want." The GTSB would be a sort of regional council comprised of representatives from across the Greater Toronto Area, | Doug Moffatt dealing with issues concerning-munici- pal services. Politicians here fear it will be stacked with representatives from Toronto, who would impose their will on smaller municipalities. Mayor Moffatt has steadfastly cam- paigned against the imposition of the GTSB on Durham Region. "The only positive I could see would be if it dealt with only co-ordination," he said Friday. "If we held a legitimate meeting once a month and talked about setting up transit between Pickering and Scarborough and paid the (GTSB) chair $100 a meeting it would probably be okay. "But this creature could turn into a Province forcing GTSB on Scugog, says Moffatt disaster. We'd be giving it the power to raise money through our local munici- palities, set agendas... One person would probably represent everyone in Brock, Uxbridge, Scugog and Whitby; that's what... one representative for every 110,000 voters?" Mayor Moffatt also fears the imposi- tion of the GTSB members' will have in local matters: "They would control whatever we do here; I wouldn't have a say. They could kill whatever limited development we have here." Bill 56 has been through a second reading at Queens' Park in Toronto and was expected to go before committee yesterday and today before being given the green light. 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