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Volume 73, Number 12 GST Included $1.25 Wednesday March 24, 2010 Orono Town Hall Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Agreement No. 40012366 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Mayor withdraws hospital funding offer for now Councillors did not get the chance to debate whether or not they wished to make a $500,000 pledge to the Bowmanville hospital redevelopment program. Mayor Jim Abernethy withdrew his motion recommending the pledge, from Monday night's council agenda. In the beginning of February, Mayor Abernethy gave council notice that he would be presenting a motion recommending the municipality commit funds from the Port Granby Host Community Fund. That motion was on the agenda for Monday night's council meeting. Abernethy claimed he was withdrawing the motion from the table following a meeting he had with Memorial Hospital Foundation representatives last week. In a letter to the Mayor from the Foundation, dated Friday, March 19, Executive Director Darlene Bastianelli thanked the Mayor and extended the Foundation's gratitude for his commitment to the Hospital and the good health of the people of Clarington. In the not too distant future, as the Hospital solidifies its plans, the Foundation will share those plans with Council and the public, she said. "At that time, we will be able to ensure that a donation from the Municipality is directed to the area of greatest need and impact." In the spring of 2007, the Foundation requested a $2million donation from the municipality for their $10million redevelopment project. Council turned down the request at that time, as the majority of members felt that health care and hospital funding -- a responsibility of the Provincial government did not belong on the property tax bill. Council is still waiting for a report from the Municipal Finance Department, requested by Councillor Gord Robinson on February 22nd, with recommendations on what to spend the $10-million Port Granby Host Community Fund on. In 2001, the Municipality received $10million compensation from the federal government for being a host community for their long-term low-level radioactive waste site in Port Granby. That money is to be held in trust by the municipality, and they can only use the interest, until construction of the long term storage facility commences. Last month the Mayor said he felt confident construction on the Port Granby waste storage facility will begin either this year or next year. The great weather over last week's March Break gave Ryan Lauzon of Orono a jump start on the skateboarding season at the Orono Skate Park, where he was practicing Friday. Council defeats Mayor's motion for commissioner A lot more thought should go into the hiring of an Integrity Commissioner, according to Councillor Charlie Trim. He called Mayor Jim Abernethy's motion recommending the Region of Durham hire an Integrity Commissioner to service all eight Region of Durham municipalities, "a starting point for consideration." Trim recommended council not move ahead with the motion at this time. Abernethy's motion, which he introduced on March 1st, was on Monday night's council agenda. The motion calls for the Region to establish and fund the position of an Integrity Commissioner, with the mandate to review inquiries or complaints with respect to matters regulated in the eight lower-tier municipalities' Codes of Conduct. "I don't know if the Region's municipalities want the Region dictating rules to them," Regional Chair Roger Anderson said to the Times on Tuesday. It would be very difficult for the Region to establish a set of guidelines for an Integrity Commissioner that would CODE see page 4 March 27 8:30 pm