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t 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, February 21,1990 sfc Canadian gtausmatt Durham Region's Great Family Journal Established 136 years ago in 1854 Also Incorporating The Bowmanville News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second Class mail registration number 1561 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited ... _ . • - ikg 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 CD 62 King Street West, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K John M. James Editor - Publisher Richard A. James Associate Publisher Peter Parrott Associate Editor Brian Purdy irdy Donald Bishop Advertising Mgr. Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Subscription Rates Six Months -- $11,00 One Year--$20.00 Foreign -- $60.00 per year Although every precaution will bo taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in Its columns on the understanding that it will not be liable for any error in the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such advertisement Is requested In writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, and in that case If any error so noted Is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost of such advertisement as the space occupied.by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. K. 4 In Camera' Abuse ' Newcastle Council should be conducting conducting more of its business in public. There is a time and a place for in camera meetings. Traditionally, councillors councillors have met behind closed doors to discuss topics related to personnel, property, and legal matters. It is perfectly reasonable to discuss the hiring and firing of personnel in camera and to keep the doors closed when debating the price or location of a parcel of land to be secured by the municipality. Strategies to be used in connection with court cases or other legal legal matters should be discussed behind behind behind closed doors because there's no point in revealing confidential confidential information to persons on the other other side of a legal procedure. Unfortunately, the privilege of discussing discussing matters in camera can be abused. If you bend the definitions, you might claim that almost every topic on an agenda can deal with property, personnel personnel or legal affairs. Therefore, one could find an excuse to refer almost everything to an in camera discussion. ! This is most unfortunate. Our local, grassroots government, is traditionally the most open and the most approachable. You can't make an appointment to stand on the floor of the House of Commons and discuss government spending or the GST. Yet any citizen can approach Town Council Council to raise concerns over such topics as high taxes or bad roads. • Similarly, while federal government has evolved to the point where business business is conducted by professional civil servants or federal politicians behind closed doors of committee rooms and cabinet meetings, local government takes place in full view of everyone. ; Or, at least, that's how it should be. • In recent months, a number of decisions decisions have been made by Newcastle Çouncil without proper discussion in public. ! Let's look at a few rather glaring examples. examples. Cracks in Co-operation Municipal councils can usually be counted upon to spend the last year of their term embroiled in politics. This happens because of the fact that in an election year people are looking ahead to the next vote and attempting to ensure ensure that their own political futures are secure. Unfortunately, Newcastle Council has descended into petty politicking somewhat early in the game. The resignation of Councillor Diane Hamre from the position of deputy mayor appears to be one example of political infighting. While one can speculate endlessly on the backroom maneuvering which led up to her resignation, the fact is that she dropped the post of deputy mayor because of a relatively minor politcal issue. Apparently, some members of council council held a meeting in her absence and informally agreed to a now course of action with respect to development It was a course of action with which Councillor Hamre agreed. However, she objected to the fact that she was not notified of the change. There arc no great issues at stake here. And, indeed, this sort of open warfare need not erupt at the council table -- especially in a non-election year. And yet, the Ward Three Councillor Councillor decided to leave her deputy mayor's mayor's post over the issue. (She remains a Town of Newcastle and Regional Councillor). We should point out that Councillor Hamre is not someone known for taking taking extreme measures and grand- standing. From time to time, we have all met people who are highly opinionated opinionated and easily angered. They're the sort of folks who have resigned from more committees than they were every appointed to serve upon. Councillor Hamre, however, is not in this category. She has a reputation as a team player. If she chooses to resign from a position, position, we should have some grave concerns concerns about the future solidarity of Town Council. This would be most unfortunate, since it's too early in the term for council to break down into infighting. Lot us hope that the actions of last week arc only a momentary aberration. aberration. How Many Other Risks? The massive lire that still burns in Ilagcrsvillc is an environmental hazards hazards Hint somebody forgot to toll us about. In the context of concern over the environment, we rend about dangers inherent in nuclear power plants ad infinitum. And there is all kinds of information information about the impact of acid rain or about the destruction of the South American rain forests or about the disintegration disintegration of the ozone layer. Hut who over imagined that a stockpile stockpile of n few million plain, ordinary tires could create u hazard? Thanks to the environmental watchdogs, wo have hoard fears Unit n meltdown can occur in a nuclear power station. However, we weren't quito ready for one at a tiro storage depot. depot. If the burning of a big pile of tiros can cause a major environmental ca- tastrojiho, it's about time that wo answered answered some rotated questions, Of course, there is the obvious issue concerning concerning the lack of proper controls on tiro storage sites and the apparent lack of government regulators. But, we have to wonder how many other loss-obvious risks are present in our communities. In effect, wo need a complete overview of the various environmental environmental "skeletons in the closet". In the past, our attention tins focused only on a select few. In short, how many more environmental environmental disasters are out there, waiting waiting to happen? It is beginning to look as if the public public really needs a complete catalogue of environmental hazards along with an indication of the degree of danger involved. involved. Recent legislation requires complete disclosure of dangers related to hazardous hazardous materials used in the work- jilnco. Perhaps the public should have an equally frank disclosure of environmental environmental hazards in n neighbourhood or municipality. F ormer Mayor Offers an Alternative to 'Newcastle' For instance, Town Council has opted opted to proceed with additional legal wrangling against Ontario Hydro. This has to do with Newcastle's, ongoing ongoing debate over alleged violation of building regulations at the Darlington Generating Station. Unfortunately, most of the, discussion surrounding this subject has taken place in camera. Hence, the general public doesn't know certain basic pieces of information information such as the cost of the legal proceedings, proceedings, or the nature of the case itself. itself. It is almost impossible for the average average citizen to decide for himself or herself the wisdom of the ongoing legal legal battle between Hydro and Newcastle. Newcastle. Explanations and-details have, to the best of our knowledge, never emerged in any kind of public forum. The decision to establish a Tourist Information Centre in Bowmanville was discussed in camera. And although although the vote to approve the Town of Newcastle's new corporate logo rightfully took place in public, we are not aware of any decision made in public to research and design a new logo. It was presented as more or less a fait accompli. Public meetings are part of a democratic democratic society and the government at all levels must be as open as possible. But there is also a practical reason for, conducting municipal business in public. public. ; : i ; • • - 1 r. ü-ü 1 » Council should be aware of the fact that when an in camera meeting occurs, occurs, the contents of the meeting seldom seldom stay within the four corners of the room. Bit by bit, the information gets on the street and this fact is especially true in a smaller community such as our own. Unfortunately, this information sometimes becomes confused and garbled garbled and not all of the facts emerge as they should. This is all the more reason why meetings should take place in full view of the public. To the Editor Re: proposed Name Change At the request of many and in response to many who have spoken to me about the name of this town. In 1966 the Province of Ontario announced that due to the foreseeable pressure of development, the restructuring restructuring of local municipalities municipalities was urgently needed. needed. Some eight years later, in 1974, this municipality was legally constituted. In December 1970 I became concerned and was again elected to Darlington's council council after an absence of eight years. Proposals were made which would divide Darlington Darlington Township - a major portion portion uniting with Oshawa and areas to the west. We, the members of the Darlington Township Council, Council, took a strong stand that Darlington Township being the most vulnerable ana with the greatest potential should remain intact and any alliance should be with its neighbours, Clarke Township, . Bowmanville, Newcastle, Ôrono etc. Today, Today, if need be Darlington Township could stand on its own as a Municipality, for within the Region of Durham Durham it has some of the greatest potential of any area. Vote Urged on Proposed GST Dear Sir/Madam, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney should trust Canadians Canadians to decide through a national referendum whether whether to accept thè proposed 7% Goods ana Services Tax. Such a referendum would f ive Canadians the power to ecide the tax burden which they must bear. If Canadians after reflection reflection and debate, vote to implement implement the 7% GST, they should also have the power to decide through a referendum referendum during a federal election election if the rate should be increased. increased. We urge your readers to tell their members of Parliament Parliament to hold a referendum on the GST. Yours truly, 1 David Somerville, • 1 President The National Citizens Coalition. Writer Defends Trailer Park Dear Editor: Home Sweet Home. What lovely words. Whether you're an eskimo in an igloo or a native in a thatched hut, Home is Home. If the Newcastle Trailer Park is forced by this town to become a place of seasonal seasonal abode only, this town is taking away people's "homes". Yes "homes". Homes people can afford. Why "seasonal" after all this time? Do these homes interfere with the. new "homes" in the subdivision next door? Does a developer want the land for more "homes" people can't afford? This trailer park is providing providing "homes" people can afford. Newcastle and Bowmanville Bowmanville certainly don't have many affordable homes or apartments. So I say, back-off. Leave the trailer park alone the way it is. And leave these people in their "homes". If anything, let the park expand so more people can get out of overpriced, too small apartments and rooms and have a "home". Donna Wallis During those eight years,, "66-74", and especially during during the last three, literally hundreds of meetings were held at which reorganization was discussed, studies were commissioned, committees were formed, reports were issued. Anyone and everyone everyone concerned had ample opportunities opportunities to put forth these concerns and recommendations. recommendations. On June 22, 1973 (not Jan. 1/74 as stated in an article article in last week's Statesman) Statesman) the province of Ontario Ontario passed the bill, proclaiming the Region of Durham and its eight Municipalities Municipalities - one of which was the amalgamation of the Townships of Darlington and Clarke, the Town of Bowmanville, the village of Newcastle and not to be forgotten forgotten the Police village of Orono and that this new municipality shall be called the "Town of Newcastle." The new council was elected in October 1973 and officially officially took office in January 1974. From June 22,1973 to January 1974 there was a great deal of dialogue and opportunity for input. When people ask to have the name of this Municipality changed BACK to Bowmanville this new municipality has had only the name "Town of Newcastle." The name Bowmanville Bowmanville was here and still is; When asked if I am a booster of Bowmanville, of course I am. Why would I ■ take on fund-raising for the new Bowmanville Arena? The recognition plaque in this arena has a classification classification for boosters. I am also a booster for Orono, Hampton, Newtonville, Courtice, Newcastle, Newcastle, Kirby and all the 18 or 20 places which are part of the Darlington-Clarke area. To those who are asking for a name change back to where they were, does that mean Municipal status on its own, separate from the others? Bowmanville at that time of amalgamation was about 6.5 square miles while the whole Municipality "Town of Newcastle" is over 200 square miles. The greatest greatest growth potential and resource resource base lies outside Bowmanville in the township township areas. Although I have stated ; that Darlington Township could make it on its owii, I believe that the municipalities united as they af ç to be the best in the long run, each part complementing complementing and supporting the others. To achieve this requires requires tolerance, cooperation cooperation understanding. As one who have been involved in Municipal Affairs for over 32 years, I know that changes changes are not easy to accept. Darlington, Clarke, Newcastle, Newcastle, all had their own Municipal Municipal Offices and one by one they have been closed, a matter of deep concern to each place. They are now housed in Bowmanville in the New Town Hall which, with its staff, is financed approximately approximately 70% by those areas which lost theirs. It is the view of many that it might be cheaper to have built this new Town Hall in Hampton, or Orono, or Newcastle Newcastle Village or Courtice. Parking would have been available and free. In the 200 square miles of this Municipality we have rich resources of geography history, industry ana agriculture agriculture - strong communities communities of cultural diversities; Let us not get caught up in special status, recognition or social differences between up front or out back. Can anyone think of a better place to live? If at the present time people people are confused with Town of Newcastle and Newcastle Village, would changing the name of Town of Newcastle to Town of Bowmanville make less confusion - would there be two Towns of Bowmanville, Bowmanville, a town within a town - or one big town, and eliminate all other names? Will it foster good will? Will it be in the best interest of all its citizens and improve their economic and social well being? If confusion exists exists and needs to be addressed, addressed, there are two steps which may be taken. First, the 200 square mile area should be called other than a Town - such as Township, a Borough, or a District etc., e.g. Port Perry in the Township Township of Scugog. Secondly, if another name is desired, create a new name, not duplicate duplicate one which is already here. Most municipalities have used the name of a Township. e.g. Scugog, Brock, etc. Take the first letter letter of each word in "United Townships of Darlington, and Clarke" - U.T.O.D.A.C. - Crazy? Compare it with other other places, names, Oshawa, Uxbridge, Scugog, Ottawa, Wasaga, Utica, Utopia, Odessa or wherever. It's unique, easy to spell and pronounce, it refers to our heritage. Our town crest and Mayor's Mayor's chain, of office incorporates incorporates the history of the area. With this each and every place can proclaim its name and identity - Bowmanville, Courtice, Tyrone, Newcastle, Orono,- and all others - with all the vigour and pride they possess. Darlington and Clarke were a part of Durham County in 1850. Prior to that this area was a part of the District of Newcastle. Garnet B. Rickard. Dear Sir: O iv/ « T , No doubt you have al- Sorry, W C F© JuOSt ready heard many arguments arguments both for and against, 'Emperor's New Clothes' Compared to Newcastle Dear Mr. James I read in your paper your photographer couldn't find our alleys on Feb. 10th "For Shame" We have been in the same place since 1958 - on the left hand side of the Newcastle Community Hall - downstairs. Our youth bowlers will be having their banquet ini April so hope someone from The Statesman can come and take the photos. The children will be receiving receiving their trophies at this event, also Big Brothers will be handing out their prizes. Yours truly Lorna Crockett Ed.'s Note: Even' day we learn something. We'll see you at the banquet. Where is it? Big Mac Concern Dear Editor: It has come to our attention attention that a McDonalds has been planned for somewhere in the Town of Newcastle. This is a very serious issue. If you travel the roads near the McDonalds on Highway #2 and Townline in Oshawa, ■ the amount of litter in the ditches and on the sides of the road is disturbing. We think that before permission permission is given for this restaurant, restaurant, some strict rules dealing with excess garbage and an assessment of the environmental environmental impact should, be dealt with. It is our generation generation that will have to deal with the actions and attitudes attitudes about waste in the future, so we should start now. Thnnkyou Durham East 4-H Energy Conservation Club. the name change 1 for Bowmanville. Bowmanville. As a newcomer to this area I have no axe to grind with anyone, simply an opinion. opinion. When my husband and I first arrived, we drove into Bowmanville to find our bank, to get ourselves established. established. We were dumbfounded dumbfounded to discover that a turn off the main street brought us to Bowmanville's Post Office, Office, yet on the other side of the same street, was Newcastle Newcastle Town Hall-to be sure, he looked again - to be sure? How could this be? Was there an invisible line down the centre of the street? Where did Bowmanville end, and Newcastle begin? Why? Further excursions revealed revealed signs for both, plus Durham Region all within one town's limits!! This is very confusing! The situation situation makes the governing bodies look ridiculous. Can't they make up their minds, even to deciae where they are? It certainly doesn't give much credence to their ability ability to make serious decisions, does it? At least that's the way I see it. Another thing, consider the bad image given this area when people complain about missed appointments, business assignments, even being sent elsewhere then having to double hack! Some home sales have been lost - due to such confusion! All this, because of a stupid change of name. Wouldn't it be simpler to not spend any more money for signs, logos, paint etc., and simply take down the new signs? Wlmt's wrong with lotting Bowmanville be what its builders and shno- ÊT3, who struggled to bring it into being, munfid it? The whole scenario reminds reminds me of a fairy tale called the Emperor's New Clothes. Many people stood by and watched the foolishness foolishness going on, until a young boy blurted out the truth. If you are familiar with the tale, you will remember that the emperor was duped into paying money to unscrupulous unscrupulous people for improving His appearance. They were to fabricate wonderful new clothes - for which they would be paid handsomely. The emperor's common sense tola him he saw no clothes, but later was convinced convinced they were invisible. Not wanting to appear distrustful distrustful or foolish, he believed believed them. Later he was humiliated, because he had to display the new clothes to all. It took the honesty of a young boy to point out the ridiculous situation. Here was a figure of authority paraded paraded in full view of his sub- Darlington is Better Name Dear Sir: Re: Name Change of "The Town of.Newcastle" If a name change is to be made, why Bowmanville? To my understanding the Municipality of Bowmanville Bowmanville is only 1/3 of the population population of the present "Town of Newcastle". Darlington is far larger, population wise, so why not call the Municipality Municipality the "Town of Darlington"? Darlington"? I think you will agree, this makes sense, if everyone everyone stops and thinks about it. Yours truly Alice E. Craig, Oshawa (formerly of Darlington Township) jects - without any clothes.; Hè paid handsomely - for nothing. The boy's total amazement and honesty caused him to blurt, "he has- no clothes". His words made! it evident to all, that money; had been spent for nothing,! and, the king looked ridicu-! lous!! ; A Resident! Of This Area! Saskatchewan i Town Marks 100th Year Dear Editor: The Town of White wood, Saskatchewan will celebrate its Centennial in 1992, July. lst-5th. We are compiling a history book and request your assistance in locating any person or family who has lived in Whitewood or! surrounding area. Anyone; interested in submitting family and/or personal histo- : ry. Photos (named and la-t belled), anecdotes etc. must ; do so by September 1st, 1990. All photos will be re- : turned. A brochure contain-: ing pertinent information about the celebrations and an order form for the book is, available from the under-. signed. We thank you most sin-, cerely for your assistance; and co-operation in helping' us to complete this very' worthwhile volunteer pro-; ject. Yours truly.. Whitewood Centennial; History Book Committee Secretary,! Doreen Westcott, Box 82, • Whitewood, Sask., SOG-5CO. Andrea Adair / If there is such a thing as reincarnation, in my next life I'd like to be a bird. Then, every fall I'd be able to fly south to Florida Florida or California and stay there for six months just to miss our stupid Canadian Canadian winters. I wrote this column last Thursday snow bound in iny home. For two hours I watched the TV weather network to try to case my guilt over the fact that the weather had caused mo to stay home from work. It worked to an extent. All the warnings about our winter storm convinced convinced me it was better to ho a chicken than to got a dent on my car. But, all I laid to do was look out any window in my house to see a storm was taking place. The only souse of gratefulness I had regarding regarding Iho storm came while I was watching a nows clij) about a plnco in Alaska called Valdez. They have had 30 feet of snow this winter. Thirty feet! Kids were tobogganing off their rooftops! When the weather was mild they shovelled' the snow off their roofs to prevent them from caving in under the weight. Fortunately, wo haven't had that much snow but our winter has boon no picnic all the same. December was horribly cold. It was so cold in fact The Statesman has learned Santa Claus was very happy to return to the warmth of the North Pole. Wo had a few nasty snowstorms in December too. January and November, November, for that matter, weren't weren't particularly snow free either. Lifo picked up tho past few weeks and there wore some jirotty nice weather days hero. But, typical for Cana da, all that changed. Rather than stowing about getting to work and then spending eight hours panicking about what the roads would be like on my ride home, I decided to stay put last week. So what's my point? you may he wondering. I know you don't need me to remind you of what you arc trying to forget. The point I'm trying to make is I hale winter. I despise, detest and loathe winter. I lmto not being able to wear metal earrings outside outside because of how cold they got and how much they make it fool that my cars are falling off. I hate having "snow head linir" that results from snowflakes molting in your hair after spraying spraying half a liotllo of hair- spray to keep your locks in place. The acid in tho snow (acid rain's cousin) forms a chemical reaction with tho lmirsprny and your hair is dead for the rest of the day. I hate being cold and being wet hut most of all I hate shovelling snow. Invariably, after n snowstorm, I shovel the driveway and end up. with sore hack and arm muscles. I just can't stand winter. winter. So, what I am proposing proposing is that we form a committee committee against winter. Canadians . Against Winter Committee is a good working name for it. Wo could send a jicli- Lion around asking for signatures of people in support of having spring, summer and fall m Canada Canada for 12 months of the year. I realize having no winter would put a damper on some of our winter activities such ns skiing and skating. But wo could change our rinks into swimming ponds and skiing hills could lie used, as driving ranges for duffers. Think what an ego boost this would be! The duffers could watch their hall soar hundreds of yards from the top of the ski hill and will set their sights on playing in the Canadian Open. Snow plow drivers could become leaf collectors collectors and grass cutters. All that salt that your car gets pelted with when someone passes you on tho <101 could ho poured into Lake Ontario, leaving leaving us with a salt water body that would attract tourists. Mayor Iluhhnrd and other delegates from the Town of Newcastle, instead instead of having to travel around tho world looking for industries, could travel travel to got us salt water fish to stock tho lake. Wo wouldn't need dollars from industry because wo would mnko so much mono monoy from tourists. tourists. To attract oven more tourist dollars wo could dump all tho sand that normally goes on the roai along the shores of Lak Ontario. We then wouli have our own little Pre squillc or Sandbank right hero in The Town o Newcastle. We couli start playing beach vol lcyball. Now don't shake you head and pass this idei off as another "Andrei was stuck for n topic" col umn. I'm almost soriou about this. I bate snow and ic and cold and winter and having been inspired b, tho numerous commuait minded people hero, l'v decided 1, too, want to go involved will) somethin important. 1, have a potitio against winter in Cnnad sitting on my desk nlTh .Statesman, I know I could got a lc of people to sign it. Bi once tho names arc co loctod, I'm not suro whor to send it, I wonder if Mother Nr Luros office is listed i tho yellow pages?