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Y rM>»V V» * : C1A8 .30:.- „ 6-623-3303 26 Pages Wednesday, April 21,1993 Bowmanville, Ontario 139th Year 560 + U G.S.T. = 600 Issue 16 Town Freezes Housing Levy Newcastle Council plans to impose impose a freeze on the levy it charges developers each time they build a new housing unit. The freeze would see the $4,940 fee charged for a single family home remain in place until October of 1994. Council is also planning to change the index used to calculate future increases in the development charges. Recommendations approved approved by the town's general purpose purpose committee on Monday would see the Building Cost Index used to calculate development charges rath- er than the Construction Cost Index. A freeze in the fees was requested requested by the Durham Home Builders Association to "assist the housing industry in this tough economic time." Town of Newcastle staff noted noted for Council's information that the Region of Durham has recently reacted reacted to a similar request from the Urban Development Institute and has imposed a temporary freeze on the Regional charges. . According to the report from the planning department staff, "main taining the current development charge quantum until Oct. 31,1994, is a very generous gesture by the municipality as a precedent has been set by Durham Region." However, the staff report is not without its critics. A letter from the Oshawa Durham Home Builders' Association Past President, Ron Aylsworth, states they would like to see the freeze go beyond Oct. 31, 1994 until April 1995.' Mayor Diane Hamre told council "We're the first municipality in the region to take action. "We've looked at this very carefully, carefully, both here and at the region. "None of the others has yet to make a definite move." Councillor Larry Hannah told the other members of council that the freeze and change "are common sense." Mayor Hamre also made reference reference to the fact that the town's development development charge by-law has been sent to the Ontario Municipal Board. A pre-hearing conference is to take place on Tuesday, May 4 at 2 p.m. in the council chambers. GREEN PLANET EARTH - With the right kind of luck, a cooperative cooperative combined effort by the Community Services Department of the town and the Bowmanville Rotary Club should make a great contribution contribution to the 1993 Green Plant Earth program. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has provided 20,500 seedlings for planting by approximately 1,000 - 1,200 school children. The planting will be held at specific locations April 26 to 28 and the young planters are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather, wear boots and bring a "digging" shovel. For information about where and when and how you can participate, please contact Jim Cameron at Community Services, 623-3379. ; OGH PARKING - Heaven forbid that you should have to visit Oshawa General Hospital, but if ever you do have to make that call, • you are advised that effective immediately, there are parking restric-1 ; lions as the restorative work on the Alma Street garage continues throughout the summer. During the peak hours between 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., outpatients and visitors will find parking available only in the surface lot and surrounding metered parking spaces located on Alexandra Alexandra St. The Hospital apologizes for any inconvenience and recommends recommends the use of public transit or other alternatives to parking at the hospital. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Often, it's the simple things in life that we take for granted -- like hopping in the car to pick up some groceries, groceries, reading our mail or just having a friend to talk to at the other end of the phone. But for blind and visually impaired people in our community, community, these "simple things" become more difficult and sometimes impossible without someone's help. If you can spare one or two hours a week to take someone to the grocery store, drop by for a cup of coffee coffee or help read the mail or the local newspaper, you can make a real difference. Volunteering is a great experience. Why not give it a try? Contact Carolyn Smith, at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 436-7732. HERITAGE BREAKFAST, - We see where Her Worship Mayor . Diane Hamre is hosting what they are calling the Town of Newcastle Heritage Week Christian Prayer Breakfast (which is quite a mouthful). mouthful). We're mentioning it here because those in charge would like folks to reserve early. The big event is being held on Saturday, June 5th at the Lions Centre, Beech Avenue, from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and the guest speaker is a well-known former Maple Leaf hockey star who played in the Canada-Russia scries in '72. He should be quite interesting. There's also special music by Stuart DeVries. Tickets at $10 each arc available at Durham Christian Book Store 623-9955, Blessings Travel Centre 623-0005, Old Time Fish & Chips 623-1781 and Prayer Breakfast Committee 623-2385. COMING UP - We arc pleased to draw your attention to a fund raiser raiser Yard Sale, being staged by the 4th Bowmanville Beavers and Cubs this Saturday, April 24th from 10 to 4. It's being held at the Bowman- villc Recreation Centre, No doubt any funds raised will be put to good use. A few days later, on Tuesday, April 27th, there's a Ladies Ecumenical Ecumenical Pot Luck Supper at 6:15 p.m. It's taking place at the Lions Centre, Beech Avenue, hosted by St. John's Anglican and St. Andrew's Andrew's Presbyterian churches. Information on this one is obtainable by phoning 623-5436 and 623-4105. WEAVERS AND SPINNERS - A note just came in about a group that is working hard to revive the past and have some fun doing it. They arc called the Oshawa Hand Weavers and Spinners. Their regular regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 26th at 7 p.m. and they meet at the Oshawa Sr. Citizens Centre, 43 John St. West. Members arc bringing spinning wheels and other things pertaining to spinning and we mention them here because they arc looking for new members from this area who may be interested. Marianne Powell at 263-2762 will be happy to provide more information. ONE TO GO • Congratulations arc in order, we understand, for a couple of popular citizens who recently celebrated their 49th year of wedded bliss. They arc Mac and Norma Ransbcrry of Enterprise Hill, North Orono, who every year sponsor those Kidney Foundation dances dances at Newcastle Village. Just one year to go for the 50th. Good luck. Sec Page 10 The Stork Market Report KRISTHNSUN - It's it (i| r || SMITH - It's a Boy! Total This Year Boys 22 Girls 34 These Cubs were making the most of a "pit-stop" break before competition resumed at last Saturday's KubKar Rally held in the Clarke High School gymnasium. Cubs from nine packs in the West Durham District competed for trophies at the annual event. Economic PeveloQmenl Officer Will be Hired by Laura J. Richards ' The search for the municipality's ? new economic development officer ' will begin once town council ap- V proves the recommendations made Monday by a committee of council. The plan is to hire an Economic Development Officer (EDO) on a one-year contractual basis with a six-month review to assess the success success of the person in the position. The economic development officer officer would be paid in the range of $35,000 to $47,000 per year. Until someone is hired, die town's Chief Administrative Officer, Officer, Larry Kotscff, will be die interim interim EDO. Committee Room Two at die town's administrative building will be converted into an office space complete with a small reception area for the new employee. "It is a very large step in the right direction," said Michael Patrick, the chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Economic Development on Tuesday morning. "We're encouraged with die resolutions resolutions passed at yesterday's meeting," meeting," Mr. Patrick said. "It is a good economic plan." Council members attending the General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting spent over an hour going through 18 recommendations recommendations made by the Planning Department Department in conjunction with a report to Enniskillen Man Claims 2nd Prize In Lotto 649 Draw A 78-ycar-old Enniskillen resident resident was the winner of second prize valued at $121,318.60 in a recent Lotto 649 draw. Gordon Stevens was among seven seven persons who held winning second second place tickets in the April 17 draw. Mr. Stevens, who is unmarried, is a retired GM worker. He is planning to buy a new car with his winnings (a GM model, of course) and will also invest some of the money. Mr. Stevens has played Lotto 649 since its inception 10 years ago. For the latest draw, he had purchased five "quick pick" tickets at the Enniskillen Enniskillen General Store. .euncil. from the Mayor's Task iWce on Economic Development. X'cnimitlee members have added eight more recommendations and a nulnber of amendments to the original original 18 the Planning Department presented. presented. They have also deleted one recommendation recommendation concerning a kick-off reception for a Town of Newcastle Chamber of Commerce. Many municipal municipal business owners have decided decided to join die Oshawa Chamber of Commerce instead of forming their own. Included in the recommendations made by the Planning Department are a number which Larry Kotseff, the town's Chief Administrative Officer, Officer, will be carrying out. Mr. Kotscff will be in charge of developing a staff training program focussing on customer service and develop as a suggestion, a corporate mission statement. According to an amendment made by Councillor John O'Toole, Mr. Kotscff will have to do reports on these for council. The Director of Planning and Development Development has been directed to coordinate coordinate the departments and pre pare a booklet on the development process, requirements, guidelines and standards. The printing of the booklet is not to take place until after after the name change. Also, under the wing of the Planning Planning Director, Franklin Wu is the creation of various types of standard building permit applications. Top priority will be given to companies with commercial and industrial industrial applications. Among the recommendations made by both the Planning and Development Development Department and committee committee members arc: • by-law enforcement officers arc to take steps to enforce the municipality's municipality's Property Standards By-law and other applicable by-laws to improve improve the visual appearance of industrial industrial areas; • the treasurer is to contact the Fair Tax Commission to investigate die possibility of adjustment to the provincially governed assessment process; • a request will be sent to Ontario Hydro to create a floral garden and welcoming sign and be responsible for die annual maintenance of titese which would be located on the south side of Highway 40V on the hill at die Darlington Generating Station; • the Chief Administrative Officer Officer is to refine the five-year operating operating plan and capital program as part of the annual budgeting exercise with die goal of controlling cost and To Page 3 Name Change Possible by July 1, 1994 A July 1st, 1994 kick-off could be in the works for the Town of Newcasdc name change. That's die date when the name of die municipality could officially become become "Clarington." Mayor Diane Hamre told the General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting on Monday morning the name change is expected expected to go through by die end of this session of die provincial legislature. Mayor Hamre added tiiat the kick-off would "be a positive activity activity for die town." Tories Ready for An $8 million facelift at the Oshawa Airport and the establishment establishment of a new RCMP headquarters headquarters in Bowmanville arc two of the accomplishments of Durham Durham MP Ross Stevenson during his term in office. Mr. Stevenson was acclaimed, as the riding's Progressive Conservative Conservative candidate during a meeting last Thursday, April 15, .in Blackstock. In accepting the nomination, Mr. Stevenson also reviewed the highlights of his past term. The Durham MP noted that the RCMP facility will produce not only construction jobs but also will bring with it 65 permanent staff positions. The establishment of a total quality management program headquarters in Durham was also cited by the MP as one of the accomplishments accomplishments of the past fotr and onc-half years. In his remaries to a crowd of over 100 supporters, he went on to note that the ongoing work of an MP consists of digging up information information and research. In addition, addition, his office works to "unsnarl" "unsnarl" problems constituents face cither from the bureaucracy or from their own making, | "We frequently get calls with problems in income tax," Mr. Stevenson continued. He noted that in one case, his office was instrumental in saving a family an estimated $70,000 in income Uix. Arranging passports, working with comptmics trying to sell to government and helping find youths who arc travelling abroad arc also among the duties of an MP. While everyone who spoke at last week's meeting agreed that the Progressive Conservatives have endured criticism over the past few years, there was also a feeling that the tide has begun to turn. "I am convinced that Canadians Canadians will begin to appreciate the value of what we have done as we get further away from the recession," recession," Mr. Stevenson said. He noted that his party had reformed reformed the uix system, gained control of government spending and developed world trade. "We have a proven record of success in helping individuals and companies in Durham," Mr. Stevenson said of the local efforts. efforts. Mr. Stevenson was nominated by Marion Mandcrs, President of the Progressive Conservative Association. Association. She praised him for "a record of unstinting and devoted service to our community," She noted that six generations of his family have lived and To Page 3 [PRESTONj We Move It! 623-4433 Bowmanvill# Classified Ad Re-unites Mother and Daughter See Page I Section 2 Gymnast Back from Injury To Compete at Provincial Level See Page 6 CARPET ^ WAREHOUSE* EVERYDAY DISCOUNT PRICES KlngSh w. 728-4601 Oihewa