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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, March 9,1994 Section Two Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 Former Publishers 1 M.A. James, 1878-1935 George W. James, 1935-1957 For 139 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Ross Fisher, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office VERIFIED CIRCULATION PAID Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherfond P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 Fax 905-623-6161 Is There a Lesson to be Learned for Future Bids? More Thoughts on New Fire Station Tendering Process The fire hall tendering process has reached its conclusion with the awarding of a contract to an out-of-town bidder. This was a foregone conclusion in view of the fact that each of the five finalists bidding on the project was from outside the Durham Region. But, there are a few points to remember before the issue is put to rest. The first, of course, is the fact that local firms were not considered by the municipality of Clarington to be best-qualified to advance to the final stages of the bidding process. This occurred in spite of the fact that, at $1 million, the fire hall is not an overwhelmingly huge or complex or unusual project. Clarington utilized a design and build process in its selection of the successful bidder. This means the firms in the running were competing to submit not only the best price but the best design. The real problem is that the process has been a highly subjective one. In the first place, it was a subjective decision to choose the five finalists who were given the right to prepare detailed bids. There may have been dozens of interested contractors who could have done the job, but the selection of five finalists was a matter of subjective judgement. Moreover the selection of the successful bidder was equally subjective. The winning bidder actually submitted the most expensive price of $1,189,900. However, that price will purchase a somewhat larger fire station than was proposed by the other bidders. If you compare prices per square foot, the cost submitted by the successful bidder was lowest. In fact, the winning contractor tendered a price of $99.95. per square foot Other bids ranged in price from $115.63 per square foot to $102.11. In a report last week to Clarington council, town staff reported that the price per square foot was considered more significant than the total fee. But, again, we can see that the process es a subjective one. In awarding the contract last week, Clarington Council has asked that the plans for the fire station be displayed at the headquarters of the Durham Construction Association, so that local sub-contractors can seek work. Moreover, Clarington has asked for permission to review the contractors' quotations from sub-trades in order to encourage the creation of local jobs. In fact, the municipality has been given the right "not to accept any particular sub-contractor." Whether this will result in more opportunities for local tradespersons remains to be seen. However, construction industry personnel have said from the outset of the process that local sub-contractors are unlikely to be hired unless a general sub-contractor from the local area is awarded the contract. The fire hall tendering process has clearly raised the issue how local municipal projects can stimulate local trade and commerce. Nobody is suggesting that walls should be built around each town and only its own contractors should be permitted to operate in that territory. But, thé process used in building the Bowmanville fire station did not allow local bidders to reach the final stage of the selection process. And therein lies the problem. Over the next few months, Clarington will be handing out some major contracts in connection with the federal government infrastructure program and the dollars it provides. Durham Region will likewise be awarding contracts from the infrastructure programs. The Durham Region projects alone are expected to generate 1,400 person-years of employment Let us hope that qualified local firms receive the consideration they deserve when these projects are undertaken. Bullies Get the Boot from Zero-Tolerance Schools Letters to the Editor Volunteers Deserve Understanding and Support To Whom It May Concern: . ; I am writing this letter, not in criticism criticism of you, but more as an appeal 1 for your understanding. I am one of the mothers that attended attended the Thinking Day ceremony at St. Francis Church on Sunday for the Guides and Scouts. I over heard your conversation with one of the leaders regarding your displeasure at not getting getting a call on being made aware of the planned event. I know it's frus- by Rick James trating trying to keep up with all the pressures of life today. It almost feels good to dump on someone, to blame them for our frustrations. I know, in my heart, that all the leaders there are volunteering their time with other people's children to. hopefully better the life of even one child. Volunteers get paid only in the kind words that come back to them, or as something as simple as a smile. A lot of times, all they seem to get is criticism and guilt for leaving their own families to help other people's, All of our lives are filled with rush and go, and hurry. I would like to make this appeal to everyone. Don't kill die giving spirit. Give-just a little kindness every day, to at least one person and I guarantee guarantee the world will surely become a better place and if not only for the moment at least you'll become a better better person. God be with us all. Sincerely, Your neighbour MP Rejected "Pressure" Tactics Just when you figure you've seen just about everything, a week long sabbatical in Florida can reveal some great ideas. But, it also reinforces reinforces Dorothy and Toto's view that, "There's no place like home." We stayed in the St. Petersburg area, a very long gunshot away from Miami. Described as being much safer than other areas of Florida, we learned the first night that even St. Pete's is not immune to violence after hearing that a 14- year-old was fatally shot by police during a burglary. burglary. The youth had 12 previous arrests for a variety of offences. Welcome to the U.S. of A. The caution level was pushed a notch higher when we were asked for identification by a security security guard patrolling the pool area. Although we should have been relieved that there was security, I was more interested in why security was needed. Besides the criminal element, Mother Nature served up some weather that included tornado warnings, heavy rain, and hurricane-strength winds that made outdoor activities next to Impossible. Impossible. Even the security guard had to use the arms of his sweater tied around his head to keep his cap on. The rough weather even followed us home. As we boarded the plane in St. Pete's, the flight attendant warned us that the ride home would be quite turbulent, and they may not be able to serve dinner. ■ Rough was an understatement. The seatbelt sign was flashing for the entire trip and even the flight attendants buckled up for the really bumpy stuff. The captain was on the radio doing doing his best to calm the passengers, but most were already past the white knuckle stage. And naturally, at the height of the turbulence, daughter Morgan looked up at me and said, "Daddy...I have to go potty." Little did she know that Daddy was wondering It he'd Just gone potty potty alter hitting that last air pocket. Despite the loss-than-doslrablo parts of the trip, there wore some highlights that made our family vacation worthwhile. Such as... A golf course that uses a small lake as a driving range. Golfers hit practice balls that float and are then retrieved when the wind blows them back to shore. The floaters feel the same as a regular golf ball, but appear to only fly about 80% as far. A gas pump that will accept your credit card, advises when you can pump your gas, and then prints out a receipt as soon as you're done. It's fast, and you don't have to go to a cashier to pay. While searching for a lost golf ball along a river bank, I noticed a large heron snatch a snake from the weeds nearby. The snake was not threatening enough to stop my search, but the two 8 foot alligators near my ball cost me two strokes. On the one day that offered some bright, sunny weather, we made sure that Morgan was coated in sunscreen lotion. After explaining explaining to her that she needed it to protect her from sunburn, Morgan felt that her stuffed Barney doll should be coated with lotion as well. Barney finally came clean; but after several washings and a ride in the dryer, he now has an afro. During the descent of the plane, Kim and I made sure that Morgan had lots to drink and eat to protect her ears from the changing changing air pressure. As we were landing, we offered offered here a piece of licorice and said, "Here Morgan, this will help your ears." She promptly stuck the licorice In her ear. Finally, near the end of the trip, I was feel T Ing guilty after eating too much, sitting around the pool too much, and suffering the effects of overindulgence and Insufficient exercise. On our last day, we entered a grocery grocery store that ottered to weigh you free of charge. I jumped on the scale and the noodle noodle settled In at 215 pounds, 10-15 higher than I should be. My Jaw dropped and I looked to Kim (or somo comforting. Sho consoled me with, "Don't worry, It's an American scale, you have to deduct 35%." To 'the Editor: In the article in the March 2 Statesman, "Executive Eager for Dialogue Dialogue with MP for Durham Riding", Dr. John Wilson, President of Durham Durham Liberal Association, says he is anxious to work with Alex Shepherd, MP for Durham. Let's sec what that means. Dr. Wilson earlier offered to work with Alex Shepherd. That is true, and he referred to that offer in his speech Monday night at the Annual General meeting. What he didn't say was that his offer came with strings attached. It was, in fact an ultimatum: agree with the anti-choice position of the Riding Association Executive or be denied any support, financial or otherwise. otherwise. Alex Shepherd represents all the residents of Durham. He quite rightly rejected this attempt at blackmail from a pressure group. On Monday night Dr. Wilson told us he has learned a lot about democracy democracy in the past year as President of Durham Liberal Riding Association. Clearly, he still has a long way to go. Ken Dy Iceman Friends of Alex Shepherd Committee ^ by Laura J. Richards J *The Good Old Days 4» Sometimes we don't appreciate what life brings to us. Our lives are so different when compared to the lives of our parents and our grandparents. While some people bemoan the loss of the "good old days" and wish for a simpler time, most people do not. My generation -- the almost-tail- end of the baby boomers, lives in an absolute contrast to our parents' lives at the time they reached their mid-30s. I remember the first washing machine machine my mother had at home. It was a wringer-washer. On wash day, my mother would gather the clothes and place them in piles on the basement floor. The whites, the colors, the blacks, and the tough-stuff. She'd then fill the huge white tub with warm water and dissolve dissolve the detergent into the swirling water as the agitator began to do its job. In a strange way, my mother would make it fun for her four-year-old daughter to help her. My job was to catch the flat laundry as it came from the wringer. While the wringer made interesting creases in a lot of the clothes, I remember remember my father's shirts being an interesting shape when they came out of the process. I was also amazed at how the knee- high socks always looked like hockey sticks. When my father's salary allowed a "real" washer, my mother was simply ecstatic. No more standing up and no more pushing load upon load of heavy clothes through the rollers. It was sheer heaven, I guess. I would often find her in the summer summer basking in the sunshine on the back porch or in the garden weeding away, but always checking her watch so she could catch the end of the load to put fabric softener in. What a contrast to washers these days! In the supposed good old days, one of my science teachers in Grade 9 informed informed us that we had to get calculators. calculators. When I went home, I told my father. father. He asked me how we could afford such an expensive machine. When my family was able to afford afford a calculator, it was not for my use but for my younger, brother. This past Christmas, I got my calculator. calculator. It is wafer-thin, runs on an even thinner battery and can be carried carried in my wallet. It also keeps track of phone numbers and names, and is a clock to boot. This is certainly a contrast to the old clunker my science teacher expected expected every one of his students to own. As I recall only one person actually actually got a calculator. His name was Henry. His father was a professor of mathematics at the university. You may recall that calculators in the mid-70s cost upwards of $150 or more. What a contrast to what they cost these days! Remember when record albums were albums and 45's were still the way which we bought our favorite pieces of music? Or how about when the only bicycles bicycles you could buy were one-speeds, and your feet were brakes if you didn't back-pedal fast enough? As kids, we played with Tonka Turn to page five n We Asked... Do you think people will continue recycling if the Blue Box system is trashed? .. .And You Said Elizabeth Amanda Rogers Albert Tomlinson Amesworth Bancroft Wilmot Creek Bowmanville "Some people might, "Yes. We use the igloos "I doubt it. 1 don't others might not." at Wilmot Creek." think I'll be carting it all to an igloo." Dale Bentley Courtice "Yes, I do. People have started and arc now quite conscious of the benefits of recycling." \e\| week's (|iies|ion Are sou s.ilislieil with the O', t,i\ uure.ise m thr region.il biuk;el ' 1