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Lishman Development Would, Employ up to 125 by Laura J. Richards Fur, feathers, flight and film were the centre of attention at the Wednesday, Jan. 17, Durham Region Region council meeting. Regional councillors were reviewing reviewing plans by Paula and Bill Lishman to establish a cluster of business enterprises at what is currently currently a Nestleton area sod farm. Bill Lishman is a sculptor famous famous for teaching Canada geese to fly behind his ultra-light aircraft. Paula Lishman is renowned for her knitted fur clothing. The Lishmans live near Blackstock. Their Nestleton project would include: • a facility to manufacture fur clothing, including office space, a design studio, showrooms and a lunchroom (1,860 square metres); • a facility to assemble and store ultra-light aircraft (about 1,000 square metres); • a film studio and sound stage (about 370 square metres); • a facility for the breeding, raising, raising, care and study of birds (an aviary) aviary) with a visitor centre (about 370 square metres); • a grass runway and landing strip for ultra-lights; and, • a caretaker's residence. The regional planning report notes the northern portion of the 100 acre parcel would remain as a sod-farm "for the next few years." The sod-growing would be gradually gradually replaced by other agricultural pursuits. The report also stales 125 people will be employed at the Nestleton location. One hundred will be employed employed in fur garment manufacturing manufacturing and the others will work at the remainder of the facilities. An Official Plan amendment would be required in order for the development to occur. The bone of contention for two Nestleton area residents who appeared appeared as delegations at the Regional Regional Council meeting was that they do not want ultra-light aircraft interrupting their peace, solitude and way of life. Their remarks sparked a debate which lasted for much of Wednesday's Wednesday's five-hour regional council session. Local residents are afraid there will be too many ultra-light flights Turn to page three "BONUS" 100 Free Minutes In Your 1st Month on Packages Starting at $ 29.95* CAUL FOR DETAILS *O.A.C. - Limited Time Offer NORCOM CELLULAR Bell Mobility Centre 595 Kinc St. East, Oshawa (905)432-0088 NORCOM CELLULAR 50 Taunton Rd. E. Oshawa, (905) 438-0088 NORCOM CELLULAR Bell Mobility Centre Oshawa Centre (905) 571-0088 NORCOM CELLULAR 8 Strathy Road, Unit #2 Cobourg (905) 373-4475 Im ? wm IJɧ1 Wmm SHH*, J WêêmmËmk mÊÊmmÊÊÊÈÊmi Mêmgâ mmÊm 'mmmm ■ : '-Lwjssgftàÿ lllifeyfc Hfr Wmmâ . Delivered Free of Charge to 18,700 Homes serving Clarington and Courtice. from The Publishers of Sfjt Canadian ètattsman WMM§m WSmà ■ ■ * it ' z"V V/'-VA-Cv-^V : v:-: v:->Xv>y Hi Sill® WKKKÊHÊÊ |Hte.9tHiYéar, Issue 3 . ■ iséé WÊm ilfe ■WÈ MÈmÊMÊÈÊm WÊÊÈÊÊÊÈÊÊÈÊÊÈm m OPSEU Workers Ready for Strike If Negotiations Fail by Lorraine Manfredo Thousands of public servants could be out picketing next month if the Harris government doesn't take a seat at the negotiating table soon, warns the Ontario Public Service Service Employees Union. Possible job action by the province's province's largest union could begin as early as mid-February. In Durham, a strike or lock out would directly affect an estimated 3,000 union members. They occupy jobs in psychiatric hospitals, courts, community and social services, land registry offices, highway maintenance, revenue offices and a variety of other agencies. OPSEU's Joan Gates calls them "invisible service" workers. "The public tends to take the service they provide for granted until it's gone." The union's 65,000 employees come out of the Social Contract on March 31. They have been without a wage) benefit and working conditions conditions contract since 1993. Without meaningful negotiations, negotiations, the offer currently on the table table is an "absolute demand" by the government, charges the union executive. executive. "After 20 years of struggling to get joint trusteeship of our pension plans, the government wants control control again," says Joan Gates. "They want a wage freeze until 1999. They don't want to pay us overtime, ever. They would rather give time off in lieu of overtime." But, people need a living wage, she says, so that they can contribute to the economy. And wage concessions are not the only issue. Perhaps more contentious contentious is the government's bid to remove large sections of job security security language from the collective agreement. That is an unacceptable concession, concession, according to Gates. Generations of workers struggled struggled and fought to gain the rights and benefits they have today, she argues. Any proposal to reduce job security security will meet with strong opposition opposition from the union. Since the government's offer was presented, a conciliator from the Ministry of Labour has attempted attempted to get negotiations moving. If that fails, it could mean the union hits the streets with its first legal strike ever. OPSEU members fear Torys have every intention of going ahead with plans to cut up to 20,000 public public sector jobs across the province. That's not including layoff projections projections for colleges or hospitals. Layoff notices have already begun begun to affect communities, says the OPSEU's Barry Casey. Fourteen hundred jobs have been cut since September including dozens in Durham at half-way houses, Community and Social Services, Services, Ministry of Finance, the Oro- Turn to page three *7neCe/!ie*tcCe*tt A&P Canadian Tire* Canadian Tire Calendars* . Graham's IGA* Miracle Food Mart ("Indicates partial distribution) For information about inserting flyers in The Independent, please contact our office at 623-3303 Musical Moments Playing a saxophone he says is older than he is, James Lowery keeps the waltzcrs whirling at the Newcastle Community Hall on Wednesday, January 17th. A large crowd showed up for the dance hosted by The Orono and District Fiddle Club. Mr. Lowry was joined by his wife, Doreen, at the piano to play, "Sailboat of Dreams" and "I'll Always Be In Love with You." -photo by Lorraine Manfredo Clarington residents should be preparing for increased charges and new costs on everything from burning burning permits to parking meters. It's all part of the municipality's strategy for chopping SI million from its 1996 budget. On Jan. 12, Clarington Councillors Councillors and senior staff got together to talk about cutbacks required due to reduced provincial funding. The directors suggested areas where increased user fees could be put into place. They also had their scissors out. In the Community Services Department, Department, user fees are proposed to go up from 25 cents for daily tickets tickets for public skating to an extra $60 for multi-purpose room rentals. There is even a proposal for youth soccer and baseball programs to pay $4 per hour for field rentals. During the discussion of the cutbacks cutbacks and savings, Chief Administrative Administrative Officer Bill Stockwell told councillors and department heads: "We have a good shot at a zero per cent increase in this year's budget." However, to do so, the municipality municipality needs to find $1.5 million that it can trim from this year's budget, Stockwell noted. In the Public Works Department, Department, vacancies will not be filled and consulting work will decline. There will be reductions to a number number of different reserves. Also, the vaccuming of downtown streets will be discontinued. Works Director Stephen Yokes asked councillors to keep the Capital Capital Road Reconstruction Budget intact. intact. He predicts it might cost more in the long run to reconstruct badly damaged roads. The Planning, Fire and Clerk's Departments have increased fees or introduced fees for services they have been providing free of charge.