The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

by Laura J. Richards The mayor of Pickering is encouraging encouraging his regional council colleagues colleagues to fight plans for creating a new GTA super-city. "I have some left-over war paint to put on," Mayor Wayne Arthurs told councillors on Wednesday afternoon, afternoon, Jan. 31. Regional councillors opposing local government reform in the Greater Toronto Area arc also urging urging their constituents to lake up the fight. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre noted a report prepared for council Æ L , n \ L >dy Amalgamation Would Cost Durham $40 Million 66 j\ | ^ 3Ü r L ÆX n \J n f | i y AJ by the region's Chief Administrative Administrative Officer, Gary Cubill, is just what opponents of the GTA need. "Thanks for the additional ammunition," ammunition," Mayor Hamre said. Some of the figures the regional CAO and slaff have come up with predict Durham's cost to be a part of the Greater Toronto City would be $40 million. (That estimates includes includes tire pooling of educational taxes.) Cubitl said: "Taxes will be up except in Metro." "Not only will there be an increase increase in taxes, there will be the introduction introduction of new industrial/ commercial levies as well," Cubitt noted. In a recorded vote, Regional Council decided to send a copy of the regional staff's report to provincial provincial authorities. Twenty-two councillors councillors voted in favor of that move. During the more than two-hour discussion on the issue, a number of points were brought out by councillors. councillors. Councillors pointed out dial Ontario Ontario Premier Mike Harris wants to hear the taxpayers' views. Mayor Hamre said MPP John O'Toole told business persons at a recent luncheon: "You have to let us know what you think about the Golden Report. The government will listen to residents, and dial's the way to stop the proposed changes changes from happening." As far as she is concerned, the release of the Golden Report was limed in a way to ensure concerned municipalities would not kick up a fuss. "It came out at a lime when we're all running around trying to deal with budget cuts. They knew that we were so damned busy widi our budgets. So, wc couldn't deal with it, too," Mayor Hamre declared. declared. Oshawa Regional Councillor John Aker said the task force was pul togcdicr by die Rac government last year, and it reported to the Harris Harris government. Next, the regions and municipalities need to respond. Turn to page two Advertising /Printing Savings o Conk*! Advertise in the Statesman/Independent during February, and 25 % of the value can be used toward the cost of printing and services. See page 2 for details. r m (towtoan matt @ ocna.org 905-623-3303 18 Pages Wednesday, February 7,1996 Bowmanville, Ontario 142nd Year 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Issue J Association. Backs 'Vnbund]inç£ oj Ont Hydro Functions Municipal Utilities Seek More Rower Ontario's Municipal Electrical Association (MEA) is recommending recommending Ontario Hydro get out of the power distribution business and leave that job to expanded municipal municipal utilities. The local Clarington Hydro Electric Commission agrees with that move. The recommendation is just one of several highlights contained in MBA's "blueprint" for die future of Ontario's electricity industry. The MEA is die voice of Ontario's Ontario's 307 municipal electric utilities, utilities, including the Clarington Hydro Hydro Electric Commission. The MEA's recommendations arc in response to a call for input from the recently established MacDonald MacDonald Committee on Competition in Ontario's Electricity System. The mandate of the committee is to advise the provincial government on how die system could be rc- fonned in die best interests of consumers. consumers. The MEA is also pushing for competition in the generation sector, sector, where Ontario Hydro now has a monopoly. Dave Clark, manager of die CHEC says opening competition up at the generating level would bene fit consumers in Clarington. It would put downward pressure on rates to municipal utilities, he says. Key recommendations in the MEA report include: - unbundling of Ontario Hydro's various functions as generator, transmitter and distributor - introducing competition in the generation sector - establishing a publicly-owned transmission company to purchase electricity from the competing generators generators - the 25% of customers currently currently served by Ontario Hydro would be served by smaller distributors and/or expanded MEU's The MacDonald Committee is expected to submit a report to die provincial government by the end of April. Councillors To Review Profitable Arenas Clarington councillors want to find out how Port Perry and Uxbridge Uxbridge arenas and hockey teams are able to make a profit. Mayor Diane Hamre told members members of the General Purpose & Administration Administration Committee she is forever forever hearing how profitable the Port Perry and Uxbridge operations are. "I want to give direction to our staff to take a good look at what they've been doing in those municipalities, municipalities, and see if wc can apply that knowledge here," Mayor Ham- re said. by Laura J. Richards A committee of Clarington Council has given a green light to a restaurant at the site of a former gas station in downtown Bowmanville. The proposed 240 square-metre cafe, designed by local architect Reg Frccthy, will be located at the nordiwest corner of the George Street and King Street intersection. The property will include an outdoor outdoor patio where local artisans can display their work, thanks to an agreement with the Visual Arts Centre. The new building will encompass encompass the old gas station structure on two sides and will sport an interlocking interlocking brick patio to the south. At the front of the lot, dicrc will be a sodded, landscaped buffer with shrubs. This area will lie complemented complemented by a high decorative metal and brick fence. There will also be a bench for the existing bus slop. Green space will abound, with another sodded area on the eastern side of the properly between the LAST CALL - The two contests, currently under way in this Many thanks in advance to all tiiose who obviously enjoyed participating. participating. Actually, there's still time to submit nominees for the Sweethearts draw. It ties in with St. Valentine Day which is next Wednesday. ****** STREET PEOPLE - Almost every day, there is an item in one of the Toronto papers, about someone freezing to death on city streets. These reports so touched a Hampton resident that she has been collecting warm clothing and bedding and transporting it to relief agencies in Toronto on weekends for the street people. people. If you'd be willing to lend a hand, please call 263-8282 and someone will be happy to pick up anything you'd care to donate. It's estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 people arc living on Toronto streets this dreadfully cold winter. ****** ODD SHAPES - Several folks along County Rd. 57 at west end of town phoned in reports of peculiar snow formations on their lawns' that developed overnight. Wc have not been able to determine determine what caused them, other than possibly a strong gust of wind, shifting and rolling up loose snow. Apparently, it was quite spectacular, according to Mrs. Mostcrt who sent in an item about it. This year's weather certainly has been exceptional. Right now, it is giving the snowbirds in Florida a taste of what they've been missing. Somehow, wc doubt if they arc liking it. ****** BIG INCREASE - Apparently, we're being invaded by wolves (coyotes) or wild dogs that arc killing farm animals, although wc haven't run into anyone complaining about it too much, oilier oilier than one alert citizen who brought it to our attention. The province pays a fixed amount for any farm animal killed (sheep $200 head maximum). Total cost of payments including valuers' fees has jumped from $36,427.72 in 1993 to $83,186.65 in 1995. The Ministry of Agriculture has advised the town that the program is under review, but they arc not aware of any plans to discontinue it. My goodness, wc must have more coyotes here in Clarington than they have on the prairies. ****** SHE'LL BE MISSED - Mrs. Gerald (Joyce) Kelly, who has been one of the mainstays, as secretary-treasurer,of the success of Blackstock Fair for 30 years, is retiring and was honored recently recently at the society's annual meeting. Wc join with her many friends and admirers in wishing lier well, but suspect it may take quite a few years for her to overcome her interest in the fair and many other community projects in which she is involved, including writing a weekly column of news for area community newspapers, including this one. May you have a happy and healthy retirement; you certainly deserve one. See Page 12. The Stork Market Report STEPHENS - It's a Girl! ****** WIGHT - It's » Roy! ****** Total This Year Boys 15 Girls 15 PRESTON We Move ft! 623-4433 Bowmanville (SI Shop the Rest pjD Buy from the Best! Smi Your loeal General Mutora dealer for the part 25yearn, f'zAlh'l 16G King St. E. f 25ih 1 Itoimuiy Tolophono 020-3306 Itiwiiyl Despite the polar temperatures gripping southern Ontario last week, members of the Clarington Fire Department were at the West Beach testing their survival suits. The department now owns three fully encapsulated emergency suits which can be used by their personnel in ice and water rescue. rescue. Although the temperature was at least minus 12 degrees, the firefighters had no difficulty stepping stepping on and off die ice floes at the entrance to the marina and maneuvering on die ice. Shown here are Paul Shchcrbak and Randy Cowan. All full time firefighters arc currently undergoing training ior ice rescue. two entrances and exits on die cast side of the property. The plans include a pedestrian sidewalk from the front of the properly properly to the patio area. There will be 20 parking spots. According to the architect's drawing, a drive-thru will be located located on the west side of the building. Erwin Kurtz, the owner of the properly, applied to Clarington Council for a rezoning of die land in order to convert the former gas station into a restaurant. Kurtz noted while some people have argued against the proposal, they have not taken into consideration consideration a number of factors. They arc as follows: • the new business will employ 20 to 30 part-time and full-time people; • there will be $25,000 in new tax revenue; • there will be a new $300,0(X) payroll; and, • the now vacant building will have been rejuvenated. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre agreed that the development would be adding to the commercial tax revenues. She told council that while they may be looking for the perfect commercial commercial application for the downtown, downtown, it won't lie happening. "We have got to live in the real world. Wc need the business, the assessment and the people arc ask- Thc Library Board will have less space than it expected in the new Cotirticc Community Complex. Claringtron councillors voted Monday to advise the hoard that its Cotirticc branch will have just 6.000 square feet and not the 12.000 originally proposed. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre can't get over the idea that members members of the Board have not heard her say loud and clear that the ing for it," she stated. Councillor David Scott surprised a number of people by stating, "I will support the approval (of the re- zoning), but without enthusiasm." While members of die committee committee voted on the concept on Monday, Monday, Feb. 5, Clarington Council has yet to vote on the issue. That will take place at next week's full council council meeting. Cotirticc Library will not lie 12,000 square Icct, but only half of the amount. "Everyone tells me how loud my voice is, I can't understand how the chair of the board could not hear me," Mayor Hamre said. The comment came as she tried to figure out how the board could have assumed the Cotirticc library would have the full 12,000 square Turn to page two Smaller Library for Courtice AMES Di IBI IT Printing Professionals Since 1854 Tolophono: 623-3303 62 King St. West Bowmanville M U i . I] miiiS (ESSO) Specialists In Heating and ^ Air Conditioning SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION 350 Lake Road, Bowmanville' 623-5516