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

A James Publishing Con k rf( si ta w /it'-, K f,1 //>r i h P / s |; r Ü lirfl A vsSb/ <4 I" fW 4" i% A JHr I j x | | i/' jJ4* |ll Ml | i J s %/ # # w w larington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 v Newspaper Wednesday, June 16, 1999 145th Year Issue 24 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Stiffen Penalties Passed for Drunk Drivers by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer It was one for the road for politicians in Ottawa last week. Just before breaking for the annual summer recess, MPs passed sobering legislation to toughen up laws against drunk drivers. And Durham MP Alex Shepherd says it's about time. "What is going on now is not alleviating the problem," said Shepherd from his Ottawa office. "We are still getting a high percentage of deaths by drunk drivers." Sgt. Ted Dionne of the Durham Regional Police Clarington Community Office agrees. "With the way the public demands more protection in this type of crime, the laws just can't be tough enough," said Dionne. The new legislation will be a lot tougher on those who choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, The legisla tion includes: • an increase in the maximum maximum penalty for those driving while suspended from two to five years; • a stipulation whereby having having more than twice the legal blood alcohol limit will be factored factored into sentencing decisions as an aggravating condition; • license suspensions of up to one year for first offence, five years for second offence, and a lifetime ban for subsequent- offences; and, • a maximum of 10 years in jail for impaired driving causing causing bodily harm. Parliamentarians also looked at the idea of increasing the maximum sentence for anyone who kills while driving drunk to life. But that part of the legislation legislation did not pass. "There .were certain concerns, concerns, especially within caucus," caucus," said Shepherd of that aspect of the legislation. But he also said the feds may revisit Continued on page 2 School Board Still $ 1M Short Despite Cuts Development Charges on the Rise It looks like the municipal development charges are going up and that could mean the price of a new home in Clarington is gong up as well. "Generally we're very concerned with the increase of rates that is being proposed, especially for a single or semi-detached unit," said Kelvin Whalen, chair of the Durham Chapter of the Urban Development Institute, at a public meeting Monday afternoon. "Compared to other municipalities, Clarington's development charges arc high and that serves to decrease the competitive advantages one may have in Clarington," A report from Hcmson Consulting Limited, the firm hired by the Municipality to put together the specifics on the new development charges bylaw, show development development charges going up $1,410 from the current current rate for a single or semi-detached dwelling. "The intent of development charges is that growth pays for itself and the cost is not borne by the current ratepayer," the consultant said. Development charges arc municipal fees levied against new development to finance the growth-related capital costs associated with meeting the service requirements of development. This includes projects such as road works, fire protection, park and recreation development and indoor recreation. recreation. In 1997, the Ontario government passed the Development Charges Act which changed the way that development charges are collected. In order to comply with those changes, each municipality must pass a new development charges bylaw. A report from Clarington's Chief Administrative Officer Frank Wu indicates that the increase in rates is the result of a number of changes from the old legislation. The rules of calculating charges have changed substantially from the previous legislation and the current charge has not been indexed for about five years, the report says. In addition, the previous charge did not collect the maximum allowable under the Act and under the new legislation, legislation, provincial grants or subsidies are no • longer available to reduce the charge. The bottom line so far is that if the bylaw passes as written, developers are looking at a $6,541 charge per unit for single single and semi-detached homes. Those costs, says Wayne Clarke, of the Durham Homebuilders Association, are too much for the developer to absorb and will most likely be rolled into the final cost of the home. "In Clarington it's a very price-sensitive market," he said. "With this kind of increase builders are going to find the increased costs cannot be absorbed out of their pockets so they have to pass it on to the purchaser." Most of the increase seems to come in the indoor recreation portion of the development development charges. That section alone has increased from $831 to just over $2,000 (an increase of 2.1 per cent) in order to provide service levels at or greater than the service level for the past 10 years. "We feel the increase in indoor recreation recreation is a rather exorbitant charge and I would like council to look at where that came from," said Whalen. All comments and concerns raised at the public meeting will be considered by staff before the Development Charges bylaw comes back to council on July 5. The new bylaw must be passed by council no later than August 31,1999. The Region of Durham is also dealing with the issue of development charges. A report from regional staff is recommending a charge of $8,545 per unit for single homes. Regional council is dealing with that issue at their meeting today. by Michelle Wyton Staff Writer The local public school hoard is still struggling with the. 1999-2000 school year budget. The deadline for submitting the financial plan to the province passed on Tuesday, but the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is still trying to find ways to shave $14.9 million from its budget. "At the last meeting, administration administration identified the fact that the Board would be receiving $14.9 million less in revenues than we believed should be spent to meet the basic needs of students," says Bryan Fisher, Acting Treasurer. "Since then, we have reviewed all areas of the budget to identify where revenues could be increased and savings could be found." Administration was able to find an additional $1.56 million in extra revenues by adjusting the enrolment projections and in one-time provincial restructuring restructuring funds. They also suggested a number of ways to reduce spending. Options included: saving $2.1 million by spreading leasing leasing costs for technology and information systems over 12 years; redirecting $1 million in top-up monies the Ministry of Education and Training originally originally provided for maintenance of facilities by spending them- directly in the classroom; deferring deferring $250,00 in technology initiatives initiatives and reducing central Board administration budgets by a further $100,000. The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is still trying to find ways to shave $14.9 million from its budget "It was a very stressful meeting meeting for the administration and the trustees," said local trustee Bob Willsher. "I think administration administration really tried hard to present present the board with options while maintaining education levels for children." The cuts were not quite enough, and even though a motion came to the floor to accept the budget with the proposed proposed changes, Willsher says it wasn't enough. "There was no way I was Continued on page 2 U)O0 Duck's Ready to Race for $ 5,000 Bowmanville's Movers for 50 Years. Telephone 623-4433 New School Celebrates First Year Page 3 Planning a Summer Holiday? Section B, Page 1 This is the weekend the Bowmanville Creek will become overrun by rubber ducks as the 4th annual Rubber Duck Derby gets underway at 11 a.m. this Saturday. Tickets for the event are limited, so if you want a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize or $500 second- place prize, you'd better buy your duck now. A separate race will be held for ducks sponsored by local businesses, businesses, Both races will be launched from the Bowmanville Creek bridge and finish at the foot bridge below Rotary Park. This year the day is even bigger than normal as the Municipality of Clarington chose the afternoon to celebrate celebrate their 25th anniversary. Jennifer Cook, tourism officer for the municipality, says the events taking place along the creek will be fun lor the whole family. "We made sure the amusements we were bringing in were varied enough for all ages," she said. "We have things for the younger age group and some for the older age group," . The big thing to note is that there is no parking on site. "For public safety reasons we're asking people not to park down beside the creek," said Cook. "There's plenty of parking in town." Activities planned for the day include a bungee run, a 28-foot inflatable mountain, a giant slide, ball pool and a velcro wall. There will also be musical entertainment, entertainment, Jimbo the Clown, a juggling unicyclist and two antique firctrucks on display. The 7th Bowmanville Scouts will he putting on a barbecue and the Municipality will have a cake. The event is a major fund-raiser for not only the scouts but a number of community organizations including the Clarington Fire Department's Learn Not To Burn Program, the Bowmanville Lions Club and the Bowmanville Memorial Hospital Foundation. Events are expected to run from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 131 ui r.'i sriwe B Extended Hours to Service You Better! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.ni. • 2 p.m. Call for your appointment 1ïle$m