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i Canabtan r w • SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • Press run 21,900 28 Pages Wednesday. June 27, 2001 Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand A spirited sports ute Wheels Pull out Off to the big time Sports, page 16 Politicians vote for mileage increase JIM SCHELL 'From '98 to now gas prices have jumped 50 per cent.' Hike reflects gas prices: CAO BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON-The rising cost of gas has prompted a 25- per cent increase in council's car allowance, after politicians unanimously approved the increase increase during a closed-door meeting Monday. Mayor John Mutton, who, as School 'not going to be the same' for public students Trustees fail to pass tough budget BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board has delayed passage passage of a budget trustees say is not good for children, and has asked the Province to step in to help find answers. Trustees met Monday afternoon, afternoon, to vote on a $264.6-mil- lion balanced budget, which pays off the board's $6.3-mil- iion deficit. But the proposed budget also made cuts to virtually virtually all aspects of board operation, operation, including special education, education, educational services, and professional development. As well, under the proposed budget, budget, 140 to 150 teaching and support staff positions would be lost, and only maintenance on absolutely essential projects would be completed. The - request to Education Minister Janet Ecker is an attempt attempt to "try to put the pressure pressure back on- the ministry that the funding that- is provided does not meet the needs of our students," says budget committee committee chairman Angela Lloyd, a Peterborough-area trustee. The delay will give the board staff a chance to "sec if they can cut in other areas and not affect kids," says Claring- ton trustee Nancy Coffin, who was vehemently opposed to the proposed budget. "This budget is not good for kids or staff," says Ms. Coffin, the vice-chairman of the budget budget committee, who is espe- ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY ♦An official mark of the Province of Ontario used under licence. Whitby - Oshawa Honda 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E„ WHITBY LOCAL (905) 666-1772 homda www.honda1.com NANCY COFFIN 7 don't think parents . realize when school goes back in September, it's not going to be the same.' cially concerned about the fact board-level technical support positions would be slashed, leaving no one to help when teachers and students have computer problems. "Our inschool inschool (technical support) people people used to be the teacher-librarians, teacher-librarians, but their time's been cut as well." Ms. Coffin also says "every area of programming" has been slashed, and professional development for teachers has been significantly cut. "I don't think parents realize, realize, when school goes back in September, it's not going to be the same," says Ms. Coffin. The board's letter to the minister requests ministry staff be sent in to investigate the board's financial situation and recommend any changes. "We are confident that our administrative administrative staff have done See BOARD page 4 Inside ®6t Statesman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page .6 Sports 16 Classified 12 GIVE US A CALL General.. .905-623-3303 Distribution 905-579-4407 Death Notices ... : 905-683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1-800-662-8423 Web site durhamregion.com email jbobbitt@durhamregion.com FAX 905-623-6161 Newsroom FAX .623-6161 Cowan PONTIAC-BUICK GMCTRUCK 166 KING ST. E„, BOWMANVILLE 623-3396 chairman of the meeting did not vote, says he supports council's decision to approve the increase. "Periodically these things have to be looked at," the mayor says. The mileage rate, last assessed assessed in 1998 when gas prices sat "around 50 cents a litre" was due for review at the end of 2000, says Chief Administrative Officer Frank Wu. 'The rate expired at the end of last year," says the CAO. 'The cost of gas has gone up substantially and the increase in the cost of gas is a major contributing contributing factor (to the allowance increases)," lie explains. "I thought it was reasonable," says Councillor Jim Schell. "When we received an increase last time in 1998 it was long overdue. It had been years since an increase. From '98 to now gas prices have jumped about 50 per cent so I didn't think $50 was unreasonable." The car allowance will rise from $150 a month for councillors councillors to $200 a month. The mayor's allowance increased from $400 to $500 monthly. The increases were approved as part of a report on municipal restructuring restructuring discussed during an incarnera incarnera (private) portion of the Monday night council meeting, the last sitting of council prior to a summer recess. "It's very reasonable. It's truly reflective of the cost of op- CELIA BRONKHORST/ Statesman photo An officer, and a lady Durham Regional Police Sergeant Anne Crawford, on the job at the Superior Court of Justice in Whitby, has the distinction of being Durham's first female officer. She retires this month after 34 successful years on the beat. See our story on page 2. crating their vehicles," says Mr. Wu, who notes municipal employees employees receive 40 cents a kilometre kilometre for mileage. Assuming councillors arc receiving a comparable comparable rate, they are being compensated compensated for 6,000 kilometres of travel within the municipality each year while the mayor is being compensated for about 15,000, calculates Mr. Wu. Any travel outside the municipality is See MILEAGE page 4 Street name changes will hit villages hardest BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON-Residents in Clarington's villages and hamlets could bear the brunt of street name changes to allow the municipality to comply with a new 911 mapping system. A solution is needed to eliminate eliminate duplication of street names to allow an upgraded emergency response telephone system to be installed, Ian Wilson of the Durham Regional Police Service Service communications department department explained in a presentation to Clarington councillors in April. Following the presentation, Clarington's planning depart* ment has recommended where duplicate street names exist, the streets with the fewest properties properties should be the ones to have a name change. This means "Newcastle Village, Orono and the hamlets' streets will bear the brunt of these changes," says Bin Newell, acting director of planning and development. The streets affected by the duplication duplication problem include Mill Street, Church Street and Centre Street. One suggestion is to See DUPLICATE page 4 Trash your old habits, Clarington! Bag limits, mandatory recycling is on the way BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Clarington Clarington residents may have to trash old habits and adopt new ones with the possibility of three-bag garbage limits and mandatory recycling recycling and composting on the horizon. A curbside organic composting composting program will take effect in Clarington beginning spring 2002 council, decided Monday. The program will tie Clarington's Clarington's collection to the Region of Durham, which is striving to meet a 50 per cent trash diversion from landfill rate by 2007. Currently Currently about 70 per cent of the garbage from Durham ends up in landfill, says Peter Watson, the Region's manager of waste management. management. He is urging the municipality municipality to begin mandatory recycling recycling and composting and to lower the current four-bag limit currently in place in Clarington down to a thrçe-bag limit per household on weekly garbage collection. "We're trying to encourage residents to really think about what they're throwing out," Mr. Watson told council. "We need to get food out of the garbage bag," he added, noting, "It's heavy and it's fully compostable. "Make composting mandatory," mandatory," Mr. Watson urged council, adding, "We can take a number of approaches." One possibility would be to provide residents with plastic, scaled bins in which to collect food scraps. The waste would then be transferred to clear, light green bags for collection, he said. Grass clippings should be left on the lawn, not put into garbage bags, he said. Mr. Watson also recommended recommended residents should be made to use heavy-duty paper bags for leaf and yard waste which would then be composted by the Region. Region. "Make recycling mandatory," mandatory," continued Mr. Watson who said, "Passing a bylaw would certainly promote" the reduction of garbage going to landfill. Mayor John Mutton says he supports the idea of mandatory recycling and composting. However, However, he adds, "We should take a look at it with some public input into how it could be achieved. It' doesn't have to be seen as a gun pointed at your head to recycle." For the composting program to be successful, he says it will need the participation of all residents. "Everyone should be on the same page to get diversion from landfill. landfill. It's the only way we're going to decrease our dependency on landfill," he says. The Region is hoping as mu- JOHN MUTTON 'It doesn 7 have to be seen as a gun pointed at your head to recycle.' nicipalities' collection contracts expire, they will join in a regional regional collection program. Clarington, Clarington, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock would be the first participants. participants. - YffàwW&C IPggfl