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> A • SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • Prvssrun 21,90(1 Wednesday, August 22, 2001 Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand The kids of steel Sports, page 15 Dodge Ram's new look Wheels pullout Moraine report called 'cruel hoax' DAVID CROME 7 am extremely disappointed.' Clarington planning director says policy is being rushed BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - The future future of natural habitat in north Clarington could be placed in More pay? No way! Clarington regional councillors say they won't vote for salary hike BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - A nine- per cent pay raise.for regional politicians won't get the support support of Clarington representatives. representatives. Mayor John Mutton and Regional Regional councillors Jim Schell and Charlie Trim all say they'll vote against a raise of their salaries, which would give them a three-per cent increase each year for three years to follow-up follow-up on an eight-per cent increase increase already approved for regional regional representatives back in the spring. "There shouldn't be anymore anymore this term," says Mayor Mutton. "If we're going to make an increase it should be for the next term. The problem is we already had an eight-per cent increase this year. If we hadn't had that then this would have been a natural adjustment but it's been handled for this term already." When the eight-per cent increase increase was proposed in the spring, the mayor fought to have it deferred until next tèrm but his motion was defeated. Councillor Schell says he will not support another nine per cent for council. The spring increase was part of a new policy policy to tie council's salaries to staff salaries so he supported that, he says. However, he points out, the spring increase was an adjustment to bring staff wages up to the standard of municipal employees in other regions. The newest in- ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY ♦An olTidul murk of the Province of Ontario used under Ik'unce. Whitby - Oshawa 1-110 DUNDAS. ST. E., WHITBY, LOCAL (905) 666-1772 hoisida www.honda1.com CHARLIE TRIM Benefits package should be considered. crease for staff is part of their normal contract agreements. The Region ratified a contract Aug. 7 with Durham's inside workers, public health nurses and employees at its homes for the aged. "We are done for this term. We. shouldn't get any of the , nine per cent. In my mind we've already done that. For us (the spring increase) was a raise. We weren't in the sanie position as staff members were. Our stipend is comparable to other councils." Although Coun. Trim is firmly against a wage increase for this term, he does believe council should consider a benefit benefit package, also part of the recommendation being considered. considered. "If it pertains to money I would be voting against it but it's important to look at the benefit package. I do believe for councillors to have no benefit benefit package from anywhere is essential to examine.. Whether it will be acceptable or not, I don't know. The increase "would have to kick in for next ' term and be available to anyone seeking election or re-election," re-election," says Coun. Trim. Inside Œi* &tatrtman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page 6 Classified 11 Sports 15 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 jeopardy by provincial recommendations recommendations on the Oak Ridges Moraine, an official here fears. "There are major issues in Clarington. I have a lot of concerns," concerns," David Cromc, Claring- ton's director of planning says of a recent report from a provincial advisory panel on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The panel is attempting to create a provincial policy for develop ment and land use on the moraine, which runs across the north end of the Greater Toronto Toronto Area from Hamilton to Cobourg. The chairman of the panel, Ron Vrancart, assures the policy, policy, when completed, will provide provide more protection to envi- ronmcntally-sensitivc lands contained on the moraine. The panel has been given six months to form a land-use policy, policy, during which there is a moratorium on development on the moraine. The moratorium ends Nov. 17 by which time Mr. Vrancart says a policy needs to be in place on how development development should be allowed to proceed. proceed. But Mr. Crome fears the rush to create the policy will not allow the panel to factor in RON PIETRONIRO/Statesman photo Tigercats on the prowl again BOWMANVILLE - The Clarington Tigercats football teams opened the season against Etobicoke in rainy conditions Sunday: In action from the tyke game, Etobicoke's Quincy Quincy Van De Cruize (30) tries to get away from a diving Tigercats player during the first quarter. The Tigercats won 21-18. In atom action, Clarington and Etobicoke fought to a 6-6 draw, while Etobicoke was victorious over Clarington 6-1 in the peewee division. The cat came back - with a wire snare around its neck all the aspects of the complicated complicated ecological composition of the moraine. "Anyone who knows the Oak Ridges Moraine knows there arc complex issues and six months is not enough time," argues Mr. Crome. "I am extremely extremely disappointed. It's a real cruel hoax. The panel raised expectations expectations of how it was going See PANEL page 2 Police warn of credit card scam DURHAM - Police are warning residents to keep their eyes on their credit cards in the wake of a recent rash of counterfeiting counterfeiting incidents. In the last few weeks several people from the across the region region have reported unauthorized activity on their bank and credit card accounts, Durham Regional Regional Police said. An investigation is ongoing. Police said information information is stolen from magnetic strips on victim's credit cards and used to manufacture counterfeit counterfeit cards. The process is known as "double-swiping." In almost all the cases the data is stolen when the cards were used at gas stations, spokesman Sergeant Paul Malik said. In cases involving bank debit cards the culprits obtained the victim's PIN number, the officer officer added. Police say consumers should be cautious when using their cards, not let them out of their sight and always conceal the card when keying a PIN number. ANDREW 1WANOWSK1/Statesman photo Terry Patterson of Bowmanville shows the snare he found around his cat's neck. Bowmanville pet owner warns others BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer BOWMANVILLE - A Bowmanville resident is warning pet owners and parents parents to be on the alert for traps that could injure pets or children children after his cat returned home with a wire snare hanging hanging from its neck. Pumpkin, a 16-pound feline, feline, returned to its Scugog Street, Bowmanville home from a night prowl last week with a "homemade wire snare" around his neck, says owner Terry Patterson. Fortunately, Fortunately, Pumpkin's size allowed allowed him to break free unscathed, unscathed, says Mr. Patterson, who worries a small child or smaller animal may not have been so lucky. "He was rubbing against the counter and I could hear a clicking noise," recalls Mr. Patterson. Upon closer exami nation, Mr. Patterson noticed the snare still attached around the cat's neck. "He had indentations indentations in his fur but it hadn't got down to the skin," says Mr. Patterson. "He wasn't hurt." However, Mr. Patterson says the snare could have done a lot more damage if it wasn't for the size of his cat. "In town I have no idea why anybody would be using them," says Clarington animal control officer Sheila Elking- ton, who notes only farmers or licensed trappers are allowed allowed to set snares which are "not designed to catch people's people's domestic pets. "Hopefully the person (who set the trap) had no intention intention to catch cats," says Ms. Elkington, who adds she understands some residents get annoyed when pets roam onto their property. Under municipal bylaws cats are not allowed off-leash. There are live-catch cages available for rental from the animal ser- See SNARES page 2