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2 - Ornnr> Weekly 'limes, Wednesday. March 22, 2000 Councillors disburse Weekly Tmes 1 g|gf|| HUODBy Serving East Clarington and beyond since / 937 Subscriptions $23.36 + $1.64 G.S.T. = $25.00/year Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Mialn Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedlme.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/Editor Marg Zwart Doing it our way Hopefully by now, the message has gone out about the public meeting this Thursday at the Orono Arena Community- Centre, regarding the Orono Mill Pond Dam, and the Forestry Lands. , * The approximately 1,000 acres of creek valley lands are currently going through an Environmental Assessment by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), and a public meeting is required as part of that process. When 1 called and spoke to MNR Project Co-ordinator, Greg Bales, two weeks ago, he explained, since this land was newly acquired by his department, (it was no longer affiliated with the former tree nursery) a management plan Is required. I explained to Bales that the people here, live in fear of that land being put on the market one of these days. He assured me, that was not the case at the present time. I was therefore quite surprised by a motion made by Councillor John Mutton at Monday's General Purpose and Administration Committee Meeting, calling for a meeting with the MNR, the Muhicipality of Clarington and Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) regarding a future land management plan to fully enshrine the forestry lands in public ownership. That motion passed unanimously. After the meeting, Mutton explained that he hoped that meeting would be held this week. Fie wanted the municipali ty to take a leadership role, to get what is best for the public he said. I questioned the timing, within a few days of the MNR sponsored public meeting. Mutton explained the Municipality would represent the public's interest. He also stated it would a good Idea if the lands were turned over to GRCA for management. If Councillor Mutton had taken the time to find out what the public want, before he represents their interests, he would have discovered they don't want the land turned over to the GRCA. Local sentiment is -- the less interference the better. GRCA is in a position now, where they are constantly seeking seeking new sources of revenue. They are looking at a proposal from a private company to put a golf course in the Ganaraska Forest. The people intimately involved in the Orono Forestry lands; the same people who have been looking after it these past three.years, feel these lands require very little mainte nance. There is a group in place now who are more than willing to continue their services on a volunteer basis. The Municipality was not that interested in keeping the section of Forestry Lands that went up for sale three years ago, in public ownership. They had the chance to purchase the 300+ acres of tree nurs.ery before it went up for public auction but decided they didn't have the money. If the need should arise again, I hope the Municipality backs up their full support with some money. O'Toole & ratepayers to host crime forum Durham MPP John R. O'Toole and the Newcastle Ratepayers Association want to announce their upcoming community forum to discuss Issues of crimes in our community. community. , "Crime continues to be a concern for my constituents," said OToole. "With property crime rates moire than double the number from a generation generation ago, residents In our growing community see this as an Important issue." The Co-Chair of the Ontario ' Crime Control Commission, MPP Gerry Martiniuk, will be joining a panel of community representatives. representatives. OToole noted that the presence of one of the Councillors had the privilege privilege of whittling $168,100 worth of grant requests down to $72,000, which represents $lper Clarington resident. Of the 32 request for funding, funding, six were denied outright. The largest grant went to the Newcastle Community Centre at $12,500, which was $700 less than what they received last year. The Newcastle Community Hal! Board claim this funding assists with operational expenses to keep the 76 year old historic' building in good condition. Without municipal funding, they feel this building building could not operate. The Clarington East Food Bank received $1,000 of the $5,000 they- requested. Mayor Hame was in favour of giving them $500 as a token of support. "Through our Regional property tax we fund social services," said the Mayor. "If we believe in it, we should all write a cheque and not depend on property taxpayers. Councillor Schell put forward the motion for the $1,000 donation, noting the Courtice Food Bank closed due to lack of .volunteer support. support. , In an effort to be consistent, consistent, sporting clubs that requested grants were given a Crime Control Commissioners demonstrates demonstrates that people's concerns, concerns, ideas, and possible solutions can have a direct impact on government policy. Premier Mike Harris created created the Ontario Crime Control Commission in 1997 in order to consult with the public and experts on issues of public concern. Many of the findings of this body have been adopted into government government policy. The Ratepayers Association's town hall meet ing takes place on March 27th at 7:30 p.m. at the Newcastle Town Hall, located at 20 King Street West. "Making Durham a safer place to,live, work, and raise â family is one of my highest priorities," said OToole. The Durham MPP added, "I always look forward to the chance to touch base with my constituents and am sure this meeting will play an important role in finding effective solutions to safe communities and issues that we face." For more information, or to add your comments, please contact John R. OToole's constituency office by telephone at 697-1501 / 1-800-661-2433 or by fax at 697-1506. standard $1,500 grant, and their ' umbrella, Athletic Associations received $2,000. Though organizations like Newcastle Scouting and the Small Miracles Nursery. in Newcastle were turned down, the Newcastle Optimist Club received $2,000 of their $10,000 request. Though the Scouts and the Day Care are worthwhile groups said Mayor Ham re, she urged councillors to support deny- ' ing their applications. If you support them once, you will open that door, and "you know how many groups there are in the Municipality." As for the Optimist Club, Mayor Ham re stated , "In this situation situation you've got volunteers doing what no one else is doing in the village. If we have to put .staff people out in the village doing the same thing, it will cost us a heck of a lot more," she stated. At the end of the process, $54,400 of the money was allocated. Three late requests were dealt with, Ontario Sr. games received $200, and the Tall Ships Millennium Challenge received $500, bringing the total up to $55,100. The balance of $16,900 can be disbursed later in the year as requests for Municipal • Grants surface. IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE AMTioN? YES, WELL,OUR SiWiOHS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.-CHARLES ern