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a ak" 16 - PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, Feb. 6th, 1974 Fund enough to pay councillors Enough money remains in a provincial grant to Dur- ham region for "general start-up expenses' to pay regional councillors $2,500 cach, or $75,000 total, for working the period Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 last year. Finance committee chair- man George Ashe informed council that $80,000 was being transferred from the start-up account held by the province to Durham. The original grant was $110,000. But getting pay cheques to the members was a three- part process, Coun. Ashe indicated. The money was being transferred, a reserve fund had to be set up in Durham, and the treasurer had to get a legal opinion as to the disbursement of the funds. Coun. Keith Ross (Oshawa) said councillors were being derided because of news reports that indica- ted treasurer refused to pay the cheques until he received a legal opinion that he could do so. "We don't know what the authority is until the funds are here," Coun. Ashe said, adding that the committee saw no legal difficulties in the matter. OPINION SOUGHT But an opinion had been sought from the Durham solicitor at the treasurer's request, he added, 'and quite rightly." In response to another question, Coun. Ashe said the intent of council originally INVEST NOW! Victoria & Grey Trust Guaranteed Investments 3 % J Years INTEREST is payable half yearly or may be left to compound EMMERSON INSURANCE AGENCY LIMITED 191 Queen St. Port Perry Telephone 985-7306 RELIABLE PLUMBING & HEATING had been to also take from the start-up funds expenses such as pre Dec. 31 staff salaries, furniture purchases and renovations to the county building. Coun. Des Newman (Whitby) said asking for the funds was to '"'invite con- frontation" with the province, to which Coun. Ashe responded that the alternative would be to for- ward an invoice for the salaries to the province, which would be an even surer way of inviting con- frontation since provincial treasurer John White had recommended they not pay their 1973 salaries out of the start-up funds. "Social Services (continued ment. Mr. Johns was attend- ing a meeting of the task force while council was in session. Some councillors expres- sed concern about the possi- bility the Commissioner might be away too much of the time, and that he may be obligated to keep his task force activities secret from council. The region pays the Com- missioner's salary. If he is working in secret for Que- en's Park then the province should pay him, some mem- bers thought, but if the region is paying it has the' right to know what he is doing. Mr. Johns is expected to report to council later today. FILING CABINETS FOR HUMANS In answer to a question from Brock Mayor Alan McPhail, the committee ex- plained that the mayor of the municipality in which a sen- ior citizens home is located is the person who signs the person into the home. "I don't like signing people into these filing cabinets," complained Mayor McPhail. The home in Beaverton is inside Mayor McPhail's municipality. The . committee rec- commended that the Social Services Commissioner be- come the signing officer. A rather vague form of that recommendation was ap- proved. OTHER DATIONS A recommendation from the committee that it pur- chase office furniture from the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby for $14,000 was approved. The furniture had been used for social services work before the. region took over the job on January 1. Reg Ruse was officially appointed regional represen- tative on the Uxbridge Hos- pitatl Board. RECOMMEN- REPAIRS e ALTERATIONS e NEW WORK Bert Faber " } . . . ' Service is our business 985-2012 FREE DELIVERY Ee| fH == 4 SALE PRICES apply to stock OPEN Thurs. & Fri. to 9:00 SALE PRICES apply to stock on hand : ----