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£ £ i 4 | i ; } A i y i | | } By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star No bed closures or staff cuts are in the immediate future for Community Memorial Hospital as the Hospital Board passed a "balanced budget" on Wednes- day night. According to Dave Brown, hospital administrator, the board was pleased to pass a bal- anced budget, with no layoffs of staff or closures of beds, which were priorities in passingit. "The hospital will continue to provide the same level of service as it did this year," Mr. Brown said. He admitted it was difficult to arrive at a balanced budget giv- en only a one per cent transfer payment added to the $6.4 mil- lion budget. Although Community Memo- rial Hospital did not have to cut any jobs to balance this year's budget, two early retirements did take effect on April 1. The two positions, the full-time as- sistant director of nursing and the part-time chief x-ray techni- cian will not be filled. All future replacements of staff at the hospital will be re- viewed, Mr. Brown said. "We are not an overstaffed hospital. It is appropriate to the workload we have," he said. Although the hospital board balanced the budget, the hospi- tal will not run at a surplus this year asit has in the past. PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1992 Hospital passes balanced budget For the last three to four years the hospital has always had a surplus, usually in the area of $200,000 per year, Mr. Brown said, adding now there is nothing left. Next year the hospital will re- ceive a two per cent increase for its budget, but this does not go directly to the hospital base as it did this year. The two per cent will be ap- plied to four areas including the inflation to the hospital, work- load and equity increase, capi- tal and life support programs. This means the hospital base will only receive between zero and one per cent next year, Mr. Brown said. "It will not be anymore than that unless the government has a change of heart and I can't see that happening," he added, leaving him concerned about the future. "I don't know how we will ad- Turnto Page 11 Vol. 126 No. 24 Council debates closing station By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star The Region of Durhamislook- ing at closing or reducing the hours of operation at the Cart- wright Transfer Station. By closing or reducing the hours it could save the Region of Durham a considerable amount of money, regional councillors argue. Approximately $364,700 has been earmarked for the transfer station in the 1992 Waste Re- duction Committee budget. This is down 18.47 per cent from 1991's figure of $447,300. But Yvonne Christie, Works Committee Vice-chairman, says no decision will be made until "all the pros and cons are listed." She says all the facts are notin yet. But some councillors argue that the transfer station should be closed. Both Regional Chair- man Gary Herrema and Ux- bridge Mayor Gerri-Lynn O'Connor are in support of clos- ing the facility or at least reduc- ing the hours of operation. Mayor O'Connor points to the fact that Scugog currently has two transfer stations, operating at a combined cost of $854,500, while Uxbridge has only one site which operates on a budget of only $91,000. "We must take a look at dol- lars," she says. "How do you jus- tify spending that money as op- posed to $91,000." Mayor O'Connor says the Township of Uxbridge made "a political decision" when it decid- ed to close a site recently. The township felt the $330,000 was "exhorbitant." But Mayor O'Connor questions why they should have to close it when Turnto Page 3 J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR [3 Bringing life to canvas James Majury was Just one of 50 artists showing and selling their works last weekend at Port Perry High School during the 4th annual Rotary Club Artfest '92. Mr. Majury is seen here working on his latest painting which depicts a mother Cougar and three cubs. Mr. Majury says reaction to his latest piece, which Is yet unnamed, has been favorable and he is planning to have it reproduced in limited edition. Over 1,000 people attended the two day show. See photos and story on pages 12, 13. LAPLANTE LIVE LIYE APE A Iu LS & Sul 4 Bult Sul 4 Suit Puls 4 Suh Lh Ll LI LN ati. as WN bh { C§ | LA 1 oe