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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Monday, December 24, 2001 "3 Councillors consider stopping new residential development From Page 1 new patients currently in Port Perry, then another move must be take. "If doctors here are not taking on new patients then we stop issuing building permits," Councillor Pearce said. "I now have to consider this community at capacity and if we can not attract new doctors then no new houses and that's it!" Mayor Moffatt agreed that development would be an issue and it was dis- cussed that developers wanting to build in Port Perry may have to start to pay a health care levee to help attract more medical staff to the area. Councillor Pearce said that the hospital's request for $50,000 opened a new funding level for health care. "It would amount to $ 6 per year per household for property tax payers here and it will not end with this last-minute request. Our doctors are aging with the rest of us and will retire around the same time," the Ward 2 rep said. Council came to an agreement that more information regarding the use of funds would have to come forward before more than a $25,000 promise could go forward. Councillors further asked that a task force consisting of municipal staff, politicians and hos- pital foundation members be set up to study solu- tions to the doctor short- age. Ward 3 Councillor Jim McMillen said he had seri- ous concerns about mak- ing such a move. "I cannot believe that a corporation the size of Lakeridge Health has not planned for such things," he said. "I have a moral problem with this that we are just promoting the problem with this pay- ment." Mayor Moffatt said, "that is not a wrong state- ment, but we have to deal with this problem, that is to not lose a doctor (cur- rently in negotiations)." .In a recorded vote, council passed a motion to promise $25,000 to be used by Ms. Sikorski to provide bonus incentives to the doctor currently in negotiations. Councillors also requested a firm financial plan from Lakeridge Health and the setting up of the task force. Councillor Pearce had reservations before voting to make the move unani- mous. Earlier she stated one glaring fact. "We have two members of council missing here," she said. Councillor Carruthers said, "lI was quite clear in my message to them what this was about." Mayor Moffatt said that he expected clear and concise answers from Lakeridge Health about what the money would be used for and what future plans to attract doctors would entail. "l have worried, that by doing this, we are just moving deck chairs around on the Titanic," Mayor Moffatt said. Lakeridge Health is cur- rently in deficit and under the scrutiny of the Ministry of Health regarding their financial plans and a pro- posed deal with Markham- Stouffville Hospital to realign with Uxbridge ~ottage Hospital (current- ly under the Lakeridge Health umbrella) fell apart recently with a senior offi- cial in Uxbridge admitting that dire financial con- cerns had a part in it. Scugog Council will fol- low up on their requests for input from the Port Perry Hospital Foundation and the setting up of a task force on health care as well as discussions on stopping new develop- ment after the Christmas break. Construction boom continues in Scugog through 200] By ] Peter Hvidsten Port Perry Star Construction in Scugog Township continues to boom in 2001 at almost the same rate as the pre- vious years. The Building Permit Report for the year ending November shows that there have been 307 per- mits issued for new con- struction, renovations and other projects throughout the township this year as compared to 306 at the same time last year. The largest number of permits have been issued AND RY BESTS | ROM Lijit for new single detached homes, with 138 permits valued at more than $20 million being issued to the end of last month. This compares with 132 permits totalling almost $18 million issued for the same time period last year. Other permits issued during the year were for the following: 36 addi- tions, single detached; 31 for garage or carports; 15 for new decks; 15 for swimming pools and 17 for agricultural buildings. Total value of all build- Fy C.P. Haircare 905-852-4633 ing permits until the end of November 2001 totals $27,286,342. This is about $2.7 million less than the $29,928,298 issued to the same date last year Future of Epsom still uncertain From Page 1 close Epsom we are saying that we do not value small. If we were to take that to a national level, should we close Prince Edward Island because it is small?" Mr. Demmers asked where it would stop if small schools are closed. "Should we close all the schools and just build a big learning village in Whitby," he asked his fellow trustees. Pickering Trustee Jennifer Bridge told supporters of Epsom in the audi- ence, "| am sorry to make this speech to tell you that funding is not supportive of small schools. (Ontario Minister of Education and Uxbridge MPP) Janet Ecker should be making this speech to you, it is her government that put forth this situation." Nancy Loraine, trustee for Uxbridge- Brock, opposed the move saying. "There is no reality of the funding plan in this issue. If you are making these kinds of decisions, well I hope you guys (fellow trustees) are sleeping at night," she said. One parent who has fought the bat- tle to keep Epsom open is Brian Meeks. He admitted he was disheartened that victory came so close, only to be put off until the board deals with the elemen- tary section of the planning document in mid-January, but is confident that the "school will survive in the end. A motion to remove Epsom was defeated by a five-to-five tie vote with the chair of the board, Liz Roy, abstain- ing. "I feel we have the support here we need to save the school," Mr. Meeks said. "When they deal with this in January | think we will win it." The Durham District School Board expects to realize nearly $1 million in new funding by closing the school and has warned parents that the more than $106,000 in supplementary funding the school currently receives for staffing and other items will no longer be avail- able after the planning document gets final approval whether the school stays open or not. Parents at the tiny school have vowed to do whatever is necessary to save it. With Bright Wishes for a great holiday! FROM ALL CF US AT y@= Ald 'n TRANSMISSION SERVICES 905-985-2659 OFF oi Dec. 27/01 0:30 amt - 5:30 Pm Don't Miss It! Sorry - No Returns or exchanges accepted on December 27 Monday, Dec. 24th. 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 25th... CLOSED Wednesday, Dece. 20th CLOSED OUR BOXING DAY SALE Thursday, Dec. 27th '4 9:30 am - 5:3) pm {ORD ENE [0] { J 010] $F [riday, Dec. 28th 9:30 am - & 30 pm Saturday, Dec. 20th 9:30am -53%) pm Sunday, Dec. 30th 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Monday, Dec. 31st... 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday, Jan. Ist... . CLOSED back to our regular hours. Our Boxing Day Sale - No returns or exchanges will be accepted on December 27th . Bh a © 905 085.2 52 1 www.broc kstore.com BR2CKS on foot