Province Whitby Council has sold eight acres of land on the south side of Rossland Road to the province. Apparently, council made the decision at its regular meeting three weeks ago. . However, no one knew about council's decision as they made it when they Vol, 5 \(). 1) reconvened after adjourning the meeting. By doing this, council can cal the meeting an open meeting. Mayor Des Newman explained the sale. The town bought the land at $48,750 an acre and sold eight to the province at Buys $42,000 a loss of about $6,000 an acre or $50,000 for the entire pact. In return, the province may etect a building on the site. If the province does not decide to do so, it will sell the land back to the town at $42,000 an acte. Mayor Newman feels that WL.LNLS)AY MXRUI 5.19<75 Town whichever course the pro- vince takes, the town will benefit. If the province erects a building on the site, it will result in jobs for about 150 people. At an average of four people per family, this would benefit about 600 people, Mayor Newman explained. TEN CENTS m Residents Angry Meeting Draws Crowd If the province deci sell the land back to1 at the original selling the town could sell th to someone else. If th of the land increasess by that time, a sale town would be very b ial, said Mayor Newma Some of the cou also expressed their of the, sale of land province. Councillor Tom E feels that, by selling t at the reduced rate, ti is, in effect, subsidiz provincial governmen is inappropriate for th munity to subsidize t vincial government," h Councillor Joy Thc like Councillor Edwar feels the town is sub the province, a move she opposes. She sa she couldn't see sub the province for ind developers that may1 not corne to the tow also opposes the sale1 the town lias neverr a transitional grant fi province. Councillor Jim Ga thinks the move is a g as the town is, int range, protecting th acres of land sold province. Councillor Gerry feels that, by acting Land des to manner in which it did, the Whitby town is investing the price taxpayers' money, not wast- je land ing it. e value The seven acres that the sharply town is retaining on the by the south side of Rossland Road benefic- will be the site of a new n. municipal building. ncillors As one who voted against opinion - moving the municipal build- to the ing to the north of town, Councillor Gartshore is satis- dwards flied with the new location. he land Councilor Don Lovelock he town also supports the decision ing the. made by coundil as a result of t. "i the town's architects' recom-, is com- mendation to build on the he pro- south rather than the north e said. side of Rossland Road, where ompson the town owns fine acres of ds, also land. sidizing Councillor Thompson .which feels the building will allow aid that tie town's staff to assemble sidizing in.one place and work more ustry or efficiently. or may Councillor Emm agrees n. She with Councillor Gartshores because assessment and thinks the received new town hall would result rom the in additional assessment by bringing in governiment artshore offices whîch miglt other- ood one wise bç tempted to locate the long elsewhere in the region. e eight Councillor John Goodwin to the also feels that the south side of Rossland Road is a good Emm site for the new municipal in de building. About 350 people attended a special informa- tion meeting at the Brooklin Community Centre last week to hear and respond to developers' plans for land owned in Brooklin. The standing-room-only meeting was highlighted by charges that council's accept- ance of developers' money for secondary plans was unethical and that the people of Brooklin have no say in the future growth of their community. The meeting opened with speeches by representatives of. the two developers that propose large subdivisions. Somer Rumm, vice-presi- dent of Consolidated Building Corporation, which plans 6,000 homes on. 1,700 acres, and Ken Cummings, vice-president of Markbor- housing which Mr. Runm ough Properties which pro- poses two developments for the area, were on hand. Mr. Rumm opened by say- ing that he wants to make a profit for his company while keeping the best interests of the citizens of Brooklin in mind. He said that C.B.C.'s in- tentions were not to harm Brooklin but rather to house people moving to the area. Mr. Rumm feels that there is a need for 'a better class of housing in the Oshawa-Whit- by area. He also warned -the mem- bers of Whitby Council that if they didn't approve C.B.C.'s plan of single-family units, other developers would move in and introduce high rise and multiple density feels would drastically alter the character of the commun- ity. Mr. Cummings, of Mark- borough, said that his coin- pany wants to work closely with council and the plann- ing staffs of the town and the region before moving ahead with their proposed developments. He feels that his company should wait to determine the best interests of Brooklinites before making any definite plans. Bill Burgess, president of the North Ward Community Association criticized Mayor Des Newman for planning to accept $150,000 from Mr. Rurm to pay for a plan of Brooklin's future develop- ment. Mayor Newman said that, by accepting the money, council will save the taxpay- ers money as the lot levies need not be increased. He added that the accept- ance of money is a matter of public record. Jare Burgess, a profession- al architect, told those in attendance that she had nev- er seen money accepted in a similar fashion and called it very "unethical". Councillor John Goodwin defended the move by saying that ·coundl has never been reluctant to accept a develop- er's money and that it did not prejudice the outcome of the planning study. Council will look into the issue of accepting the money at a meeting in the chambers on March 17. Brookln residents turned out some 350 strong to voice overfiowing upstairs and many were seated downstais their opinions at a special town meeting on Brooklin deve opments. The small Brooklin Comnunity Centre was Free Press Photo Government To Take Over Land The Federal Government i serving legal notice that it is taking possession of lands expropriated in 1973 for the construction of Pickering airport, it was announced by the Honourable Charles Drury, Minister of Public Works. Letters are being mailed today to all former owners giving notification that the Crown will take legal posses- sion of the land May 30. This fulfills a requirement of the Canada Expropriation Act which is administered by Public Works Canada. Because of the present postal situation, these letters were deposited at the post office in Markham, Ontario, for distribution to sub-post offices in Brougham, Stouff- ville, Claremont and Aurora, which serve the majority of the former property owners affected. Some letters were sent through the Toronto main post office. Approximately 70 proper- ties, 36 of which are occupied are located in the area where construction is planned to commence in 1975. These properties com- prise approximately 1,800 acres of the 18,000 expro- priated. The Department is offering lease arrangements to all other occupants of properties in the expro- priated area at rates based on a fair market value established by an indepen- dent survey bf comparable value for farms, residences and vacant lands in the adja- cent area. AIl properties occupied by former owners has been on a rent free basis since the expropriation date of January 30, 1973. Within a few months of January .30, 1973, the Department made 717 offers of compensation to former owners. Only 35 did not accept the government offer. Those who did receive pay- ment without prejudice to their right to make a claim for additional compensation. To minimize disruption of occupants of the zone immediately affected, consid- eration will be given to an extension of one month. This will allow families with child- ren to plan their move to coincide with the end of the school term. All former owners in occupation will be given first option to purchase their residences for removal from the site. The - construction schedule is presently being prepared by the Ministry of Transport. Sharing! The Durham Regional Police investigated an odd escapade in which a husband apparently encouraged a friend to have sexual rela- tions with his intoxicated wife. The husband is in the hospital with a stab wound in his back. The victim is in satisfactory condition in Dr.. J. O. Ruddy Hospital. An argument started with the stabbing following as she awoke and found a strange man in her bed. Ne charges have been laid. m swý FRE RýlýE S',