WHlTBY FREE PRESS,WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1981,PAGE 17 New beds for F airview pos tponed e q-----7 Street lights stil *1needed By COUNCILLOR ROSS BATTEN North Ward The reduced activity level during Ibese summer months bas been a welcome relief for myself and my family. However, I fînd myself conîemplating some of the accomplishments and lack of accom- piishment of the past nine montbs. But more impor- tantly I like 10 concentrate on some of the projects j thal have not been completed and those which must b ealt with in the coming year. Th niihd aeoy fcourse, includes the been contracted and installation awaits delivery of the concrete poles. Hopefully, we will see the in- stallation completed in tbe montb of September. Many of you have expressed concern about the poor lighting conditions on some of the streels in the Meadowcrest subdivision. 1 acknowledge Ibis con- cern and have prepared a report on inadequate streel ligbts for ail of the North Ward. This report has been submitted to the town staff and to the Whitby Hydro-Electric Commission and I will follow up 10 ensure improvements are made as soon as possible. As you are aware, in June of this year, several years of studying and negotiating the possible ex- pansion of Brooklin resulted i a decision by Durham Regional Council 10 allow Brooklin to ex- pand froni the present 1,600 people to a maximum population of 10,500. The agreement for this proposed expansion bas been prepared by regional staff and must now be ratified and signed by the region and the developer. Once Ibis bas been com- pleted the agreement must receive approval from the Ontario Municipal Board which may not occur until mid-1982. Aithough this expansion will bring much needed services, ie. sewers and improved water supply, it will dictate a disruption in our comrnunity during tbe construction stages and of course a disruption of lifestyle with the advent of 9,000 addit.ional people. I feel these disruptions can be minimized with proper planning and cooperation and I hope that we might work together in Ibis regard. The new homes, new businesses and new people that will be part of this expansion must conforni 10 the lifestyle we have aiready establisbed and I feel il is our responsibility 10 ensure tbis bappens. The Brooklin Businessmen Association have already begun to plan the impact on the downtown business area and I arn looking forward to working with themn in Ibis regard. A study will be conducted by the Town of Whitby planning department and professional planning consultants, 10 determine how the downtown business ares will be developed and your input will certainly be welcome and con- sidered. I arn now aware of the fact that many residents were not in favor of expansion of Ibis magnitude but were willing to sacrifice in order 10 obtain the services that were s0 necessary. We are ail proud of our community and enjoy our present f lifestyle and 1 ami convinced that wit.b proper cooperation and by working together we can con- tinue to improve 11. 1 continue 10 welcome your in- put and hear about your concerns. Please cail 655- 4778. JBy MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff A proposai to build 25 new beds for Whitby's Fairvîew Lodge Home for the Aged has been postponed 10, allow the provincial government 10 study nursing home bed needs i the region. Durham Regional Council approved a recommendation ear- lier this year to con- struct the new beds aI a total cost of $750,000 - haif of which will be paid by the regional tax- payer. However, Ibis does not mean that the current renovations to the home will be stop- ped. The region author- ized the renovations to improve sanitary condi- tions in the home whicb was struck by a food poisoning epidemie two years ago. The renovation plans would have eliminated 25 beds from the facility, however, the provincial government and the region came to an agreement to replace tbem. "The renovation plans are not being delayed whatsoever," according LU LhnXaiV inIX n.JAA missioner of social ser- vices Doug Johns. Johns said that the study will affect only the 25 new addiilional beds for the home. "Tbey wil also study the need of a new home at the same time," he said. However, delaying the 25 new beds does not please the com- missioner saying that he doesn't see the need for a study. "I know very well that we need more Iban 25 beds, especially exten- ded care beds, " Johns said. "A need study isn't required. " If the approval for the new beds was given tomorrow, the com- missioner said thal they could be filled in a day. "We could filIheni tomorrow," Johns said. "I don't think'a study is, needed."' "The sîudy is not necessary hi determie thal we need 25 exten- ded care beds in Fair- view Lodge, " he added. The social services deparîment has said that there are over 500 people waiting 10 get i- to one of the region's three homes for the aged and of those, ap- proximately 100 needed extended bed care. Johns said that while many of these people are being looked after, extended bed care patients are being houed i hospitals at a much greater cost to the Uta2payer. "We could f111, very easlly, about 100 exten- ded care beds, " he said. The region has 828 beds in ail three regional homes - the other two being located i Oshawa and Beaver- ton - and ail have oc- cupancy rates of over 92 per cent. Johns said that the provincial study shold be completed by Oc- tober and is designed "to determine the ac- tuai needs of senior cita- zens in this region. " The suggestion has been put forward that the region construct a new home for the aged at an estimated cost of $6 million - $3 million of which would corne from the local taxpayers. However, Johns is not anxious to get approval for the idea. "Frankly, I have to question a new home for aged," he said adding that the cost factor is the major stumbling block. Instead of construct- ing a new home, Johns said that the region should look into the con- struction of geared-to- inconie housing and out- reach progranis for seniors. The renovations to Fairview Lodge should be completed by 1983 and Johns said that the 25 new additional beds could also be completed within that time if ap- proval is received. However, if the new beds are not approved until the renovations are completed then the pro- ject would have 10 be tendered and construc- tion would have to begin ail over again. "It could still be coni- pleted by 1983... .assuming the project begins while the contractor is still there, " Johns said. 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