PAGE 8, WEDNESDAY, JANUAI{Y 6, 1982, WHITBY FRE5 PRESS What'a the alternative? Attersley asks.... Twn to inves tigate roominag houses Edwards says >An investigation will the municipality. are be conducted by 'the violating the town's town into the conditions property standards of rooming houses in bylaw. Witby according to Such -violations in- Hegional Councillor clude: no smoke deteet- Tom Edwards. ors or fire extingul- Last week, Edwards shers; insufficient said that the investiga- wasbrooms; poor light- tion will be conducted ing and exits., because of comnplaints Edwards said that he that rooming bouses n -bhas received a number of complaints from, various people concern- ingthe7 living conditions found in rooming houses. One complaint has claimed that in one of these homes there is only one toilet for 18 people. The town's by- law says that one wasb- room, complete with sink and' bath or shower, must be provided for every 10 people.' One of Edwards' major:concerns is. the lack 0f smoke detectors which he described as a "Idangerous situation." A year ago, a rooming house fire in Oshawa claimed tbe life of two residents and an inquest jury recommended that aIl rooming bouses be equipped with smoke In the licence that Whitby issues for room-, ing houses,' it is stipu- lated that the detectors be installed in each bed- room. 11 don't want to hap- pen, in Whitby whathas happened in Oshawa," Edwards said referring to the fatal fire. He also pointed to another, problem. "The Problem is thougb, that rooening houses keep cbanging hands." The councilior bopes that once the Municipal Housing Statement, currently being resear- ched by the town, is completed that the various churches and social agencies wiil be able to help correct tbe situation. 11 hope they will bring significant political pr essure, so we don't have a slumn in our town," Edwards said. "But -if we don't step on it now, we are going tô haveý a serlous problem." However, Mayor Bob Attersley said that, to the best of his know- ledge, the town 18 fot conducting an investiga- tion at this tiine. "'We're imonitoring living conditions in Whitby ail the time," he said. "lWe have an on- -going policy of trying to correct the issue. " "4We're investigating them ,al along," he'ad- ded. The mayor said that he has a great deal of sympathy with Edwar- ds' position but'fears that if the town enforced its bylaw to the letter,' many of these people would be turnêd out into the street with no place to go. Attersiey added that many of these people are senior citizens, dis- abled or former patients of the Whitby Psychia- tric Hospital.. 'II want- to know what the alternative is," bhe said before he is willing to take action. "lWe're dealing with human lives,"l Attersley continued, "We haven't got anywbere for them to live." However, while he is. hesitant to take action, Attersley said be is per- fectly willing to do 80. "As mayor, I'm pre- pared to close them down," he said, "But what's the alterna- ti-ve?" However, Edwards doesn't agree with At- tersley's position. "That is flot a, good enough reason to leave them as is," he main- tains. "A building on High Street was for years a run down slum, but now it bas been fixed and it is a lovely build- ing."9 Cinic today. Dear Sir: < Thank you your heip ln cizing the Cross Blood clinios. In for ail publi- Red Donor 1981,y three clinios were held, with an aver- age of 325 dona- tions received. There will' be a * clinlo at the Legion Hall, Wednesday, January 6. We hope every eligible per- son will resolve to donate blood 'reg- ularly in 1982. .Yours truly,' Joyce Cox, Retiring Blood Donor Chai rman. Holly success Dear Si r: On behaîf of the Christmas Seal Campaign, i should Ilke to say a very sincere thank you to everyone who participated in our first-ever Holiy Day. Without the won- derful support of- aur many volun- teers in Ajax, Bow- manville, New- castie, Orono, Oshawa, Port Perry, Pickering and Whitby, this new. and exclting fund- raislng projeot coui1d neyer have become a reallty. Special thanks are also due to your newspaper, whose kind co-operation was Instrumental 1In making Hoiiy Day a success.' Yours sincerely, Shirley Harris, Holly Day Chai rman, Durham Reglon Lung Association. FISHER REFRIGERATION & APPLIANCE- PARTS< NEW STORE OPENING Hwy. 12 -1 mile N. of llghts next to Manchester Credit Union COMPLUTE LIME 0F APPLIANCE PARTS, NEW & USED' stove elemonts, washer & dryer parts, etc. 'WE BUY & SEIL NEW & USED APPLIANCES Open 9-.9 AMPLE PARKING 655-3233