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PAGE 14, WH1TY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBIRUARY 17, 1988l ~Town won'tjoIfl Canadian federation The Town of Whitby will *.O join the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, council. bas decided. WVhitby had been invited to join the- àssociation. but refused after hearing from administrator Bill Wallace the association deals mainly with federal issues. "A lot of those federal issues relate te garbage disposai and incineration," said Wallace,,who, added the Region of Durham bad also turned down a membership. Had the Region joined, Whitby would have automatically been a member., Without -the Region, it would have cost Whiitby $3,700 for a membersip plus expenses for meetings and conventions.. Councillor Tom Edwards, however, was tempted. to have Whitby join the association. "Only if that was the only way, te get these people te recognize us as a Town. Every piece c f literature they send us bas the City cf Whitby on it," said Edwards Downtown iinprovements OPE su Di Ys v M FROM PAGE 1 halted, says the report. The need for the BIA and Whitby council to better communicate is beginning te be met, it is added.. Also recommended is a. need for a rotation system on the'BLA board se as not te overburden some memberg and bring in new blood. Members can now sit *on the board for a three-year period. Morton says that policy will change wben a new board is appointed in 1948. A rotation system will be established altbough he' could not say whetber a terni will be one or two years. Aise suggested is the development of a focal point and an image. "There is a need te develop some type of image or marketing theme for the downtown. This might build upon the'logo that currently exists (downtown Whitby) or might involve the development of a new logco'visual identity. As it was expressed to the Resource 'Team, though the logo exists, it doesn't capture the "feeling" and "ambiance" of the character of downtown," notes the report.. A downtown focal point, according te the report,- would act as a physical attraction and would bouse activities that would bring shoppers downtown. Morton says tbe BIA board bais always favored a focal peint., "The four corners is nice but it doesn't provide a village square atmosphere," says Morton. Hie says the board bas accepted the 44-page report and will use it as a guideline. 'We are 'ong totr ad implement a lot of the ideas but we can't implement tbem ail at once," he says. According te the report, strengtbs of the * downtown include a diverse and, bealthy economy, tbe BLA, a strong and growing loral market, - a considerable stock cf original buildings and Pearson Lanes. Weaknesses include increasing competition (including tbe proposed Graywood development nertb of Rossland Rd.), mercbants in the downtown who, will net cooperate with the BIA, and the 'lack of communication between groups in Whitby such as the BIA, Town council and. the Whitby Chamnber of Commerce.