FROM PAGE 16 back, they indicated that a lot of the block areas had specific height requirements, but there were no height' requirements on' the waterfront. I don't know how that happened or whether it was ovérlooked, but I think it's very important to place some restriction on the waterfront because that's probably the most key area. The whole (Coscan) proposai as a whole is great, Ijust want to see more restrictive measures as far as height goes. I could live with 12 stories but r'm sure, in talking with - people, they'd like to see it even lower than that. Somewhere in between there's a compromise... Free Press: Would yeu provide protection for heritage buildings? How mucli? L.B.: I established the Heritage Advisory Croup, and the key things we're looking at is being able to, in future, work with the Town te set up a natural policy. Id like to talk to other municipalities wbo have been successful in doing this, and put guidelines in that are vey similar to, say, Perth, and other towns that are looking after the needs of the community by kecping the heritage buildings for everybody to enjoy. If, as a last resort, the building has to be moved, then I think first preference should be given to that. For example, the Centennial building, if it becomes a muscum, with ail the land that is there, I- think it would be an ideal place to put somne of these buildings if Election '88 they have to be moved. If they don't, then I think they should remain intact. Free Pr-ess: Yoï've already stated you're ini favor of a museum.. la there any kcind of a balance that you think there should be between cultural and reereational facilities? L.B.: There should be a fairly close balance. Again, looking at the Centennial building, incorporating the museumn and theatre together is an ideal setting because ail the theatre groups can use the theatre and with an expansion at the back of the theatre. other conimunitv uroups can use that. A museum group could put on sIts about the bistory of the town, I think that would be a real tourist attraction. Again, it's using our assets to our best advantage to give us a drawing card so that not everybody is just coming to Wbitby and going up to Cuilen Gardens. They could be looking at other things in town. Free Prese: You've aise mentioned the reiationship between the municipality and eemmunity groupe L.B.: rve spoke te a number of people, sports groups, the Chamber of Commerce and evey group Ive ever spoke to, and they don't scem te think there's any sense of cooperation. The Town would rather do it themselves than let a community group do it. If you get community groups involved, and some of them have raised considerable amounts of money to do things and tbey're not allowed te do so, it causes a big division. I think it's important because people can't expect the Town to provide every service, and if a community group is willing to provide any services, they should welcome that with open arms. Free Prose: The Town bas had a policy of reducing or eliminating grants to groupe. What criteria would yau euggest for funding euch groupa? L.B.: Community groups are a necèssary part of the town functioning as a whole. It ail boils down to proper communication. Each community group should have an opportunity to at least have some funding. Sometixnes they only necd it on a temporary basis te get on their feet and get well-establisbed. We have to review that situation. Free Press:' The last few years have seen complainte about 1"ciosiec' goverament? What would you do te open it up? L.B.: The first thing is making information available te the public a little bit sooner. I know it takes a lot of work te put an agenda tegether, but theres no reason wby it couldn't be made available on a Friday - at least it would allow you the wcckend to read through the information. Free Prese: What are your feelings on diselosure ef your holdings? L.B.: There's no reason why members of council shouldn't disclose. If you give people the information or make it available to them, they can at least satisfy themselves that everything is okmiy and they can make their judgment. But to do it after the election is over, then you may have elected someone you may not have wanted to if you had known the information. When you're in the public eye, you have to be upfront with people. Conflict of interest guidelines are so vague, I think you need more specific guidelines. Free Prose: Do you think taxes are too higli? L.B.: I think taxes are too high, and the only reason that they are is because there has been se much residential growth that the individual taxpayers have to pay for those extra costs that are involved in having a growing municipality. Again, if we have more industry, we can see that situation start to reverse itself. Free Pros: How do ycm envisien Whitby in, say, the year 2000? Can Whitby maintdin a separate identity? L.B.: I think it should maintain a separate identity. If we work on our m Lynda Buffett FROM PAGE 16 If you own the land and want te, do something within the limits of the Town's bylaws, you should have every right te, do it. Free Prese: What de you tlhink are the limite te commercial growth? Should the Town limit the number of new commercial plazas or should the marketplace deide -who survives? J.D.: With a growing number of bouses and subdivisions there bas te be enough commercial growth te accomniodate that. Tbere's no point in commercial growth if the people are not there te support it. So I think the marketplace will, eventually, work it out what is beet for the community. If the community is not there tben obviously there is no need for commercial growtb. Froc Prem sWhat sert Of protection weuld you provide horitage buildings? J.D.: I guess I would go back te the Perry House. I tbink that was donc quetionably because the people did not bave a chance te express their opinion and maybc do somthing about it. In that case I wasnt as upset, because it was a needed building that went up, the medical centre. Forewarning shoud be giving te the community and council (when a Election '88 building is te bu demolished) se that something can bu donc, then it can bu worked out. I am for bistorical buildings but at the same time you can't have a community stagnant in growth, or not bave the necessery new buildings just for tbe sake of saving the old. We should keep the old buildings and find uses for them. Free Prese This municipality sponde a large part ef its budget on sports andi on sports/recrentienal facilitios but very littie on cultural facilities( cxcept for the library if yeu want to include that). Would you change that? J.D.: I pretty much agrec with that. Mainly because sports, I would assume, reaches more cbildren and a larger portion of the community. You would have to go by how much nioney per person, so if there is more people in sports we spend a higber budget on sports. If tbere's a large theatre group, with a large numnber of people, take some money out of sports and put it there. Free Press: The Town bas had a policy of reducing or even eliminating grants te community groupe. Do you agroe with that or should it bu changed? J.D.: That would go beck to the previous question. Give money where people are. If there is a lot of people in a band, then cou ncil should financially support the band. It's a matter of pride reelly. If we have a good band, support it financially. I don't believe we should eliminate that from any group that needs it in order te give to another group. Froc Press: The laet few years have seen complainte about a toclosed~' governmnent? What would you do to open it up? J.D.: The community should be more involved, tbrough bringing out the agenda a week in advance se certain people in the community cen express their concerne. The people will -be clccting councillors se they have every right to express their opinions. Froc Prose: What are your feelings on disclosureofe holdings? J.D.: I have no holdings. I can understand the reasening for that. If their holdings are within Whitby and you are trying to get sometbing done te it, it should bu known that it is yours, se that council won't give preference. But at the same time, if council is going te give preference, because they do know, it's a tricky question. Maybe it comes down to popularity among councillors. If I don't like somebody here and I know they went semething done with one of their properties, then if I don't know, it's probably just as well. If I do know and I like the man it's only buman nature te vote for him. If I don't like him, then it'e human nature, if it's close, go against him. I really don't believe you should bave dieclosure for that reesen but I do undcrstand why it is an issue. Froc Prose: How de you envision Whitby ini, say, the year 2000? J.D.: It will bu a city. If it's planned right iL will be a clean city. It's a scary thing te say, but Toronto is a dlean city. I don't want Wbitby to end up like the City of Oshawa. Froc Poe: Can Whitby maintain a separate identity? J.D.: Yes wecacn. We have to keep upgrading and scrutinizing new developers, making sure it's on the right path. Past councils have made sure that when people hear Whitby tbey think dlean. Free Press: Do yoei think taxeoa are tee high? J.D.: That is a tough question because I haven't paid property taxes. If 4 per cent is the figure over the past five years, I don't think that is too high. When you look at the inflation rate, it should be a lot higher. Four per cent je not too, high especially if the tewn is kept deêan. I don't want to pay bigh taxes -te sèe my neighborhood turn into a slumi. If we can use the tax money wisely, I don't mmid paying that bit extra ta live in a dlean town. Free Pýress: What special qualities would you bring to, the position ef centre ward councillor tbat weuld set you aside from your oppponente? J.D.: Youth. Energy. I know thaý some of the other candidates arejalso residents of the ward. As a reniâent, I have a lot te gain by making Sûre a good job is done as centre ward councillor, whereas the candidates who don't live in, the ward, I can't sec how they're going to benefit as much by doing a good job. Bcing the youngest, I would feel the effects longer for doing a good job. FROM PAG6E 16 Froe Prose: What about tho future of Port Whitby?0Deyou support high-rlee developmont? J .D.: The higheet buildings we have in Whitby is the White Qake apartmcnte, et 20 steries. 1 think 22-etory condominiums (Coscan pro- posai for Port Whîtby ) is a little bit too high. I camne out in the campaign saying McNamara is ail fenoed, we can't get in anyway. I think the Coscan developrnent is good for Whitby but 'd like te sec seme limits on it. I'vc already talked to Deve Keenan of Coscan Developments. S Number one, 1 want to see a public walkway. Two, I want the old boat out of there. Tbree, 1 want to secea public school down there, and 1 understand there'e a site pickcd right now, and hopefuly we cen get fund- ing from the provincial goverament to build it because we're going to need it. As to the cnvimonment, 1 cen remember when there wasn't any white swans or geese, not very long ago. 1 don't want to see that dirnin- ish. I take a lot of kide down there ...I1 don't went to sec thet disappear. Water and sewers is another issue. I want to sec who is paying for what down there, is Coscan peying for iL or is the taxpayer paying for iL. I don't want te sec it put in there and w'l say wc 'l pick up the cost, or the Region will pick up the eost. Port Whitby ie a people's place and that's Free Prose: Would you provide - protection for heritage build- .D .: That's a loaded question. How mucb do they necd? rm only one guy, butrd, like te sec the heritage of Whitby protected. As te the question of dollars and cents, I don't how much moey would bu enough. Froce Press Thi.s municipallty spends a large part ot its bud et on sports/ ýrecreational facilitios but ver>' little on cultural facil- tics (except for the librar>', if you want te include that). would you change that et ail? J.D.: I'd like te sec more spending on sports activities. The are down by the lake where thcy bave the twe seccer fields, when that was put in, iL was put ini on e temperer>' basis, it's my understanding they were told it weuldn't bu forever. Right now, they're looking et some areas te extend activities. Id like te sec more mone>' spent on iL because wc need iL. I have an area in mmmd that 1 won't disclose but if l'in elected 1 will bu, and there we ceuld put a couple more bell diamonde in, in the centre werd. But we need more mene>' spent on sports. there'e ne doubt in my mind. Thcre's a greet ceaccrn about it. Froc Prose: Whet about cul- turel activitie and programes? J.D.: I think ceunicil should bu funding some of these programei, the question again is, hew much? I'd like te hear the concernes of these people, let themn come forward te council and se>' "This is whcre wc're going,' and then lets siL down and sec what we (Town) cen do on yeur behaIf. Obvi- ousl>' there e a nced for iL. I can't give a total enswcr on that, buceuse iL seems te bue acombined thing. Frec Prose: What should be thc rclationshlp between thc munici- pallty an4f comnmunit>' groupe? The Town bas had a policy et roduclng or elilnatlng grants te such groupe. Do you agro. with this? J.D.: Whcn iL cornes te associations or wbatever, I tbink it should bu looked et vcwy carefully. I don't bulieve in funding evcrybody who cornes l in eugh ei front door and says "We went smc hclp,» beceuse there arc smc very profeesional people in the centre werd thet look et différent issues and thcy're very velid. But when it comes to sports and senior citizene, l'm in favor of thet. Froc Prose: The lest fow years have seon complainte about 46closcd" govornmcnt? What would you do te opon it up? J.D.: 1 have e numnber of fiende who are involved in gevernment, provincially to federally. 1 have no hesitetion working with these people, I cen caîl thcm enytime. To me, it doesn't rneUoer if they're NDP, Tory or Liberel. But when it cornes to the basic concerne of the people in the centre werd, and the provincial or federel government bas to bu invol- ved, I'11 jump on the bandwegon. Froc Prose: What about munici- pally? J.D.: 1 spoke te a couple of indivi- duels about thet. They eesured me thet prier te any meetings, eny infor- mation that 1 need, now or in the future, will bu aveileble to me. Thet way wc're not welking inte any council or comxittee meeting blind. Wc know whet's going on, we'll have an opportunity te speak te these people maybc prier te a meeting, te sec what the concerne are and what wc can do on their buhelf. Froc Prose: What about tho public seeking information? J.D.: rve got a 24-heur open doa: policy et my bouse, and every card 1 put eut in the centre ward hagel my numnber on it. Anybody wbc wants te phone is welorne te phone, therel always 1he o ebody -there. We'Il aise make iL very open in the local Press ... we're net atraid ef any- thing or any questions, we'll sec' thcm. 1 believe persenal contact is nieet important as a councillor in the centre ward. Froc Prose: What are your feel- ings on disclosure et your hold- ings? J.D.: I'm net running in this elec- tion to say what 1 bo]lI'mn running on behaîf of the people of the centre ward. And 1 dont think they're tee interested in whet my wife owns or waht I own. I tbink the code of conduct is wrong, they're wasting taxpeyers' money. Theres tee meny loopholes in it, and iL should bu challcnged under the Charter of Rights. The provincial guidelines are there, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and if we go by thet, 1 think thereli bu ne problem. Froc Prose: You prcviously mcntioned that taxes wcro high. Where would you save mono>'? J.D.: I think taxes are high cnough. 1 was the firet candidate te come eut, in the local press, and se>' that property taxes arc high enouelf TId like sec where our mone>' le gong, Id like te sec a breakdown. What monie are we putting eut provincinîlly as fer as educetion, what menies are we putting eut et the regional level, and what menies do wc have lcft -ever for the Town? Lete .sec how much. Froc Prose: How do envision Whltby in, se>', the year 2000? J.D.: Whitby le growing se fast witb e lot of development conung in. I cen remiember 10 ycars ago, Osh- awa used te bu 51,000 plus. Look et it teda>', areund 122,000. I tbink dewn the road Whitby is going te bu e city, 10 years frem now,, maybu 15. But thc most important thing ie we have to protcct the character of thie town... .You'rc not going te step pro- grese, but it bas to be controllcd. Froc Press: Can Whitby main- tain a separate identit>'? Should we? J.D.: Abselutely, with the proper people et the council level promotmng the cherecter of Whîtby and the downtown core, the quiet strecte. We have to remember that, we cen't forget about that.. .You hear now wherever yeu go, "We like Whitby." Whitby ie a town a lot of people like, and we have to keep thet. Froc Prose: What special quali- tics would you brig te the posi- tien which sets you asido from your oppononts? J.D.: l'mn e general working man, N'e worked et General Moters for over 15 yeers. I've been involved in municipal, provincial and federel pelitice for over 12 y ars. 1 believe that since I live in Zh centre ward, I've seen meny of the concerne and complainte, epeielly over the lest threc years. I've been elccted te meny things, I used to bu peet vice president of the Oshawa and District Credit Union. I understand business, we've held our ewn business, my wifc and mysql. I do have emnaîl children that go teeschool in the centre werd. Froc Press: la thero anythlng wc haven't covered which yeu would liko. te bring up? J.D.: I'd like . te stress that rvc corne out in thie campaign saying that I1live uti the centre ward. 1 will represent the people in the ward, from senior ' citizens te disabled people te, general working people tei business. l'm net going te promise the moon and the 'stars. 1 got inte this campaign bucause 1 bave many concerne as wll'as other people and I understand' their problerne. Wbctber it's a federal, provincial -or municipal issue, 1 will 'de my bet te work oa their buhaîf for the next tbree years. Jeff DeFin ney Election '88-m John Do istra assets, our heritage and the type of planning that we seek, that will make or break Whitby. It's really the next few years that people on council will decide Whitby's fate one way or the other, depedn on those guidelines that they=pt nplace. Fre. Prese: What epeejal qualities would you bring to the position that would set you aside from your opponente? L.B.: For one, leadership. rve demonstrated over the years with my leadership capacities as president and chairman of various boards within the town that I can lead a group of people and that I can be an outspoken voice for the people. I think that's very important. I think the second Most important quality is communicating and being able to communicate with people.- Free Press: le there anything we haven't eovered whieh you would lilce to bring up? L.B.: Again, planning and traffic are the biggest problemes. As for smaller, individual areas, road and sidewalk iniprovements. Some of the older streets are ini need of repair. Al people realY want to know is when their street is going to be imnproved. Again, it bouls down to com- munication. rd like to make up a shopping list, per se, of ail the streets in the downtown core that need reconstruction work done, prioritize them and diseuss them with works department and see what's on stream in the next few years. And the bus system has been getting better ail the time but it stiil needs to be in a lot of areas. PAGE 28, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1988