PAGE 12, WH1TBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBE 4, 1989 Jail expansion to begin soon DON'T THROW MONEY OUT THE WINDOW Now get Thermostop' Energy-Saving Blinds for your Windows. -Reduce heat loss in winter-Reduce heat gain in summer -Decorator colors Now save 3)% on Thermostop Energy-Saving blinds for your windows. Save Energy-Save Money while you decorate Come in and find out how you can Save Energy and Save Money with Thermostop Energy-Saving Blinds, the blinds that pay for themselves. Offer Expires End Of October 1989 S u • e a g• SUNSHADE .... 10 D nas St. •estDundas 4St.-W.99 McCULLOUGH JE WELLERS LTD. COME AND SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION WITH PLENTY OF FREE PARKING AT OUR FRONT DOOR. LOOK FOR OUR NEW ROYAL A L B E.R T G IF T S A N D INTRODUCING "ORLEAN" FASPIlON WATCHES AND OUR OWN "McCULLOUGH" BRAND OF FINE, SWISS-MADE, QUARTZ WATCHES- SAE URNGOU GAN 380 BROSPCK ST.S WHITBYO.TON 14K GOLK à LLBUiOV^... WATCE ~:OFF AIý.L. ENGAGEMENT 380 BROCK ST. S. WHITBY ONT. Li N 4K4 668-5051 Serving Whitby and Durham Region for Over 30 Y ars 'I .-.---.--.~-.- J~. .- - - - - -. - - .-- .-. --- -.-------- ----.. .-.- - .-. .. - -. ..- -. By Mike Johnston The first phase of a $6-million ex ansion to Whitby Jail will ta ke place this year with con- struction of a 2,900-sq. ft. administrative area, s jail su- perintendent Orville Kerlew. Construction of the building, to be located south of the jail and connected by a corridor, is expec- ted to begin before frost sets in. It is estimated to cost $175,000. "It is sorely needed and it shows the Ministry (of Correc- tional Services) is heading in the direction we have been asking for," said Kerlew at a Whitby Jail public information session held at Iroquois Park last week. Jail sta recently put together a six-year plan for expansion of thWei lnext step according to Kerlew, is a 120bed expansion. The jail was built in 1958, at a cost of $875,000, to accommodate 60 beds. There are now 128 beds in the facility, with the number of pri- soners fluctuating during the week. According to Kerlew, there are now 140 prisoners in the jail. When counts get that high, Kerlew said he immediately phones the ministry's offender transfer branch to find other accommodation for prisoners. "Overcrowding is sparadic. We can exercise control over it," said Kerlew, superintendent for the past 18 months. The new administrative area will free much needed room at thejail for additional activities. 'We can't just change people by talking to them and that's the business we are in. We have to schedule acitivities. We have over 100 volunteers and they need space," said Kerlew. The move will free up a room large enough to hold a variety of programs or 20 prisoners at a time, said Kerlew. More than 600 people attended the open house. A large number of visitors were students. "The students have expressed a big interest in what we do," said erlew. Last year, only those involved in the justice community were invited to the open house. This year it was expanded to include the general public. "We want to promote com- munity awareness and foster good relations," said Kerlew. 'Jails don't resemble what is depicted on television. This (open house) helps with the demystifi- cation process." Visitors saw displays about health services at the jail, library facilities, recreation and drug rehabilitation. Kurlew said that with recent em hasis on a drug- free society, the rehabilitation service attracted the most ques- tions from visitors. Kerlew hopes the open house will become an annual event. He also noted that the ministry pro- vides speakers and thre jail wel- comes tours bysmall oups. "After ail, t e peo ehoused in our institution are from the com- munity and have to return to the community. People should learn what happens when the door closes." Jail guards reject latest contract offer Whitby's 75 jail guards have come out strongly against the latest contract offer recommen- ded by their union, voting 85 per cent against it. Provincially, jail guards voted 66 per cent against the contract which offers a 6.5-per cent pay raise. Guards now earn $16.75 an hour. "The main reason we turned it down is because we have been ,screwed around for nine months," said local union steward John Bates, a 10-year employee at the jail. Guards have been without a contract since Jan. 1, 1989. In July, they started a work slowdown campaign which was stopped when the offer was first made on Sept. 1. Bates said a resumption of the work slowdown will be one of the topics to be discussed at an Oct. 5 meeting between both sides. The guards are represented by the Ontario Public Employees Union. Bates said the guards may have accepted the 6.5-per cent offer in January, but feel they have not been treated properly in negotiations. "We had to increase pressure with the slowdown to get a con- tract. There was nothng about overcrowding, hiring of more guards, air conditioning. Staff are very unhappy at the jail," he said. "There is nothing being done about overcrowdin . «We are also ooking for a 36-hour work week, and a maxi- mum of 25 years and you can retire," said Bates. Another issue which affected the vote, according to Bates, is the Province's insistence that guards contribute an additional two per cent of their wages to their pension fund. "The government has mis- managed our fund. We don't have any say in running it so why should we pay more?" said Bates. He said 72 per cent of the Whitby guards voted on the con- tract. "That is a whopping mandate," said Bates. Volunteers needed Volunteers are needed for the Community Involvement and Volunteer rogram ( CIVP). Volunteers work on a one- to-one basis with people recover- ing frôm a mental illness or eople who are experiencing pro- lems coping with some aspect of their lives. They are asked to spend two or three hours a week with their client. A 10-week trainin program will be held on Wednesday ni hts, beginning Oct. 4. Vor more information call L- nda Corneal at 434-1693. OLIYL LOUIS! [ASMIONS Feturing Distinctive Ladies Fshions. After Five Wear Casual Wear • AccessoriesY plus • Girls.clothirng from 24 nionths to 6 years • Men's sweaters I • New stock arriving daily Open: 131 Dundas Street, West Mon. - Wed.-9:30-6 Downtown Whitby Thurs. - Fri. 9:30-8 430-8 94 *Saturday 9:30-6 S s i- 1) i le; L fi u tri ýj'f ï J-