PAGE 30, WHrI'Y FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAy 16, 1990 Batten annoy 0ed.about '!eat" over Twndcisionis By 11k. Kowali Bss Batten made it clear Monday that ho is annoyed with some recent commente from both the public and individual council- lors. .Batten séùd council has taken 'a lot of heat» for some of its decisions, most of it unfair. Although ho did not cite spec- fie examples, Batten said the public and even somo councillors foret that council often has no option when considering a deve- ateisadmn of councii's Planning decisions are based on an officiai plan that was devised Tax increa.se 14% PYROM PAGE 1 confused. Onie doesn't wani te fali into the trap of blaming others. "The (Ontario) Treasurer beaves us with two choices - incroase taxes or cut programs. Thfe provincial government chose shifting the cost te local -levels. "That was not only dono because it was an election year. The provincial government feels that local property taxes are stili rela. tivelycheap. the average taxes are $760. Compared te, holidays, proporty taxes are not that 'Ihei aimis te squeeze us between the. taxpayers. The squeoze is on us. «I have great concern for eole out there facing this budget,» said Oshawa trume Lloyd Clarke. "I don't know Where people areý going te, get the money and survve. That wallet or purse is gradually going emnpty. I appreciate the. fact that when rnakinig a severe cut, you. are geng t hurt. Eventually tuis bardis going te have te makie severe cuts.» "I amn depressed here tenight,' said Oshawa trust.. Cathy OTlynn. W. have increased our tax v by i45 per cent since 1987. t te t the taxpayer is 12.9 per cent, triple the rate of inflation. I don'tti kweve cut back.I don't think we've made sorne of the teugh decisions.' She suggested major cuts in transportation and in plant and maintenence costs. "I resented having te make a decision on a block budget four months ago hofore you reached this point. People are reaiiy tired of ta i increases. I think we!re going te have te get serious about next year's budget.» "There's a six r cent fixed incroase hofore these trustoes corne to, the starting lin,' said Oshawa trustee, Gary Kitchen. "W. have beon skyrocketing. When I started (13 years ago) the budget was $68-niillion, now it's $306- million. "Education is not a prority withi government. We stii have an obhgation te delivor pro- gains. I will support the pro- gramn (budget) but I don't like it. rve enjoyed my position of trus- tee but P'm reallbeginning to question my robe.' Ajxtrustee Darreli Berry sug- geste a zero-based budget sys- tom and said ho doesn't the the rosponsibility lies just with the government. Oshawa trustee Stephen Saywelb said ho was «frustrated, te pt it miidly. It's difficult te, ait hrere year afler yoar and se. these increases. Ho went on te, say that we are facing a reduc- tion in capital construction down the road and perhaps a shift systom in achools where students attend schools in shift te make optimum use of the schools. WhiMtby trustée. Patty Bowman acknowledged that the budget was a collaborative effort and that truste«es hould't choose budget night te condemn the process. "I don't support maligning the Srocoas w. have. I take reaponsi- ility for ourselves and our actions.» She, too, noted, rising costs, and said she doesn't risk Iosing a house, sho risks nover owning one. Beveridge summed up the budget by sayin "leIts not the lowest bud get wo vo over had- it's not tho highest. But it's the Lest budget for Durhamn Region. Wtby truste.eIan Brown, board chairman said later that «It was indeed a tough budget. There was a lot of anguish this year. » Ho said that when you corne down te it, there was onl~y about threo per cent of the tetal budget thl eutdp things from the first draft things that would have made the system botter. "There was no fat in the budget, no padding. For people who are going te criticize he budget, I would ask them which programs they would cut. At Monda y' meeting, ho ended the bude discussions by saying, "It's rare rve ever hoard such passion and such eloquence as rPvo heard here tonight.» in 1974. Hesauggested that may ho t ho reason why some docisions run inté opposition. «We hear from certain council- lors and the public that we shove devolopment down the taxpayers' throats.» said Batten. «We%'i just working with the officiai, plan that's now in place. For the moat part were working with a plan and policios that were deveioped 16 years ago.n Batten'encouraged both coun- cil and Whitby itesidents to parti- cipate in the Town's forthcoming officiai plan review procese. Councîl recently approved the hiring of consuting frmM.M. Dillon Ltd.- to undertake the urdating of Whitby's officiai The revision of the officiai plan, which ,establishes land use policies in the municipality, is expected to tako two years. "I hope that witli the officiai plan review, citizens wiIi educate themeselves and take part, s0 that they'ii understand what the planning procoss is ail about," said Batten. The planning chairman said many residonts appear bofore committee or council convinced that councillors are the «éemy.» uWOre just part of the process, we're not thefr enemy,» said Bat- ton. "Iles almost as if people corne in primed by someone that we're trîgte shove somngdown their tbroat. That's not the case at ail.' Funding cutback on hold By bMe Kowabld A plan te phase out Town funding of community achools on Saturdays wili ho reviewed. Tow council Monday agreed not te tako further aton on reducing funding pendin g further review of a staff ÃWa te that effeet. Council's decision cornes in the wake of opposition te the pro- posai from the Executive Council of CommunitySchools.' Members of the executive council warned the operations committee last week that eli- minating the Town's funding could kill the popular Saturday pouci chairman Bill Pool repeated that warning before the entire Town council on Monday. "The only way w. can survive is te increase the cost of courses or cancel the courses entirely,- said Peol. "But the most serieus problem [s the base of spirit of the volun- teers.» Peel said volunteers would lose ;heir enthusiasm if money used for programs and equipment is instead used te, cover costs pro- viouslypaid 4y the municipahity. Pool said that in the past thre years the community achool con- cept has offored 276 programa for tho benefit Of 5,276 Whitby rosi- dents. Hoe pleaded with council not te review stalffs recommendation ut te remove it entfrely. «W. don't want to, corne back nd make the same arguments tgain,» said Pool. The recommondation te phase eut funding over a four-year )eriod, boginig in 1991, oni- inated duning this year's budget 3vw. The Town pays the Durhamn E i t t r4 b, a1 ru Board of Education for use of four Whitby schools for a variety of progranis under the com- munity school conoept. The board charges $30.25 per hour for use of -the schools. A staff report states that $17,000 was designated in the budget for this purpose ini 1990. The amount was based on use of Beliwood and Pringle Creek commurnty schools ail year and Glen Dhu and Palmnerston corn- munity achools for part of the yoar. It costs the Town about $5,00 for each school for a full yoar. Councillor Dennis Fox foît Pool "hit the. butten on the head.» «We can't nake volunteers financiaily responaible, it would ho a mistake,» sad Fox. qI think the Town is getting off cheapiy at $5,000 a year, ho added. Councîhlor Joe Drunmm, this year's budget chairman, assured council that should the staff pro- posai ho approved, funding would flot be affected untii noît yoar. "We're looking at «91 not '90. I have nojrobiem ieoking at it However, Drumni promised that ho would fight te ensure that the sciioëîs receive the~ monebym 1991. «If ail the volunteers i Whitby wre te "t this evening we coubdn't afford te live in this tewn," said Drummn. Couniilor Joe Bugeili accused council cf making staff the «whipping boy" behind the rocommendation. Ho reminded bis colleagues that durig the budget process, Town department heads were directed te finmd tho best way of cutting costs in their depart- monts. "MI nyone is to take the blame lot it ho us bocause we gave them the direction,» said Bugelli. Councilior Ross Batten echoed Biugelli's remarks. "Wo teld senior staff te look at examining the user pay concept whorever possible,» saidfBatn. «Whiie 1 oni'feei the csts have gotten out of lino on this program w. as a council have to ensure tIÉat tax dollars are spent wisely,» said Batten. Councillor Marcel Brunelie noted that mention cf «user pays" was bocoming more com- mon during council meetings. "ltes a propniate in some areas but w. avete strike a balance. A lot of people are providing a good service te, the Town with tMisprogam,» said Brunelle. four years the schools would assume the total costs. Pool' said he-reflected the unani- mous concern of ail communi«ty school volunteers and outlined the--success of the community prograrns and tho impact such a stop would mako. Differing views FROM PAGE 1 Boaid member arry. Dupais aaid that whenever politicians talk negatively about the. recy- din program, "Our phonos ring off the hook.» Dýupuis said 92 per oent» of region residents support the pro- gI 'egotting calis daily from senýiors' apartmonts and a il ever te et the'buckets. The need is there, the want is there,» said D uais. "opbe want us te go a lot faster. the. politicians shouid lis- ton te tiie people.' Effhm noted that ho and Giea met with Don Evians, Durham Regiýon's chiof adm2inistirative officer, iast week te discusa the situation, but did not elaborato. Evans teld The Free Press the. meeting deaIt more with the. centres future rather than the discrepanc in figures. 'Mhe Regon had iitially plan- ned to, terminate its contract with tii. contre as of May 15, but that has been oxtendod teo Oct. 31. Evans could not explain the difference i the Region's and centres figures. "I can't answer that, we'hi have teý look at it further,» said Evans. "I really don't have any com- ment exoept te aay the Region is anxious te straighten out the numbers. .-"Wéeshouidn't have a dispute ovor numbers, I think the Region wiliiv'ant te get te, the bottemi of it.» Durhamn Rocycling Contre Inc. is a non-profit community service organization formed in 1980 fol- lowi% an amalgamation of two reccig operations based i Oshawa. GIVE IT-YOUR BEST SHOJ SROWN is the. winning entry in the, contest to design a logo for*the Town's anti-litter Iprogram. The logo is a restilt of comniiigthé. designs submitted by Amy Jarand, grade 8 student at St. Paulys separate elementarysehool,, and Scott Tay- lor, grade 8 student of Dr. Robert Thornton public schooL The. logo will b. posted on garbage pails ini Whitby parka and possibly on Town vehicbes.