Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, Otober 18, 1995. Page l Start plnig bridg9e replacenient, says cuclo A Whitby councilior waiits planning te begin now on replacing the Rossland Road bridge. Regionai councillor Marcel Brunelle saya stepa must be taken soon te ensure that officiais are net cauglit napping when the time comes te replace tlie wooden structure in west Whitby. Altliougli the bridge connecting tlie two portions of Roosland Road, weat cf Cochrane Street, lias been deemed safe by engineers, Brunelle worries that it cannot continue te adequately serve a growing municipality. Even now, the bridge causes problenm as a 1O-tenne weight limit prevents fire trucks, buses and lieavy macbinezy from using it, lie notes. "It's fine now, but tliere's se muchl ead time involved that we have te start planning now," said Brunelle. "li' okay for occasional use, but this takes sucli a constant pounding at niglit and in the morning (rush hours) that 1 wonder liow long it can last," lie said. "Wlien you look at tlie town and liow it will grow, this is an impediment te it." Brunelie raised tlie issue during last Tuesday's T 'own council discussion cf a public works department report on the condition cf thie municipaiity's 27 bridges. To bis surprise, the bridge was not among 10 put ini the category cf needing replacement or improvements "now." Public works director Wayne Hancock informed coundil that the bridge was examined a few years ago and deemed "structuraily adequate" by engineers. "It's net in the now list~ according te provincial criteria," said Hancock. "I flnd it incredible if that's the case," replied Brunelle. "If tliat bridge is net there now, it WHITBY councillor Marcel Brunelle takes a close look at the wooden bridge spanning the Canadian Pacfil railway tracks on Rossland certainly will be. We should t)e makring approaches te various bodies (te replace it)." 1 Councillor Joe Drumm agreed witli the need te prepare for the bridges eventual replacement, but lie criticized Brunelle for being too alarmist. Drumm reminded Mim of former mayer Bob Attersley's stinging rebuke when Brunelle raised the urne issue four years ago. 71 wouldn't ile anybody te think that itfs not safe," said Drumm. "It is a safe bridge. If not, then close off the road," he said. During a recent visit te the site, Brunelle offered no apologies for pursuing the matter now or previoualy. Brunelle recalled tliat eome improvements were made to the bridge wlien lie spoke out earlier and is hopoful that by repeating his concerne, planning for a new bridge can soon get under way. Since the bridge spans the Canadian Paciflc railway tracks, CP will have to be involved in paying for a new structure, Road. Brunelle wants Town couridif tcbegin planning soon for the brdge's eventual replacement. Photo by Mark Reesor. Whitby Free Pres 'Abuse' of system, wams Fox Town to again seek new bids for vending By Mike Kowaluki Vendi.ng machine suppliera will have another opportunity te do business with tlie Town cf Whitby. Town council last Truesday called for new proposais fer vending services at municipal parka and recreation facilities. Council rejected a* staff recommyendation tliat a Ceurtice company be awarded a three-year contract te provide sucli services after objections were raised tlie previeus week by a competing business. Hewever, council's action drew the wratli cf an angry Dennis Fox wlio said council was inviting possible "abuse" cf the tendering system. Tlie east ward ceuncillor chided bis coleagues fer allowing "poitical" considerations te interfere witli wlat lie feit sliould be primariiy a staff responsibility. "We're leavi.ng tlie door open for interpretation and abuse," said Fez -in arguing tliat staffs recommendation te award the centract te Freali & Tasty Refreshments be approved. "It concerna me that some business people approacli peliticians and try te make an end-rn areund staff," lie said. The latter comment was in reference te, an appearance by owners cf Bunny's Food Service cf Oshawa before counci' operations cemumittee the previous week.. John and Ted Oortwyn asked committee net te accept the proposai friom Fresli & Tasty Refresbments, whicli las operated tlie snack bar concession at the Rossland Road recreation compiex for the past twe years. According ta a parka and recreation department report, the Courtice firm!s proposai wouid have generated approximately $64,000 in revenue for the Town over a three-year period. But the Oortwyns, one cf three unsuccesafu bidders, said their proposai sliould be re-evaluated. TheY chaimed it contained "other considerationa" and, as a resuit, their percentage rebate te the Town was iower than the other submissmons. These "other considerations" would offset the iower rebate, tliey insisted. Aitheugli committee chair Fox and Mayor Tom Edwards supported tlie staff recommendation, councillers Judi Longfieid and Gerry Emmy wanted te, reopen the bidding. Committee's failure te reacli agreement forced the matter te be sent te council fer a decision. At Tuesday's meeting, Laongfleld moved that ail four. bids be rejected and that council seek "enlianced" proposais. Treasurer AI Ciaringboid explained that while "tenders" cal for «secfc requirementa" and are uadfrthe majority of Town contracts, proposais are looser in nature" and les. "rigid" than tender.. Proposais allow businesses "greater flezibility and creativity" in prepari.ng bids and "this in turn benefits the municipality," said Claringbold. Aitliough councillor Marcel Brunelle stressed that staff will still determine wliat items go the proposai route, Fox was net convinoed. 7l think we are opening the deor te semethixi we don't want te get invelved in," lie warned. Brunelle said. "There i a federal transportation commission that could order CP to participate," lie said. 1"CP would not be responsible for 100 per cent. The Town, (Durham) Region and province would likely kick in, too." Brunelle said it is important that the need te replace the bridge "be put on eveiyone's books" now in order te avoid future confrontation and te shlow for the necessary planning studies. Still, Brunelle wonders wliat additional details; are necessary. "The Town lias done a lot cf work in developing Rossiand Road and there is a major subdivision (west cf Cochrane) goi.ng in...how mucli information do we need to know?" he aska. "There are constraints on the fire department and buses and constraints on the free flow of trafflc.' "During the last electien, a lot of people asked me wlien we're geing to' put Rossland Road through." As opposed to bridges requiring immediate attention according te the public works report, Brunelle said this particular bridge involves otlierlurisdictions. .The bridges in front Of Us3 today (report) we have te repair ourselves, tliey don't entail CP or the transport commission," lihe explained. However, "there is nothing stopping council from looking at it and getting counts on traffic and planning," Brunelle noted. "It's just an impression, but i. tzflfl they're afraid te find out." ......a...... Ribs *Chioken *Burgers' Pizza *Fish 153 Brook St. North, Whitby (between Dundas St. & Mary St.) 666-3066 .............. ., I HOMEMADE: !PIZZA W jBURGER :ROLL &POP: *Fries, Gravy &- Pop m epeoi ~NL~ : :Hawaian or Veggi: i $399 ONLY29I a e exirsNo.O5195f ReadyxpisNovMinutes"5 a Aa -A--A-- ëw Worlks We brew for you - no extra charge IC (you just add the yeasi) Brew beer for as Iow as $11.50 per case of 24 reg. botties. 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