Modified sehool Tree-cutti calendar may be be more" dropped- page 2 controlled ~to page4 Bowm'an steps Reaction to the down, MaîcLean sendn board chair ~ 5 reductos 1 I.' NOTALK A ALOWED. Board chair refuses discussion of shared hospital services By Mihe Kowalski An attempt to discuss amalganiating services at Whitby and Oshawa genieral hospitals was thwarted at last week's Whitby hospital board meeting. iroponents of the echeme - modeled on recommnendations frorn physicians at both hospitals - are furious that board chair Jim Souch prevented discussion of the proposai. Members of the newly-formed Community Hospital Committee (CHO) have charged Souch and some board directors with stifling debate of anything other than a plan to convert Whitby General into a rehabilitation treatment centre. One director accused the CHO of being a "clique" that was out to "sabotage" the boards efforts in this regard, The Free Press was told. (Although the CHC includes representatives of the Save Our General Hospital (SOGH) citizens' committee, other members are the mayors of Wihitby and Oshawa, area MIPPs and Souch himeelO). CHO members cdaim this je further evidenoe of the board being "fout of touch"- with the cornmuniWs feelings on the future of-the 26-year-old facility. It appears they don't want anything other than rehabilitation down there," said a disappointed Whitby councillor Gerry Emni, a member ofboth the hospital board and CHC. "Jim Flaherty* has worked extremely bard with many people in coming forward with what the community wants," said Enim of the committee which was formed by the Durham Centre -MPP. "But it seems like the Whitby board je saying rehab and some outpatient services. They don't want any in-patient care." Whibls CHO bas been meeting on a regular basis since a report on hospital restructuring in Durham Region received, the backcing of Ontario Health Minister Jim Wilson in September. Included in the Durham Region District Health Coiýncil study je a controversial proposai to convert Whitby General into a.regional irehabilitation treatînent centre. But as Flaherty and others have noted, Wilson did notrule out the possibility of some outpatient acute care and ernergency services being retained at Whitby. Working under this premise, CHO recently issued a "statement of principle" that supportsaa proposai for arnalgarnating services at the two hospitals which was prepared by local doctors. The CHC document was circulated to board members prior to last Wednesday's meeting and Emm expected it to be debated. But Souch would not allow it to corne forward. "Mr. Souch said he wouldn't entertain it because it was not properly presented," said Emin, who unsucoessfùlly challenged Souch's rufing. "We were called a clique by one board member who said we were sabotaging the board with these commnents," said Emm. "But the minister's statement says that if Whitby can corne forward with a proposai, he wil take alook at it." Although it could corne before the board at its Jan. 31 meeting, SEE PAGE 31 Souch expeets fewer services See page 12 Cuts mean "interesting tinie" for Town By Mark Beesor The province's recent economic statement will make for "a very interesting time" for the Town of Whitby, says budget chief Don Mitchell. The north ward councillor estimates the $4.5 to $5.5 billion in 8pending reductions will mean a $625,000 drop in revenue next year - the equivalent of about a four per cent local tax hike - and another $500,000 in '97, which worke out to roughly a three per oent tax increase. Until the Harris governinent releases more specific details,' it's bard to say how the cuts will be deait with, says Mitchell, who adds that with no local tax increases in three of the past four years and declining revenues, there's not a lot of room to manoeuvre. "At some point in time you're going to start hitting people and hitting salaries... I don't think you have much choice." He says planned legislative changes, such as controlling the criteria arbitrators consider, will, give Whitby more of a handle on its wage costs which represent 50 to 55 per oent of the total budget, according to treasurer AI Claringbold. "They just can't cut off municipalities and leave all of the legisliative structures in place, SNE PAGE 12 E ,ng