THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 31 No. 40 By BARB JOY Oakville Beaver Staff 3!1 own Council is expected to make a deciâ€" sion next month on whether to spend money to expand and upgrade Woodside Library or build a new facility on a different site. But library officials are pushing for an expanâ€" sion of the present building, citing its strategic location in west Oakville. After debating the pros and cons of a feasibility study conducted by architects Eric Connolly and Montgomery and Sisam Architects, an Oakville Library study team concluded that the present site is preferable for many reasons. For one, the library has been there for 30 years and the public is used to it. As well, it sits on busy Rebecca Street with its bus stops and school. A new site, if found, might not be so accessible and convenient, noted the report. Moreover, building a new library on another site would be costly â€" about $2.5 million, accordâ€" ing to library figures. For less than half that amount, the library could expand and renovate the current building in accordance with Scheme C, one of three designs the consultants produced. While all three designs addressed the main problem the existing library faces now, that of accessibility to the handicapped, the first two left little in the way of additional public space after the elevator and ramps were considetred. As well, both Kathy Maza with Woodside Library Study: options open for 30 year old facility. Study group speaks out in favor of keeping Woodside Library (Photo by Peter McCusker) were disadvanâ€" tageous in that they involved a twoâ€"floor operâ€" ation. Scheme A added only 468 square feet to the existing 11b ra1ry‘~s Study on future of facility offers options that include expanding the building or constructing a new 10,930 square feet of space library. and the second added 2,174 square feet. Scheme C, on the other hand, added 3,703 square feet, allowing all public functions, except the public washrooms, to be contained on one floor. Scheme C, at a cost of $1,240,000, was the one preferred by the study team. The cost of renovations and expansion would be partially met by Town of Oakville reserves and, hopefully, about a $400,000 grant the library has applied for to the provincial government. Whatever funding shortfall the library experienced would have to put into next year‘s budget and debated at budget time. "I think everything right now hinges on our success with the grant," said Director Eleanor James. "If we don‘t get the grant, then any annual money would have to be raised over a longer periâ€" od of time because the town would have to spread out the funding." (See ‘Library‘ page 2) The Halton Separate School Board is committed to holding its tax rate at the same level as the pubâ€" lic board. Trustees made that decision this past week but have yet to determine how this can be achieved. Joe Birett, the board‘s superintenâ€" dent of business services, said the board wants to bring in a $113â€"milâ€" lion budget but they‘re currently at $2â€"million more than that. One of the options being explored by the board, is to debenâ€" ture $1.6â€"million in building mainteâ€" nance costs or cut back on building maintenance. If the board hits its budget tarâ€" gets, the average Separate School supporter would be hit with a $40 tax hike. Executives‘ van stolen from Ford A 1992 Ford Aerostar van used by executives of the Ford Motor Company was stolen from outside the company‘s headquarters on Canadian Road sometime last month. Halton Regional Police said the theft of the $24,000 blue and white van happened sometime between March 17th and March 29th. The van which was blue on the top and bottom and white in the middle, bore Ontaric licence numâ€" ber ZDO982. Daylight savm tlme...v begins at 2: a.m. Sunday. You should turn your clock forward one hour. SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1993 28 Pages 75 Cents (GST included) Separate Board tax hike could hit $40 INSIDE BRAND NAME TIRES NO NAME PRICES "VALUE IN EVERY PRICE"*~ Feature Tire of the Week alue Tire Centre 238 SPEERS RD. 845â€"5601 support J centre chair has world of experience Page 3 Top bluelmer Blades‘ Sajko named league‘s best defenseman CLASSIFIED..................... 24â€"27 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS Loblaws, Canadian Tire, Food City, AP, Savâ€"Aâ€"Centre, The Bay,Kmart Fidelity Far East Fund Mark Slipp, Investment Executive BURNS FRYimmo (416) 359â€"4633 There‘s A Lot More To Canadian Tire NOW For A Lot Less FOR ALL YOUR EASTER TREAT mz ...