Council votes to build.seniors'centre Whitby Council voted Wednesday to go ahead with the Senior Citizens' Activity Centre on the corner of Pitt Street and Brock Street South. Councillor John Goodwin brought the matter up during a special meeting called to strike the tax rate. He put forth a motion, seconded by Councillor Joy Thompson that 'council adopt a three-part staff recommendation "that the Town proceed with the pro- ject at a cost not to exceed $200,000 and that die nec- essary bylaws authorizing agreements with Construc- tion and Design Services (C.D.S.) and Totten, Sims, Hubicki and Associates Limited be brought forward for council consideration", "that the low quotation of Bennett Paving and Materials Limited in the amount of $16,000 for the construction of the parking lot be accepted and the mayor and deputy clerk be authorized to execute the necessary contract documents" and Vol. 5 No. 24 "that C.D.S. be authorized to proceed immediately to demolish the existing build- ing on the.site". The clerk reported that "on December 2, 1974, the council by resolution auth- orized that the town proceed with schefie 2, as submitted, being the construction of a new building on the property located at the intersection of Pitt Street and Brock Street South, at a total cost not to exceed $200,000. Since that date the necessary applica- tions have been made to the province for approval of a 30 percent provincial grant and in addition application was made to the committee of adjustment with respect to certain minor variances. With respect to these matters, I wish to advise that we have received advice from the province that our bylaw has been approved and. thereby confirming that this sproject is now a committed one as far as the ministry is con- cerned." In his May 26 report to council, the clerk continued "the firm of C.D.S......are submitting their proposal for the construction of the sub- ject building at a cost of $172,800. As you will note, to bring the total cost up to $200,000, there must' be added the fees of Totten, Sims, Hubicki and Associates Limited amounting to $11,200 and the cost of constructing the required park lot at a cost of $16,000. With respect to the total fig- ure of $.200,000, a 30 per cent provincial grant of $66,666 will cause the corporation and the munici- pality's share to be a maxi- mum in this case due to the fact that a federal labour grant may not be recognized at this time due to the late starting date. Application will be made and if approved, a federal labour grant will of course reduce the corpora- tion and municipality's share to less than the figure of $133,334". "In addition to the cost breakdown of $200,000 you will note that certain other WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1975 additional costs nôt quoted in the project have been provided and relate speci'fi- cally to the finishing of the basement area, estimated at $13,750 and air-conditioning at an estimated cost of $8,100. These are options and may be included in the project at the request of the council", the clerk reported. He added that "the treas- urer confirms that $150,000 have been made available for this project in the capital budget through development dollars". "It should be noted that final approval of this project will not be given until such time as final revised plans and specifications and a final cost breakdown is forwarded to the ministry and subse- quently approved by the ministry", the clerk said. Councillor Goodwin felt that council should go ahead with the construction of the centre because,if it did not, the $25,000 that the Town has spent without a brick being laid would have gone for nought. TEN CENTS He felt that the centre should be built on the pro- posed site rather than at Centennial Park as the town's staff had recommended. Councillor Goodwin wanted to retain the park as a passive park and added tlhat the town's staff had ample opportunity to make its recômmendation long before it. did. The town's staff recommended building at Centennial Park because buildirg at the other site would only accoiodate- 175. Councillqr Joy Thompsoin the seconder of the motion to adopt, said that the senior citizens were ecstatic when they learned that they were to get the centre .regardless of its capacity. She felt, as Councillor Goodwin did, that the town's staff should have. made its recommendations before it did. "For God's sake let's get off our blasted backsides and pass the thing", she urged. Councillor Tom Edwards supported the motion with misgivings for two reasons. "It will provide a place for the senior citizens to go now" rather than waiting for a site which would accomodate more people and "it will retain Centennial Park as a passive park". Councillor Jim Gartshore also supported the motion making it four in favour. Councillors Gerry Emm, Don Lovelock and Mayor Des Newman opposed the motion. Councillor Emm, the most outspoken opponent of building at the site, said that it would be "very embarass- ing" if council builds the centre only to find out that it is too sinall. Councillor Don Lovelock opposed the motion because he felt that the committee to which the matter was recently referred should have dealt with it before council did. Mayor Newman's opposi- tion resulted in a 4-3 vote in favour of Councillor Good- win's motion. Whitby residents face il percent tax boost Although there is no in- crease in the 1975 mill rate. for local "purposes over last year, Whitby residents will have a 7.1 to 11 percent tax increase this year. The I1 percent increase applies to people living in the urban area whose homes are assessed at $5,000. Accord- ing to Mayor Des Newman, this 1I1 percent or $70 increase is made up of $40 for education, $28.50 for sanitary sewers and $1.50 for garbage collection. People living in the rural area face a 7.1 percent increase as they only pay the $40 for educa- tion. A reserve levy of 4.3 mills, collected last year in expectation of the increase, will be applied in order to absorb the anticipated 24 percent regional tax rate. If the 4.3 mill over-levy from last year had not been applied, Whitby taxpayers would have been hit with a $118 increase on a $5,000 home. Mayor Des Newman, dur- ing the Wednesday meeting called to strike the tax rate, said that he felt the $70 urban figure was not very accurate as the majority of newer houses are assessed above $5,000. After the 4.3 mill over- levy was applied, the tax Increase dropped to $85. Council then cut the $43.50 chargeback to the town from the region for sewers to $28.50, bringing the urban hike to $70. Council lopped S15 off the sewer charge as it antici- pates provincial assistance to either the town or the region but has a small reserve in case the assistance is not available. If the latter occurs, the town may have to levy an addition- al $10 per household in 1976. Council had hoped to be, able to wait for the regional rate to be finalized before striking its mill rate but could wait no longer as the tax bills for the first installment, due July 15, must be sent out by July 1. The second install- ment will be due on Septem- ber 15. On a recorded vote, the rate was set with Mayor Des Newman, Councillors Gerry Emm, Jim Gartshore, John Goodwin and Don Lovelock in support with Councillors Tom Edwards and Joy. Thompson opposed. Mayor Newman said that he supported the $70 in- crease because he could not see reducing the hike any- more than council did. Councillor Emm sup- ported the rate increase reluctantly, saying "no one likes increases and this will be one that is especially dis- liked" but felt "the sooner we ask the people to pay municipal taxes, the better". Councillor Gartshore said "I'd like to wait but I have very' little faith in very much hap 1ning at the regional CouncillorGoodwin origi- nally felt that "setting the mill rate tonight (June 11) is an error" as it adversely affected the possibility of further negotiations by the town with the region and province. He added that the major portion of the increase was the "effect of the Corri- dor Area Ratepayers Associa- tion vendetta against the town". He said that the "vendetta" had disrupted the cash flow of the municipality. Councillor Lovelock blasted Councillor Goodwin for his comment saying "it's very damn unfair to blame the group". He felt that "blame can be put on this council and on previous councils". He added that "there's certainly something wrong with the way that municipalities have to raise revenues' Councillor Edwards re- corded his opposition to the striking of the mill rate that night, saying "we are now being asked to cast a mill rate without knowing how realistic it is. It's a pie in the sky mill rate." Councillor Thompson said "I'm going to vote against the mill rate because I can't buy my groceries on ifs, maybes and. possibilities and I can't buy my house on ifs, maybes and possibilities". - The comments by Goun- cillors Edwards and Thomp- son were in reference to council reducing the levy in anticipation of provincial assistance. While the young lad watches the hitby shelter's first annual Mutt Show, his dog is engaged in a tete-a-tete with a canine friend, For more picturesý,see page 12. Free Press Phroto by Mike Burgess INSIDE Ode to G oodw in......................................................... Page 2 Recreation projects .................................................... Page 3 Kainins on .................................................................. Page 5 Brooklin Bylines ......................................................... Page 6 Words from West Lynde....................... Page&7 Summer arts scheduleo......................,..................... Page 8 Cab Fare Hikes.. ...................................................... Page 9 Soccer, baseball.........................Page 11 Mutt Show............................Page 12