WHITBY FREF PRESS. WEDNESDAY, ALJGI JST 5. 19981, PAGE 3 Attersley f inds m ayor'9s job "&m ore INVITATIONSAi By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Af ter eight months in office, Bob Attersley finds the job of mayor ta be " #more challenging" than he expected. In an interview in his office last week, the 4lst Mayor of Whitby discussed his job as head of this fast- growing comxnunity. Attersley said that one of the biggest problemas he eneounters in running the town is tirne. "There is just not enough tinie ta do every- thing," 'he says. Attersley's time is usually full of meetings for flot only does he ser- ve as the ebairman of Whitby Town Council but also serves as chair- man of its management committee and is a member of bath stan- ding cammittees. As mayar, he automa- tieally is a member of Durham Regional Council and serves not only its management committee but is alsa one of caunil's two representatives on the Durham Regional Police Commission. Because of his position as mayor, he also sits an the Whitby Hydro-Eleetrie Commi- sion. Attersley is alsa the bead of Attersley Tire, a business with six tire stores,, two auto- motive parts distri- buting outiets and retreading plant in Kingston. Attersley Tire em- pioys sarne 137 people and wbile he said he still takes an interest in the business, most of the day-ta-day decisions are made by bis manage- ment staff ta allow him more timne ta, devote ta his duties as mayor. Now that the summer season bas finally arrived, Attersley says that it is an opportunity ta, get things dane, not to take it easy. Neither Whitby Town Council nar Durham Regional Council will meet again until sanie- Urne in September. During this time, free of meetings, Attersley said he is working an five different projects that wIl have a "signifi- cant impact on the town. "-.. H e wouldn't elaborate. However, it's difficult ta, take an idea and turn it into reality, Attersley admits. "First you have ta sel it ta, your developers,"' he says, "and then you bave ta seil it ta coun- cil."i Wile he dlaims that be "very seldom lobbies council," Attersley says it is sometimes harder ta seil ideas ta themn. "Sometimes it is har- der ta seli councillars because they're not full- time." And that's where At- tersley bas an advan- tage. "lBeing a fuil-time mayor, I feel I some- times bave a better grasp of wbat's gaing on in the community's development than the councillors. " The 47-year-old long- time municipal politi- cian believes that the counillars bave a good "feel" of wbat's on the minds of their constitu- ents and bring baek a different perspective. 'II like ta have their ideas," he says adding that be would like ta see aIl six members of Witby Town Council an the job fuil-time. However, Attersley admits that being full- time would be difficuit for the four ward coun- than he antieipated cillors since t.hey only receive about $7,000 a year for serving on coundil. 0f the town's two regional councillors, Gerry Emrn works on municipal business full- time while Tom Edwar- ds is stil actively em- ployed by the Canadian Union of Publie Em- ployees (CUPE) as a representative. Attersley says that be bas one major ambition as mayor to make the town "as weii1 known as possible." To this end, Attersley has been spearheading an industrial develop- ment promotion pro- gram, funded by five major residential developers.. "It is our aim to tel people that Whitby is a place to live, work and play," Attersley said. makes the policy decisions, the day-to- day operations of the town are carried on by the senior members of staff. Attersley said that when he first took office, they didn't try to over- burden bim with paper- work whicb has been described as the bureau- cratie typical reaction to a new boss. "They sit back trying to measure you," Atter- sley said saying that he bas made some changes in management staff in order to get a positive outlook from tbem. These changes were made, be said, becaue made, he said, because he doesn't like "inegative-type people" adding that sometimes staff are too critical. "Constructive criti- cism is necessary," At- tersley says, "but being negative gives me a great deal of prablems." "I've been trying to get some enthusiasm in the staff," he says noting that for the mogt part, he bas been suc- cessful. This doesn't mean that he isn't pleased with the staff. "I'm happy with the caliber of aur staff," At- tersley said noting that there is still room for improvement." The first thing he had to do when he took of- you care. " "I love the town....I And, apparently he love the feel of the does care. town." *111-11.1AE S AAXSHPINGPL challenging" Attersley