Counci Whitby Town Council has rejected a proposai by Decom Medical Waste Transportation Systems mc. to buiid a 12,000 square foot biomedical waste tran- sfer station on Sunray St. When all was said and done, the reason for tur- ning down the proposai, which Decom said would not only provide a safe and needed method of biomedical waste disposal but create 52 jobs, was that the com- munity simply didn't want it. That point was brought out by Centre Ward Coun., Marcel Brunelle who originally voted in favor of tie proposal attthe commit- tee level. "There is a great wasi of feeling out there. Tiere is a very broad feeling that this is something they don't want," Brunelle said. "They don't want it in the community." While brunelle noted that it was council's responsibility to make decisions based on the facts placed before them, it is also their responsibility to act in accordance with the wishes of the people who elected them tâoffice. And, for that reason, People don't want it here, Brunelle says ma rejects he decided to change his Ontario. mmd and vote against "We are not the tie proposai. scious of Toronto Howevershe is still are we the consci concerned with how the rest of southel biomedical waste is tario," he said. being disposed of in the He also was criti community presently. the Ontario Minis "I am still concerned the Environment about the amount of gave the pr medical waste there is strong support. W and how it is being han- he said, should a dled," he said. dependantly of wh Leading the charge ministry. against the proposal "We are not the was East Ward Coun. maiden of any p Joe Drumm who said cial agency," Dr that Whitby shouldn't be said. the depository for The councillor medical waste being believes that the produced by would be used to Metropolitan Toronto sfer drugs such a and the rest of southern neo-plastics whici Decol in the treatment of can- cer. He noted that this drug must be in- cinerated at tem- peratures nearing 2,000 degress F. If there ever was a fire at the proposal Whitby facility, it would pose a great danger to the community. Also voting against the proposal was West Ward Coun. Joe Bugelli who criticized Decom for the ways they used to try and sel their development. Bugeili said he was "appalled" to receive a letter from two em- ployees of Ontario Removal Services who e con- o nor ous of *n On- ical of try of who oposal hitby, ct in- at the hand rovin- rumm also plant tran- s anti I used m plan asked council to ap- tee recentl prove the plan so that Decom r their jobs could be biomedical saved. Decom has disposal wa agreed to purchase the the methoc Ajax company should employed. their Whitby plan be ap- She noted1 proved. However, the coun- cillor said that the saving of the O.R.S. jobs and the creation of 35 new ones «'are not worth the remote dangers" inherent in the project. "If we are going to err at all, let it be on the side of caution," he said. Decom had previously attempt to assure the town that the biomedicai waste they would be sollecting would be stored in special plastic con- tainers and heavy duty plastic bags. Both would be sealed during transit. BRU' Prior to the debate, Decom officials remin- would be ded council that not only this waste, the provincial gover- it into land nment but the Durham Decom o Region's Medical Of- that the M ficer of Health gave Envirolnmi their support to the their plan% project. concept." Dr. Jean Gray, the "Ours is medical officer of fective wa health, told council's waste," t administrative commit- CONT'D ly that the method of waste s better than ds currently that Decom incinerating not dumping fill sites. officials noted inistry of the ent believed was "sound in a simple, ef- y of handling the company D ON PG. 23 Vol. 15, No. 26 Wednesday, , June 26, 1985 24 Pages Free Press Staff Photo Good-bye, Mr. Bell No, the fellow in the middle isn't an overaged kin- dergarten pupil. He's Doug Bell who will be leaving Whitby's Florence M. Heard Public School later this month. Bell is being transfered from Florence Heard to Frenchman's Bay Public School in Pickering and to wish him farewell, the staff and students atthe Dun- das and'Garden Sts. school held a surprise assem- bly. He has been the principal at Florence Heard for 3½ years and prior to that was principal of Aldon Public School in Ajax. Bell has been in the teaching personal change in his working life. His wife, Maureen, has been his secretary at the school since he was transfered there. She will remain at Florence Heard and to the best of his knowledge, they are the only husband-wife principal-secretary team em- ployed by the Durham Board of Education. Bell also has words of praise for his staff. The sur- prise assembly, he said, was an indication "of the type of staff and students we've got here. We have a very strong staff and the parents should be grateful for them." Bell is seen beneath a poster drawn for him by his profession for 21 years. students and surrounded by the members of Connie Leaving Florence Heard will produce at least one Picken's afternoon kindergarten class. Town salutes athletes Over 200 local athletes were recognized by the Town of Whitby last Wednesday evening for their achievements and contributions to amateur sport in the community. This is the 15th year that the parks and recreation department has held its "Sports Recognition Night". One of those honored was Lori Strong (seen here receiving her award from Reg. Coun. Gerry Emm) a 14-year old gymnasit. Last month she earned the Canadian Junior Gym- nastics title in Victoria, B.C. and the right to represent Canada at the "Golden Sands" gymnastic meet in Bulgaria later this year. Strong was also a member of the Canadian team that won second place at the Canadian Classic International Gymnastics meet last year and has won numerous other provincial and national titles. Also recognized for their contributions were the volunteers who work behind the scenes to ensure that local sports organizations operate smoothly For more details. see stories on pages 7 and 9. Free Press Staff Photo ýR PRESS, u >U.