PAGE 22, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26,1988 PROM PAGE 12 RosslarýI Rd. is being improved and that also, takes some pressure off. I know people are going to have to stop. using Hwy 2 as much and realize that it's not as easy to have a direct route to downtown Whitby ta downtown Oshawa as it used to be. People are going to have to take some off streets and mu forth. Free Press: What are your feelings about Port Whitby? R.B.: rmn excited. Whether it's my ward or not, I happon ta ho a councillor for the whole Town of Whitby. Port Whitby is an area that should be developed, the people have put up with a dump down there as long as they should have to put up with it. The study we implemented down there, the rezoning and the changes to the officiai plan refleet that and Fm excited about some of the development plans that are going ta happen there within the next few years. Free Promu: What are your feelings about the Coscan proposai? R.B.: The proposai from Coscan is jUs thataprpsaI. They've tried ta stay witite guidelines of the stud y tha we laid out in the ameaded officiai plan. They've corne ini with what they think will work down there. We've had an unofficial public meeting on that, we'll have an official public meeting when they actually make an application. Twenty-two tonies, Fin opposed ta that. Free Press: Your feelings on affordable ho~sng R.B. I can understand that there is a probiem with afl'ordable housing. We, as a council, of course, have tried to dictate to the marketplâce. And we have tried ta encourage industry. So in the Town of Whitby, as a council, it wasn't a policy but we tried ta encourage better houses. But people were attracted ta Whitby, people in the middle income range were attracted and that's where the marketplace bas been. I think zoning allows for affordable housing ini Whitby. There are ail kcinds of space available for affordable housing. Many of our subdivision agreements include low density residential, medium density and high density. 'Most developers have not been, over the past few years, build- ing high and medium density units. I think the biggest ,reason for that is the Province and rent control. They have just not made it economicaily feasable for builders to build high density and allow for affordable housing. I know the Province has put a lot of heat on us as a municipality because we're not encouraging what they classify as affordable houisng and rm not too sure where you start. There is a problem - not everybody is middlle income. We have low income people, families who are starting out and want accommodation. We have senior citizens, and I think that is n big problem, I thiak we have to encourage more senior citizens units, more residence type of senior citizens facilities where they can have a nice style of life rather than living in an apartment dwelling. More particu- larily, in the north area, and rve been working on that for a long time and because of the lack of facilities we haven't accommodated anything. Pro. Promu: In regards to. planning. Where woud you draw the. line between the rights of the landowner vu. the rir-htm of the Election '88 community au a whaio? R.B.: My political tendencies are ta say that the less goverament control, the better. But I think you -have to reel back a little bit and I think we have exercised a lot of control and maybe somne people say too much. If you drive around aur subdivisions and our commercial properties I think you'll find that they are as btter looking than most niunicipalities because of that control. We try ta regulate, on commercial properties, the signs, the appearance, construction materials and so forth color achemes. We maintain some good architectural controls over not only our commerciai properties but nur subdivisions. Pree Promu: Heu tthe Town of Whitby allowed tee mucli commercial developmont?' R.B. We're still within limita of the official plan. I think the officiai plan probably needs some fine tuning. I think*we've made some mistakes on Dundas St. I think we have tao many strip plazas. I think that's slowing down some of the traffic. Now, in the newer subdivisions going in north of Rossland Rd. between Rossland and Taunton I think we have reeled back and I put a motion forth that we review what commercial'applications are gong ta go in that area ta make sure that we don't over burden the residents with smail commercial plazas on every corner. I think we're taking a pretty good look at that. .There's a lot of commercial plazas that have gone up in the Town of Whitby over the last few years but we had some large growth and where do you draw the lime. It would be nice ta attract everybody to three major commercial areas. But that's not providing a good service, you stil have ta have some of the amenities close to them (residents) so they can pick up milk and sugar and se forth close by. If we attract aIl those peole to pick up their smallest supplies in three large commercial areas we're going to magnify the traffic problem even more. Su I think you have to allow some small commercial plazas. Are there too many? Maybe. There are too many donut shops. Free Proms: What sort of protection would you provide eider buildings lu town and would that mean a heritago designation? R.B.: We already have a policy in place whereby we have heritage designations. And of course, I have always been a proponent that the person that owns the building is in full control of what happens to it. As a council, we have always had a policy whereby we look at heritage within the town but we have ta look at that in the overaîl context of what we are doinu in our overalplanning. Free Press: Thie municipality spends a large part of its budget on sports facilties but very littie on culturel facilties. Would you change that and hould the Town fund facilities like a museumn or a theatre? R.B.: We're aîready funding same cultural activities within the town. We have Whitby Arts, which I think has a large budget as far as the Town of Whitby is concemed. It has been incrcased significantly over the last several years and I think that is an m Ross Batten excellent example of a cultural activity. We of course, in our study of the Centennial Building, are Iooking at the possibility of incorporating some cultural activities there. We wouîd like to look at providing something for the Whitby Little Theatre and that is a distinct possibility. When I was chairman of parks and recreation we aiso gave some consideration ta the po!isibility of maybe adding cultural as a part of that department. Free Prems: In the peut few years there have been complainte about- a clomed govrnment. Do you agree with that? R.B.: I disagree with that whole heartedly. I don't think that this council bas had a closed attitude at ail. -As a matter of faet, I think this municipality bas been extremely open. We have some municipalities in the Province of Ontario that don't have public meetings. I think the public meeting process with this council has been extremely open. rmn aware of the criticisms. I know that we have some people who say that we don't disclose information or our agendas on tinte. To be very honest I think in most instances those people who have been requesting agendas earlier than what they've been getting are basicaily frustrated politicians or would-be politicians who really want ta make a point before existing council members can salve or resolve a situation that is coming forward. Free Promu: What ae your feelings on diselosure cf holdings? R.B.: I think I stated my opinion extremeîy clearly when we discussed this at coundil. I have no problem with disclosing my property interests in town. But as far as my investment income, my investment portfolios, my By Feroneh Neil The Brooklin Optimist Club bas formed a floor hockey team for handicapped children in Durbam Region. The team, called "Wing It," will accept players aged 9 to 18. Meetings wil ho held every second Friday at Mary St. community school on Williams St. in Oshawa, from 6:30 ta 8 P.m. The idea for this sport event came from AI. Smith and Janet ifien, both involved in the Optimist Club. "The Optimist Club is an organization to be a "Friend to Yout ," which is their motto," says Smitb. "We decided tbpt we Club to hold pumpkin sale The Durham'Pony Club wilI hold a pumpkin sale on Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30 in downtown Brooklin. Orders will be taken for special handcarved pumpkins, with free delivery in Brooklin. For more information calî 655-8873 after 6 p.m. baven't bad enough activities for the bandicapped in the region." The club sent out letters to al nine Durham Region schools which bave classes for teachable mentally handicapped. So far il cbildren have shown interest. "Our goal is to get at least 28 participants, but if we get more, Fundraising is a suceess Students and staff- at Meadowcrest public school in Brooklin say parents generously contributed food and clothing ta the Jamaican relief fund blitz at the school. Hallways of the school are now decorated wi th fali harvest displays and Halloween displays. Gr. 6 student John IL Douglas wrote the following poem: It's Halloween! Ites Halloween! The moon is full and bright, And we will see what no one else will see On this very night!. Witches and goblins, Ghosts and ghouls, Trolls, poltergeists, And a monster that drools. We coriallyinviteanynRal Eat ndats aing c. or country properties at ail times.' Our Brooklin officc reputation preccdcs tluis onc as bcing the most knowledgcable country propcrty company in the arca. 1-"htirs. ()cýtcADbe-r 2-7th fýrcm -i4 - 8 ]p-.m..- 427-1263 (Toronto) 649-2670 (Claremont) then that's great,"l says Smitn. "We want ta get as many ids out as possible." To help support the newly formed club, the Broolin Op- timist Club has donated zioney toward equipment, rentai fees and the season-end banquet. Smith says Wing It is the club's first venture with handicapped children, and club members are looking forward ta it. "k should be interesting," b-' says. Society meets Oct. 2à 6 The Brooklin Horticuitural Society will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 8 p.m., at Brooklin United Church. Joan Brak will demonstrate "Vine Wreaths" and "Potpourri." Myrdle news by Sonja Graham Last Sunday, Myrtie United Çhurch welcomed Rev. Ted Kersey ta celebrate communion. Many children attended Sundy school. Watch for the littie ghosts and witches on our streets on Halloween night. Strawberry Cottage studio Ihas openings in the beginning and advallced classes for Noveniber. Lorraine Coombs 655-3688 - Optimists begin 'Wing It.'team income, iamnk accounts and so forth it's absolutely nobody's business. It's the business of mny wife and myseif and I don't think anybody else is entitled to know that. I don't think anybody else is interested in knowing it. F~ree Promu: Do you thik taxes lu Whitby are too high? R.B.: Taxes in Whitby are a littîe bit higher than some neighboning municipalities but I think you have ta keep in mnd that the level of service in Whitby is higher.. I think it's pretty evident that reading the papers and hearing cominents of citizens that when we get snowfalls our roads are cleared before others. A lot of our rural roads and a lot of our paved roads are kept ini better condition than* some of the neighboring municinalities. Free Promus: So you don't feel that they aretoc, high? RAB: No I don't. And I aiea think that over the last few years, we, as a council, have endeavored ta keep the increase in those taxes under control. Over the 'last five years our tax increase has been a little bit less than four per cent. Free Promu: How do you envison Whitb4y lu the year 2000. And can we keep a soporate idontity? R.B.: Sure we can. And I think we should. There is abgolutely, no question and I think that identity is going ta be kept by the people within the municipality. Not by the goveranjg. body. Free Prems: Do yoei think we'll bo a city by the year 2000? R.B.: I hope not. We have endeavored to keep this a town. WeIll be a large town but part of that flavor, that we maintain, is that we are referred ta, as a tawn. rd like to maintain that. rm a country boy. I don't particularily want tu.,/û in a city even though we are growing? Fro. Pem: What spocial qualities would you bring to the position that nots you aide trom your opponent? R.B.: It's vey clear, I certainly have experience now. I have esat on council for eight years. I certainly have comxitment for the job. rve only missed two council meetings in eight years. rve shown an availabiiity to the residents to be able to help resolve their problems. rm accesible. I certainly think I provide a very strong voice. rve established a good rapport with the existing council and with staff and I understand the needs of the town.! My faniily:ý and I have always been, involved within the community. We continue to, be involved and I thiak we understand what the. probiems are. Whether it be in Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtie,- Macedonian Village or in- the' rural areas, I think we havea pretty good- understanding of what'si happening ini this mua- icipality.' Prei Proms: Your opppent has said, that you should live in Brooklin to understand what in happening in Brooklin. le that the. came?- R.B.: I can't understand that comment at ail. I think that's a veiy fooliâh comment, I guess would only, be made by someone that realiy doesn't understand what's going on ini a municipality. Certainly, involve- ment ini Brooklin has been something I h~ave been doing for a -long, long time. rve had a lot of activities in the Village of Brooklin. Most of my accomplishments have been in the Village of Brooklin and I thik they have been numerous over the last several yearm. We have a big area. Brookila isn't the only area and I thiak that nxaybe ]Pm a little unique. Sure I live in Ashburn, and rve lived there al my life, but rve always been ivolved in Brooklin. 1 have a pretty good understanding of not only what's going on in Brooklin but oertainly in the other areas too.