Town to learn imp act of market value assessment . Whitby councillors, met with the new tax assessment commis- sioner for Whitby two weeks ago to obtain a preii*minary report on' market vaue assessment in Whitby. And wbile it won't be known until the end of this week in what areas taxes would increase. and wbere they would decrease, centre ward councillor Lynda Buffett says the preliminary meeting went as she expected wben she voted in February against market value assess- ment. "It was as I expected althougb it might be worse than I tbought," said Buffett. Council authorized the pre- liminarv study in February, wbicb W'as to lbe completed by the end of March. 'At that time, Buffett said the downtown area would be foroed to pay higber taxes under miar- ket value, which assesses al homes in Whitby at the sanie level. Now, different areas of town are assessed at different levels. Assessment commissioner Mery Bowen said the meeting SEE PAGE 13 Attersley challenged w odebate By Mike Johnston Wihitby mayor Bob Attersley bas been chaiienged to a debate b y a member of. the Durham chape rof the Congress of Black Women foilowing comments he made that he would resign as Durham Region police commis- sion chairman if standards had to be iowered to bande visible minorities. In a press release, Cindy Pig- got, who chairs the group's edu- cation committee, condeniend Attersley for bis comments. "I arn sbocked and disappoin- ted at the 'Rushton-type attitude' of Mayor Attersley,7 said Piggot in the release. "Hlis assumption that stan- dards have to be iowered to, compiy with mandatory etbnic hiring quotas is botb inconceiv- able and revolting," continued Piggot, who challenged Attersley to a debate on the issue. Attersley aid be had been contacted by the CBC and that a debate, wbicbha supports, may take place. He reiterated bis tbreat te resig if the Durbin Regional Polic force bas to lower its standard te meat visible minority_ quotas recommended by tbe race relations committea investigat- ing police hiring practices. 'What tbey said was if we don't meet tbe percentage for hiring visible minorities we won't gat tbe governmant grants,» said Attersley., Durhanms police departmant now receives $6-million annually from the Province. Attersley received support from councillors» at Monday nigbt' council session. 'Tmr not convinced racism is running rampant at ail,» said nortb ward councillor Ross Bat- ten, -wbîle west ward councillor Joe Bugelli and east ward coun- cillor Dennis Fox both publicly, supported Attersley. Hydro ofice to reloca-ýte By Mike Johuston After operating in downtown Wbitby for 40 years, the Wbitby Hydro Electrie Commission's administration office will be rabo- cated te, Taunten Rd. As part of a $1-million deben- tura for Hydro, approved by Wbitby council Monday night, the commission bas set aside $2041000 for drawings and land acquisition for a new administ- ration building. According te commission chair- man Gerald Cox, tbe commission is looking at variaus locations ini town, but the most likeiy location would be adjacent te the Town's works yard on Taunton Rd., east of Brock St., where the commis- sion also bas a small works yard. "Wa have te build a new administration building. We are outgrowing tbe present one and BEmDI gets a pat from owner Diane Hoit and Dr. Richard Liddell of the South Durham Region Veterinary Association which will hold rabies dlinies in May, one at Iroquois Park next Tuesday, 3 to 6 p.nL and at Luther Vipond arena in Brooklin on Wednesday,. May 10, 3 to 6 p.m. See story insidè. Mince Ohprecio.Free Press photo Board seeks reduction By Debbie Luchuk In a lengthy and rather testy special meeting of the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate Scbool Board on Monday night, trustees askad tbat cuts ba made, wherever possible, te reduce a tentative (flrst draft) miii rate increase that would ha 19.49 par cent for Whitby sup- porters. That compares te a tentative 18 par cent increase in miii rate at the public schooi board which is aiso expected te make cuts. On Monday night, separate scbool trustees were prasented the tentative 1989 budget. with ail anticipated programs and expenses included. After iengthy debate, trustees passed a motion allowing staff te, prepare a second draft, cutting certain items from the budget that tbey deemed less important. Director of education Earl Lagroix said that the increase in the budget costs is due te, infla- tion, an increase in enrolinent new contracts witb teachars anI non-teaching staff, and an in- crease in transportation neads. «We ara prassed to meet, (last year's miii rate). I don't think anyone of us here tonight could stand at a podium and say we wilI raise your taxes 15 per cent or so and be ra-elected.» «T'hera's not xnany pages we can't cut costs (froni), witbout sacriflcing our cildren's educa- tion. Twanty per cent or any double digit is niot responsible.» «I worry about it. I think if we 1,500 sign Sos petition Members of the Save Our Shores (SOS) group bave coilected 1,500 signa- tures on a petition against a council decision to remove a public walkway as part of Coscan's water- front development. The group wiii also start handing out buttons next week. Apetition is availabie in Middleton's Book Store in downtown Whitby and anyone wishing ta pick one up can cali 666-1386. Transport Minister speaks in Whitby Page 3 Board disappointed wi th allocation Page 15J 1