PAGE 2, WMrBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESAY, MARCH 7 1M9 Convention centre delay dsappoints deeoper ByMie KowaILsk The deeoe famjor con- vention centre planned for north Whitby reluctantly acceptsaa delay ini officiaI approval o his project. However he is not prepared te wait unduly long before he can start building. Mike Voîpe admits that "I would be lying if I said rm not concerned" about Town councils decision last week te postpone action on his proposed $10-mil- lion development. «I amn a little. disappointed- because of the long procesa invol- ved, but I hope it won't take as unel dfereda decision on Volpe's pro sa1 ntil a mjo overhaulof te own's official plan is completed. A consulting firm undertakini the official plIan review is expec ted te be hired by the 'end o March. But it could be another 14 months before council le i i position te, deal with Volpe'i application. Volpe said he had not eupect" %t start building next month and was aware the location doei not have the necessary wateir and sewer services. (Tlhe 100,000-sq.-ft./ centre iE planned for the northeast cornei of Taunton Road and Brock St. N.) Still, Volpe hopes he is nol faced with a situation «Where they keep my hopes alive and then the consultant says you can't put it there. Volpe accepta that it may be another 14 months or so before he receives approval, but 'm not prepared te wait two or three years. «Everyone thinlcs we would fit there, but you never know what a consultant might s a-. n The first phase of Volpe's pro- jeet will feature a 1,200-seal banquet and wedding' hall, a 300-seat hall, a 150-seat hall, smaller rooms and a 200-seal restaurant. Bod r .. od r.. rI c f1 4 a 18 d t. ,The main hall could handieup t2,000 people for conventions. There wifl be parking for 1,100 vehicles on the 15.5-acre site. Mie centre would employ 80-90 fuli-time staff and another 1L20 part-time workers. While individual councillors have! expressed support for the centre, council as a whole wants te ensure that the proposed use is the best possible'for that location.ý Taunton and Brock is proj- ted te become one of the ighest profle corners. in the municipa- liy. The site is currently zoned for agriculturae uses. 49 more poli o ofiers wanted by department Duhz'fetwill employ 49 iL new officers ifthe 1990 police budget is approved. D I addition te the 49 offilcers, D Police Chief Dave Edwards has ir ued "rng17 *ciihas Dad"g a total of6W6persons'teo their present authorized staff of t690. t The additional officers would cost $783,222 this year while the -additional staff would cost t$1203,860. L The proposed budget of $42,250,451 is Up 19.5 per cent from last year. Salaries account for over35.8 per cent of the total budget. Over $80000 goes te uniforms aud eupent. "We cat effeuetively and effi- ciently operate the police force without the personel,» says Edwards, who attributes the in- crease te, growth, an increase in crime, and inflation. He said the increase is ouly 1.912 per cent over a fixed increase percentage of 17. He'said that since 1974 the fore's maupower has iucreased onl1 137 per cent compared te a 20 1p.r cent increase in service requirements. The departmeut handies about 2,089 calîs a day. Crimes agaiust people were up 10.9 per cent last year while crimes against property rose 10.4 La=t ast year the force hired nine unew constableste handie court security, at a cost of 342,231. Edwards said there is a cou- stant steam of people applying as officers so he doesn't see any difflculty in acquiýring the addi- tional staff. The finance.' committee is expected te decide on the budget March 22 and regional council is scheduled te make its budget approvals April,11. Two «Are treated for smoke inhaflation Two Whitby residents were treated for smoke. inhalation fol- lowing afire in the Wite Oaoe apartment complex last Thurs- daLrrie Graham, 20, and Ronald Florence, 21, of 707-100 White Oaks Ct., were both taken to hospital, treated and reîeased. Approximately $15;000 damage te the.apartment and contents resulted from the fire which broke out shortly after 9:30 a.m. Pie department officials say the blaze was caused by a bag of garbage left on the steve, catch- Daae was primarily con- fined te t he apartmnent. .oe. ~ ~ - 7" I~ ~ -~ PRESIDENT'S RATBE CHOICE COFFEE R100 gEE 369 g10g POTATOES ONION BUNS 1Olb BAG 4for, % ï;ea INSIDE ROUND STEAK OR ROAST ~AAMADEUS 1756 SEAFOOD and ST[AKHOUSE 1180 Simcoe St. N. Oshawa 436-9333 a 436-9065 *Roast Prime Beef (Canada Grade A) *New York Steak and Shrimps- Broiled Seaood Plate- n 7dy weaqetchis vial 2ZTr ANEIVEISAI Y CELEBRAT IONM MvlARFIC Hi 2 17 See next weeks. Whitby Free Press for dtaisà n eeklog ents fr th -. Dff 4EF E:: p E wRim