Latest PCBpropos'ai has'oxfumin By Mike Kowalski A proposal to store almost 500 gallons of PCBs on te Whitby harbour dock has been attacked by Whitbypcuncillor-Dennis Fox. Fox is incensed that federal officials have apparently approved a plan to remove: three traunfor-meurs, cntaining the chemical, from the derelict ferry boat now moored at the harlîour. The, transformers would be taken off the Prince Edward Island fer and kep ti a large container on the diock until a permanent storage site for the PCBs 'is found. Whitby busineman Art Robinson han found a buyer for his rusting vessel which has been docked at the harbour for four years. A local couple intends to tow the boat to, Toroo and transform it irnto a museum and. rest rant. Bi~ the ferry. cannot be moved until the trandformers containing the PCBs are remoqred. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been linked to cancer in Iaboratory animais. Although production of PCBs, used as a coo1iini agent for electrical transformers,ý was banned in the 1970a, the chemical is only considered dangerous if exposed to fire. According to Fox, this latest development is further. proof that neither the - federal nor provincial governments are serious about fding a permanent solution 'to'the PCB problem. 've nover seen government 80 inept in my life," said Fox. lI can't believe that after. :the last 10 years when environmental issues'av benath forefront of this country, federal and provincial governments have not passed Iaws to proteet people'from toxic waste. "They continuaily pass the.buck and now they want to leave it on the doorstep. of Whitby." Despite efforts by the municiality to rid itself of the Ca and PCBs3 forever; Fox said the Town has beon hanistrung, by lack of effective legisiation. 'There's no law out there that we -as- a Town SU1 PAGE 14 Batten to seek r.egional seat. By Me Kowaluki There will ho at loast one now face on.Town council aftor this yoar's municipal lection. North ward councillor, Roma Batten will, seek to, becomo onoeo Whitby's four ropresentatives on Durhanrr Region ,ouncil. Batten told The Froe Froua ho would Ibe filing the necesaary documents on Tuesday (yesterday) to run for regÎioa council on Nov. t12. Under a new prvincial Iaw, candidates must file a notice of their intentions with he municipal clrk before thoy can collect campaign donations. tHowever, candidates have until October te submit actual noination papers. Since ho cannot run for both th' Rego and bis local seat, Whitby's north ward will have a new councilor, whethor or not Batto is sucoessful in mov*n Up First elected in 198e.*atn, 47, said ho i. not running because of criticism of the performanýce of Whitby's current regionýal councillors. Rather, Batten feels ho cari btter serve the municipality in a now rôle. "rve got il years expertenoe on -(Town). council, I think I can rpeet the Town at the ]Region," said Batten. reFmnot upset with the present representatives there, but I think I can serve the Town btter in this capacity." Incumbent regional councillors Marcel Brunelle and Joe Drumm have registered for re-election te their Region seats. Regional councillor Tom Edwards was not available for comment about bis November plns Mayor Bob Attersleywofldbsppr nJnay, is Whitby's other representative at Durhamn Region. (The mayor and the three regional councillors serve on both Town and Durham Region counils. Wbhitby's four ward counillors serve on Town council only.) Batten is, currently cara of Whitbys planning and development committee. He said tbat with both Whitby and Durham Rooin updating their officiai plans, ho cari provide more input into tis process fi-om a different perspective. I think I've done ail I cari do at the local levol," said Batten. "A lot of issues wiil ho critical te the entire municipality in the next tfew years and I think myexporience will help in this regard." Although'born in Osbwa, Batten bas resded in Asbburn since 1947. Married with three teenage children, Batten operates bis own computer business ini Whitby. wHT' MAYOR Bob Atteraley practised for the upcoming blood donor clinic to bDe held Tuesday, April 9, at the Legioný Hall on Bryon St. S., in Wib,1-8p.im.Prom left are cliniechairmain Doris Holley, co-ordinator Elizabeth Tucci and Buddy BloodDrop.