Whitby Free Press, Wedriesday. Novembor 17, 1993, Page 3 Items from Whitby Council agenda(s) Plannig and Development Committee That a site plan application from Durham Radio Inc. to permît construction of a 297-t. FM radio transmission tower on Brawley Road West, east of Lakeridge Road, be approved, pending the necessary federai govern- ment approvals. Durham Radio currently has an application before the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) to purchase CHOO-AM Radio in Ajax and convert the station to an FM f requency. Kf approved by the CRTC, the company must ereot an FM transmitter In order to accomodate the switch since CHOO's current transmitter In Ajax Is not equipped for FM. Rocéommended to council That a site plan application f rom Deville Produce Ltd. to permit expansion of the company's grocery store at 3570 Brock St. N. be approved. The applicant Intends to build a 17,696-sq. f. addition to the existing 3,482-sq. ft. store. Recommoended to council That a rezoning and site plan application to permit a three-storey medical building at 904-908 Rossland Rd. E. be approved. Two single- f amily homes which now occupy the site will be demolished to accomodate the new structure. RLecommended to couneil That a site plan application f rom Thalland Trading Corp. (Buns Master Bakery) to permit minor alterations to the commercial outiet at 750 Hopkins St. be approved. The proposed changes generally relate to the building's f acade and construction of a parking area at the rear. Recommended to couneil Operations Committee That Whitby discontinue the collection of grass clippings ln 1994 and that the curbside collection prog ram for compostables be revised. The compost program will be changed to provide a twice per month collection during the summer, with full weekly service for 12 weeks per year - f ive weeks ln the spring, f ive weeks ln the f ail and IWO weeks after Chrstmas. Durham Reglon has asked the municipalities to stop the collection of grass clippings In an effort to reduce costs and minimize odours emanating f rom the Region's composting facility on Garrard Road. The move is expected to save the Town $215.000. The Town. ln conjunction w1th Durham Region. will iaunch an advertising campaign promotlng the benefits of II xmi~iu d to council By Mike Kowai.sk Avoiding a tai incroase in 1994 will be difflicult but net impossible, Whitby Mayor Tom Edwards believes. While Whitby residents mig)it be spared an increase in tne regional and local portions of their property tax ille next year, Edwards says, he cannot guaran- tee it at this point. "It's net oing te be easy, but it is possible, said Edwards follow- ing the adoption of pre-budget guidelines by Durhamn Region council last week. Council directed Reg*en staff te bring ferward a 1994budget which contains ne increase in preperty taxes, as well as a freeze on water and sewer rates and landfill site user fees. To avoid a tai hike and keep the taxpayor-supported portion of the budget at last year's $93.7 million, staff will have te chop $4.5 million eut of their initial spending estimates. Edwards, chair of council's heath and social services com- mittee, said holding the lino on spending in those departmonts will be teugh, but ho is enceura- ged by recent trends in welfare costs. "For the first time in a long tume, about eight or 10 years, the graph which indicates the in- crease in social service cases has drqpped below last yoar,» ho "Although Octeber was only 0.34 per cent less than Septem- ber, it was 1.5 per cent bass than October '92.» Terming this a "ma*or achieve- mont," Edlwards said that even in the "good years» of the mid- 1980s, thore was always an annual increase in the nuxnber of welfare recipionts. "This indicates te nme that this will enablo us, te reduce expendi- tures in that area,» ho said. While Durhamn Region h as offi- cially adopted pre-budget guide- linos that is not the case for Whitby. «We haven't formally done so, Edwards* admitted, but îho strossed that council will con- tinue the policies which allowed it te brinî forward a no-tai increase budget this year. (Whitby's cornbined current and capital budges totallod $31.5 million in 1993. In addi- tion, council absorbed the 2.4 per cent hike in Durhami egon's levy, sparing Whitby rosidents an incroase in their regional taxes.) "By cutting back wherover we can we've boon abI'o te, pe," said Edwards. But again, it will be difflicult te corne in with a zero peor cent increase at the local levol, ho said. «Some of the measuros we're contemplating may bring a reac- tien from tho public,» said Edwards. "r'm sure we will be forced te talk about increasing rentai fees foreour facilities,» ho said. "If we do that, it will bring a reaction. But wo must considor ail avenues in these difficuit Gashbar held up A loue bandit gtawaywth less than $100 atr holding up the Beaver Gas Bar at403 Brock St. S. Friday evoning. Police say ho showed the attendant eithor a real or a replica, handgun short% after il p.m. and domanded he and over the mouey. No one wvas injured although the attendant was shaken up. The bandit is described as a man in his early twenties areund 5-foot-li-inches and 16 pounds,' with dark, short hair and wearing a leather jacket a.nd dark 2ants. An investigation is continuing. '~ t ~ FIRE CHIEF Ton '-:Aoeeed is around with Whitby Lions president Garnet White. The Lions recently received a fire prevention award from the province ater being nomninated by the Whitby Fire Department. VanDoleweerd applauds the club for paying for 'Sparky,' the departmeflt's motorîzed robot cloç. and also buying material used in the 'Leamn Not To Bum program. The popular program, which teaches children about lire safety, is now in three Whitby Phoo by kReeboe. WttIby Fm Pros Zero tax increasepossibl Edwards said council cannot delay for much longer decisions on major projects such as exp~~te tby Senors' Activity Centre and a new fire hall on Taunton Road. In addition, «we have te turn our attention te the library," ho said. "About 40 per cent of our residents use it and they're (libr- ary staff)> working at capacity.» I ncreasing demand on Whitby's ice facilities must also be addressed, Edwards added. If there is an encouraging sign on the horizon it rnay be the joint féderal-provincial-municipal pub- lic works prograniosjpoused by the victorious Liberal Party in last month's eloction, EdwÎards said. Town staff have been directed te find ways that Whitby can take advantage of the prograin which is aimod at improving Canada's deteriorating infras- tructure system. "Vie haven't had that kind of activity since Centennial yoar (1967)," ho said. CLAMREN popular flowening housepiant with oe a t u profusion of colorf' ul blossoms. 60pot. 0SPECIAL VANDEREER NURSERY 'Wherc Great Gardéns Begr*n" Cmrof Bayly & Lakerîdge, Ajax 427-2525 OPEN l~4* SUNDAY N A Sale price effective unili Nov. 25193 or w iie Sa>y S E quandlies last. m NEW LOCATIO 103 -ds t.E DO YOU HAVE A BROKEN YINDSHIELD? ONYVU INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE WITH THIS AD* Wl Whitby Auto Glass uses an Incredible new process te repair * WUI rn~twindshleld'tone chips. An asuranran AnrourIS5le r,~fl a?,tone epAIrl e i""'~ ~ nauance coa own. any e urchi , ýg. F merch a, Beautiful Sel !on of Pol s las Cy 1 s -Bu-y- the CANA Durharn Region's Largest Garcn Contre erkSge Fkmd South, Alm 68&1545 NO GUARANTEES BUT ý m 1 Il -l