* R! AW~1 e a ~-: * A la Alleg9ed imp roprieties' at agency By 11k. Kowalskl Management officiais of a Whitby ental health agency have Ln accused of trying to "coveriun» a sexual assault that occ-ýin an agency group home. The alleged cover-up is one of several charges Of "improprie- ties' levied aga'net Whith yAi ansResidence Corp. by its striking ml1es All Saints, aynon-profit agency funded by the provincial govern- ment operates three homes in Whit6Y for people with mental health problèe. The employees, members of Ljocal 2936 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), are into the third week of their strike for a furet ontract. The alleged cover-up of the assanît and other charges are contained in a 37-page report given to the Ontario Mimistry of Health and Durham Centre MPP Drummond White (sam separate s tory) Mng its accusations, the CUPE members, daim that resi- dents or "clients» of the homes have been iznproperly dischar- ged, documents altere or des- tr-ed, and provincial health and s ety aws îgnored. For example: * In December 1992, a super- visor in one of the homes was charged with sexually assaulting a female aiquaintance. (The woman was neither an agency client or employee.) The man was allowed to con- tinue his duties which included one-to-one counselling of women residents and one-to-one super- vision of female staff until the following May. * Crisis unit workers learned that client file notes and medica- tion sheets, were being destroyed one year after the dlient!é dis- charge. The workers were under the impression that the files had to be maintained for seven years in accordance with provincial guide- limes. * On June 21, 1993, two criais unit workers had to subdue a female client who had taken a 1O-inch knife from, the k.itchen. A report on the incident that included recommendations on the storage of knives was later altered under orders from a su- pervisor. Whitby la er David Sinus, chief ne gotiato 'anid secretary of the volunteer board that runs the non-profit agency, was flot available for comment on the employees' allegations. In a previous interview, Sime dismissed the charges as a bar-1 gaining ploy, but said Ail Saintsi would prepare aý aesponse for the health ministry, even though one1 was not requested.9 Executive director Nancy 'Rox-1 borough said the agency' report bas been forwarded7to the minis- t-y, but she declined fiirther comment. Although the health mistry has been aware of these a lege incidents since last faîl, agency empîIoyees are upset with the ministrys response to their comn- plainte. Fearful of reprisaIs from Al Saints management when the strkeissetle, heemployees are reluctant te talk to govern- ment officiais «on the record" to substantiate the charges, as the ministry requires. However, the workers feel that they have provided enough. infor- mation in two separate reports to the nistry to warrant an inves- tigation of their allegationa!. SEP, PAGE 4 Union0 boss" wants inquiry By Mike Kowaloki Thie head of the union repre- senting striking employees of a Whitby mental health, ageýncy wants a provincial inquiry into the ayencys operations. Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario d-ivision of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), has called, for an inves- tigation of Whitby Ail Saints Residence Cop 'RItan sdnand or a provincial prob stemsffrom allegations of «iproprieti s» at Ai Saints which are cntained, in material submitted. te the Ontario Minis- try of Health and Durham Centre MPP Drummond White by agency employees (see, separate story). All Saints a non-profit cor- poration ftmncled by the province, operates three homes in Whitby for people with mental health SEE PAGE 4 DANIELIE MORRISON demonstrates her 'do-it-yourself back scritcher,'one of the rnany new ideas students came up with for Bellwood Public School's 'Invention Convention' Iast Wednesday. PhOtIPbV LvkMos" , MOty FtProu rs FIre hall, seniors'1 centre expansion proosed By Mike Kowalskl Construction of two long-awai- ted projeets in Whitby could finally be underway this year. Town officiaIs are hopingto use money from Whkitbyf' s hare of Canada's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure spe ding programn for a new fire departjnent head- quartersan an expanded senior citizeSW activity centre. It is expected that the Town's share of the cost of the projecta won't mean any change in the recently announced zero increase in the Town's share of the tax bill for this year. Mayor Tom, Edwards said Town staff are reviewing details of last week's $1.23-billion agree- ment between the Ontario and federal govmnients te, deter- mine if the projects meet the funding criteria. If these and other items on a «shopping list" submitted te, fedleral and provincial officiaIs last December are eligi1ble, then Edwards wants quick action from Town council in approving <'Ihop itwill be done rapidly so we can get the tenders out tW take advantage of the (low) prices that are out there now,» said Edwards. "This (program) is a positive MOve which should help stinxu- late the economies in our local coemmunities,"he said. Under the agreement, Whitby w;ý roceive $4.16 million as its SE)? I>AO)? 1'