PAGE 8, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 3, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS Region has many accomplishments By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff In the seven years since its inception, Durham Regional Council has "accepted the challenge of Bill 162," the provincial government's legislation that created it. That was the message of retiring Regional Chairman Walter Beath in his farewell address to council that was given at their meeting last week. Beath, who was the first regional chairman, was ap- pointed to the position by the provincial government in 1973. He was elected to the position by council in 1976 and 1978. In his address to council, Beath reflected upon the early days of the region and the difficulty that was en- countered in the hiring of staff and the implemen- tation of programs. The 61-year-old farmer from Columbus said that during the past seven years regional government has made a great number of noteworthy accomplishmen- ts. They included; he said: -establishing a 1,300 mem- ber workforce (including police) and reducing the number of bargaining units to five from 12; -the preparation of a "comprehensive official plan withing the legislated time frame"; -assuming control of 26 different water and sewer systems that now serve 59,000 customers with strict environmental controls; -institute a no cost energy conservation program that is the envy of every other municipality in the provin- ce; -building the Durham In- dustrial Estates; -conducting a "regional review that indicated little or no real dissatisfaction with the region other than communications"; -the establishment of a Children's Service Commit- tee, to co-ordinate services for children. However, Beath warned those councillors who will be re-assuming their seats for 1981-82 not to be too com- placent. "Perhaps we are becoming a bit complacent and tend to let it (the region) operate itself," 'he said. "You all know the dangers if someone is not continually in control and what will hap- pen to the machine and the associated cost of operations if we don't keep making changes and staying on course." "We should also remem- ber that if we don't know where we are going, any road will take us there." Beath, who has served in various capacities in municipal government for the last 30 years including a term as Warden of the old County of Ontario in 1959, also left some observations for the councillors to con- sider. "As a board of directors of a big operation with over a $90 million budget and thousands of people vho look to you tor employment and service necessary for their day-to-day needs, you must continue to review, in each term of office, policy and administration with an ob- jective view." He encouraged council to consider more that the items in the agenda and to oc- casionally look at the operation of council. "Do not let 'present policy' become a 'habit'," he advised council. The chairman also en- couraged to bring the offices of all regional departments to one location. "Regionalism needs a strong untied operation by the elected and the staff - and in one location," Beath said adding, "Change and growth was the reason for the restructing of local government. In this it will continue and all our atten- tionmust be directed towar- ds its coming." Beath also planted the seeds of a new idea into the minds of the incumbent councillors. He suggested that council "seriously consider the iminent need for new waste disposal sites that meet the requirements of evniron- mental and local concerns." Council should also "con- tinue to support the 'development' aspect of Durham that has lately been evident by our real concern for increasing investment, creating jobs and increasing taxes." To the end, Beath suggested that council look at the possibility of forming a committee, composed of the eight mayors in the region, as a development committee to replace the present management com- mittee. "We do tend to think of development as new buildings, new industries and, therefore, new jobs and houses," he said adding, "Perhaps you could con- sider action that would help to preserve and expand what we have - fifty new jobs in an expansion to an exisiting plant needs no capital dollars for servicing." Beath also said that coun- cil should begin to recognize the importance of the tourist industry and become more involved in energy conser- vation. In concluding his address Beath said, "I hope that my attitute, conduct and actions during my term of office have been in the best in- terests of our residents and that I have carried out the duties- of the office with dignity and sincerity to the satsifaction of the council and the residents. Computer to help solve CN train wreck mystery A computer will be used to recreate the November 18 Canadian National train derailment in Whitby in or- der to determine what caused the six cars of a 72 car train to leave the track, spilling $700,000 worth of General Motors cars and trucks into a field. A CN official said that engineers are doing a com- puter simulation that will enable them to understand what lead to the accident. They have almost totally ruled out vandalism as a possible cause because, ac- cording to CN, the electic switch used at the Victorial Stree crossing is very dif- ficult to tamper with. There has been no estimate of the total damage done by the mishap althoug labor cost alone has reached $50,000. DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC 111 DUNDAS STREET WEST WHITBY 668-1464