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1970 the year of the Christmas tax bill By JOHN Era News Editor NEWMARKET It was not a very good year The advent of Seventies brought an abundance of bad news to York County residents And the gloom of 1970 was perhaps best epit omized last week when thousands of citizens had to divide their attention between the joy of Christmas and the ominous of whopping tax bills thai arrived just in time for the holidays Death and taxes the old inevit ables prompted many headlines in At least eight persons met vio lent deaths in northern York County Three were fatally shot four children were electrocuted in a freak auto The year also brought another death of a government York Co untys form of government which lasted 120 years passes into history tomorrow night to be replaced by a new regional administration The re gions birth pangs especially its hir ing of highpriced help have launched continuous controversy during its threemonth transition period Taxes Well taxation and as sessment seemed to consume miles of newsprint as politicians and news men alike tried to fathom the near- incomprehensible assessment proce dure that shot taxes skyward and de layed some 1970 tax bills until it was almost If the tax issue had any positive effect it was that it unified ratepayers in protest against this assault on their pocketbooks In many ways was The Year of the Taxpayer Taxes provided catalyst that sparked citizen concern towards other issues Citizens groups s r u throughout the county challenging lo cal politicians and forcing them to about their constituents until the next election This phenomenon of citizen protest was particularly prominent in King Township But despite the generally sombre tenor of the year had its share of celebrations Newmarkets first came in April when the hoc key club climaxed a sensational sea son by winning the Ontario Junior championship The victory came in game played before major was performed on the the weekend of Oct 13 The success of the festivities accompany ing the arena opening prompted mer chants group to push for a permanent shopping mall on Main St And in Aurora the citizenry had its big day on July First It was the second annual allday party for Can adas Birthday Town and the chaotic togetherness left neighboring muniei- Senior citizens in both towns got a deserved boost when construction hegnn on special housing complexes scheduled for occupancy by next year Bert Kent tried in vain to block approval of the senior citizens apartment building on Eagle St in Newmarket The election held this year on Oct to give Yorks new regional government a muchneeded head start brought both good and bad news depending on your point of view Hut in at least one municipality Newmarket the campaign Was fraught with uncontained bitterness The Era called it the year of The Whisper and The Big Lie Bob Forhan outspoken despite his newness to council ousted incum bent Tom and Reeve Clare Salisbury to become Newmarkets first mayor under regional govern- Auroras mayoralty race was torrid too although it lacked the mud missies that riddled the Newmar ket campaign Mayor Dick lillingworth VOL NO ONTARIO WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1970 Bert Kent fourtime mayor dies on Christmas day NEWMARKET Bert Kent one of Newmarkets most colorful political figures died on Christmas Day A heart attack took the life of the fourtime mayor of Newmarket- He died at York County Hospital at the age of 51 Mr Kent bounced in and out of political life during the last 15 They both wound up on election night with votes After the re count Mr Kent polled to Mr 1429 William Albert Bert Kent was born and educated in Grey County He moved to with his older brother after the death of his mother He later moved to Ktrkland Lake where he worked underground in a gold mine During World War Mr Kent was a tank driving instructor at Camp Borden before serving in the Canadian But part of his basic training was served in Newmarket where he met and married the former Ina Mc Donald After his overseas service he returned to Newmarket and has resided here since Mrs Kent also served in the forces the during World War Mr Kent first entered Newmar ket politics in 1957 and was reelected as councillor for 1958 and He decided not to contest the elections and instead took a job as the towns bylaws enforcement of ficer His main role was in writing out parking tickets and it was at this job in that he received nation wide prominence Mr Kent as bylaws officer charged that the town police depart ment was cancelling parking tickets he had issued The controversy was never real ly resolved as it was buried in council committee meetings But the issue polevaulted Mr Kent into the political limelight again and he soundly thrashed incumbent councillor Harold for the seat of Mayor votes to 809 for the year 1962 His popularity continued and he received an acclamation for 1963 But for the election Mr Kent had two opponents In that election he almost doub led the vote of his two opponents He received votes while Fred Counter received 698 to former reeve Eddie Wrighlmans In the election for the 106566 term he narrowly defeated the then Councillor Clare Salisbury by A BERT KENT Experience will be missed was to take office as a member of the Newmarket council leaves the nineman council with only three members with previous municipal ex perience in the town and may force the mayor to shake up the new coun cils committee system Mr Kents seat will probably be filled by Fair who tied Mr Kent in the October election but lost the recount Each polled 1580 votes in the election but after recounting Mr Kent had 1435 and Mr Fair Next was Bruce Eves with Mr Fair is a political novice and would be unlikely to replace Mr Kent on the key executive committee recently established by the new Mayorelect Bob and councillors Aub Smith and Doris Blair are the only other members with past town experience Regional Councillor Ray and Councillor Bill Steele the budget chairman have East township council backgrounds Mr Fair said Monday he is in terested in a seat on council and Mayor Bob said he feels Mr Fair should replace Mr Kent Mayorelect said Mr Kents experience and background in municipal work will be missed by the new council He has already been a great deal of help in setting up the new council he said Anything Bert Kent did for the town he did because he felt it was right He always worked hard for the town said Mr Mayor Tom Surgeoner said He was the type of person who if he believed in a thing would fight for it all the way He didnt back down from anyone Former Reeve Sid Ixggc who served on council with Mr Kent said Although we frequently disagreed always knew where you stood with him He was outspoken but he fought for what he thought was right SNOWY SPILL and Reeve Evelyn Buck whose close alien had given the town two years of solid administration slugged it over rising tax bills and their effect on Auroras development When Hit dust cleared Mayor had emerged an overwhelming elec tion victor In Ihe new townships of King and veterans fought off the challenges of novices for the mayors seats Ken while Ken edged Margaret in King Dr George Burrows became the new Townships first mayor while in placid East Gladys Rolling won the top spot by acclamation THEWERA 1970 HIGHLIGHTS Top stories from the decades opening year Newmarket Aurora 7274024 JANUARY Carol Steven 19 fatally shot in East Heights home where she was a boarder Glen Fry 22 a resident in the home charged with noncapital murder Auroras North mission ary nurse to Biafra evacuated safely as Nigerian troops smash secessionist revolt Aurora police seek a pay hike they got a raise Former Newmarket mayor Bert Kents objection to Eagle St sen ior citizens complex may stall the project for a year says Mayor Tom Surgeoner It didnt Mr Kents fight failed FEBRUARY Huge crowd attends drug forum in Aurora and as a result Mount Albert physician John starts movement in county that re sults in realization of several ac tive drop in centres notably in Newmarket and Aurora and Cris is Intervention Service a success ful helpcentre for youth with problems The Glen Fry committed for trial on noncapital murder charge Aurora learns it may have senior citizens complex by fall It did not but the apartments should be ready next spring County councillors vote themsel ves a salary York County mill rate jumps slightly from despite hardline budget cut ting Secondary school teachers and trustees remain deadlocked on salary contract after nine meet ings MARCH r e Newmarket town engineer resigns charging Deputy Reeve Bruce Eves work ed against him Mayor Tom Sur geoner says loss of engineer brings town projects to an ab solute standstill Mr MacLellan says the deputy reeve was im pervious to facts and logic in discussions on town engineering matters Assistant engineer David McCaffrey also resigned Town later hired consultants at per week on an interim basis Holland Valley Conservation Au thority proposes million Pleasantville Dam recreation project Two children aged and NEXT WEEK mayors of and north York Region will Era what thoy futur holds for ana during two ytars or Crawford Toronto Port chief is to head York Region police force Doug Hofland of I entered his Arctic Cat snowmobile in the Ontario Snowmobile Racing Federations opening event of the season last weekend at and lost it in this spectacular spill Man in the fore ground just completing the comer doesnt realize is going on behind him For story see sports section White Photo NEWMARKET A former Met ro Sergeant of Detectives has been chosen chief of the York Region Po lice Department Bruce Allan Crawford was chosen over 25 applicants for the job Mr Crawford is presently chief of the Port of Toronto Police Depart ment and his appointment is effec tive Jan 1 He will be paid a salary of per year Mr Crawford joined the Metro police force in 1945 and rose to one of the top posts In that department be He is married with three child- and presently resides in Toronto A total of applicants were in terviewed by the Region of York Po lice Commission The final choice was made Mon day after Mr Crawford and two other applicants were interviewed Top priority to boundary NEWMARKET York Regions southern boundary question will be a priority item for two Intermunicip al committees that will begin meet ings in January Over the bitter objections of See SOUTH BOUNDARY page 13 BUCK GOES OUT WITH A BANG Hits council for confirming Young battle His final two years as mayor stormy ones as he continued his the police department and adversary Councillor Drew He sought reelection for the 196768 term but was defeated han dily by Mr During the next four years Mr the towns Hydro estate and kept a keen interest in the towns affairs His health began to fail and he was often admitted to York County Hospital for a kidney disorder He See KENT page AURORA Auroras maverick reeve bowed out in characteristic style last week directing a volley of criticism against Recreation Director Barry Young then being ruled out of order by Mayor Dick Reeve Evelyn Buck attending her last town council meeting she was defeated in the Oct elections said council should have extended Mr Youngs probation for an extra six months instead of confirming him as a permanent employee on Dec 14 It seems to me that this young man has some kind of idea about his function that doesnt coincide with the feelings council had when he was hired Reeve Buck charged Mr Young is inaccessible to town during evenings and weekends and spends more time in the Town Hall than in his office at the Community Centre the reeve claimed It looks to me like he thinks he has an executive directors job said Reeve Buck Recreation is not a to 5 job Hes not available after five oclock His home phone number lion committee Mayor Dick who sat quietly with other councillors as the reeve aired her complaints then said he agreed with some of her argu ments and said such problems would be handled directly by council next Council is assuming direct con trol of recreation in with Co uncillor Norm Stewart as committee chairman Some volunteer citizen par ticipation will be retained Reeve Buck then asked Council lor Pete Miller a recreation commit tee member to explain what Mr Young does between and 5 when all the kids are in school Councillor Miller suggested the reeve find out by attending recrea tion committee meetings I know the reeve has an axe to grind with the recreation director retorted Councillor Miller I dont think it should be discussed In open council The mayor however said such Reeve Buck was not present when council voted to confirm Mr Youngs employment on Dec Ear ly in that meeting in the reeves pre sence council had decided to dis cuss the matter in closed committee Later after Reeve Buck had departed for another meeting council decided to act on the matter that night Council then confirmed that ap pointment as Mr Young sat in the audience Reeve Buck said council should have discussed the matter In closed committee without Mr Youngs at tendance When we hired htm last May we were told it would save us money she recalled Immediately after he was hired a swimming pool supervisor and a playground director were hired Ho certainly didnt save us money Councillor Walt Davis then sug gested thai the reeve be ruled out of order fur publicly criticizing a town employee and Mayor con-