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THE ERA JOHN Now is the time to protect our underground water The Sduth Lake Simcoe Conservation Author- division ity will embark this year on one of the most country projects it will ever undertake will begin work to determine fill and flood limits of all the streams in the headwater of the region When completed the project wfll provide f the Regions municipalities is directly depend- from the municipal governments in whose muni cipality it must work In view of the number of subdivides already pushing plans for rural estate projects in the Region we urge our municipal governments to do everything they can to assure speedy comple tion of this SLSCA project Regional staff are entitled to privacy In appointing a new engineering commis sioner last week York Regional Council proved beyond a doubt that there are times when it is essential to debate important matters behind closed doors In genera we feel free and open debate is the democratic responsibility of elected offi cials But it is equally incumbent on them to protect the privacy of their employees and last week Yorks leading politicians made a sham bles of that responsibility An engineering committee recommendation to appoint Robert Hodgson as commissioner of engineering was discussed in open council be fore the press and public In the process em barrassing criticism of Mr Hodgson was aired unnecessarily and despite councils eventual ap proval of his appointment by a vote it was a most unfair and unpleasant initiation of a man In fact the whole procedure used to submit the recommendation to council smacked of trick ery The report was not on councils agenda and is obliged to express its varying opinions c It also appeared that the committee was try ing to stifle dissent by pushing for an open de bate on the appointment Perhaps chairman Tony Roman and his colleagues felt critics would be intimidated by public debate and would with hold their objections Aurora Mayor Evelyn Buck rightly argued that a public discussion would be in the worst possible taste and said everyone including re gional staff is entitled to privacy in such cases Her motion for a closed discussion failed in an vote So with Mr Hodgson looking on Mayor Buck bitterly led criticism of his appointment When it became obvious objectors were not in timidated G e i a Mayor Joe Dales sug gested Mr Hodgson be excused As Mr Hodgson left Mayor Buck murmured A little late We are in no position to comment on Mr Hodgsons qualifications to be the Regions chief engineer That is not the issue Regional coun- Old Ontario house and a all present that criticism would come At that point council should have been fair to Mr Hodg son and excluded the press and public East Gwillimbury Mayor Gladys Rolling lam pooned proponents of a closed debate by refer ring to prior criticism of council going under ground to discuss key matters We can only assume she felt staying aboveground on this debate was worth the price of seeing Mr Hodg son belittled in public We do not believe council should have been denied the opportunity to criticize such appoint ments That is their right and part of their job But as Mayor Buck said personnel matters of this type should be discussed privately If regional councillors wish to condemn each other in public that too is their right for such criticism is an integral part of the territory of elected office But appointed staff are in a dif ferent category They cannot fight back THE Readers ERA This space ved far the comments of The Eras read se feel free to send yours along is that you include your name Disillusioned by library Dear Editor the Guy Silverman ON THE FRINGE The Worst Technology between those who have snowmobiles and who do not Slowly an increasing number of laws s being passed curtailing the use of spect property and people On the one hand there is a legitimate argu ment in favor of these machines They have creat ed a new industry and have provided a whole new dimension for the touristrecreation indus try New jobs have been opened up and old ones have become yearround in resort areas and not just seasonal The advent of the snowmobile has had important linkage effects the need for repair facilities distributors the manufacture of special clothing all this has led to a billion dol lar industry And it is a Canadian not only that but French Canadian invention All good stuff this so why are so many people upset by this machine and its beneficial fall out Right now expect that every thinks that I am about to launch into the usual attack on him or her and anger Is rising but hold on In part you are right but as much as I am wary of the snowmobile or more to the point some of the people who drive them after all you cant blame a machine only the person who oper ates it I dont think that alt the blame should be heaped on the snowmobllers shoulders Some of it has to be placed on the government the manufacturers and the marketing advertising agencies The government has to lake much of the credit if it can be so termed for the present snowmobile problem Had it had just a bit more foresight then right from the beginning laws would have been passed to insure that those who bought and operated the machines would at least act with some responsibility They could have in sured that the noise level allowed was not one that has been medically proven to cause serious hearing problems to the driver and annoyance to everyone else within ear shot They could have allowed properly owners real protection from the wire cutters and trespassers They could have enforced safety standards minimum driving ages speed and horse power limits could also have organized recreation areas for the use of and provided patrols They could have paid for this by selling licences by using some of the tax money from resorts built to serve And they should have organized driver testing before anyone received a licence Hut they didnt so now the government local and provincial with wisdom after the event is playing a catch up hall game trying to bring order into a situation in an incoherent ad hoc way to receive some ar rows In order tu make some quick bucks they produced a noisy unsafe polluting machine Now and machismo Their TV commercials emphasiz ed power speed all with the image of leaping machines which suggested that anyone who bo ught this or that snowmobile was rugged touch and daring After all the message said you drive the snowmobile flat out take it over humps race it around trees and up and down hills and to do this man you have to he macho The result was killed or Injured mid mill we if IlaiilH til guing at top speed along roads or What Is amazing lint no one would allow a to drive tar We all accept I ho need for rules and regulations irgnrdiiig car speed limits pollution line line honking horns ly fiiinns licencing and driver testing hi changed from emphasizing speed power ami Hie sex Image to an Image which gives some value to ily by driver Perhaps tic gm the major v hide for gelling the weeded out and and mm fillers could live If not in affection at I In anger I am already becoming disillusioned with the public facilities in this and Very interested in reading and books He has attended libraries in other areas and taken part and thoroughly en joyed the reading program con ducted by the public lib rary With my change in residence to Newmarket my son will be ineligible o attend school until consequently my wife capitalize on his reading interests through the Ncvmarket Public Lib rary facilities My wife took my son to the lib rary to enjoy the child- join others on a waiting list I think this is a gross injustice to a child dur ing critical stage in Ids life With the tack of junior kindergartens it public library loge but a rich to enjoy a Last fall I fell over In the asphalt it of the store where the sidewalk ends I reported these holes to J Schnntz the Plaza head office Mr Schmltz said they would have the holes patched up but so far nothing has been done This week one of my children was pushing a shopping cart to my home and the cart over turned Luckily not too many of the groceries were damaged just some eggs and a jar of peanut builer but this was all because of the ruts that were not fixed They ore dangerous know they plugs mufflers etc chasing agent and stock clerk Then some body to watch these two dont steal and well call htm an Recounting clerk Special garage equipment and the latest safety equipment for an other should just about do It Now we are ready for the opening day and it has only cost us the tax South Aurora Police garage will up costs Dear Editor Since when has any government ever run anything right and saved service the mayors then Wrights then regional councillors No they wo money for us payer but ral themselves Of us the taxpayer Im referring Garfield Wrights Im referring to Mr Open tetter to NORM of police vehicles bet youd be money Wants shavings at the end of year was his com- Cleaned up Id bet It would cost Dear Editor as much as now I think it is about top mechanics at time someone said per If we are something about the building might be i lolisheil It through efforts of group ami a pel containing the signal but wouldnt go tot this They are famous for purchasing rundown property they need for what It appear we the taxpayer need If we are lucky again this blunder will only cost or W0OM or opening day but we need of 60000 pass Dixon Pencil I refer to the wood shavings that their smoke stacks expel into Drive I noticed that they have put up a Drive but unfortunate ly the wind picks up these shavings and they arc blown all over grass sidewalks and on to Davis Drive Isnl It about time did something about this tires batteries tools for By Roy The En of late ha been presenting a number of features on local history The Lloyd- town Rebellion The Timothy St trading free and the Old Pine Fort at Holland Landing to name a few items Personally Im fascinated and have begun some rudimentary investigations into our col orful past This has created a problem though I tend to look at todays news and compare It with those hairy old days when Tim Rogers and the guys were settling The Hub Vet there are some comparisons Tim and bis Pennsylvania Quakers trekked here overland through terrible winters and with- The things that count haven 1 changed much in 150 years In the big smoke It Is done in a heated On a warm June night a long time ago Tim bedded himself down on a hillside here where The Registry Office now Hands on Main St and decided this would be a good place to build a ostomy Today the DelZottoa and arenas and for the of attracting from Metro and Where Is that pioneering excitement today days right here In York Region In to sharpen their bargaining Today the new trading tree Is a lion dollar plaza out at and Davis Drive which If It ever gets built will distract a great many Metrobound shoppers A quote from The History of Newmarket has Tim Rogers and a group of his cronies pass ing a resolution to maintain the original meet ing house and make such repairs as necessary Last year our council pissed similar legislation renovating the municipal buildings and nutting a new slant In clerk Grant mights office Last week of course a miniature Km carried editorial in rail next to a proper engine house we want an alarm hell and we hope the day Is not tar other crises similar to those faced by our hub time fire department The recent controversy here and In other areas concerning wandering dogs ripped garb age bags and messy lawns appears to have had lis beginnings back In 1BSB of that era spake thualyi cows pigs and poultry that noth ing was being done to prevent these Itinerant animals from straying abroad to fill their months with things intended for humans and now the public is more than ever disturbed by bellowing cow screeching goose and grunt ing hog A very sarcastic letter was published In which the writer suggested that If the hogs dogs and other cattle could be Impressed with the dignity of the he was sure they would not take II be riles with the sidewalks to convert litem Into badly storked farmyard therefore why not appoint an assistant pound- keeper or Inspector secretory I i limps proponents of a ward system in tin recent elections were guided by the council of I MO At that time It was decided to elevate the vlltago of Newmarket to town stilus In a petition to this affect to the 1 mint inventor they proposed three wards All east of tho railroad to bo known as St Georges Ward west of tho railroad south of Street to be St Andrews Ward west of lite and north of Lot St to be St Pat ricks Word Somewhere along the way the ring again and the crescendo of merriment mounted with the momenta Slelghloads of young people from the country slipped along the snowy streets while heard the patriotic airs played by the New market Brass Band Substitute snowmobiles there and you come pretty clue to the present wo can peruse the reports of the towns birthday party on New Years There were no electric lights only the New Years Eve occasion of eyes concerned the York County Hospital and although the situation la not altogether sim ilar well leave It to you to decide In the hospital quartan had become so cramped that a committee was appointed and then A big Job lay before the direct ors to raise money Several unsuccessful at tempts were made but failure seemed face them Has a familiar ring doesnt lit In they were lucky and found the toads to enlarge 1 wonder If well be is lucky The next time you toss aside tht weekly with the comment Not damn thing week remember youre seeing history tilt making