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ice NEWMARKET The York Regional Board of Commissioners of Police said it is totally unaware of the basis for the allegations of police misconduct according to a press release issued Monday The board wishes to reaffirm its confidence in the members of the force and to indicate that no cases of misconduct have been brought to the boards attention which have not been dealt with in an acceptable manner said the release This comes shortly after All York Centre read a letter from the York North Law Association in the Ontario Legislature last Thursday and asked for an investigation into the allegations of misconduct contained in the letter Ray a member of the board of police commissioners said he goes along 100 per cent with the boards decision to welcome an investigation Mr spoke out against remarks made by Chief Crawford in an article in the Toronto Sun The chief apparently told a Sun reporter he should investigate some lawyers Mr Twinney said the police chief has no right or authority to say he will investigate certain lawyers That sort of remark is typical of Chief Crawford said Mr Twinney Whenever he or his force is criticized he attacks to take the pressure off According to Mr Chief Crawford is tarring all lawyers with the same brush GEORGfNA PRIVATE BILL Both sides claim victory TORONTO The Township controversy continues with both sides claiming victory following a provincial justice committee decision here Thursday Trie committee amended a bill to legalize ward boundaries that were first introduced according to council through an administrative error in July I When the committee was through late Thursday evening the ward boundary changes had been approved but only ef fective in the next municipal election The debate now focuses on court action to overthrow the December municipal election Council opponent Mildred Holmes said approval of the bill as proposed would have eliminated a major portion of a writ brought against the township by Sutton resident Bob Garden Instead the committee made a move that could have been achieved easier through the Ontario Municipal Board she said The amended bill also means that Councillors Howard Shillington and Bruce Welch in Wards and 2 are sitting illegally according to Sutton resident Larry Dolson another critic of council According to Mayor George Burrows however the com mittee decision leaves the situation unchanged Council is a facto recognized council until proven otherwise he told The Era In the two weeks between the first justice committee meeting and the session during which the amendment was accepted there was a lot of legal investigation taking place and this is what they came up with said the mayor Noting that the only loss to council is the retroactive clause Mayor Burrows added This is one of the hurdles out of way Councillor John McLean however doesnt agree Opposed to the private bill from the beginning he said council achieved nothing through the bill except wasting taxpayers money Its just been a total waste of money he noted I think its disgusting that they spend money the way they do Councillor meanwhile described the committee amendment as something as a compromise but said it has no effect on his position as a councillor Im no different than I was ago he said admitting However that theres some confusion here Everybody has a different interpretation of it the committee decision Even the opinions of justice committee members differ York Centre MPP Alf Stong said the council is not illegal at the moment Its deemed to be legally until proven otherwise he explained Sunday A decision on the legality of the ward boundaries will come in early February when Judge Ward Allen will conduct a county court trial on the Garden to overturn last Decembers municipal election The action goes to trial Feb 6 According to a spokesman for DurhamYork MPP William Newman a legislative counsel has already said the lawsuit would have to succeed on the point of the illegal wards Under such an in terpretation the county court judge would have to declare the election illegal the official in Mr Newmans office said The committee decision which now goes back to the legislature for routine second and third reading acknowledges the possibility that the judge may overturn the December election Any new election the committee decided will be carried out under the new boundaries If no new election is or dered the ward boundaries take effect with the regular election in The committee regularized the ward for the purpose of holding an election explained Councillor Our position hasnt changed from wnat it was a week ago Were simply de facto councillors Thats the situation until the judge hears the case in February Although not a member of the justice committee Mr Newman proposed the amend ment that was finally accepted Mr Stong presented the amendment after Mr Newman said retroactive approval of the ward boundaries would in fluence the court case Once the province approved the ward boundaries dating back to before the election the judge would have to accept the boundaries as legally existing on the election date Mr Newman said The matter now before the court would be dealt with one way if the bill is passed and another way if the bill is not passed Mr Newman argued In proposing the amend merit Mr Stong said Im taking it on face value that an administrative error was made Hi A VOL NO PAGES A Since 1 South Snore DECEMBER PIONEERING POPULAR Georgina Township went back to the early days of Con federation Sunday when the Georgina Village Museum staged Its annual oldfashioned Christmas tea A large turnout was on hand to hear a country choir and sample goodies Elisabeth left and Linda Bennet were in traditional dress as they viewed some of the offerings In the country store For more photos turn to page Three trustees appear in the race for school By PAUL HUNT Era reporter AURORA Its anybodys guess as to who the chairman of the York County Board of Education will be according to a survey conducted recently by The Era Most trustees said they either hadnt made up their minds who they will vote for next Monday when the board holds its election for the chairman and vicechairman positions or they declined to say who they are going to vote for One exception is Aurora trustee Norm who isnt sure for whom he is going to vote but is sure who he isnt going to vote for I can tell you I wont vote for any of them that voted for that contract the new secon dary teachers contract ratified by the board last week he said I was going to vote for separate school representative John Stephens but after he voted in favor of the contract I Just cant support him Reports indicate that the current vicechairman Quirk Markham trustee Donald Cousens and Mr Stephens plan on throwing their hats into the ring and will be vying for the chairmans post Mrs Quirk said the reason she is running for the post ia she feels she has learned a lot from being vicechairman have been vicechairman for the past year which has given me the opportunity to learn how to be chairman she said a Also a chairman has to have the time to give leadership and be prepared to represent the board at the ministry level and other areas which require strong representation from the board She said the school board needs a chairman who is In terested in education but I guess shouldnt say that because it implies the other candidates arent Stephens who ran for chairman last year but was defeated by Craig Cribar cited a lack of togetherness on the part of the board as the main reason he Is running again Its about time the trustees Township faced with deficit as Pefferlaw sale is stalled KESWICK Delays in the sale of the municipal building could force Georgina Township into a deficit position going into next years budget township financial chairman Howard Shillington admitted Monday His comments came after Councillor John McLean questioned an earlier Era story in which Councillor Shillington said the township hoped for a balanced budget by the end of the year heading towards a major deficit Councillor McLean charged While Councillor McLean said the expected revenue from the sale of the municipal building wont be in the townships hands by the end of the year Coun cillor Shillington set the figure even higher The property sold for about he said and the town ship has received a down payment the sale agreement expired about two weeks ago said Councillor Shillington but the township is expected to grant an extension on the closure While the extension will mean an additional down payment Councillor Shillington said he doesnt expect the full purchase to be completed by the end of the year Chamber holds emergency meeting KESWICK The Georgian dumber of Commerce Monday night was expected to discuss the possibility of flekUag a slate of candidates in the next municipal Held at Keswick arena Mondays emergency chamber meeting was called to dlscnss the of the chamber In Georgia Town- This could put us into a deficit situation he noted At the same time the Keswick councillor said there is little danger of the sale railing through Hie building is being pur chased by a man who is working with several com panies to complete arrangements for the property Its just taking him a little longer than he anticipated noted Councillor Until the Pefferlaw problem said Councillor Shillington the township was expected to end with a surplus Going into the township a deficit a ire that Councillor McLean maintains still exists Trial deficit has now been eliminated responded Coun cillor but even if it still was on the books Id feel pretty good about it since we started out from a deficit at the end of started working together as unit he said He also said the workings of the chairmans committee arent too pleasing The chairmans committee comprised of the board chair man vicechairman and a member meets a week or so before the actual board meeting to compile the agenda for board meetings and make specific recommendations to the board on various matters- That body should be giving some direction to the board at least more so than they have been said Mr Stephens Its about time we had some peace in the family he added Mr Cousens also had his sights set on the chairmans Job last year but withdrew citing pressures of business He said he feds he has the necessary experience both as a businessman and a Presbyterian minister to handle the Job efficiently Due to my involvement in the church and my business Im constantly in- the process of running meetings and also have quite a commitment to draw the board together so they can work mom effectively he said He said he would like to sea the hoard restructure standing committees In the past they have boon doing their own thing and I think they should report to the board more and not operate so much in isolation he said He said he would bring to chairmans post a practical approach to getting things done Board chairman Craig Cribar of Newmarket said he has ho plans to run for chairman this time around But if the board decides to offer me the job again I wont refuse it As far as can be determined Stouffville trustee Harry Bowes is the only trustee seeking the Job of vicechairman I NEWMARKET 20 CENTS Mothers launch drive for funds A group of Newmarket mothers is launching a drive to raise fands for the Maple Leaf School program For see page A2 and Toronto radio per sonality John MeFadyea win soon make on the big screen A feature appears on page AS BmI arrives this we This week Era introduces n new feature highlighting businesses throughout northern York The first edition of Business Beat appears on page CM if despite charges Browndale Is con tinuing its in Newmarket and Ridges laying of frand charges against fear of principals Details on pageCll Cooks bull A King Township ball has captured top in western Canada story on the pride of former King Township reeve Gordon Cooks herd Is on page Bit Lots of letters from Era readers Era renders are In fine form this week with letters to the editor n tonka ranging from ranking and fundrsisiag to Santa Clans nnd ecology Tneyre so pages At and AS Tiger coach Its been n week on the area spurts scene Highlight the on ice nut In the front office with Aurora Tigers conch Karl resigUuf Em sports editor Find takes nn indepth look at the controversy sat page Bl Combined customs for new Canadians Cone in York Region time far ethnic groups to nurk their awn traditions while embracing some of tin newfnnnd Christmas customs of ndnptoi land Photo and story on pnge Cs clinic Huron Heights Secondary Schools Referees BuskttauU this past we has been rated Details on page DIRECTORY Billboard Firm News Georgina social Huron HlUan MaryMcGoawi Albert At Bit M At Satin High nsws WllUamsnows Bit Bit V J I