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PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1977, WHITBY FREE PRESS w h itby SERV ING OVER 28,000 READERS r Published every Wednesday by lM.B.M. Publishing and Photography inc. Member of the Better Business Bureau of Toronto The Free Press Building Voice of the County Town Mike Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor 121 Brock Street North, The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby resident Whitby, Ontario Community Editor - Brian Winter Contributing Editor - Jim Qu"l Production Manager - Marje Burgess Display Advertising ManagerL Robin Lyon Classified Ad Manager g Marlene Byrom Circulation Manager - Sharon Lyon Box 206, Wliitby. Mailing Permit No. 460 Phone 668-6111. Restructure regional water billing system says Cafik EDITOR'S NOTE Ontario Riding MP Norrn Cafik has entered the water and sewer bill controversy in Whitby. The following is a letter he sent to Regional Chairman Walter Beath, outlining his views on the subject: Dear Walter: Re: Water and Sewer Rates As you are no doubt fully aware, large num- bers of rny constituents in various parts of this Riding are deeply dis- turbed about recent Regional billings for water and sewer charges. Their agitation is so intense that I believe the Region of Durham should reconsider the whole question. The intensity of public concern is such that if not properly responded to, it could jeopardize the very existence of the Region itself and the credibility of all local elected officials. As you know, Mr. Chairman, this whole question is entirely out- side of Federal jurisdic- tion and for this reason, I have been reluctant to become directly involved. However, as a Federal Member of Parliamnent, feel it incumbent upon me to raise my voice on behalf of the people I represent on this impor- tant and serious question. I have recently held meetings with the Ajax and Uxbridge councils dealing with a whole broad range of subjects, not the least of which was discussions in respect to billings for water and sewage services. At that time I proposed certain actions that I felt should be taken, and I wish to repeat them directly to you through this letter. Part of the aggravation appears to stem from two sources. Firstly, the marriage of sewer and water rates into one billing·creates the impres- sion that the total billing is for water alone and; secondly, it is my under- standing that formerly some municipalities billed for water on the basis of estimated con- sumption and had nlot for long periods taken meter readings and adjust- ed billings accordingly-. These estimates in the past were, in many instances, below the actual consumption and with the new bijling systemi being based on actual meter readings, the Region of Durham has combined into the current billing a catch-up charge for water consumed in previous years. These two factors have created the impression (false I hope) that the recent billing was a charge that residents could expect to receive on a continuing basis; whereas the facts appear to be that such is not the case. Residents are also upset, of course, when they realize that the sewage charges in the past were included in municipal taxes and now they will be charged through their water bill - they feel they have been gypped because their municipal taxes have not decreased as a result of the extraction of the sewage charge. It also appears that the billing system itself has been fouled-up, whether through computer error or otherwise I do not know, but the discre- pancy in billing between one residence and another is so great as to be beyond belief. I know of constituents whose new billing through the Region has increased as much as No gross EDITOR'S NOTE The following is a statement made to Durham Regional Council last Wednesday by Oshawa Councillor John Aker on behalf of the regional finance committ- ee, regprding the sewer and water bills in Whitby. - Maydr Jim Gartshore pushed for and got an agreement from the finance committee to consider giving a credit to people who moved into homes in Whitby after Jar. 1, 1976. The extended billing date of April 11 was obtained primarily as a result of a request by Mayor Gartshore. Councillor Aker, in his statement, puts forth the finance committee's view- point on the water and sewer bill situation-. "The finance committee is very concerned about the apparent dissatisfac- tion expressed by ouir water and sewer customers at the two public meetings held in Whitby in the last ten days with respect to the final 1976 bis they have recently received. The entire 196sanitary ten times, and some teel they are going to have to sell their homes and move out in order to survive. Clearly, something is wrong. In light of the factors I have noted above, and others, I would propose the following action be taken: 1. Cancel all existing billings and replace the present bills, as an interimn measure, with an estimated billing which bears some reasonable relationship to previous water bills. 2. Conduct an informa- tional program via direct mail to all businesses and residents explaining the whole new approach and allaying their fears as to excessive charges in the future. 3. Conduct a detailed analysis of the former billings to ascertain errors and correct them. 4. Restructure the billing system so that water consumption and sewage charges are more clearly shown as separate items on the invoice. 5. Amortize the catch- up charges over the balance of the year. I understand in the case of many residents, following errors in1 sewer surcharge was dis- tributed over the last two bills sent out for 1976 with the major portion of the sewer charge included on the last bill. Many customers do not fully understand this situation and are virtually flooding our staff with inquiries by telephone, letters and in person. Accordingly, there is a backlog of inquiries that have not been responded to. Staff estimate that it will be several weeks be- fore all of these inquiries have beenranswered. "Yesterday, (March 8) No thoug EDITOR'S NOTE The following is a letter sent to the Toronto Star and the Region of Durham by the home owners of Durham Con- dominium Corporation No. 31, regarding the regional water and sewer buIs. The letter was sub- mitted to the Free Press by H. Jones, a member of the corporation. Sirs.: On behalf of ail unit owners of Durham Condominium Corpora- tion No. 31 and Whitby Home Owners in general. We would like to com- the meter reading, it has been determined that the previously estimated usage was below the actual usage and there- fore, even under old rates for water consump- tion, there is an amount outstanding. In such cases I believe a separate bill should be submitted to avoid the confusion which presently exists, offering the opportunity of paying back charges over a twelve-month period. If this htter course is followed, I think it would be unfair if an interest charge were levied on those who opted to pay over twelve months. I say this in light of the fact that the individual residents were unaware that they had been improperly billed in the past. The amortization of such payments with- out interest, ini my view, is eminently reasonable in light of the fact that the Region or individual municipalities must bear the responsibility for the shortfall in billing. The serio'sness of the present situation is not confined to the residen- tial population. From billing say- regional stait met witfl Mayor Gartshore and other Whitby Councillors to discuss the billing situation in the town. As a resuit of this meeting, the finance committee would now like to assure the public and the other members of regional council that: (1) Every effort will be made to deal with every inquiry on an individual basisas prompt- ly and efficiently as possible. (2) Clearing this back- log of inquiries will take staff several weeks and reports I have received, the increases to, the business community for water and sewage charges appear to be equally excessive, and I have .grave fears that if this Region will begin to give consideration to moving out. The adverse impact of the present publicity provides a serious disin- centive to the location of industry in this area in the future. Over the years, the Region and municipalities have ex- pended a great deal of effort to provide incen- tives to draw industry into our area, and all of this good work in the past cou.d beundermined through the present handling of this crisis. The proposals I am making in this letter may seern somewhat severe. However, I think the magnitLude of the prob- lem is so great as to warrant such drastic measures. Unless some- thing is done the munici- palities of the Region and itself will, in my view, suffer severely. The cre- dibility of our municipal institutions is on the line in this question, and something must be done im mediately. s finance inerefore, it necessary, the due date will be extended on ail outstand- ing inquiries that have not been dealt with by the current payrnent due date. (3) There are no gross errors in billing as lias been suggested in certain articles appearing in local newspapers. We have been assured by staff that billing errors are less than 1% of the total billing. (4) Staff will be studying the impact of the new regional uniform rate structures on the rht to retired home mena your isoarca or Directors or who ever was directly responsible for subsequently implement- ing the new Sewer rate structure. Not only are the charges as quoted in the Totonto Star of the York Durham Section exorbi- tant but totally unrealistic and ludicrous. No thought could possibly have been given to, Retired home Owners with fixed incomes, or people who can at least afford to pay this ridiculous and completely, sublime Sewer charge. AItnougI we are aware you are within the letter of the law, it is about time, that this type of charge is taken to the general public for approval. We as Durham Tax payers demand to know whom was responsible for passing and implementing this charge. Listed are examples of hideous sewer charges: Whitby resident No. 1 Total Bill $224.64 Service charge $12.43 - 6% of bill. Water charge $54.14 I sincerely hope that you and the, Region wîll give consideration to the proposals I have made in this letter. Quite evidently, there arehia number of ways in which this question could be deait with and I arn not so presumptious as to believe that my proposals are the only ones that should be considered, but there is no doubt that something must be done to alleviate the alienation and frustration that is felt by so many in this area. I hope that my proposals may be helpful to you and your council in dealing with this difficult question. With best personal good wishes, I am, Yours sincerely, Norm âafik, M.P. Ontarid Riding Thank - you Dear mie: On behalf of al] who were involved in Parent Activity Day, I would like to thank you for carrying advance notice of the day and for the photo/story carried in the February 23rd edition. Neil Simpson, DETA P.R. Chairman chairman various classes of rate- payers once the 1976 actual revenues are finalized by the end of March. The study find- ings will be made available to the regional finance cornmittee and regional council by approximately May 15th. At that tirne, council will have the opportunity to adjust for inequities, if any, in the rate structure. John Aker, Chairman, Regional Finance Committee >wners - 24$ of bill. Sewer charge $170.50 - 70% of bil. Whitby residentNo. 2 Total Bill $89.22 Service charge $ 12.43 - 14% of bill. Water charge $15.15 - i7%of bill. Sewer charge $61 .64 - 69% of bill. In conclusion we feel that everyone should rebutailthis Sewer Charge. Regards, Durham Corp. No. 31, P.O. Box 131, Whitby,