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Council Columu By COUNCILLOR BARRY EVANS Centre Ward By the time you read this article, council will be in the final stages of budget discussions and will have a fairly accurate prediction of this year's tax in- crease. Over the past years the Town of Whitby has had favourable growth and a resultant lower tax in- crease than neighbouring municipalities. In 1981, Whitby continued to lead, the Region in growth, and council is confident that the 1982 tax increase will continue to be among the lowest in the region. Your council has also managed to finalize its budget earlier than other neighbours, enabling it to call for tenders on construction projects before con- tractors become involved with other municipalities. Over the next month council will be considering the extent of future commercial development in the Dundas-Thickson area. A meeting was held on January 28 in the Town Hall, and a further public meeting is to be held on February 18. If council sees fit to permit full development in the Dundas- Thickson area, there is a possibility that the size of the future commercial site at Garden and Rossland will be reduced. Apparently, the Durham Region Official Plan permits 1.7 million square feet of commercial space in Whitby, and current proposals would exceed that capacity by 158,000 square feet. The decision council makes will have an important impact on commercial growth for the next 20 years. At my request, town staff is investigating projects for community service orders. If a person is placed on probation after being found guilty of a criminal offence, one of the terms of probation may be that the offender is required to perform a set number of hours of community service. This program can have a beneficial rehabilitative effect, but it is im- portant that the service be worthwhile and nean- ingful. It is hoped that our staff and council will bë able to assist the Probation Service with this study, and help offenders add useful service to themselves and their community. The Region's recent decision to defer the Port Whitby sewers came as a great disappointment. Each year that this project is delayed the cost spirals through inflation. It appears now that the Region will only approve the sewers if a major development is guaranteed insthe Port.a In the meantime, the residents of the oldest portion of our town must suffer with the inadequàte system now existing. In future columns, other council members will discuss the issues as they see them. You are welcome to contact your councillors at any time and voice your concerns. 207 OUR ENTIR FOR THE M FEBRU INCLUDING SA ERACrf'JwAb Pashions126 "To-morrow 's Fashions To-day" VISA 416-668-1266 116 Brock Street South Whitby, Ontario LN 4J8 WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982, PAGE 5 Library board wants $742,000 says staff salaries not competitive The Whitby Public Library Board is seeking the town's ap- proval to spend just over $742,000 this year. At last ,week's meet- ing of Whitby Town Council's ad hoc budget committee, board chair- man Jack Bird made the request, which represents a 17.6 per cent increase over last year. The request falls into three areas: $499,764 for current operations; $32,060 for the newly formed community in- formation service; and $210,634 for capital ex- penditures. Included in the capital budget request is $174,760 for a book- mobile. This request was. deferred in last year's budget delibera- tion and may be cut again in an effort to cut costs. Bird told the ad hoc committee that the library has just over 13,600 members which represents 38 per cent of the town's population. The chairman said that with the town's six per cent growth last year, the library is "one of the first contacts new residents have in the town." He pointed out that 60.5 per cent of the budget is to cover wages, salaries and benefits. However, Bird claimed that the board is experiencing pro- blems in staffing because the pay scales are not attractive. Average library board salaries, he main- tained, are 17.4 per cent behind the town and 27 per cent behind area library boards, exclud- ing Oshawa's. A class one librarian has a starting rate in Whitby of $13,000 and a maximum of $15,600. "The top of our scale is six per cent below the starting rate of other libraries," Bird said. He went on to say that a class one librarian, a department head, can earn between $14,300 adn $17,160 a year. He pointed out that a laborer with the town earns $18,000.ý Both of these positions require both a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a master of library arts (M.L.S.) degree from a recognized university. Bird said that the dif- ficulty in attracting staff is being countered by the board by intro- ducing 12 to 16 per cent pay raises this year. "It's not that much ahead of inflation," he said. While documented, proof is not available, Bird believes that staff has been lost because of the poor wage scales. West Ward Councillor Joe Bugelli, themayor's desgignate on the library board, pointed outihat salaries are not dictated by council policy and are the sole jurisdiction of the library board. Bird also said that the town's growth justifies the purchasing of a bookmobile at this time. He told the committee that the vehicle's life expectancy was eight to ten years, not the three to five years that was believed last year. The town's growth areas are also located at an inconvenient dis- tance from either the main branch doWntown 'or the Brooklin branch. "A bookmobile is a very efficient answer to the problem of serving a growing and scattered population," the board said in its budget Grease fire causes $290OOO, damage, A grease fire in a Frost Drive home caused about $2,000 damiage last week. According to a spokesman for the Whitby Fire Depart-* ment, a fire broke out in the kitchèn of Norman Ross's home at 96 Frost Drive last Wednesday morning. The fire was started by grease from a deep fryer. Eric Ross, 19, was taken to hospital suf- fering second and third degree burns on his ar- ms, the spokesman said. He added that fthe fire- was containedi to the kitchen and no-.other part of the house was damaged. presentation. The board estimates the cost of the vehicle and its stock and equip- ment at $101,510. They also wish to construct a garage costing $52,000 and are seeking $21,250 in operating expenses for six months. While the town will provide the lion's share of the library's revenue, the board also expects to receive about $73,000 per capita grant from the provincial govern- ment. They also expect to raise $10,000 from fines and fees; $1,500 from projector fees and $15,696 from the copier service. A firm decision on whether or not the library's request will be granted is expected to be made at the budget discussions being held this week. Those recommenda- tions Will then go to Whitby Town Council at its meeting next Mon- dày night. A g, 1k The choice is yours. You can get stuck in traffic jams and get frazzled in parking lots ... or get where you want to go with GO Transit. GO Trains and buses are fast, convenient and have schedules to suit you. Next time you're in traffic, instead of in transit, remember GO Transit. For information on timetables and fares call GO Transit at 579-4224 OR 1-800-268-1983 Toll Free Hon. William G. Davis. Hon. James Snow. Premier . Minister L H. Parsons. A. F. Leach, Chairman Managing Director PRIIIT111G tr vr BEAT.THE BLUES AND INFLATION & JOIN US IN OUR 6TH ANNIVERSARY UN TRAFFIC.aTOR UN' TR'ANSIT 0OFF, IE STOCK IONTH OF JARY LE TAGGED