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r PAGg 2,, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1982, WHITBY FREE PRESS ONIP grant.... Port getting. a $500,000 shot-in-arm Port Whitby will get a $500,000 shot in the arm over the next year or so. At last week's meet- ing of Whitby Town Council's administra- tive committee, plann- ing director Bob Short said that the provincial government has given the town a $250,000 grant under the Ontario Neighbourhood Im- provement Program. The Town of Whitby will kick in another $250,000 to the project. Centre Ward Council- lor Barry Evans would like to see a series of public meetings held before so much as a penny of that money is spent. . "I propose we hold a series of public meet- ings to receive input into how best to spend the money," he said. However, he does point out that the grant presents one major problem. "It's not going to save us any money on roads," Evans said pointing out that the Port's roads have long needed major work. While Short indicated in his report that some town roads can be worked on, it is pointless to work on regional roads for one major reason. Evans points out that the grant will not mean improvement in the Port's sewers system. Because the sewers are built under the roads, it is pointless to work on the road unless work is also done on the sewer. Local man to stand trial MIDWAY DATSUN LTD. 1300 DUNDAS ST. E., WHITBY A Whitby businessman will stand trial in county court on charges of perjury and attempting to obstruct justice. Joseph Ottenbrite, the owner of Dtténbrite's Men's Wear on Brock Street South waived a preliminary hearing when he appeared in provipcial court last week. He was charged after a hearing was held into a dispute under the Landlord and Tenant Act in June. During that hearing, a tenant of a Brock Street North building alleged that his water was turned off by his landlord in an effort to get him to vacate his room. Ottenbrite will appear in assignment court later this month when a date for trial will be set. "Why do the roads when you can't build the sewers?" But, the grant may provide a means to seel Port Whitby to potential developers. "The grant should help us design projects that will attract firms such as Kesmárk to develop," Evans said. Last year, Kesmark Holdings Limited an- pounced.it plans a $200 million redevelopment of the harbor area at the end of Brock Street South. Their plans cail for the construction of a large hotel/condomi- nium complex, and other recreational and commercial marine facilities. But the project cannot even get off the ground until the Region of Dur- ham conipletes the Cor- bett Creek Pringle Creek Diversion Sewer, the construction of whiéh has been deferred for two years running. Evans said that both he and Mayor Bob At- tersley are anxious to do something to pressure the region into building. "He and I feel that we must get developmerit started to bring enough pressure on the region to build the sewers." In his report to the committee, planning director Short said that 20 per cent of the money maybe used for social and recreational ser- vices leaving a maxi- mum of 80 per cent to be spent on "hard ser- vices." "In brief, the town's application involved in- frastructure improve- ments (widening, road- work, storm sewers) to Dùfferin Street between Victoria and Front Streets to Front Street between Brock and Duf- ferin Streets as well as the development of a neighbourhood park on the town property south of Front.Street," Short said in his report. Another problem Evans points out is that the grant will not see the Brock Street South CNR overpass rebuilt. "I can't promise, as a local councillor, to put in the sewers because that is the region's res- ponsibilit," he said add- ing, "I can't promise, as a local councillor,-to see a new bridge built because that's a joint provincial and federal responsibility." But Evans said that he would like to see Port Whitby residents having some control over what's done with the $500,000. "I would like to see the public moulding the staff recommendation i- nstead of the other way round," he said. No dates have been set for any public meet- ings. *~ ib *~$ ~f * è:ê ,~,&.'»«è '4& 668-6828