The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Vol. 16, No.49 Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1986 28 pages El E The Whitby Public Library Board will be meeting next week to discuss the hiring of a new head librarian. The hiring is necessary after the board received the resignation of Margaret McFayden who has held the chief librarian position for almost the past six years. Jack Bird, chairman of thebboard, was unavailable for com- ments on the resignation. Fire destroys partially-built homes An early morning fire in Whit- by Monday caused $350,000 damage to four homes under con- struction, demolishing two of them and causing considerable smoke and fire damage to the other two. The four homes were on Bassett Blvd. in the Heritage Estates subdivision. Michael Zygocki, an Oshawa builder, owns the subdivision located just south of Manning Rd. and west of Garden St. The cause of the fire is believed to be a welder's cutting torch used in one of the two houses which were destroyed. "We just noticed smoke coming out of the garage and within minutes the whole house was on fire," said Ed Albert, a laborer at the site for contractor John Swanson. Strong winds also fanned flames that reached straw spread on the floors of the garages of the homes which were demolished. Whitby deputy fire chief Tony VanDoleweerd said the depar- tment received the alarm at 9:30 a.m. Workers at the site had previously tried to extinguish the fire. Durham regional police said there were no injuries in the fire. But VanDoleweerd said "we un- derstand" the welder received minor burns. It took firefighters from both the Thickson Rd. and Brock St. stations an hour to get the fire SEEPAGE8 FIRE DESTROYED two homes and damaged two others said to have started in what was a home west of the house in Heritage Estates in Whitby Monday morning. The fire, shown at left above, was fanned by a strong easterly wind. Bluegrass cheque criticized Use of a $500,000 cheque from Durham Region to try and help the región non-profit housing corporation came under severe criticism by a few members of regional council last week. Chairman .Gary Herrema and chief ad- ministrative officer Don Evans admitted at the finance session of coun- cil that last month they authorized the cheque. Herema said it was done was borrowing $4.6 milion for th'e cor- poration, Oshawa coun- cillor Ed Kolodzie lear- ned from finance chairman Jim Witty, who is also secretary- treasurer of the cor- poration, that a cheque had been issued. Witty was absent when the cheque was authorized, but said he "was aware of what may occur." "If there's anyone to blame, it's me," said Herrema. He explained that "we wanted to close the deal" on the proper- ty owned by Mark- borough ProperLies Ltd. Solicitor for the region, Shan Jain,.advised the housing corporation to produce a cheque for proof of funds. "It was to protect the interests of the residen- ts of the region," added Herrema. Herrema and Evans requisitioned the cheque from jack Gartley, the region's finance com- missioner. "I'm sorry our finan- ce commissioner was put on the hot seat," commented Beal. She wants the legality of what was done in- vestigated. Lawson to chair school oard- to help the corporation Trustees from Ajax ved on a number of programs for children know how much time close a land deal for the and Uxbridge will have other board commit- with special . needs the job will take but is Bluegrass townshouse the two top spots on the tees. She has also which have created prepared to give it S development in Whitby. Durham Board of represented the board higher costs and a need whatever time it needs. However, the deal didn't Education for 1987. on the Association of for additional space at a Ruth Lafarga, former go through. At Monday night's Large School Boards of time when there was chairman of the board, Newcastle councillors meeting Sandy Lawson, Ontario. already local growth in worked full-time in the Ann Cowman and from Ajax, and Heather Addressing the board programs. position. pages Pauline Beal asked why Beveridge, from Ux- after defeating "In 1987 we must meet the region was giving bridge, were elected by Pickering trustee Lorna the challenge for staff Beveridge defeated 20 money to what is sup- fellow trustees as Murphy, she said "the and resources," she Oshawa trustee Cathy posed to be an "outside chairman and vice- board must jealously said. Accommodation O'Flynn for vice- agency." chairman of the board, guard the right to local will be a major concern chairman, replacing "How can we, as a respectively. autonomy..." for her as chairman, she Whitby trustee Ian region, give an outside Lawson, a trustee sin- Recent government added. Brown who has had the agency monies?" asked ce 1982, has been chair- bills, she said, had taxed The mother of two position for two years. Beal. man of the finance the system. She named children, one at univer- Beveridge was After 'Cowman had committee for the last a nuniber of provincial sity, one in high school, nominated by Whitby 7 7first asked if the region two years and has ser- initiatives such as says she does not yet trustee, Pat Bowman. ç>â w. Board to discuss new head of library following resignation