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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1988, PAGE 7 PAGE SEVEN 'Il.t "YOU TOO CAN HELP RUN CITY HALL" This week's paper carries an ad from the Town of Whitby for positions on its Boards and Committees, specifically LACAC, the BIA Board of Management, Fence Viewers, Property Standards Committee, Committee of Adjustment, Cemetery Board, and the Library Board. The ad (on page 15) specifies the functions and term of each appointment but doesn't tell ow many positions are available. Applications will be received until next Wednesday. Forms can be obtained from the clerk's depart- ment at Town Hall or if more convenient, we have some extra copies at the Free Press. Three of these committees play a vital role in determining the character of our community. The library board is responsible for the full operation of the library within a budget approved annually by council and as such is a vital part of the cultural framework of the community. It has six members, only three of which are appointed by council. These are all up for grabs but I would expect at least some of the incumbents will reapply. The LACAC which is short for Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee is set up under provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act to do - well, just as its name says - to advise council on matters of local architectural conservation. The committee has 14 members and six of these are up for appointment this year. The Board of Management of the Downtown Business Improvement Area has perhaps the most visible role of these committees in determining Whitby's character. The importance of the downtown was evident in the interviews we conducted with the council candidates before the election. Virtually all, even those who couldn't give a whit about heritage, identified the character of the downtown as an essential element of the identity of this town. All of those who had moved to Whitby in the last twenty years or so gave that character as a key element in choosing Whitby. The BIA consists of all the businesses within a geogra- phical area defined by the Town as "Downtown". The Board of Management administers the expenditure of a special tax levy on these businesses to "beautify and maintain ...and to promote the area as a business and shopping centre." The Board has six business members and all positions are open, but three incumbents are likely to apply for reappointment. Unfortunately, the manner is which these Boards and Committees are appointed has more to do with politics than qualifications or ability. With the BIA, it would seem appropriate that the Board be responsible to the downtown businesses who pay the $90+ thousand dollars for its budget, but it isn't. It is appointed by Council and therefore is responsible to Council. Past appointments have been made without consultation with even the Chairman or manager of the BIA. In the case of LACAC, one would like to think that an advisory body on architectural heritage was composed of the most knowledgable people in the field, but instead, Council has appointed those it considers least likely to make waves. That's why 'rve never been on LACAC. People assume that with my knowledge and involvement that I would, almost automatically, be on LACAC - would that it were true. We are a community with a proud history going back to the early eighteen hundreds. We are also the "County Town." The remaining buildings of these periods are the link to that proud heritage and they need protection. Several key buildings have been demolished in the last few years and, in most cases, LACAC wasn't even consulted. It should have been - it has a mandate under provincial law to advise council - what Council does with that advice is their choice but they should at the very least be willing te listen. Perhaps last week's election may have loosened things up a bit. The election of Lynda Buffett, founder of the Heritage Advisory group, is a significant addition to council, and Dennis Fox, the other new member, has been fighting for more community input for years. Although the rest got re-elected, they experienced a growing unease at the pace and direction of development. Council avoided the anti-deve- lopment trend that swept other communities including Toronto, but that should not be cause for complacency. The ad on page 15 is similar to one that appeared in a Toronto paper for the equivalent positions there. But the Toronto ad had a much less formal tone - I used its heading as the title for this column - "You too can help run city hall." It told not only how many vacancies there were but how many incumbents were seeking reappointment. Interested people could attend information seminars so that only genuinely interested and informed people would apply. That ad appeared two months ago, long before the reform sweep of their city hall last week. Whitby Council has seemed in the past te be afraid of controversy and new ideas. It's time to let some light in. The appointments te be made in the next few weeks should be made openly end without political considerations. GOLDRING STORES, PORT WHIITBY, 1911 The Goldring family operated this general store at Brock and Victoria Streets in Port Whitby from 1911 to 1967, when it was demolished to make way for a gas station. From left to right are: John Goldring, Olive Goldring and Seymour Whitney. Whitby Archives photo 10 YEARS AGO from the Wednesday, November 22, 1978 edition of the WHITBY FREE PRESS • Windsor Place senior citizens' apartments have officially opened on Colborne Street West. • St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church has burned its mortgage. • Whitby Free Press has received greetings from the Gazette, of Whitby, Yorkshire, England. • Recreation Director Wayne DeVeau says minor soccer is Whitby's fastest growing sport. 25 YEARS AGO from the Thursday, November 21, 1963 edition of the WHITBY WEEKLY NEWS • Anti-flouridation speakers dominated a public meeting as citizens plan to vote on this issue for the second time. • Bob Attersley is running for the Town Council for the first time. • Red Wing Orchards has won five first prizes for its apples at the Royal Winter Fair. • The town property committee is studying plans for a combined police station and fire hall. 100 YEARS AGO from the Friday, November 23, 1888 edition of the WHITBY CHRONICLE • The Whitby Curling Club rink at Byron & Mary Streets was destroyed by fire on Nov. 21. • The Chronicle is concerned about young rowdies bothering residents going in and out of church on Sundays. • Plans for a frame gymnasium at the Collegiate Institute have been prepared by Ontario County Architect, A. A. Post. The building will cost $350. • Bed comforters are sold for 60 cents each at W. G. Walters' store. A good heavy suit of underclothing costs 75 cents.