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'i Debt load.'cri ppling' board, dlaimis trustee By Mike KowalsI Durham separate school trus- tees will attempt to reduce a debt load which one Whitby trus- tee claims is «crippling» the board. T1rustees last week agreed te, examine various ways of reduc- ing expenses. O ne method te be explored by the board's property and trans- pottion committee is a proposai fom. Whitby trustee Tom Old- man that mnôië- economical schools be buit in the future. Oldnian believes that by con- structing less expensive facili- ties, trustees wiIl have no need te, borrow as much nloney te pay for new buildiangsi. By adhering te such a policy, Oldman says that ultimately the board will not have te issue debentures te caver construction costs. «When you debenture, the dol- lars have to be paid back even- tually,» Oldinan told The Free Press. "At the moment aur paybacks Concer over mis-fuse of compost units are crippling us. It's become an enormous burden on taxpayers. » Oldmnan points te a recent report from education directer Earlý Lagroix as proof that expenses must be controlled. According te the report, deben- ture payments increased from $2.09 million in 1989 ta, $2.74 million this year. A less "dramatic» increase is expected in 1991 ($3.19 million) as the full impact of next year's new debenturs will not be feit until 1991, the report states. «A significant increase in debenture payments will take place in 1991 as the full impact SEE PAGE 15 Edwards.ciia of approach to ashestos pro-blem By Mike Kowalski Whitby officiaIs have been accused of being reluctant te provde information about pas- sible asbestes problems in the municipality. At the Dec. 17 coùncil meeting councillor Tom Edwards leveled the charge during a heated exchange with Mayor Bob Attersley about'the progregs of a staff report on asbestas manage- ment in Wihitby. Edwards said Durham Region officiaIs have been upfront in their response ta questions he has raised about asbestes in reginal buildings but Whitby staff react in the opposite man- ner. Edwards said Re ion staff have taken a «pro-active role" in their appraach ta asbestas management. He said the Region has com- plied with ail the requarements of the provincial Health and Safety Act, and then same. "They're doing everything they can under the Act. That's what 1 get from the Region but it's not what I get from here,» said Edwards. (A small quantity of asbestes was uncovered in the Centennial Building last month. Although not deemed te be a health hazard, council authorized spending $17,500 for its remo- val.) Attersley teld Edwards his comments were not-fair te, staff and directed Town adzinistrator Bill Wallace ta informn council of the situation in Whitby. Wallace said aIl 21 Town- owned facilities havro been in- spected and that un- asbestes mana&ement committee has been 'The report is ini progress and the prograin in piace. The report's not co' Ieted but it's welI in hand,-'saiclalace. Edwards repîied that when he asked the same questions of SBE PAGE 15 CIUS Delvecchio had more than a load of toys to carry as he portrayed Santa Claus durmng the Kathleen Rowe public school Christmas concert last week. £'Mes Bovi. photo Differing views on trail impact By Mike Kowalski A prposed walIng trail along Lake Ontario's shoreline has been greeted by bath opponents and backers ofamjo development planned for Whibysr waterfrnt Coscan Deveîopment Corp. spokesman David Keenan says the trai will complement bis company's $150 million reaidential.cornercial pOect. Durham -Centre MpPDrwnmond White however, says morea netions a may Le ncessary before is allowed to proceed with the development. Ontario Environment hMinister PRuth Grier announoed last week the governmentfs intention to create a waterfront wallIdng trail from Burlington to Newcastle. The 90-mile trail will ink up ta the Bruce and Ganaraska trails on either end and be bufit over a ten-year period. The niiniuter's announcement was i response ta recammendations contained in a recent report on the Greater Toronto Area's (GTA) waterfront b~y David Crombie. The former Toronto mayor and-federal cabinet minister called for creation of a ùail and making the entire stretch of lakefront a provincial resaurce. Although there are areas where the four-ft widie asphalt trail can easiîy be built, some sections in its path will rZquire the appropriate zoning and devîoment. In addition ta the walkway, the governxnent also intends te impleinent other aspects of Crombie's report. Agreements will be negotiated between conservation authorities and local E -vernments with respect to atrfront ropetplans. SEm PAGE il Page 2 GST expected to increase Town taxes Page 3j