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PAGE 4, WHMIY FM EPRES, WEDNESDAY, MARCK 6,1991 P.ublic meeting' could be 'a, sham,, daims- Whitby truste, By Mike Kowaloikl Ratepàyer meetings to discuss Durham separate school board spedig mybe nothing more taanempty public relations gesture claimesa Whtby trustee. Unless the board's finance committee is prepared to present an 'actual budget, at the meet- ings, the entire exercise may be a futile one, says trustee TomOld- mani. Two meetings, one in Oshawa and the other in- Ajar, wiii soon be held'to expiain t he budgetary procesa to interested ratepayers. Paul Dwe High School in Oshawa wil"e the site. of a March 20 meeting for separate school- supporters residing in Whitby. Although Oidman applaude the committee's decision te meet with ratepayers, he wonders how much imput the public- wil actualiy have., «The concept is good buI believe we're oring through semantica somewlit, said .0Id- mani. "The board decides the -Mill rate. The community should be aware that what the committee feels is important, the board may not.» For instance, Oldman said there has been talk of cutting ba.ck the board's swim program. This shouid therefore be one Of the topics deait with at the meet- 'Iwould beopposed, we shouid eu an.a expenses instead,» PAINTING & WALLPAPERING SINCE 195.8 GENERAL S CONTRACINQ PAINTING PAPER HANGIN MEMBER 0F THE BE~R BUSINESS B3UREAU 404 ATHOL ST., WIIITBYck However,lhe is préparel te hear from the. public on the issue. "But bear in mind we have 40,000 rtepayers and we might hé hard-pressed te get two dozen peopleout te a meeting,» warned uIlPm not sure that would hé a true indicateir of what peopie want.» Qidma n said that if the com-, mittee wants meaningfu1 iriput, it shouid present «acWfatenf- mation", such as what ar Of spendink trustees have Étrol over. He aiso suggests that a pro- posed budget hé unveiled at the meetings. "I dont think pipe reaily care how we go about doing a budget they onily want teknow the bottem lime,' said Oldman. "If the committee wants t e é sincere, they shouid say -'here's what we can do withi a six per cent icrease, here's what we can do with a 10 per cent increaWe7 Pickering trustee , Anna- Crosthwaite, committee chair- man, said the basic format of the meetings is te e'xplain the Pro- cess and outiine spending restric- tions on trustees. The meeting wiil examine just how much control trustees have over certain costs, said Crosth- waite. 'Mei will show that there is 50, much aireadji spent and we have no choice. Wages and transpor- tation we can't do much about," said Çrosthwaite. Whiie there are no plans to present a draft budget, Crosth- waite said the public wiil have suflicient 'opportunity' te grill trustees about *this year's budget. "I think the trustes that come wiil get feedback about where we shouid cut and where w. should tighten our beit.»« Crosthwaite said there has not yet been any figures bandied about for this year's miii rate increase. «I think individual trustee's know where they'd like te hold it,» she added. Oidman said if. Catholic rate- payera are concerned about ris- îng taxes they should attend the meetings and ask -teugh ques- tions. «Personally, as a ratepayer, rve had it with increases, they're far more than what the average rsnan afford, te give,» saidl Admittingherearecosts over which the ord has littie con- trol, Oldman said trustees muj look at those'areas they can control.. To emphasize his point, Old- mani han put ,forward a number of motions in recent months cal- ling on the board te examine its spending habits -in certain areas such as school, construction. "If people want te control the mill- rate increase they have tie .put pressure on the politicians,'q said Oldman. «There's not a. lot in our control but there is a significant portion we do controlý. $10090000 gant for Gilbert. St.. The Town' of WCibywf roceive $100,000 fo h prvnete heip croate ob. and watermain and saitary sewer nreham Centre hMPP flrumond *White made "the announcement on behaif- of Ontario municipal affairs rmini- ster Dave Cooke. .The funds are part of the provincial government's $700 milion anti-recession initiative announced last December..-' A total of $16.3 million is ,being given te 82 municî]ipaliti es through. a special enrichmentd the province.sPé^ rn Renewai, -lniprovement, Develop- ment and Economic revitAlizatiol (PRIDE). It is -expected that;these extra PRIDE grants will generat the équivalent o prxmtl 306- full-year jobs- in the construction in*dustry in 199,1-92.- "This- mone wil help create jobs locaily, which is 'a,*i~ weicome initiative because of the current rocesion," White said. 'WMhyps PRIDE project involvés work that will help ensure "the environment is'poeceoit is PRD grants heip muni- cipalities einhance their local facilities anderices. Eligible prqje ccldmprovements.., te socal' and rereaion fcilities such as pool, liberaries and community ,-centres, as wel* as upgrading waterins, storm"f and sanitaiy sewers* and'.hýdio Municipalities are mtIli the- province's -PMIE grant. which cover '50 par cent cf ýthe tota approved capital coots. The goal-of PRlDEis thehlp ensurei Ontario's communities remain .vital, 'attnattive' .and economically sound. The progra'm helpa te bring jobs, .new investment opportunities- and strengthened tax bases t municipaIîties 1acroas -the province. 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