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PpgEw arby RythfrnApdesdatçavbetflfi 4804N Edwards touts hîs exp erience By Mike Kowalski "One good term deserves another." So roclaims the slogan on Tom Edwards' campaign litera- ture as the veteran politician seeks re-election as mayor of Whitby. Although a fixture in local litics since his days on the old itby public school board in the early 1960s, Edwards only became mayor three years ago. He defeated former councillors Gerry Emm and Lynda Buffett to take possession of the mayor's office occupied for the previous l years by Bob Attersley. Now the 68-year-old retired labour union representative hopes Whitby voters approve of his stewardship and will reward him with a second term next Monday. Edwards firmly believes his track record over the past three years will serve him well. "Everywhere I went three years ago I heard the same refrain," Edwards recalled in a recent interview. "Whether it was from young people starting off married life or mature people, they all said the same...'lower taxes and create jobs' » he said. «en I was elected I turned my attention to doingjust that." With the assistance of council, both goals were accomplished, Edwards said. Whitby's portion of the munici- pal tax bU did not increase in 1993 and this year council adop- ted a budget which contained a 1.2 per cent decrease. "Although we decreased the budget overall, we increased the amount for marketing and econo- mic development," said Edwards, and this paid dividends to the Town. "As a result we've attracted 46 new industries, employing 844 new employees." In addition, commercial outlets such as the Loblaws and No Frills grocery stores north of Rossland Road opened during the past year Edwards said. "Btween tose two about 350 jobs were created." But "most satisfying" to Edwards was the $1-million expansion of the family-owned DeVille Produce store on Brock Street and the accompanying 60 new jobs. "Lower taxes and more jobs was accomplished and that will continue," he promised. After years of waiting, exten- sion of sanitary sewers to Brook- lin became a reality last year, Edwards said, but not without concerted lobbying of the provin- cial government. "We were initially refused and were on a list with other munici- palities in Ontario seeking fund- ing "he said. perseveredwith the assis- tance of (provincial facilitator) Dale Martin and the government found a pocket ofrmoney.» Some $6.7 million to be exact, Edwards said, "well before the (federal-provincial) infrastruc- ture program was ever thought of." Together with $22 million from Durham Region, the project will pave the way for $300-to-$400 million of development in the Brooklin area during the next 20-to-30 years and will even- tually provide "9,000 jobs,» Edwards said. This is based on the commer- cial, retail, housing and other needa of an eventual 25,000 population in Brooklin, ho eInaddtio te the economic advantage, we got rid of the problem ef polluted wella and water. That is no longer a con- cern." Conversion of the former Cad- bury plant on Champlain Avenue into Durham College's skills training centre also ranks high on Edwards' list of recent deve- lopment in Whitby. "This will allow about 5,000 students per year to upgrade their skills,"he said. "But perhaps even more im- portant, they will be taught entrepreneurial skills, how to market and promote the skills Mïl they've learned.» Another Ontario government initiative that stemmed from the lobbying efforts of local officials is the re-development of the Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital, Edwards said. "We may have lost it, but by lobbying from different sources, the provincial government came up with $133 million to build a n ew facilt. While the renamed Whitby Mental Health Centre is faced with a pending $2.5-million budget cut in this, its 75th anni- versary, Edwards welcomes the province's recent decision to sus- pend further cuts. "This will allow the govern- ment to ensure that proper facili- ties are in place in the com- munity for individuals who might have been discharged somewhat prematurely." Looking ahead to the next three years, Edwards said a new Perkins hoping for By Mike Kowalski Call it David and Goliath or Jack ageinst the Giant, either wouldb. an apt description of Pat Perkins' quest to become meyorof Whitby. The 40-year-old political new- comer hopes to make history next Monday by becoming Whitby's first female mayor. In what would almost certainly be considered an upset of un- heard of proportions in recent times, the Maplewood Drive resi- dent is attempting to unseat a veteran incumbent who has been a fixture in local politics for more than 30 years. But the former City of Scar- borough finance department employee is undaunted by the task ahead. «We knew it would be a lot of hard work when we started in July," said Perkins. "But using a philosophy of 'no matter what happens, run like we're losing' has held us in good stead. "The reaction has been far greater than expected and more than we could have asked for...it's been wonderful.» From her doorknocking the past few weeks, Perkins has lear- ned that Whitby residents are concerned about several issues. These include the uncertain future of Whitby General Hôspi- tal, the controversial Lynde Shores housing development and the need for another aréna and more sports facilities, she said. "They all have a tremendous amount of support 'in the com- munity.» But the one issue that emerged early on was the "fear of losng fire services,"said Perkins. "They're talking about putting a major development next to Lynde Marsh and a fire hall going up on Taunton Road.» Perkins said it is "terrific" that the new flire department head- quarters being built on Taunton Road will serve future growth in north Whitby. But she feels council will be "playing catch up» if, and when, the proposed Lynde Shores com- munity is built. "What they're planningto do is take existing vehicles and man- power out of the other two halls and put them in the new hall,» she said. As a result, there will be por- tion of every week when the fire halls are not fully staffed, Per- kins claimed. "When you add it all together, they're missing a full shift. Now while it may be good politics to call for more firefight- ers or a new arena, Perkins realizes that municipal services do come with a price tag. However, she insists that care- ful scrutiny of the Town's finances indicates that many of the demands of Whitby residents can be accommodated without an assault on their wallets. «There are hundreds and hun- dreds of thousands of dollars that can be re-allocated in the budget," said Perkins citing a few examples to back up her claim. "There are such basics as the thousands of dollars spent on magazine subscriptions and periodicals. "I'd rather have another fire- fighter than let someone have a magazine subscriMtion they can buy on their own. Although she considers it a worthwhile endeavour, Perkins feels the amount of money spent on Whitby's annual twinninr arrangement with Longueui Quebec should be reviewed. "It' a good exercise to con- tinue in the vein of friendship, but I don't think we should b. buying their friendship,» -said Perkins in referring to the $21,567 cost of last year's event held in Whitby. "When you have all these people and you're buying them breakfast and supper that's a tremendous amount of money to put in people's stomachs. "I beheve in the twinning pro- cess, but there has to be another way to keep it going.» Perkins said there are many other examples of unnecessary spending in the budget if one takes the time to study it. "I don't think in a time of recession we should be doing many of these thins. a "They (council) always seemn to be going for the Cadillac approach when they should be looking at something more in line with what the pocketbook can afford.» Perkins challenges council's claim that Whitby is operating in a 'leaner, meaner fashion' after a zero tax increase in 1993 and a 1.2 per cent decrease this year. "They haven't cut spending, it has increased tremendously, she charges. Perkins points to last year's combined current and capital budget of $31.5 million and this year's overall $33.4-million Ciure. "If you have all these Rae Days and rollbacks, then it should have shown a decrease in the dollars spent. Tt didn't. «The percentage of the tax rate is going down, because it's being spread over a larger community.» Another area Perkins targets is the overall cost of running the municipality and whether there needs to be a reorganization of the Town's administration. -7777,- 7 arena and central library will be the next major spending priori- ties of the new council. But if not for the federal- provincial infrastructure pro- gram, it would have been several years down the road before coun- cil could even consider these two projects, Edwards said. The infrastructure irogram allowed for expansion of the senior citizens' centre and con- struction of a new fire depart- ment headquarters on Taunton Road. "If left to debt financing, good- ness knows when that would have occurred" "he said. Although Town staff are cur- rently preparin a report on the feasibi1ity of fuilding one or more ice pads, Edwards doubts that their recommendation will be forthcoming shortly. "However, I felt in the summer that we were too busy to establ- ish our next priorities...but who knows? "But I would be very surprised if staff can do the necessary analysis and give us a recom- mendation before this council goes out of existance.» Edwards said ice users should not be too startled if staff recom- mend building two facilities in- stead for one. "A good arena will cost $3 million to build and $290,000 to operate annually," he explained. SEE PAGE 42 upset "There is no guarantee that there won't be layoffs, but I don't see the restructuring being at the staff level. Where I see the need is at the senior staff level. "There are a lot of areas that may need reorganization, but I won't know until I see the job descriptions. "I don't know if I can say that staff reduction is a goal, but if there has to be a reorganization, then someone may have to bite the bullet.» Continuing in this cost-cutting mode, Perkins said it may be time for some Town services, such as public transit, to be operated by Durham Region. "We have to provide buses but should it be administered by each town in the egion or should it be administered by the Region as an amalgamated transit sys- tem? "The Region did it with police services, but never with transit. "If we had a truly amalgama- ted bus service from Pickerng to Clarington, it would be a boon to the community and be wonderful for seniors." Looking ahead, Perkins accuses council of doing just the opposite -- not looking ahead. Shesaid council should be planning for a growing popula- tion now, rather than waiting for people to come and then reacting to their demands. "They increased lot levies to $5,400 per lot and the person who buys the lot pays for it. Then they get the tax revenue. "Maybe something should be put aside frem the lot levies that can be allocated for a fire hall for Lynde Shores now, instead of after people have moved in there." Finally, Perkins believes that SERE PAGE 42