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Page 10, Whitby Free Press, Wednosday, December 14,1994 Herrema acclaimed to 6th term as Rgion cair ByMike Kowaloki A familiar face wilI b. back te lead Durham Region for the next three years. Gary Herrema was acclaimed toe saixth terin as Begfion chair at last week's inaugural regional council meeting. No one stepped forward te, challenge the -former Uxbridge mqor obr the position ho bas held the past 14 years. Aithoughhbis re-election was a foregone conclusion last Wednes- day, earlier this year it iappeared that Herrema's political career was ceming te an end. The 55-year-eld dairy fermer bas suffered frem cancer for the past four years. "It'si a real honour te b. back. It didn'?t look 111w I wouid b. ... not only for political, but. personal reasons,» Herrema safid is i acceptance speech. "It was a surprise this summer when my doctor said the wa~ thing8 have been going, 'I thinz you éhould," ho said. Given the green light to con- tinue in the job «I love" streng- thened Herrema's belief that «wie have thegreate"t hospitais3 any- where ttadoubt."f Until erea ofia11l declared bis intention te se another term there was specula-, tion ho wouldbe chailenged. But net only was Herrema not opposedîlsat weekc, there was a mild scamble among biessuppor- ters over who would place his naine ini nomination. WitV epard e h in hand, Aj axMayr JfimWtty wsal set te do the honours when Scu- gog Township Mayor Howard Ha boat hinm te it and nommna- ted Herrema after regona1 clerk Cecil Lundy called for nommna- tiens. Realizing bis faux pas, Hall GAmRY HERREMA immnediately deferred te Witty, prompting laughter from the packed counicil chambers. .In bis address, Herrema sad Durhamin epon's two «biggest basic needa at tbis time are issues over wbich regional coun- cil has littie control. Extension of Hwy. 407 inte Durhamn and resuimption of hourly GO train service will b. determined by the Ontario geveriment. However, on matters whxch faîl inte 'council's jurisdiction, there are increasing demanda on policing, social services, health services, as well as the need for iniproved "liard services» such as roada,1 water and sewers, Her- rema said. Ho predicted difliculty in'meet- ing these demanda while trying te avoid a tai increase, noting that preliminary 1995 budget estimates are not encouraging. "Fm sure that in the next termn we will have te deal with waste management again," Herrema said in reference te the contro- versial problem of where and how te dispose"of the region'a igahead, «major pro- jects» are planned for aIl eight municipalities in Durham "by' the next centuWï which is only five years away, 6i said. Chief amen g them is the pro- pesed $31-million, 300-b.d senior citizens' home te replace His- dale Me.ner in Oshawa. I addition, a decision will have te b. made on a new administration building te *con- solidate the Region's varieus departmnents, Herrema said. -W. have te address the need for a new headquarters. We're now spread eut in seven build- ings across the region,» ho noted. Elected deputy reeve of the former Scott township <Uxbridge) in 1971, Herrema became a regional councillor in 1976 and mayortwo vears later. I Decoimber 1980, ho was elected regional chair upon the retirement of Walter Beath, Dur- ham'. first chair. Whitby Mayor Tom Edwards returns as chair of the health and social services committee. Councilior Joe Drumin is again a memiber of the planning cern- mittee while councillor Marcl Brunelle returns te public works. Councîllor Gerry Emin will serve on the powerful finance and administration committee which wilI b. chaired by Picker- inx Mayor Wayne Arthurs. «Oshawa councill1 or Johln Aker will again head the works com- mittee and Uxbridge Mayor Gem L ynn O'Connor returns to chair planning.. Herrema and Witty were re- appointed te the police services board. The latter currently c'hairs the police board. Bus operations to be reviewed Yoisancetrus you chldscaetoWe9 ath Reliable, supervised day care at a home in ycoii neighbourhood. " Safe, comfortable environmerits " Stimulating dally programs " Trained, professional Pro viders " Reliable local back-up for Pro vider's holidays or i/mness " Complete insurance cove rage " Income tax receipts supplied - Monthly home inspections and, we welcome full or paqrt-time care for chidren (rom 6 weeks, of age! For Information Cali: 686-3995 &WatCh® a icensedAgency Ph O "m By Mike Kowalski Changea could b. in store for Witb~a bus service. Town council Monday appro- yod the hiring of a consulting firm te, undertake a review ofî Whitby Transit's oporations. The study wiil examine exiat- ing service and bus routes and make whatever recommenda- tions are needed te improve the system, a staff report states. The study will cost ne more than $60,000 and b. eligible for a 50 per cent subsidy from the Ontario Ministry of Transpor- tation, the report adds. Whitby last reviewed its tran- ait servce in 1989 and impie- mented measures recommended in a study prepared by Tranplen Associates. Althougli the exiating service bas served Whitby well, it bas been stretched te the limit, staff feel. "The service bas exceeded expected performnance levels and continues te attract new pas- sengers,» the report states. However,' the previeus plan bas «outlived its useful lifo' and enother muet b. developed te "guide Whitby T7ransit through the next five years,» staff add. Councillor Dennis Fox uirg his colleagues te support the Noigthat on. of the items te b. reviewed is service te second- ary achools, Fox reminded coun- cil of the problema students of the new Sinclair Secondary School are cuirently experienc- ing with bus service. "Its been five years since w. did the las t one,» he said. "I urge- council te adopt this recommendation.» Counciuior Don Mitchell,1 howe- ver, was not certain a consultant is required, due te the thorough- ness cf the staff report. «It seems every problem bas boen identified and the solutions identifled "»said Mitchell. «I get tILe feeling from reading it that ail the consultant will do is report te Mr. Hancock and Mr. Grylis on what the problemas are,» ho said. (Wayne Hencock is the Town's public works directer and Bill Grylîs, manager cf Whitby Tran- sit.) "I have a sens. that they are on top of it and that it cen b. done in-house,» Mitchell added. Hencock repiied that private consultants are «more in tune» with the changes affecting public transit, especially municipal ser- vice. "We believe an outside consul- tant, alon with in-house expert- ise, wilgve us a botter system," ho said. Councillor Marcel Brunelle sup>ported the recommendation. 1n 1988 our system was 50 bad it was probably one of the worst in Ontario,» Brunelle recalied. «We did a study and followed their recommendations and have gone from the worst in the pro- vince te ene of the best and have won awards for it,'» ho said. That's what a consultant does.» Brunelle told Mitchell ho appreciated bis commenta, <'but ifyou had been haro i n 1988, you wouldn't have the concerne you do now.» In addition te, reviewing cur- rent service and routes, the study wiil also examine a cross boundary service with Ajax Transit similar to the one with Oshawa Transit. As for the latter, the study will explore fare integration with Oslîawa Transit. The consultant's report is expected to b. ready for council approval next June, staff anti- cipate. TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!V Many models, sizes, e 5 yr. warranty - Imported 1 " siate - 22 oz. wooVnylon cloth colours to choose from - Immediate availability * Handcrafted cabinets - Crafted leather pockets a37 models 10 choose from , Made in Brunswick, 0hio TAUNTON z .*" "~ '> Co b