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2-Orono Weekly Times. Wednesday, March 23rd, 1977 Orono Weekly Times KEEPING AN ELECTION PROMISE During the election campaign for Town of Newcastle council Mayor Rickard published some interesting information which showed an unfair basis on which taxes were collected throughout the Town of Newcastle. It was pointed out through the Mayor's advertising that the average residential tax bill in the Town of Bowmanville was $475.92 while that same average tax bill in the former Township of Clarke was $649.95. This would mean that if you live in an average house in Clarke you are called upon to pay $174.03 more than if you lived in the average home in Bowmanville. The Mayor has pointed out that "The problem is the equalizing factor established by Queen's Park in 1970." He further points out in campaign advertising that the equalizing factors are wrong, particularly in Clarke and Darlington. "They must be adjusted by the province in order tolower taxes." "I need your support to complete the job" Mayor Rickard was given the support at the polls and it is now up to him and his council to produce the needed results for some change so that'taxation can be on an equal basis throughout the Town of Newcastle. A group of citizens in the Kirby area are awaiting results and some action towards correcting the deficiencies in the basis for local taxes and as well no doubt are other residents of the Township. It is interesting to note that the Township of Uxbridge is faced with similar conditions throughout their municipality and have taken 'action towards some form of correction. Over the past two years the Township has filed official appeals and will do again this year when the forms become available. They are prepared to take the issue to the Ontario Municipal Board. Further they have solicited the help of their local M.P.P., Bill Newman, who is to seek to have the Ministry of Revenue to conduct a full study and review of the assessment in the municipality to see just what may be done to assist with the problem. It would seem reasonable that the Town of Newcastle would join forces with the Township of Uxbridge as the same problem seems to exist in both municipalities. The present system cannot be allowed to continue any longer and surely this area cannot await the implementation of new tax reform from the province as it could be some years before they meet this issue with enough courage to enact the Blair recommendations. Now is the time for the Mayor to respond to his support at the polls last December. This issue is important to the present taxpayers of Clarke Township who have been carrying an over-load of taxes since the creation of the Region of Durham. • IT REALLY WORKS One may easily recall the reluctance of the province of Ontario to initiate legislation regarding the use of seat belts in automobiles. The province was continually finding loon holes in any report that supported seat belt legislation and their use by drivers and passengers. Finally the province did pass seat belt legislation and such as James Snow, .Minister of Transportation and Communication, is now reporting that the particular legislation bas had a decided effect on saving lives along our highways. Snow bas this to say in a recent release, "The only reading I can get from such statistics is that the seat belt legislation enacted on. January lst, 1976, coupled with lower speed limits, is working." The statistics to which he refers states that fatal accidents dropped 16.1 per cent in 1976 while traffic related injuries were down 13.7 per cent in the same period. The Minister also points out that it was found that belted-up driver's survival was ten times higher than was the unbelted driver. This should be enough indication for everyone now to buckle up when they take off from the curb of out of the driveway. It is your life you are protecting. Perhaps now a further twist of the arm should be given the provincial government to legislate the drinking driver off the road. All reports point to this being a prominent case in a lot of accidents. It amazing to see what has happened in Ontario since legislation aloowed police to take breathalizer tests on the spot. Ontario has in service 24 machines while Alberta for a much smaller population has 155 in service and another 300 on order. Drinking drivers are-a menace on the road and it is time that the province took some definite action to cut these incidents further. It may well be that Minister Snow could make a similar announcement again next year with much more reduction in the incidents of accidents and deaths along our highways A pply for grant for Tennis Club, Orono The Town of Newcastle is to make application to the Minstry of Culture and Re- creation for a community centres grants in the amount of $5,600 for the Orono Tennis Club. The grant would be assis- tance Itor work already unaer- taken by the Orono club in extensive work at the courts in the Orono Park last spring. The tennis club holds their annual meeting this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in the basement of the Orono United Church. Never take your eye off the not remember just what one ery (right) is intent on three shells because you may covers the bean. Kevin Low- confusing his present aud- Rezone land for Orono Seniors Town council on Monday gave three readings to a by-law rezoning lands west of Orono for Senior citizens purposes. The application was submitted by the Dur- ham Senior Citizens Lodge. Negotiations have been with council for the past three years and previous with'that before the Township council of the former Township of Clarke. YET TO COME BEFORE ORONO CHAMBER Council was also informed by letter from the president of the Orono Chamber of Com- merce, R. Hazelden, that the Chamber had not as yet TOWN COUNCIL TO REZONE ARENA SITE Continued from Page 1 are not voluntary but is caused by the intervention of government authority and on the furtber grounds that the building in effect is under the control of the Corporation by way of a lease. PLAN ORONO TOWN HALL AS COMMUNITY CENTRE Continued from Page i ity Centre under the appro- priate act. A by-law for this purpose is to be drafted and presented to council in the near future. Counc. Taylor asked if the people of Orono wanted this 'and if provision was to be made for a local board to be established. Counc. Gray stated that a board would be appointed but it had not be determined if this was what the people wanted. Counc. Woodyard stated there was some differ- ence of opinion in the com- munity. The adoption of the report was passed along with mak- ing application for a Com- munity Recreation Centres grant for the Town Hall in the amount of $4,000.00. Counc. Allin stated the purpose of making the hall a community centre provided the way and right to receive provincial grants for the capital im- provements to the hall. considered a walkway for the proposed Senior Citizens Lodge. The letter indicated that such a proposal had been mentioned by one member of the Chamber but that such had not come before the Chamber at a meeting. The president stated that at this time he was unable to inform council of any such intention by the Chamber. Council will be notified if the chamber does consider such a walkway at a future meeting. ANOTHER CHANGE TO TACKLE - KILOMETERS During the past year resi- dents of Canada have been called upon to learn a metric system' of measures and weights in certain areas of these specifics. Over the period of time temperature readings have changes to centrigrade, wind velocity is changing and measurement of snow and rain had also changed. Come this September thôse in this area will be called upon to again face another change. The measurement of miles will change to kilome- ters as far as speed in concerned. Corne the first of September the region of Durham is to replace all its speed signs from the present miles per hour to kilometers per hour. This will take place on all regional roads at a cost of $10,500.00. Further to this change it will cost $2,500 to change the variuos mileage signs along regional roads. The following changes will be made: 25 miles per hour will become 40 kilometers an hour, 30 miles per hour will become 50 kilometers an hour, 35 and 40 miles per hour will become 60 kilometers an hour, 45 miles and hour will become 70 kilometers an hour, 50 becomes 80 kilome- ters an hour. The regional department expects to have surveys conducted in the metric system in 1979 During the week of March 14th to March 20th 1977 the Ontario Provincial Police at Newcastle investigated a to- tal of 23 motor vehicle collisions and approximatély 75 general occurrences. The majority of the acci- dents occured on Friday the 18th and Sunday the 20th and were the result of adverse road and weather conditions. Fourteen of the 23 accidents resulted in property damage only and in the remaining 9 a total of 17 people were injured, four seriously. Fol- lowing the investigations of these accidents three persons have been charged with impaired driving and two with Careless Driving. The general occurrences include investigations into complaints of Wilful Damage, Break, Enter and Theft, and Theft. As a result of these investigations five persons have been charged with offences contrary to the Criminal Code. Driving Tip: Officially Spring is now with us. Be sure and have your vehicle inspected in order that any mechanical, defects as a result of the long winter can be detected and repaired before they result in an unnecessary accident. C.J. Strachan, No. 5202, Provincial Constable Community Services Officer., ienceg again. On Wednesday, March 16th at approximately 11:40 a.m. an eastbound vehicle left the travelled portion of Highway 401 and rolled over, resulting in serious injury to the driver and three passengers. Marily Brown of Birch- mount Rd. in Scarborough was travelling eastbound and turned to unfasten her seat- belt then drove onto the median shoulder, lost control and skidded across the east- bound lanes into the south ditch. The vehicle then rolled over and came to rest on its roof. Injured in the accident along with the driver were Nicole Lacelle, Barbara Dev- eaux and Bonnie Descoteaux all of Toronto. The driver of the vehicle has been charged with Care- less Driving. CAR-TRAIN COLLISION: On Sunday, March 20th at approximately 5:00 p.m. a vehicle driven by Sandra Watson of Oshawa became struck on the C.P.R. tracks on the 2nd Concession of Clarke Township near the Clarke- Darlington boundary lines and was struck by an east- bound train. The accident resulted in injury to the driver of the car and her passenger Kevin Sawyer of Oshawa. Total damage from the accident is estimated at $2,800.00. Wants no part of Task Force Councillor Bob Dykstra consider wbat ail groups informed council on Monday bring to us but we do not have that he did not wish to be a to participate with tbem. member of the Task Force Mayor Rickard stated that which is to consider and deal bis interpretation on speaking with items relating to the with people in the area that Courtice Heights develop- all which is read in the ment proposed for the Cour- newspapers is not alI true. "I tice area. would like to see us caîl the Council did discuss the people together to discuss this apparent concern over some matter, he said. indication that some resi- Both Councillors Taylor dents of the Courtice area did and Hollîday stated that the consider amalgamation with Task Force sbould continue Oshawa. and should hold mee' Counc. Woodyard stated with the residents of the a that council's responsibility The Town had set up the was to everyone not just those Task Force including mcm- they agree with. We must bers from the Courtice area. O. P. P. News