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Orono Town Hall Volume 64, Number 5 GST Included Wednesday, February 2,2000 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Ôrono and Starkville since 1937 Just horse'n' around A made in Durham solution Brittany Sheahan and Jim Nelson, students of the Marason Martial Arts Academy, received their yellow belts in Karate, Saturday, The Academy holds classes at the Orono Senior's Centre, Saturday mornings. In the Spirit of unanimity fostered at their Regiojnal Retreat, last month, Regional Councillors unanimously adopted the Plan of Action for reforming the system of government. government. in Durham region. That plan séts but a time table for various streamlining initiatives to be brought forward. forward. By June 30, 2000, a terms of reference from all eight municipalities, relating to governance and potential amalgamations will be completed. completed. "Durham will make decisions decisions for Durham," said Regional Chair, Roger Anderson, at last Wednesday's meeting of Regional Council. "We don't need someone else coming in here telling us what to do," Anderson stated. In light of the Provinces' recent attempts at streamlining streamlining other Region's in the province by forced amalgamations, amalgamations, Durham has been eager to find a made in Durham solution. "We now have to develop our procedures," stated Ajax Mayor Steve Parish. According to Parish, the process should include a public public referendum, "with a proper question that will appear on all our ballots after a full series of public meetings," he stated. "One thing people should have a very strong say Happenings CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES It is only through the generosity and sharing spirit of blood donors that Canadian Blood Services can ensure an adequate adequate supply of blood and blood products for the 59 hospitals hospitals across Toronto and Central Ontario. The next blood donor clinic in this area: Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church, 130 Scugog St., Tuesday, February 15, 2000 from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 pm. ORONO HOCKEY PARENTS The Orono Hockey Parents are sponsoring a VALENTINE'S DANCE on February 12th, 2000, 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., $20.00 a couple with light lunch and door prizes. Tickets available at Orono Arena 983-5617 or from Ray Bester 983-5584. P.A. DAY LOONIE SKATING The Optimist Club of Newcastle Village is sponsoring a Loonie Skate at the Newcastle Arena on Friday, February 4th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., All ages welcome. Admission $1.00 per person. ANXIETY SUPPORT GROUP The next meeting of the Group will be. held on Tuesday, February 15th in Bowmanville. 623-4123 or 697-2746. V ' New zoning by-laws taking too long in, is, what happens to their community." Councillors now have the task of convincing their local councils to adopt the recom 1 inondations and the timetable proposed at the retreat. "You're not going to downsize downsize anything in this Region until you get two or more partners partners who want a happy marriage," marriage," stated Pickering Councillor Dickerson. "We want to amalgamate with Ajax, how do you have these discussions if the mayor and council don't want a meeting?" meeting?" he asked. 4 One of the items in the Action Plan is to complete the implementation of the Durham Insurance Pool by March 31, 2000. At present Oshawa and Pickering at not involved in the pooling. Mayor Diamond stated at the meeting that she could never sell that idea in Oshawa, because for Oshawa it would mean a cost increase to participate. participate. Professor Dick Tindal, who was contracted to facilitate the Regional Retreat, at Fern Resort in Orillia, on January 11 and 12, gave councillors a note of caution in his report. It is a very fragile foundation that you have constructed at the Fern Retreat, states Tindal. He warns, it will quickly crumble if personal agendas return to the fore. Please don't look at any of the motions adopted to see "what can I get out of it from my municipality?" or "how can this be used to advance my pet project?" ' (continued page 2) Mayor Hamre feels the Planning Department is taking way to long to come out with the new Municipal Zoning By-laws. "It just can't go on any longer," said the Mayor at Monday's general purpose and administration meeting. The Ciarington Official Plan was completed in 1996, arid still our zoning by-laws do not conform to the new plan. "We're supposed to be open for business," ' said Hamre. "How many applications applications have we not had that conform to the Official Plan, but not to our Zoning By law?" she asked. "Applicants now have to pay a fee and go through a whole lot of red tape that's unnecessary." Hamre said she, was not being critical of staff, but suggested suggested maybe they should get some contract people in work solely on this job. Planning Director David Crame explained, part of the problem is, "we don't have an isolated group of planners working on this." . Though making it clear she was not being critical of staff, .Hamre did want to see • progress in this area, very soon. Correction , Last week's story about the Wilmot Creek Watershed Study currently underway, reported the cost of that study to be $300,000. . The cost of the study conducted conducted by the Ganaraska Regional Conservation Authority (GRCA) is actually $100,000, with the Municipality of Claringtion, the Ministry of Naturally Resources and the GRCA each contributing 1/3rd of the cost.