The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Garbage was big issue Candidates attacked issues by Robert Risk Staff Writer Downtown development and waste management were the main issues last Thurs- day night at the all-candidates meeting in Penetanguishene Secondary School. The meeting, broadcast on CKMP radio, was also taped by Maclean Hunter Cable TV and was scheduled to be televised Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Snowy smiles Bradley Moreau, 5, Billy Bezeau, 4, and Warren Jackson, 4, have fun sledding in the snow Sunday afternoon in Penetanguishene after the season's first One problem some candidates saw as harmful to the downtown businesses was lack of parking. Doug Wallace, a candidate for councillor, said he had proof that off-street parking was necessary. "There are limited parking spaces and alterations are needed," he said. "One retailer I know on Main Street has figures that show parking has hurt his business." The only incumbent councillor, Bob Klug, major snowfall. By Monday some of the snow had melted -- in time for Halloween -- but there was still a chill in the air. agreed that developing off-street parking was needed, since parking meters were not the solution. "We tried meters before and we took them out 10 years ago," he said. 'They created con- flicts between merchants so we removed them to protect the public." Another candidate for councillor, Peter Shirriff, suggested that proper organization of industrial and commercial space would improve the downtown area. "The problem is lack of land," he said. "A coherent plan is needed to increase our growth. Industrial areas need to be kept away from downtown to attract more people." Another hopeful for council, John O'Hara Sr., questioned why the North Simcoe Waste Management Association was bothering to seek a large dump site when a few smaller ones would do, such as Coldwater's. "Tt's even so clean you could drive your Mercedez-Benz there wearing a tuxedo and not get a speck of dirt on you," he said. Wallace said he understands that countries with high density populations like Japan and Great Britain manage to recycle 90 to 95 per cent of their garbage, and he criticized the North American way of thinking. "Tt seems to be our way of life here. We don't look after our garbage the way we should -- recyclable material shouldn't be buried underground." Mayoral candidates Bob Sullivan and in- cumbent Frances St. Amant were against mandatory recycling, instead suggesting that education was better. "If we inform people properly, I think they'll listen. I'd like to think people will do it because they want to do it," said St. Amant. Sullivan repeated that education was the best route to take until most residents were participating. "T'd wait until it's 90 per cent and then I'd pass the law to convince the others," he said. St. Amant and the third candidate for mayor, Art Stewart, admitted the "soft ser- vices" in town had been neglected. "T know the library, the recreation facilities and the parks have suffered," said St. Amant. "It's unfortunate, but we're land rich and money poor." Stewart agreed, also mentioning the arena and the tennis courts as other victims of cost cutting. "They were left aside because of money problems. The waterfront park plan has been slowed because our grants ran out on us," he said. Stewart said "recreation gets the chop" when it's time to work on a lean budget. One example he added to the list of 'soft services" which had suffered was the Centennial Museum. 'Easy to play favorites' Robitaille supports limitations on term Water and Light Commission candidate Leger Robitaille says there should be a limit on how long a person can serve on the commission. He says that it is too easy for people serv- ing in public office to play favorites after a few years. There are two positions open on the Water and Light Commission. Robitaille, incumbent Martin Marchildon and Waxy Gregoire are running. Robitaille, who manages Penetang Motor Sales, said Water and Light Commission members should be made to move along in- stead of staying on for years. "I don't think it's right,' Robitaille said. "When they first come in, they treat everybody the same." "After four or five years, everybody's not equal." Water and Light incumbent Martin Mar- childon, who has served for over 17 years having faced six elections, angrily disagreed. He said Robitaille has had an axe to grind ever since he thought the committee had moved a hydro pole to satisfy then-mayor Ron Bellisle. "It's not true," Marchildon assured. "You keep your customers happy, you treat them all the same." This is Robitaille's first time as a municipal candidate and he says he hopes to use his management skills to help run the commis- sion better over the next three years. Expanded Le Caron will open next fall The completion of the additions to Penetanguishene's Ecole Secondaire Le Caron will be completed by Sept. 30, 1989, trustees learned at the public school board meeting last Wednesday night. Construction began on Sept. 6 and is on schedule. Excavation and installation of foundations and sewers are nearly complete. Work is being co-ordinated with the school.