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Councillor Duffy claims that he was promised a building permit by staff members on two occasions and purchased a pool on the strength of that promise, only to have the permit refused. Duffy ’3 pool landing him in ’hot’ water The recommendation from the committee to council, which will have to make the final decision, also Estate plan is deemed ’premature’ Duffy constructed a swimming pool last summer on what is legally his front yard, although in actuality it is at the side of his Centre Street East home. In aâ€" statement a few weeks ago the mayor had All members of Richmond Hill Council‘s Planning Committee agreed April 9 that they must recommend to council that necessary action be taken to prosecute for violation of building and zoning bylaws against Councillor Al Duffy. An increase of 15 to 20 per cent on the municipality’s portion of the tax rate for 1975 was forecast by Mayor David Schiller at an in- formal meeting between council and residents of Ward 5 (the northern section of the town) Monday evening. Ouch, ouch! An application to have the official plan amended from agriculture to rural estate for an approximate 50 acres on the west side of Leslie Street a half mile north of 18th Avenue, was deemed premature by Richmond Hill Council‘s Planning Com- mittee April 9. “With such a type of subdivision there would be no heavy\concentration of population and it wouldn’t cause the municipality any If the official plan amendment were granted, he said. it was his intention to make application for an estate residential development which would be very desirable and very attractive to purchasers. Since sewers and water would not be available for some time the development would be on wells and septic tanks and on lots of one, two or two-and-a-half acres, or whatever acreage is deemed advisable. The application was presented by Gordon McCartney of Leslie Street who described the property as rough scrubland which has not been used for far- ming for some years, except for cattle grazing. It was purchased in 1967 and is held, jOintly by him and his wife. He claimed that it lies within zone 1 of the Toronto Centred Plan which is the prime development zone. |‘v-â€"â€"râ€"â€" _ 7, In addition residents will not be able to spend time on their future. The provincial government will want to know the answer by September 30. This very-important disclosure was made to the Richmond Hill Citizens Advisory Group Thursday night by their guest speaker, York’s Regional Planner Murray Pound. A h h - at the Consumer Gas offices in Elgin Mills Road, Pound explained how his Residents of this area who have been intrigued by flashing and intensely bright lights in the western and northern sky on recent evenings have probably been seeing the planet Venus. In a few weeks time residents of York Region will be asked to decide their future. They will be asked to comment on six separate proposals and pick one which will icompletely change the face of the region. . L, _I.I- Lâ€" A document released to the public this week called the Ross Report claims the role of educational trustee has become too involved with operational matters. This is just one of many findings and recom- mendations made in the 40- page report now being studied by York County Board of Education. $38,000 Ross Report queries trustees’ role Proposals to See stars, not UFO's (Continued on page 2 Predict town taxes up 15 to_20 per cent The report, which was He said council had started off looking at a 37 per cent increase, when the budgets of all departments were first received, and asked his audience to realize that the great majority of the town’s money is com- mitted in salaries and other running expenses and trimming of expenditures is necessarily limited. Local share He also told the ratepayers that in 1974 the municipal share of each tax dollar was about 30 cents. The school boards took another 50 cents and the Region of York 20 cents. Planning Director Hessie Rimon warned that a wholesale relief of restrictions on corner lots throughout the municipality could lead to applications for other structures less desirable than swimming pools on the legal front yard. He gave as an example a windmill to generate elec- tricity. According to existing municipal legislation the narrower footage on a corner lot is considered the frontage of the lot even though the front door of the building may be located on the longer footage and may also be the address of the structure. feared that the increase in this portion of the mill rate would be 30 per cent, but reported after “many agonizing hours” the in- crease had been brought down to about half that amount. asks that the staff circulate the request to permit a swimming pool in the front yard to all residents within 400 feet of the property. The people of the Gormley area are concerned about the number of subdivision applications coming in on prime agricultural land, Mrs. Anne Gold told Mayor David Schiller and Coun- cillors William Corcoran, John Birchall and Al Duffy, Monday night at a meeting in Bond Lake Arena between council and Ward 5 “At the regional level we are still looking at a 30-35 per cent increase in taxation this year.” he said, as he noted there will be increases in every one of the three components. “That‘s the type of problem every municipality in Ontario'is faced with which makes it a terrible year to be a politician,” he stated.“‘When we talk about programs we have to con- sider the best for the greatest number with as much public input as possible." Gormley area is concerned according to Dr. Tom Bolton. assistant professor of astronomy at the David Dunlap Observatory. Venfis. according to the astronomer. is extremely bright right now and similar commissioned earlier this year, has cost ratepayers $38,000. It was undertaken by Toronto management consultants, P.S. Ross and Partners, who were asked to study management and administrative structures within the York board of education. The Ross Report showed considerable concern about the board’s role in the Subdivisions vie for farm/and I in additiofi the area just north of Maple looks as if it could become a massive in- dustrial belt. Over recent years his large department has been working to a provincial brief which obviously now is looking towards North Metro as a major expansion area. In a nutshell every iown in York Region will increase its population by at least 100 peg gentl‘ln some places even more. The estimated population explosion over the next 25 years‘in our region is as follows: department sees York Region developing by the year 2000. r Take Vaughan. ' Currently 16,798, the popula§ipn by 2000 is est_imated to be 91,000. “What is your thinking on this type of land where the zoning says the smallest severance shall be 25 acres and minimum frontage 300 feet?” she asked. “All members of council have our own ideas on the importance of retaining agricultural land," replied the mayor. “Personally I ratepayers sightings may be expected for the next month. At- mospheric refraction. he said. breaks up the white light reflected from the planet so people see colors flashing on and off. Blooming crocuses, baseballs and gloves and skipping ropes are a sure indication that Spring has finally arrived in Richmond Hill. With the thermometers heading for 15 degrees Celsius and the last vestiges of snow disappearing quickly, the youngsters education system. "Goals" needed It claims, for example, the whole board (trustees and administrators) must be “positively and actively" responsible to the com- munity it serves. It should have a “high level of openness" with free access to the public. And should have “goals” which are clearly defined and ar- Established 1878 Richmond Hill Edition » change face of York quickly Spring at last In addition York Region plan’s’ to buy additional water from Metro at ap- And the first phase, if everything goes to schedule, could be completed bv\1981!7 Extra people obviously means extra housing â€" and this has been one of the planners‘ big headaches. However this is now overcome. / They plan to lay a seven-foot wide sewage pipe (this enables more houses to be built) from Newmarket to Metro. From Vaughan to Metro. From Thornhill to Metro. Aurora, 75,000, Richmond Hill, Markham, 138,000, Vaughan, Unionville, 63,000, Newmarket Woodbridge. 20,000. Maple. 10,500 think now is the time to begin to strongly protect those lands of great agricultural importance to this town, this province and this country. “In the next couple of decades many lands now lying fallow will be under intensive cultivation to meet our food needs." He cited as an example an application submitted to council’s planning com- mittee recently for a rezoning of an ap- proximately 50 acre parcel of land on Leslie Street. The committee’s decision had been not to receive the ap- plication as it was premature. “Until valuations are done and we know what lands should be ticulate The report also spends some time in defining the role of the director of education. It suggests there should be a shift from a director with a high profile focal point to one of a “practical position". Two new senior positions are recommended within the education planning and development structure. The at Walter Scott Public School on Markham Road were skipping into spring Tuesday. Marion Crosby of 316 Centre Street East is the rope turner and Adele Kozak of 292 Elmwood Avenue is the jumper. The nomination meeting of the York Centre New Democratic Party riding association will be held tonight Wednesday at8 in the Hillcrest Mall auditorium, Yonge Street, Richmond Hill. The guest speaker will be Jim Foulds. Ontario NDP Education critic. NDP meets tonight In addition it suggests the appointment of a program and professional develop~ ment manager to supervise the 29 master teachers who are “currently without any point of co-ordination or preserved for agriculture I’m not in favor of dividing any agricultural land. As a society, I believe, we have to start selecting the land which may be built on,” he said. report recommends the appointment of a co- ordinator for the 43 curriculum committees which now report directly to the superintendent. 111,500 91,500 44,000 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1975 (Photo by Hogg) proximately 79 cents per thousand gallons. After further taxes are added, residents are likely to be paying over a dollar a thousand gallons of water. Pound explained to the meeting York Region could not possibly cope with ad- ditional growth without the sewage pipes and additional water. He said at current rates‘Richmond Hill could soon run out of water â€"â€" since residents are using more than nature replaces. The pipe laying operation is expected to cost about 200 million dollars. The life expectancy of the pipe-line 50 years. It will cope with almost 80 million gallons of L c Lihwv' ! 1 130d 11IH GNOWH "In Essentials Unify m NonvEssenHols Liberty .1113) uaurlry Education in York Region is going to cost 25.8 percent more if the 1975 budget is accepted by the Education Board. The revised first draft of the budget expects education in the region to cost in excess of $60,000,000, compared with $47,859,674 in 1974. The public has been in~ vited to attend three separate meetings this month of various standing committees within the county board of education. Some more good news It‘s proposed these committees discuss the budget and make their recommendations known to a full board meeting which will be held on April 28. The dates bf these meetings An attempt by Mayor Dave Schiller of Richmond Hill to keep the speed limit on Elgin Mills Road, bet- ween a point some 3,600 feet east of Bayview Avenue and Yonge Street, at 30 miles an hour, was defeated last week at a meeting of York Regional Council. ' Public meetings The dates of these meetings are planning and building, Wednesday, April 16 at 7.30, financing and staff, Monday, April 21 at 7.30 and programming, Wednesday, April 23 at 7.30. All meetings will be held at the board offices in Aurora. Elgin Mills speed limit upped to 40 Mayor Schiller made his bid during a report of the engineering committee which recommended the speed be raised to 40 miles an hour, “a safe and proper speed limit” for this section. Over half this year’s budget involves teachers’ pay. It’s estimated in-‘ It would also “create uniformity with the zone immediately to the east of Bayview Avenue,” the report said. Mayor Schiller said he had “lots of local complaints about speeding" in this area, and, although he recognized the argument about going faster, “as a developing area,” he would like to see the speed limit stay at 30. He asked the recom- mendation for the change be deleted from the report. Councillor Gordon Rowe of Richmond Hill said he felt the present limit interfered with the “natural speed," so it becamea speed trap in the process. Mayor Schiller said there were public places, such as the Legion headquarters, the Curling Club and Curtain Club, which made any change in speed prohibitive. The repoft waé carried as presented. management". Eliminate job In suggesting these two new positions, Ross recommends thé elimination of the position of assistant superintendent. There are not .many teachers around the world who believe they are overpaid and underworked. This was obviously a major point when the Ross York's education budget likely up by 25 percent The meeting listened attentively as the enormousness of the project became known. However several members could not refrain from drawing attention to the speed required for making a decision. Ra tepa yer disgruntled Wilcox study delayed sewage per day 'Pound explained there are six proposals which will be announced to the public “sometime this summer". “However a definite decision will have to be reached no later than September 30,” he added. “Public reaction this summer will determine what will be happening”, he concluded. “I am unhappy about the Lake Wilcox Study. We haven’t heard anything about it since last August," Frank Mount, one of the citizens on the committee, told the four members of Richmond Hill Council who attended the public meeting Monday in Bond Lake Arena with about 50 residents of the town’s Ward 5. A number of Board members claimed the present situation â€" 188 in- structional days and nine professional days â€" did not allow teachers a chance to meet parents and discuss Expressing his regret that Regional Councillor Gordon Rowe, chairman of the committee, was not able to be present for health reasons, Mount charged that the area had not been kept informed as to how things are going. struction, which includes $3 million in salaries, will cost $33,000,000, an increase of almost $6 million over last year. Transportation and plant maintenance account for a further chunk. It’s estimated these two categories will cost rate payers almost $10 School board decides new holiday dates Remembrance Day â€" November 11, 1905. Mid- winter break. March 22-26 inclusive, 1976. And Easter Monday, April 19, 1976. A move by several Board members to introduce a 185 day a year curriculum and a 12 professional activity day rosta was defeated. York County Board of Education decided this week that the following vacation days would come into effect. A committee of the board will study the report and present its findings by July 31. Report interviewed some 100 or so teachers around the area. The report, suggests therefore, the introduction of a staff relations expert who will be responsible for in~ dividual and collective relationships. If the meeting was anything to go by â€" “Last ’year the mayor 7The plane stalled while making 7a left turn. The couple was en route for Toronto Island and the ac- cident occured just minutes after takeoff. The couple have been identified as William Straiton, 48, and his wife Eileen, 42, both of Glen'rose Avenue, Toronto. r A husband and wife were killed this week when their light aircraft crashed beside Highway 48 in Markham. Another inquiry is underway following a second plane crash this week. A Canadian Air Force Otter made a forced landing in a field at Markham after its engine apparently failed. No one was injured and no damage was sustained to the aircraft. A preliminary inquiry by the Department of Tran- sport blames engine failure for the crash. Couple killed in air crash Eight students will take part and special recognition will be given to the three most outstanding speakers. The final public speaking contest of York Region Roman Catholic Schools will be held April 25 at 8 pm in St. Anthony’s School, 141 Kirk Drive, Thornhill. last year. It probably Won't gave a verbal promise that be finished this year," the study would be finished charged Mount. Catholic orators compete At the same time, business administration is estimated at $1,014,387, and school office administration at $1,438,954. million The revised first draft of the 1975 budget has been prepared on the assumption their childrens’ future. Donald Cousens, Markham, told the board he felt there is a need for extra time in the classroom. He felt the nine professional activity days were enough. The Thomhill Fisher Bros. Peewees win All Ontario OMHA hockey championship by downing London four straight. See Sports, Page 19. 36 pages Markham 'h‘ustee Chris Mchnagle talks about what it's like being on the inside of York County Board of Education looking out, in- stead of on the outside looking in. Page 5. For the regular news and advertising features on the inside, turn to the pages indicatee below: King-0ak Ridges 3-7 Classified ads 31-35 Legion news 13 Sports news 19-23 Real estate 30 Service directory 34 VictBria Square 14 Vital statistics 29 L88 Scoop 24 In the Hill 28 In the Spotlight 12 Scheduled events 27 Entertainment 17 Editorial 4 Churches 29 Maple u Inside The Liberal Once a Board-watcher One member summed it up when he told Commissioner Pound, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!”._ Residents will want to know why the provincial government seem to have changed their policy of “limited” growth north of Metro. And perhaps more important, residents will want to know why “they” have to make “their” minds up on a project in a few weeks â€" when it took several years to compile the plans. discussion will probably become arguments. (See editorial on Page 4.) Price 15 cents “I will try to get the committee going again as quickly as possible,” he promised. The mayor reported that a provincial-municipal liaison committee, charged with deciding which municipalities should be given funds made available by the federal government, had allocated about half a million dollars to Richmond Hill â€" on a loan basis, but as yet the town has not received any of these funds. Council will have to take the initiative to provide interim servicing for the area said the mayor and this is predicated on acceptance of the Dillon report by council. The report has been sent to various government departments and agencies for comments, according to Ward 5 Councillor William Corcoran, and negotiations are underway for alternate servicing before the big pipe becomes available. about 1985. According to the board the salary schedule reflects increases of 15 percent ef- fective from September 1, 1975. Corcoran reported the town’s, engineering department has been in- vestigating alternate schemes for interim ser- vicing for the Lake Wilcox area. of spending to the maximum ceiling level which includes the $50 per pupil recently announced by the Minister of Education. No reply Mayor Schiller reported that he had checked with the planning department and the final form of the Dillon Report on Lake Wilcox is not yet in. He also reported that he had communicated with the provincial department of the treasury, economics and intergovernmental affairs as to what provincial assistance will be available to implement the study and has yet to receive a reply. Classified ads Sports news Service directory Vital statistics In the Hill Scheduled events Editorial Maple GNOWHDIU na‘um V2 duowna‘u 31-35 19-23 34 29 28