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The motion, and Mr. McChesney‘s subsequent remarks, represent the first public comment from the committee since York Centre MPP Alf Stong ignited the police misconduct con- troversy in the provincial Legislature on Dec. 1. Although law association president Robert Evans had intimated that only “one or two lawyers” are worried about the misconduct issue, Mr. McChesney said: “That is not correct." However, he refused to divulge the number of lawyers on his committee. A public statement from the committee listed Mr. McChesney, Martin Herman of Richmond Hill and Gordon Ness of Stouffville as two other lawyers in- volved in the committee’s work. His comments came in an in- terview after he released the text of a fiveâ€"point motion on police conduct which his committee passed at a Dec. 14 meeting. “We're not looking for a con- frontation, but that doesn‘t mean we’re not determined," said Mr. McChesney, who chairs the York North Law Association’s steering committee on police conduct. “We‘re saying we suspect a problem here," said D. Bruce McChesney. a Newmarket lawyer . “We feel it is every bit as important to the York Regional Police as it is to us. The way York Regional Police treat young offenders is “a major concern" of a lawyers’ committee set up earlier this month to investigate police conduct. the committee chair- man revealed in an interview last week. York lawyers investigate All decked out for a Victorian Christmas are the Grades 4 and 5 students of St. Mary Im- maculate Separate School, Richmond Hill. The community pulse Next Sunday, January 1, is a special day at ABC Bowl, Richmond Hill. All proceeds from the day's bowling. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., will go towards the March of Dimes. Each year the company features a different charity for the New Year’s Day drive. If you miss the Community Calendar this week. don’t fret ..... it’ll be back next week with all the activities for the New Year. Space limitations this week prevented us from printing the information calendar but. if you still have last week’s edition, all the information for the coming week is included. And by the way, Happy New Year to our friends at Helpmate who provide us with the information for the popular weekly column. Markham councillor Walter Grieve had been pestering local newspapermen for some time to print his views on France's welcome to Rene Levesque without success. So he was surprised when Newsweek Magazine printed his letter-to-the-editor on the subject uncut. The gist of his argument is that the next time the Germans take Paris, they can keep it. Police trea tmen 1‘ ’major concern ’ Grieve '5 views uncut Back next week Bowl for charity “We do not intend to go on a witch hunt," Mr. McChesney said. “But if the York North Law Association decides that there is a significant problem in this area, we do not intend to let it rest.” The steering committee will report to the law association membership at a meeting on Jan. 18. The committee’s Dec. 14 motion will form part of that report. 0 Give an annual award â€" “possibly a substantial cash award" â€" to the police officer “who best fulfils his or her role as a peace officer, with special emphasis on the ability to maintain self-control in provoking circumstances; ” Original published reports on the lawyers' concerns indicated they believe police misconduct is extensive among York police officers. To that point, Mr. McChesney would only say: “We're not suggesting that the majority of the York Regional Police break the law on a regular basis." 0 Work With police officials to formulate a police code of conduct; 0 Give a series of lectures and seminars on proper police conduct, in co-operation with police officials; . Support current legislation set up police complaint bureaus Ontario. The motion suggests that the law association investigate cases where “there is more than one complaint against a police officer.” According to the motion, the law association also should: He also would n6t comment on A Victorian Christmas kids offered parents and the community a taste of Christmases past during their special day- long celebrations last Wednesday. From left filly: funeral ”/n Essentials Unity, in Non-Essentials Liberty, in all things Charity” Bill Lazenby was elected by the board to replace Mr. Hayes as Chairman and Harry Hill was elected to the office of first Vice-Chairman. In recognition of his contribution to the hospital over the years. it was the unanimous wish of the Board that Mr. Hayes be appointed Honorary Chair- man. It was with his initiative and support that the York Central Hospital Foun- dation was established. Bea ting injures Thorn/ea girl Due to a change in location, Mr. Hayes found it necessary to relinquish his post of the past two years and retire from the Board, Executive Director Jim Hepburn said. Mr. Hayes served the hospital as a founding member of the Board from 1961 to 1965 and from 1971 to the present. During 1974-75. he was first Vice- Chairman and chaired the Management Committee. Barry P. Hayes, chairman of the Board of Trustees of York Central Hospital, has announced his resignation. Laurie Tobias, Olde Towne Place, received head injuries and required plastic surgery, according to police, and was treated first at York Central Hospital and then moved to North York General. ‘ Police, who are still investigating the incident, said the girl appeared to be the innocent victim of a scuffle among some other teen-agers â€"â€" both boys and girls. all of them juveniles, except one. Timothy John Howard, 16, of Kirk Drive, Thornhill, has been charged with wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm. A 15~year-old Thornhill girl has been released from hospital after: being treated for severe injuries suffered in a beating at Thornlea Secondary School, December 21. His committee has been concerned a; the ebb and flow of publicity on the matter since Mr. Stong’s original comments, Mr. McChesney said. “Mr. Stong’s comments were premature and unfortunate,” he said. And Mr. Evans’ letter to Chief A motion released last week by a lawyers‘ committee on police conduct appears to be “a very positive document," says York Regional Police Chief Bruce Crawford, and he’d welcome the chance to discuss it fur- ther with area solicitors. ‘ He’ll get that chance if the com- mittee’s motion is accepted by the whether complaihts to lawyers involve police brutality. ' Hayes resigns Crawford finds motion positive are Laura Dalle Rive, Agnes DeLuca, Anna Wachna, Paddy Kelly and Elizabeth Mangialardi. (Photo by Bruce Hogg) The youth was carried outside and given mouth to mouth resuscitation ffore being taken to York Central ospital. Fire fighters answered the alarm to the house at 1.07 a.m. February 12. Fire Chief Kennedy said the house ~ at 133 Palmer Avenue â€" was “boiling”. Fire Chief Bob Kennedy, who was a member of the selection committee. said the youth likely would have died if Captain Izzard had not continued the search. Upon arrival, Captain Izzard Was told by a York Regional Police officer that someone was still in the house. It IEiLlIfdi-“jno'found the 16-year-old lying unconscious in the second floor bathroom. Not waiting for new_ hose, the two pushed their way through the burning bujlding.Ԥeeking the person. Izzard and Fawn wére in a burning house on February 12 searching for a person believed t9 be_in yhe building. The two continued their search despite the fact a hose, which would have been used to cool the interior, burst and had to be replaced. /zzard, Fawn receive award A selection committee made the chpice l_ast Wednesday. The plaque, donated by Doug Hin- chcliffe in honor of “Blaze”. a fire department mascot who drowned earlier this year, will be presented to Captain Kevin Izzard and fire fighter Ron Fawn. The presentation will be made at the first council meeting of 1978, January 16. Two Richmond Hill fire fighters will share this community‘s first “Fire fighter of the Year" award. Chief Crawford was cool to the lawyers‘ suggestion that they probe complaints of police misconduct, but said in an interview that he‘d like to join a “round-table" meeting with the membership of the York North Law Association at its meeting on Jan. 18. In its motion, the steering com- mittee on police conduct suggests that the law association give an award for exemplary police conduct under provoking circumstances; work with police officials to set up a police code of conduct; give lectures and seminars on proper police conduct and procedures; and investigate cases in which more than one complaint is lodged against the same police officer. Bruce ‘ Crawford, in which the law association president expressed regret over the publicity, made it appear that the lawyers’ group was “waffling,” Mr. McChesney said. “We‘re not waffling," he stressed. The association should not rush to investigate every complaint of police misconduct. Fire fighters share honors Country on track Hampered by smoke at the front door, Schuster entered the house from the rear. “He opened the door to what ap- peared to be a den and found the smoke to be minimal as the door to the in- volved room was closed,” Chief Ken- nedy said. “On a couch just inside the room he found a man. 32 years of age. He wakened him and led him outside." Meanwhile, the selection committee agreed honorable mention would go to fire fighter Paul Schuster, for his rescue efforts at 376 Bluegrass Blvd. on September 24. Offâ€"duty at the time, Schuster arrived on the scene first and was told there was someone inside. “At that point, the smoke was rolling within the structure and billowing out of all openings," Chief Kennedy said. Schiller 0p timis tic Noting the lawyers’ suggestion that they give an annual police conduct award â€" “possibly a substantial cash award" â€" Chief Crawford said it would be against departmental regulations for officers to accept cash. Although he feels much of what the town of Richmond Hill can accomplish in the next year depends on what the state the country is in, he is hopeful that 1978 is measuring up as a “year of reasonable stability and moderate growth“. “How far below is still up in the air,” he explained. One of the principal ac- complishments in 1978 will be the adoption of the town’s new Official Plan, which in combination with other “legal tools for planning”, will make sure that the development that comes in the 19805, will be “reasonably placed and needed by the community". said the mayor. The provincial G0 train line with its northern terminus in Richmond Hill will be finished, as will the provincial water grid system which will “cure for all time the town‘s water shortage" Entering the new year on a note of cautious optimism, Mayor David Schiller believes the country is “slowly getting on the right track”. On an international level, he also sees the coming year as a time for hope. “For the first time, there have been some mildly believable moves in such things as arms control." The town has already held a couple of meetings on the upcoming budget, he said, and is aiming to stay below the Consumer Cost Index for this year. “It took us a few years to get into the mess we’re in," he said in an interview Friday. “But I‘m beginning to be a bit more optimistic about the national economy." During the next year, some “pretty major public works” should be com- pleted, he predicted. lawyers to discuss the document. “I think it's a very positive document that has a lot of merit, and I‘d like to sit down and discuss it with them (the lawyers) at their con- venience,” the chief said. “I think they have good intentions. I don’t think they're still on the kick they were on a couple of weeks ago. I’d like to see their good intentions fur- thered.” r ‘Blaze”. in whose honor the “fire KEVIN IZZARD, CAPTAIN 16 pages The editorial depa'nmenc 'will be closed Friday but re-opens Monday for business as usual. Advertisers are'asked to have all copy to The Liberal by Friday. The Liberal will be closed Monday. January 2. so the staff may enjoy the New Year‘s holiday. Shopping ' problems solved fighter of the year” award is made, was the department's dalmatian until earlier this year when he drowned in a swimming pool. “Blaze” had been donated to the department by Doug Hinchcliffe. and 1 anonymous donor. ‘Last week, The Liberal learned the anonymous donor was Richmond Hill Councillor Lois Hancey. While the program is being organized, the council will concentrate on the core of Richmond Hill, said spokesman Ruby Birch. But once the service is well established, she hopes that it will spread. ' - And, if the York Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board decides to become part of the civic centre, construction should begin next year. “We’re hoping they'll come in," said the‘mayor. With the co-operation of Allencourt IGA, the council is trying to set up a two-hour per week shopping period, where those wanting small portions, such as one pork chop or a single lemon, will receive special'attention. ' If the council can establish a real need in the community for this service, it will also attempt to organize bussing to the store at a nominal fee. Shopping can be tough for senior citizens. And finding suitable single portions can be even tougher. The Richmbnd Hill Soeial Planning Council has come up with a plan to make life a little easier for the town’s older folks. . Anyone who would be interested in using the service is asked to call Helpmate at 883-2234. The year will see the completion of the new fire hall. most of the works under the Neighborhood Improvement Program, the Richvale sewer project and the new civic centre study, called for in the new Official Plan. which it has faced for the last decade He expects to see more building activity in the Baif subdivision and some construction on the Omega Farm subdivision, north of Garden Avenue and west of Langstaff Secondary School. Building permits for 1978 should be roughly equal to 1977, during which 300 were issued. No new major expenditures tor civic facilities are expected to be initiated in the coming year. “It’s still a year of financial restraint," he pointed out. Holiday hours RON FAWN. FIRE FIGHTER Price 20 cents