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Welcome to winter. Officially it landed last Friday. but the advance warning belted the area Wednesday morning. Still planning to get some use from his bicycle, Stephen Green of Millpond Court. Richmond Hill. changed his mind after a few unsuccessful attempts to get mobile. (Liberal photos by Bruce Hogg). Welcome to winter The Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce doesn‘t even know who the York-North candidates in the February 18 federal election will be yet. but already the executive has set the date for an “All Candidates’ Meeting". Nomination meetings for the various parties are expected to be held within the next few days, and as soon as a candidate has been selected, he or she will be invited to attend the meeting. The Chamber has arranged £33.“ the auditorium at Don Head School for Chamber will sponsor all-candidates meeting It is expected that members of radio, cable television and community newspapers will participate in the quizzing of the various candidates. Glen Alton will act as Master of Ceremonies, while Bob Saunders has been selected as Moderatorl Similar in concept to the meeting arranged by the Chamber for last year‘s May 22 federal election, the forum will consist of questioning from members of York-North media and the audience. the meeting, which will be held Thur- sday, January 31. His main concern is the effect the Progressive Conservatives are having on Canada. “The Liberal Party itself needs some new blood, and the riding of York North could use some active help." Through an unofficial survey of last year’s rinks, his staff noted particular locations were more popular than others. He stressed Markham uses its parks staff to flood and shove] the surfaces “Political science gives me a better understanding of the system.” said Mr. West; “and teaching enables me to work with people â€"â€" just like politics." When asked why he decided to run for the Liberal nomination, he simply stated he is “concerned enough". “I’ve always been a Liberal â€" both big ‘L’ and little 1',” he said. A former Trudeau Youth member in the 1968 election, he has a degree from the University of Toronto in political science. By SANDRA DlGlOACCHINO Chris West, a political science teacher at St. Robert’s Catholic High School in Thornhill, is running {or the Liberal nomination in the federal riding of. York North. Mr. West, 28, has been an ac- tive supporter of the Liberal Party both federally and provincially since 1967, when he worked in one of Barney Dan- son’s early campaigns. . d~__. A recommendation last month from Parks and Recreation Director Brian Wrigglesw0rth was to delete 13 of the pleasure and‘hockey rinks for what he felt were justified reasons. Thanks largely to the efforts of Ward 7 Councillor Tom Gove, Markham will flood and maintain at least as many natural ice rinks this winter as it did last year. Teacher seeking Liberal nod Chief Administrative Officer Jack Rettie told council 3 number of factors were considered during discussions with the Chairman of the Non-Union Employees Association, one of its directors and the personnel co-ordinator for the Region. He recommended council deal with it last week, considering it was the last meeting of the year and the new pay schedules were designed to go into effect at the Three years of service to the Region will accrue 15 days' vacation and 20 will be given to those who have been with the Regional Corporation for 12 years. Included in the package is a dental insurance plan covering 50 per cent of the cost of all dental work. The current plan in force is extended to give private acâ€" commodation if a stay in hospital is necessary. CoUncil refuses to chop any ice rinks Effective January 1, members of the non-union staff will get an 3 per cent raise and an additional 1.5 per cent more will come next July 1. With a recorded vote of 10-6. Regional Council approved salary increases for all the municipality's non-union staff last Thursday. .4 Metrospan Community Newspaper Non-union staffers get raises Deputy Chief Harkness has accepted a position as security director for Magna Corporation, an international manufacturing firm. The formal resignation will be dealt with at the commission's first meeting in 1980, the chief said. “It's a great 1055," said Gladys Rolling, vice-chairman of the commission. after Chief Bruce Crawford advised that Deputy Chief Harkness planned to submit his resignation. York Region‘s police com- mission reacted with sorrow last week on learning that Deputy Chief Wally Harkness had resigned. ".7, _..°. Dr. McLeod said it would have to be a pretty strong request before he would consider running for the position. “I’m just into a new Jobâ€" he said. “and it is extremely im- portant and very_ _satisfying." The Very Rev. Bruce McLeod. minister at Richmond Hill United Church, when asked by The Liberal said he had not yet heard the rumor that he might be running, and in fact had not seriously considered the matter. Write two names off the growing list of Liberal Party nominations Mayor, McLeod say no to Grits ' Commission regrets Her/mess resigna tion In the upcoming election, Mr. West believes “Ontario will swing the vote, just as it did in the “The Tories are destroying the credibility of this country, and they have pitted the eastern part of Canada against the western part," he claimed. According to him, the major problems facing the nation today are the economy and Canada's international image. The chief said he is aware of While the intent was to cut over a dozen rinks from town responsibility, councillors preferred not to deal with Mr. Wrigglesworth‘s suggestion at the meeting which it was Besides the cost factor in- volved. said Mr. Wrigglesworth, during a heavy snowfall, priority for staff is on snow removal. Since most plowing of major arterial roads is done at night, it tends to clash with flooding and maintenance of the ice rinks. where many other municpalities hire extra staff specifically for this purpose. Richmond Hill Mayor David Schiller questioned the CAO's method of calculating the total compensation package. He felt rather than a straight arith- Mr. Rettie felt the settlement was a fair one. The two-year deal works out to 16.41 per cent whereas the contract for the CUPE local totals 17.43 per cent over two years. Compensation. with the latest adjustment, is identical. sothe basic differences come in the benefits package. Several councillors felt more discussion was needed, since the non-union agreement was only concluded in mid-November. He noted the raise is not in- tended to serve as a bonus and that it has always been the Region‘s policy that staff “work for their pay and get paid for their work". “Our union employees (CUPE Local 1958) were requesting a 20 per cent increase in 1978-79, which meant there was a great possibility of a strike. The non- union people, including all of your middle management. were aware of the problems that existed and were quite willing to carry on the business of the corporation." he said. beginning pf January The deputy chief is “an ex- tremely hard-working person who has done a very admirable job," said Chief Crawford. , All members of the police commission echoed those sen- timents and Commissioner Gordon Cook suggested some form of special recognition be given the deputy chief. Mr. Harkness. a former Toronto detective, joined the York force in 1971, its first year of existence, and became a deputy chief two years later. the salary and benefits that Magna offered Mr. Harkness, and “I must say that he really has very little choice but to ac- cept it." “Maybe a ”few yéarg down the road I will come to a different conclusion." he said. The mayor said his main concern at this time is to have the new official plan of the town approved and he hopes to be around to begin the process of implementing the plan. Mayor of Richmond Hill, Dave Schiller, confided he had always thought he would some day like to represent this riding federally, but has decided he has “sub- stantial obligations" to his office and the town and will not run in the election February 18. The nomination meeting to pick the York North Liberal representative will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 8 pm. at the Thornhill Community Centre. Experienced members of the Liberal Party faithful are sup- porting him in his efforts. last election. Only this time we are hoping that it will be in our favor.” By approving the increase, the administrator claimed it was in the council’s best interest to deal with the matter since all union contracts for 1979â€"80 except one. (nurses union) had been finalized The salary schedule for non- The consensus was maybe having fewer rinks of a higher quality would be better than letting skaters put up with barely adequate ice. Staff is already spread thin for doing the flooding and depending on snowfalls, “Non-union employee ac- ceptance of the compensation offer is an indication of their goodwill toward the corporation even though there is a difference in the salary package of 1 per cent," he said. “I wasn’t prepared to make any change from what we had last year," said Mr. Gove last Tuesday. “I can’t see any suty stantial saving being made by not putting in a few rinks." See earlier story, Page A-3 Mr. Rettie referred to the potential labor problems the Region had and said though it was never expressed, the non- union people were known as “scabs” because they were willing to go on working in the face of a possible strike. presented. Instead, they voted to individually submit a list of the rinks they felt should be in use this year. That prompted Georgina Councillor Michael MacDonald to request deferring the matter until the New Year. He was supported only by Councillor Carole Bell (Markham), Margaret Britnell (King), Tom Taylor (Newmarket), Garnet Williams (Vaughan) and Mr. Schiller. metical totalling of the wage inprease, it has more of a cugtulative effect on the budget. December 26, 1979 The following locations will have rinks put in: Morgan Park. Reesor Park. R.H. Crosby School. Robinson Park, Arm- strong School. Walker Park, Unionville P.S., William Berczy P.S., Toogood Park, Duncan Park, Bayview Lane Park, Bayview Glen School, Royal Orchard P.S., E. J. Sands P.S., Grandview Park, Simonston Park, Hughson Park. Pioneer Park. Stone Farm Park, Paddock Park and Glencrest Park. The only new rink to be added this year will be in the Risebrough subdivision, which is still in the process of being completed. The town will discuss the possibility of the Box Grove and Victoria Square Community Centres preparing their own rinks, with the respective ad- visory boards. Ward 1 Councillor Ron Femson said he was prepared to lose a rink from his area. When Mr. Gove asked him if he called around to get opinions of some of his constituents, Mr. Femson admitted he hadn’t. Bob Sherwood was also willing to accept the deletion of the Pioneer Park or Royal Orchard rinks. because of their close proximity. His ward happens to have the largest number of rinks in it and he has received seven calls from parents asking they be retained. “And mostly, the kids shovel the rinks on their own. I know one father who brings his four- wheeler over with a blade on it and all the other kids benefit from that," he said. ‘ shovelling is required espeéially on weekends. Mr. Gove said most people understand natural ice is dif- ferent from outdoor ice. All senior officials get in- crements over and above the 9.5 per cent. except for Mr. Rettie. Medical Officer of Health Dr‘ ()wen Slingerland and Solicitor Ed ()akes‘ The amounts range from SLOW-$3.000. Here are salaries of senior So nex. year (1980! several non- union employees will actually get increases larger than the 9.5 per cent agreed no in the contract, In this way._they will reach the job rate by 1981. Normal delivery of your Liberal will take place Wednesday. January 2. Holiday hours will again be in effect at The Liberal next week. Deadlines for classified and display advertising will be 10.30 a.m. Saturday, December 29. All offices of The Liberal will be closed Monday, December 31 and Tuesday. January 1. Mr. Rettie noted there are no raises for merit but in the rare case‘ exemplary employees are paid above job rates. There was a group. however. sitting below the job rate. when this system was instituted earlier in the year. Councillor Al Duffy brought up the suggestion at a planning committee meeting, suggesting the town review the program for recognizing civic design now being followed in Scarboro. Councillor Duffy said he felt this was an appropriate time to institute such a program in Richmond Hill because of the development of the Beaver Creek In- dustrial Park scheduled to begin next year. The Town of Richmond Hill is considering awarding Civic Design plaques to architects or builders for buildings in the community. union employees is divided into 18 major groups ranging from the Chief Administrator‘s position «number 19 now worth $58,908) [0 laundry supervisor at York Manor in Newmarkel. ($15,164 with the increase). Each group has ihree levels â€" a minimum. job rate and a maximum and after four years. employees should achieve the job rale. which is the mid-point of the salary range. ommunity Pulse A ward plaques? Ear/y deadlines 22 pages “Maybe some day’we'll take up the idea again,” she said. Mrs. Hooper said although Discovery Days 1980 will not happen. the committee has not cancelled the concept totally. For a week residents were invited to take the opportunity to participate in scheduled open houses, tours, demonstrations and dances. The idea was to give residents a chance to discover what was available in the town in the way of clubs and organizations, sports facilities, parks, churches, historical buildings, bicycle paths. golf courses and libraries. The first ahd only Discovery Days celebration was held September of 1977. Civic Improvement Committee spokesperson. Joan ‘Hooper, said the committee sent out 75 letters in October asking clubs and organizations to respond if they wished to participate in a Discovery Days celebration September 1980. Only 17 replies were received. People were also asked if they could forward names of volun- teers willing to work in Discovery Days â€" no replies were received. Discovery Days has been cancelled in Richmond Hill due to lack of interest. Joan Hooper, Chairman of the Canada Day Committee, said everything is still at the planning stages right now but she is very excited about suggestions that have come forward. ' ...Discovery Dayscanned She said she felt clubs an? organizations in town were overloaded with requests to pit on events and she hoped the town would “téke care” of Canada Week so that everyone could just “enjoy” So far, unofficial plans include a musical concert at the Mill Pond to kickoff the week of celebrations; Art in the Park featuring the works of the children of the town; a big town picnic at Mill Pond with cen- tennial prices for ice cream and hot dogs; and a fireworks finale at Don Head Secondary School. i$35.034 in 1979); Associate Medical Health Officer Dr. Eric Holowaly $40,023 1334.590); Treasurer John Hlynski $45,745 $38,884); Engineering Com- missioner Bob Hodgson $46488 ($40.957H Planning (‘om- missioner Hershel Weinberg 546.441 $40,153); Solicitor Ed flakes 349.908 ($45529): Medical Officer of Health Dr. Slingerland $53,642 ‘348.935! and Mr. Retlie ('.-\() 359.908 ($53,737). Richmond Hill Civic Improvement Committee is planning a big bust for Canada Week June 26 to July 1 1980 staff: (‘lerk Bob Vernon $40,266 A Canada week, but... 25 Cents