world19News #142
February 20, 2004

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In this issue:
1. Correction: BWV Art Tour
2. REON Development/OMB hearing Mar. 4
3. Four Villages CHC looking for volunteers/directors
4. Community Councils: feedback
... and a note on property tax

1. CORRECTION:
Bloor West Village Art Tour In our last issue, we passed on an invitation for volunteers to help out with this year's tour. Unfotunately, we included incorrect contact information. At this point, we don't have any contact info. If you are interested in this year's tour, please show up at the get acquainted party at Billly Bob's (2448 Bloor W), Wed. Feb 25, 7-9pm. For details, see www.world19.com

If we get new contact information, we'll publish it on our website.

2. REON DEVELOPMENT
The following note comes to us from a member of the Swansea Ratepayers (SARA) Executive:

The proposal to add more storeys to the tower on the east side of the former Stelco site (3 Windermere) goes to the OMB on March 4th. The Committee of Adjustment turned down the request for 7 extra floors as well as the compromise position reached with the city of 5 more floors and $35,000.

The Community Council passed a motion put forth by Councillor Saundercook to have the City go to the OMB to defend the Committee of Adjustments position that the changes were not minor and were contrary to the intent of the by-laws.

SARA will also be a party to the hearing and would like community members to come out to support them and the City. The hearing is scheduled for 2 days, March 4th and March 5th (Thurs. and Fri.). Committee Room #4, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West Toronto, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

With respect to the other part of the site the developer is preparing an application for the Committee Adjustment to again make changes to 6 Windermere the east part of the site contrary to what is allowed in the by-laws.

3. FOUR VILLAGES CHC: looking for volunteers for Board:
The following note comes from 4 Villages:

Four Villages Communty Health Centre seeks new members for the Board of Directors

The Four Villages Community Health Centre provides full primary health care and health promotion services and programs to residents in the four villages of Roncesvalles, Bloor West, Swansea and the Junction.

We are seeking volunteers who can commit to a three-year term to serve on our community Board of Directors. You have one or more of the following:

* Represent the diversity of the community and have knowledge of community priority populations (seniors, newcomers, and families with children).

* Have knowledge in communications, public relations, community relations, finances, board recruitment, fund raising or policy development.

* Are willing to learn about and support the Community Health Centre model of primary health care.

* Have previous experience with community boards or groups and can be an effective team member.

Preference will be given to those who are strongly connected to the community.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

Deadline for responses - March 5, 2004

For further information, please call Almerinda Rebelo, Executive Director
at (416) 604-3361 extension 225
1700 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6P 4C3

An orientation session will take place for those who applied on Wednesday, March 11, 2004 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m..

4. COMMUNITY COUNCIL BOUNDARIES
In our last issue, we commented on the possibility of Ward 14 moving to the "downtown" Community Council, and suggested that it would be more appropriate if Ward 13 could also move there from the "Etobicoke" CC. We received the following comment in reply:

Just a comment on the changes in boundaries with respect to the Community Council. It may not be a bad thing, SARA met with the planners yesterday and they have a different approach and we have been told that the transportation planners abide by the City standards and do not reduce these standards to accommodate development as has been done for all the other developments in ward 13. The major problem is the location of the Ebobicoke offices – but the Humber/York location was only marginally better. Also there are still a lot of issues that are being handled more centrally.

The real issue is that the community councils are too large. One other benefit of Etobicoke is that they hold deputations in the evening while Humber/York refused to.

Any way we’ll have to wait and see.

AND, THIS ISSUE'S "ASSESSMENT NOTE:
Nothing new in the last day on this issue, but we did receive an email from one of our subscribers discussing the fundamental flaws in the property tax system. See our website, and click on the "Assessment" link.

For world19,
John Leeson

world19:
Supporting citizen involvement in our community and its future.
Phone: 416 766-8605
email: world19@world19.com
web:   www.world19.com