MAILBOX

Growing groundswell for change

Dear Editor:

I refer to the recent Mailbox
_ letter ‘WY qualities rapidly
eroding,”’ referring to the quality
of life in West Vancouver. Added
to this erosion is the crosion of
local government being seen too.

The purpose of local govern-
ment is to provide efficient ser-
vices and to enhance civic pride,
but in many cities and towns the
ruling councillors divide their
time between running their own
policy, pouring scorn on the
values and way of life of their re-
spectable residents, and condoning
waste, inefficiencies, over-man-
ning and feather-bedding in many
directions.

In West Vancouver we have
seen our taxes, utility rates, ser-
vice charges, ete. jump
dramatically and totally out of
proportion to either cost of living
or inflation figures.

There is no natural attrition of
staff and non-replacement in
these stringent times, but instead
the number of staff increased with:
no discernible improvement in
services or efficiency.

We sce a council that, in spite
of being made publicly aware of
. some infractions of its own
‘: bylaws, condones these breaches

and does not enforce its own
bylaws, which will ultimateiy lead
to contempt [or the bylaws.

We see the gross overestimation

- of cost of necessary waterworks

that actually cost $4 million hav-
ing a $6,150,000 loan raised, a
32.5% overestimation of uctual
costs. Are there other such gross
discrepancies in cests, with subse-
quent over-taxing of residents?
Many serious questions arise
from the recent agreement be-
tween council and the indian band
on the Park Reyal properties, but
to date, no documentation,
bylaw, etc. has been made avail-
able to the public, nor any full
public explanation or disclosure.
The litany goes on and on.
Concerned residents should re-
quest the annually published (last
1951) publicly available documents
from their municipality, these be.
ing the Employee Financial In-
formation Act Report and the
Suppliers Financial Information
Act Report. Some of these figures
and items are mind-boggling.
Similarly, School District 44
and 45 figures are on public re-
cord and the schedules are avail-
able on request by any person.
There is a growing groundswell
by many people in West Van-

AT A North Vancouver District
‘council meeting held earlier
this month councillors decid-
ed to amend tho municipal
Waste Removal Bylaw and
make scavenging from recy-
cling bins an offence. The
bylaw includes a $50 fine for
blue box scavengers.

In a weekly random survey of more
than 500 North Shore residents, the
North Shore News survey team
asked the peoole if they thought sca-
venging from blue boxes should be
itlegal.

Ot those who responded 45.2% said
No, 33.2% said Yes, 11.6% had no
Opinion and 10% did not know.

A full 93.1% of respondents contact-
ed by the News said they use the
biue box recycling systern. For more
on the subject see Inquiring Reporter
page 12.

couver for efficient, effective and
financially responsible municipal
government and a halt to the
ever-increasing taxes by out-of-
control officials.

With municipal and school
board elections due in November,
residents should be seriously con-
sidering the major changes so very
necessary.

Lionel Lewis
West Vancouver

Association
says thanks

Dear Editer:

Each year, at Christmas, ap-
proximately 200 psychiatrically ill
people reccive gifts from our an-
nual “‘G:ft of Hope’’ campaign.

Some are seniors, many are in-
dividuals in hospital wards, some
are in residential care homes,
while a great number live on their
own,

Personal relationships are dif-
ficult for these people who are
often overlooked by society.

The beautiful gifts they received
at a festive Christmas party on
Dec. 17, 1992 were a gesture of
warmth and caring.

The extreme generosity of the
many churches, businesses and
individuals were a tribute to this
community.

The Board of Directors and
Staff of the Canauian Mental
Health Association, North and
West Vancouver Branch, voltun-
teers and the many happy reci-
pients, are deeply grateful for the
generosity, thoughtfulness and
donations.

This year we truly regret the
delay in saying thank you to ail.
This is due to our move to new
offices at a new site and a short-
age of personnel in the office.

Please come and visit us at our
new offices at 944 West 16th St.,
North Vancouver (entrance is off
Hamilton Avenue). See you then!
Canadian Mental Health Associa-
tion
North Vancouver

Sunday, February 28, 1993 - North Shore News - 7

The Board of the
North Shore

Music Academy
Regrets to announce that the
concert due to be performed at
West Van Baptist Church on
Friday, the 5th of March/93, has
been cancelled. We offer our
apologies for any disappointment
caused to all subscribers.

CORRECTION NOTICE
in Our B14A White Sale flyer, Juvenile
Bedding quantities on page 3 are limited
— rainchecks will be available a! the store.
tn our B14 Spring Launch flyer, Rutfle
Floral Blouse on page 9; Girts’ 2-3X Four
Season Jackets on page 14: Northern
Spirit Canvas Jacket on page 20 will be
SudStituted at the store. Dim Pantyhose on
page 13 are not available at all slores.
Oiscus Tops on page 23 will be late
— rainchecks wii be available at the store.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may have
caused.

DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN

CUSTOM
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AND
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Labour $8.50 per
panel unlined.
$9.59 Hned.

CUSTOM BEDSPREADS & COVERS
Low, low prices on blinds & tracks.
For FREE Estimates
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Serving the North Shore for 23 years

JPETER BARKER
4 DENTURIST

231 Lonsdale,
Narth Vancouver

986-8515

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