3 - Wednesday, Mareh 5, 1986 - North Shore News Charges fly in Cypress battle From Page 1 heated exchange belween the SCBC spokesman and CBRE, general manager Wayne Booth, the demonstrators continued on to the mountain's downhill area. PROTESTER ARRESTED Beltz was taken to the West Vancouver Police station by Cst. Barry Nickerson and Cpl. Scott Armstrong, where he was detained for an hour, Fifty of the ski-in demonstrators subsequently arrived at the station to lay complaints against: Booth, CBRL, and the West) Vancouver Police. Beltz was arrested because of an alleged assault by trespass, police said. Beltz said he is consulting with Jawyers and will likely lay counter charges. of assault against CBRE., Wayne Booth, and the West Van- ~HEWS photos Mike Waketieia to pay $357 per year for 1987 school taxes From Page 1 Regan said the provincial fiscal framework was designed to make trustees accountable, “It’s nothing like fraud at all, it’s facts and accountability. Parents have indicated that they are willing to pay more for good education, now it’s time to find out if they really are.” MAINTAIN EDUCATION The new budget represents a maintenance budget, according to Berg, based on board instructions to maintain the district’s level of education service together with improvements in such areas as teaching staff, support staff, equipment replacements and classroom materials. Berg pointed out that Monday night’s budget was a draft budget only. but that it must be finalized by the board by March 11 and submitted to the Ministry of Education by March 15. Of the $2.7 million increase, Berg said $1.7 million will be devoured in such inescapable costs as $239,848 in district staff benefits, $326,112 in heat and light, $800,000 in negotiated salary increases, and $350,000 in pay in- crements, Berg gave an outline of staff and service improvements that the re- maining $1.1 million could be put towards, including five additional teachers at a cost of $280,000, 22 support staff at close to $500,000, and new equipment at $208,000. BUDGET INCREASE The estimated six per cent in- crease in the school budget will cost the owner of a $100,000 house in North Vancouver approximately $42 more in 1986 and $58 more in 1987. Berg said 40 per cent of the tax total would be levied in 1986 for the September to December period of the school year, while the re- maining 60 per cent would be levied in 1987 for the January to June period of the school year. He explained that while the school’s fiscal year ran from June to June, municipal taxes were col- lected on a calendar year to calen- dar year basis. Berg said his estimations were based on all things remaining con- stant from the 1985-86 budget, and added that such factors as a budget surplus from 1985-86, the amount of additional grants that might be made available under the provin- cial fiscal framework, the amount of the homeowners’ grant and other unknowns will all affect final budget calculations. DISSATISFIED Expressing his dissatisfaction with the provincial government’s fiscal framework and its recently announced $110 million Excellence in Education fund, trustee rev. Roy Dungey said there was no allowance made for much-needed programs such as those dealing with child abuse and inadequate funding for such basics as textbooks, He pointed out that though the ministry had estimated total costs of textbooks for the district at $30 per student, the current allocation was $11 short at $19 per student. Dungey’s amendment to the budget motion to include $13,640 for two child abuse programs and $369,497 for textbooks in the 1986-87 District 44 budget passed in a 4-2 vote. Those additional budget allowances would add another $5 to the projected $290 total for 1986 school taxes, and $7 to the pro- jected $350 paid by the average North Vancouver homeowner for school taxes in 1987. couver police officer who arrested him. Deputy chief of the West Van- couser Pofige Departinent Hat Jenkins said Tuesday he was aware of three complaints being lsid against CBRE. management, but had not heard of any complaints being laid against members of the foree. He said he was sorry lo see the Cypress situation degenerate into Saturday's confrontation, ‘but we are caught in the middle here, We did what we thought would) best defuse the situation before good people were whipped up into a state where they would find themselves in conflict with the law.” ALLEGATIONS DENIED Jenkins denied allegations made by members of the SCBC that the arrest of Belts had been ordered by the office of the Attorney General. Thus far, information in the ar- rest has been forwarded to West Vancouver crown counsel. No charges have as yet been laid against Beltz, Speaking about the demonstra- tion, Beltz said, “The point was made. There were 150 people out there who showed up to demon- strate their concern, f think we are in a full battle now." Beltz said he will be seeking damages in what he says is a case of false arrest and detention. His character, he said, has been defamed in the incident. “And the police are not doing their duty here. They are not pro- tecting the rights of the public. An carlier charge of assault taid against a CBRE patrolman by Beltz in 1988 was dismissed in West Vancouver provincial court, Rooth said Beltz, was arrested in an area of the mountain leased to CBRE. ander terms of its 50-year permit agreement with the provin- cial government “because he cef- used to leave or to buy a ticket as required under the terms of that permit agreement.” . Booth said West Vancouver Crown prosecutor Gary Hales had written to Beltz warning the SCBC spokesman that if he persisted in refusing to leave defined areas or to buy the required tickets, Beltz would be committing an offence. SCBC chairman) Lynn Von Krosigk said Monday the whole episode appeared to have been planned around arresting Beltz, because he was the only demonstrator arrested, and because he was arrested in an area outside of CBRL’s permit. “The idea we want to get across,"” Von Krosigk said, ‘‘is that the whole park is at risk. We want to get everybody on the North Shore who values the park to go up there and insist on their rights to access."' Booth said there was no ques- tion of wilderness access: ‘‘The issue that people are failing to grasp here is simple: when you are in permit areas you are required to pay a nominal fee. We have an area that the province has given to us that we are required to service and maintain and that we have a right to charge a fee to use."’ ‘A. MEMBER of the 150 Save the Cypress Bow! Committee demonstrators (above) displays a subdued sign of protest while squinting into the moun- tain glare Saturday afternoon. Demonstrators (below) make their way across a Cypress Mountain downhill run in a shew of force, to back their demands for free unobstructed access to wilderness area's of the provin- cial park. West Vancouver Police arrested SCBC spokesman John Beltz in the Ssiurday demonstration. “Brondgeest: replied “was “strictly against. he: five-f through. the provincial. governme: Feed Smith, city deputy, director i roy “said the plan and-budget for th by the: Ministry. of “Municipal Hales, and y tBy omen must also be approved. :: ~ “$f the funds aren't the ‘ jert tn Its entirety,”” he said Ald. Stella Jo Dean agree “ean go back-to the coronal overnment. They would: ‘ell us to drop: dead.” ficult, Ald. Dana Taylor later proposed that a staff: member mee the group and listen to its concerns. | : But Dean,” who: voted against the idea, ‘said she thought i was too late. Ald. Ralph Hall then questioned. if, Tayior's proposal was to open communications between the city. and’ the sroup, or. was: to make changes in the beautification plans. . Taytor. assured council that. no changes i ‘in the e plans were ¢ pros posed...