6 ~ Wednesday, January 11, 1989 —- North Shore News INSIGHTS ‘Eat your twin towers, they're good for you!’ “FAWLTY TOWERS”? is more than just a local West Van issue. lt’s a lesson for every municipality in how NOT to clinch multi-million dollar development deals withoui first consulting the taxpayer. A strong public outcry forced West Van council to check with the citizenry six months AFTER it hurriedly signed a binding 99-year lease offer with Newcorp, the would-be developer of the twin towers project at 320 Taylor Way. The result in November’s referen- dum was a majority of marginally over 50 per cent which told coun- cil, in effect, to kill the deal with Newcorp and start again. Mean- while, Newcorp has filed a lawsuit against the municipality for failing to tneet contractual deadlines. All of which leaves Mayor Don Lan- skal and a majority of his 1989 council squirming to get off the hook. The referendum hook, that is. In short, find a way to go ahead with the Newcorp deal and ignore the more than 50 per cent of ‘‘no’s*’ in the referendum -— which does NOT legally bind council, though most voters probably thought it did. It's hard to find any other plausible explanation for the mayor's unexpected release of the detailed opinions given by city hall’s new ‘‘arm’s length’ legal counsel. Details of earlier legal ad- vice have NOT been shared with the public. In a letter to the municipality dated Dec. 21 George Macintosh, Q.C., a senior member of the Far- tis, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy law firm, replied to 10 questions put by council, nine of them seeking possible arguments for breaking the Newcorp contract. Mr. Macin- tosh saw some merit in only one — the referendum succeed?”’ (UN- LIKELY). ‘‘Can council now change the zoning?’’ (NO—that would be acting in bad faith). One other question concerned the cost of losing the action laun- ched against council by Newcorp. Mr. Maciniosh rightly declined to be specific but suggested some- where in the £250,000-$500,c00 range — PROVIDED the court merely ordered West Van to honor the agreement. But, he added, if Newcorp were awarded damages, costs could be ‘‘in millions’’. So maybe council's 10 questions were NOT so naive after all. What the obvious answers by Mr. Macintosh do, of course, is give council a wealth of ammunition for saying to West Van taxpayers: “We'll have to ignore the referen- dum. As you see, we're stuck with the deal, because terminating it could cost you miilions. “‘Serry about that — but you must cut your twin towers, they’re good for you!” ees TAILPIECES: If you'd like to help the devastated Scottish village of Lockerbie, scene of the tragic 747 jet crash three weeks ago, send your cheque, payable to The erble Relief Fund, to the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson, Vancouver V6P 4N2 (phone 263-9911). They’il forward it to the Relief Fund in Dumfries, Seoland ... And ways in which parents can help children with learning disorders will be explained Thursday, Jan. 12, by Dr. Janice Rovh at 8 p.m. in West Van Sec- oadary library. eee WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nature produces nothing lovelier than a single snowflake. But nature, alas, never leaves well alone. \i a technical point regarding the five-year renewal option attached to the 99-year lease, which might breach the Municipal Act —- but even so, he gave no guarantee it would succeed. The B.C. Supreme Court has now been asked for a ruling on that point, which is ex- pected in about a month. The striking thing about the other questions is their apparent naivety. Most of them could have been answered free of charge by any ethical business or professional nerson with contract experience exactly as Mr. Macintosh did. For example: ‘Is the signed offer to lease binding?’’ (YES). ‘‘Is the present council bound by the previous council?’' (YES). ‘Did Newcorp waive its rights by getting involved ia the referendum cam- paign?"’ (NO). ‘‘Could a citizens’ Jawsuit against council for ignoring ” MEWS phete Nes Lucente “FRIEND OF THE FAMILY" Award... presented by North Shore Family Services director Pat Ore (r) to Dave Tomlinson, president of Army, Navy, Air Force Vets #45, for the North Von ANAFV's “work, donations and continuing interest’’ in support of Familiy Services — inciuding some $18,000 donated since 1981 to ike MA?O8 DON LANSKAIL... off Christmas Bureau. the konk? Oil aiert HE OF spili currently oozing its way along B.C.’s western coastline is a national disaster and shouid be responded to as such by all levels of government. The issue of who should pay for what portion of the clean-up costs is secondary. The immediate support of the hundreds of volunteers who have made their way to the beaches to minimize the effects of the deadly tide is critical. As of yesterday, people volunteering to pick the oi] from the beaches didn’t even have enough garbage bags in which to scoop it. The Pacific Northwest’s coastal habitat is an ir- replaceable treasure. Until a week ago, it provided an unsptiled home to unique birds and mammals. Government words of support will not make the million-litre spill go away. The good intentions of vol- unteers already in place, and those travelling to the coast toe pitch in, require the resources and backing of government agencies. It can start with something as simple as the provision of garbage bags. It should be followed up with military heip to move clean-up crews to where they are most needed. Government must pley a role in supporting those already battling the man-made mess. Years of budgetary resiraint have reduced the environmental agency arms of government to a collection of statistic keepers and lab workers. Call in the boys in khaki. The fight is on the beaches and it’s happening now. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions Peter Speck Managing Editor Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 112, Patagrapn Ill of the Excise Tax Act. 1s published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free ess ‘we and disinbuted +4 every door on ihe North hore Second Class Mail Registrahon Number 3885 Sudscnptions North and West Vancouver. $25 per yeur 59,170 (average, Wednesday Mailing rates available on request Submissions are it welcome bul we cannot Accept responsibility for Friday & Sunday) unsolcrted maternal inctuding manuscripts and pictures e which should be accompanied by 4 Stamped, addressed SDA OMISION envelope Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Seat VONCE OF SORCTN AMD ere ST WUOCOE EH Publisher SUNDAYS MeONEEDAT Tmo 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 MEMBER North Shore owned and managed