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NEWS pholo Mike Wakefield

1° MOMS AND babies mingle at the Kayleta Family Centre i in 1 North Vancouver. One-year-ald Takaya finds the gathering an
uplifting experience thanks to his mother, Tania Hamilton. Kaylela offers mothers one-to-one breastfeeding support and

a ‘breastfeeding peer counsellor training program. Contact ‘Mary-Anne at 990- 9401 for more information.

NORTH VANCOUVER ony HALL EXPANSION

‘Two-phase, $2.4m_ project.
‘NORTH VANCOUVER City’s expensive and expansive

city, hall expansion proposal was approved by council
“Monday. Coe

‘NORTH VANCOUVER
CITY COUNCIL
By Robert.Galster

“Council said yes toa two-phase expansion project recommend-
“ed <i by the. city’s Space Necds Task Force by a narrow 4-3 margin.
* Phase One of the project will cost North Vancouver City taxpayers
$2,385,000. Phase two is estimated to cost 4 further $2 million. The
two phases include a total of ‘approximately 1,350 square metres
» (5, 000 sq, ft.) of new space, i
“Coun, Stella. Jo Dean’ voted against the proposal and said she
Was ‘against any major expenditures by the city until the police
administration building is‘constructed sometime in 1996. She added that
based on her lengthy business experience, the proposal should be put off.
The way [look at it; what is the urgency to start now when we don’t
even have any money for phase two?” asked Dean.

“The project's first phase includes the construction of approximately

1 65 sq. m (7,500 sq. ft.) of floor space in the form of.a new two-storey

: : structure attached to the west side of the north wing. A series of 'renova-

‘tions to. city hall's north wing including an ;upgrade of ‘the building's
heating and ventilation’ system and the replacement of carpeting and

»“éeiling tiles will be undertaken,

Coun. John Braithwaite, who along with Coun, Dean and Mayor
«Jack Loucks was part of the city’s task force. backed the project.

“I've come. to blows. with Coun. Dean over these things,” said

~ Braithwaite. ‘It’s’ never going to be the right time for this — we first
looked at these things four years ago,” he added.

“Mayor Jack Loucks agreed and said, “I think now is the right timing
“this,”

- According to the task force’ S répart “these two steps of the project
must be done concurrently in order to minimize some of the costs nor-
may. associated with doing a renovation to an occupied building.” |

‘Coun. Barbara Sharp voted i in favor: ofg going ahead with the propos-,

» this isn't ‘something new and I think we’ ve been dragging our feet on,

"Lonsdale Avenue a

PHASE 2

(Approx. 7,800 sq. ft.)

~ $O2NS UY
{PONS WEL

PHASE 1)

{Approx, 7,500 sq. ft)”

NEWS graphic Geott Rosas

NORTH VAN City Hall's two- phase renovation and expansion is
on track with planning and design work starting immediately.

al and focused her comments on the importance of renovating the eNist-’

ing building.

"We're not planning on putting a castle on a hill here — we're talk."
ing about, putting into a. building that’s tired.” said Sharp.” She also
likened the necessity of going ahead with the improvements with the
importance of maintenance to vehicle owners. bay

“If we don't maintain it, it will:break down,” she said. “And I don't
just mean the building, the people in it as well.”

Phase two of the plan proposes to enclose the area above the ‘south
wing of the current building. :

The structure currently houses the city’s administration arm as well
as the council chambers. This south-side addition is meant to eliminate
soiae problems. with the current state of the building including noise,
vandalism and water leaks. a

Even though some view the possibility of putting off phase two as an’ -

incentive of the proposal. the move may end up costing the city as much.
-as. $300,000, according to the task force report. The figure includes the

cost of onstruction trailers or other off-site space necessary if the new

floor space acquired during phase one is unavailable for use as the sec-
_ ond phase’s staging area at a later, time.

The new additions and improvements will also provide staff showers.

a larger lunchroom and a first aid’ areas)

From page 1

“We acted very quickly on it and that was
before anything was decided criminally. And
at the. time, her comments were she was
pleased at how the district handled. it,” said
Palmer. : :

He said he had not heard anything about the
situation since. But the woman told the News’
this month that she is critical of how the dis-
trict handled the situation. ;

She said she had to face an all-male panel .
of municipal management, who questioned
her in a boardroom. :

“twas put right on the spot,” she said.

The woman is outraged that Montecalvo
did not suffer more consequences from the
municipality, especially after the B.C.
Supreme Court conviction a year after the i inci-
dents. :
“This guy in cabinet (Robin Blencoe) was. ;
accused in Victoria (and) was forced to step ..
down. What the heck is the matter here?" . she:
said.

Montecalvo sexually assaulted the woman
at North Vancouver's Princess Park and again
20 minutes later in the overflow parking lot of
Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. - :

The woman said after the second sexual
ussault she got out of the truck and yelled, ‘
“Em driving.”

“Here Lam staring out the window ; hotti-:
fied. 1 was.in shock ... E was driving: around
with him in the truck. A hundred things were -
Tunning through my head: m job, -may job.
payments, payments...” she said...

‘The assaults involved grabbing the, ‘woman,
kissing her.and touching her breasts and groin
area, At the time, the womnin was wearing “fatt
rain gear.”

Montecalvo, who vias the: woinan’s fore- ;
man at the. time, denied | the allegations in
court,

Montecalvo had worked for: NVD for more
than 20 years. He, returned 16 his job after his
suspension...

The woman continued,
employment that year, i

Lust year, acur accident prevented. her from

her “seasonal -

’ working. The ova previous years she worked

; ‘harassment

for the municipality in such areas as planting
‘flower beds on botlevards ‘and cleaning up -
‘parks. a
But this year she was s,turned down for sea-
sonal work: :
Palmer said the people who hire seasonal
workers would not be the same ones that may
vant lo “uy to get back: at her”

“Our policy very clearly states that sexual |
will not. be tolerated,” . added .
Palmer. oS a

Palmer said seasonal workers are not guar-
anteed jobs the next year. “a *

‘The woman.is currently working part time.
as a flagman. She pointed out that the majori-
ty of outside laborers in NVD are men. :: :

> Palmer said men have traditionaily worked
as laborers in the municipality. :

“There are far nore women now than there’
were five years ago,” said Palmer.

According to court evidence, Montecalvo ;
used to calf the woman “my baby girl” at work.

The woman received $10,000 as part of an”
out-of-court settlement against Montecalvo
early this year.

She. was ..represented by a. “Workers :
Compensation Board lawyer in the civil action. : :

‘Palmer Said it was the first incident he was
aware of involving a district employee being.
convicted of sexually assaulting a co- worker, ;
on the job.

sane esins ‘