14 — Wednesday, June 25, 1997 — North Shore News NVD worker in conflict Investigation of permits and licences error By lan Noble News Reporter jan@nsnews.com AN independent inves- tigation of North Vancouver District’s permits and licences department has found no evidence of crimi- nal wrongdoing by staff in issuing build- ing permits. But the investigation Teport points to errors made by district. employees, and confirms the district’s posi- tion that one plan checker worked himself into a con- flict of interest. The report came in response to ‘residents’ charges of mismanagement in the process of approving three developments, The select committee of inquiry launched by the dis- trict was initially asked to determine if impropricties had occurred or if district staff had acted appropriately regarding developments on Sea Shell Lane, East Balmoral and Seymour Boulevard, Committee investigator, lawyer Galt Wilson, said a district plan checker who had accepted $650 to draw up building plans for an East Prime Tim "When Service Counts" Balmoral home was in a con- flict of interest under district policy. Galt said plan checker Harry Schwaiger “obviously knew that he was entering into a conflict of interest and took steps to hide that by meeting secretly, obtaining cash payment and hiding the relationship from other staff members, including his sups- riors. Galt added that iaspectors were was carcless in carrying out the foundation and fram- ing inspections at the Balmoral home. The inspector should not have proceeded with the inspection without the owner providing a copy of the approved drawings and specifications. The six-foot addition to the Balmoral home was larger than the 1°6” one approved by the district. Galt said the actions of Schwaiger and to a lesser extent the inspectors cast a cloud on the permits znd licences department. He added the actions were used to create an impression the department was corrupt and there was a conspiracy in the department to work on behalf of developers and against the interests of adja- cent property owners. “I find no trace of sup- pert for such a conspiracy theory,” he said. Galt said no special con- siderations were given to the owners of the Sea Shell Lane and Seymour Boulevard homeowners in approval for their building projects. District Mayor Don Bell would nor talk specifically abeut Schwaiger. But he said a plan checker is still with the district. after being. given notice he would be suspend- ed without pay for the maxi- mum period deemed appro- priate. Bell would nor say how long that suspension was, adding he couldn’r under the terms of the col- lective agreement. The sus- pension was challenged by CUPE and is going to arbi- tration, said Bell. The grievance has to be dealt with before a possible suspension can be imposed, he said. CUPE said one of its members has been denied duc process and publicly maligned for political pur- poses by council. Galt released a number of recommendations to the dis- trict, saying that had there been proper documentation, clear policy and adequate staff training the inquiry may have been unnecessary. Staff have been asked to report back to council within two weeks on the actions taken in response to Galt’s recommendations. Staff have also been asked to report within nwo months on changes that should be made to the Municipal Act or district bylaws to prevent similar situations, said Bell. The North Vancouver P.CMP concluded a “thor- ough investigation” into complaints over the district's issuance of building permits without finding evidence of criminal wrongdoing. ADD 43 SECOND PHONE FOR ONLY _ “GEL FREE WEEKENDS = ORE FOR JUST NORTH VANCOUVER COMHIUNICATIONS ne. SUPERSTORE 1480 Marine Drive tacruss from Burger King? 990-9221 Mon. - Fri, 9:00 - 5:30 Sat. 10:00 - 5:00 Richmond 108-13400 Bridgeport * One block west of No. 5 Rd. ........--.. 26 278-4949 Surrey 50-10330 152nd. St. * Across from Guildford Vancouver Pacific Centre Mall * Dunsmuir Skywalk Abbotsford #4-32465 South Fraser Way * Across from Safeway "JB informed: ie th mani 30.calls per H#L ELSI OL EL PYLE PI SRL LS OL EEE ELI LPR EE Oe CGA awards scholarship JENNY Lau of Sutherland sec- ondary school has received $600 towards her post-secondary educa- tion from the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C. Tau was among 20 secondary srudents who seceived the CGA Grade 12 Graduate Continuing, Education Scholarship. In addition ro high academic achieve- ment, extra-curricular involvement and vol- unteer experience are important critena for winning this scholarship. Every vear the association offers 20 schol- arships to secondary students who are plan- ning to continue their education in an accounting-related program. Each scholarship grants $600 to students who are entering 2 B.C. or Yukon university, university college, BCIT, college or the CGA program. This year, more than 190 applica- tions for the scholarships were received. ‘(Old friends never die. They just. get recycled. We make it clean and simple for you to recycle your phone books. Just take them to the nearest drop-off listed below: (April 18 - August 15) Please do not place phone books in the Biue Box or Blue Bag. Drop-off bins in the parking lots at: (1. Safeway - Lonsdale and 13th (J Safeway - Lynn Valley Centre. (] Safeway - Westview Shopping Centre (J New North Shore Recycling Drop-Off Depot. (Call the Depot at 981-3124 for location) C_] West Van Rec Centre ~ 21st and Gordon, Nertheast corner off Gordon For more information call North Shore Recycling 984-9730.