Good heavens! I’ve just realized that it’s almost a _year since I wrote a column, . so there must be reams and reams of catching up to do. Once again I will attempt to give you the facts, some opinion, and will try to answer some of the questions you. may have about ‘the workings of a civic govern- ment. Sort‘of an Ann Landers | of ‘North’ Vancouver - City Hall, if you like. So if you have any queries, don’t be bashful — drop a note to me,.. - ¢/o the North Shore News. ewe in One of the most pressing problems at this time-of year : for your council is to struggle _ to produce a city budget.with which you, the taxpayer, can. cope. . ‘We have. already, begun the cutting and pruning.from a provisional budget of $12,971,892, which was sub-.~ _ mitted to us by City Staff —_ compared: to last . mean no increase in general’ taxes. However, this is the ~~ budget required to run the. city; it does» not include school taxes, over which city council has’ .no control (al- . though the city has .the: responsibility for collecting them). - union. granted the same increases -as- union “ automatically entitled, under. their two-year contract, to an. ‘increase of 8% as of J january Ist this year. ; year’s. +. budget ‘of $11,076,924 — to. produce ;a budget that will — The first cruel act was: no. increase .this ~ ‘year “in ‘the. saiaries of non-union staff at City Hall, Personally,. ‘] was not: happy with thic choice, Since, traditionally, the non- staff have. been staf,.. who’ are However, a four-to-three - “majority of Council decided _ to. go this route. -And ‘so, . naturally, it followed (con- _ trary to what you may have ~ read elsewhere) that council, in Finance Committee, voted © five-to-two not to increase their own pay for 1976. And so the cutting,.scrap-" ing and paring will go on. _until we are satisfied that we ‘have’ produced” the most. acceptable budget - possible. - We're not out to spend your - money frivolously. ‘Putting on my hat as ‘, Chairman of the Recreation - Commission, I-should ‘like to reply to a letter. to the Editor. ‘of Feb. 4th by | Mrs. Anita “White, “ who - about the ‘‘day-care facili- ties” at ‘the . Centre. J should like to clear — “up a: ‘misunderstanding. - :powd 2 Thisp:: suigar Me 1 tsp.: salt. : “ ; ‘1 egg, ‘beaten. 1% cups milk. * 2 Thisp. sausage dripping ” 4 cup fine-crumbled cooked sausage Sift flour, baking powder, : sugar and salt. Beat egg in large bowl. with _ rotary . beater. Add milk and ‘melted . .dripping..Add-flour mixture‘ and. beat. with | egg.. ‘beater: until smooth. Add: ‘crumbled sausage. | ‘spoonfuls .on hot,” ‘slightly’: greased griddle. ‘Turn cakes* when. bubbles ‘break. Serve with hot syrup. Makes about, . 1 dozen. “mini zum Drop . by. . table-. OFF. on Fine Woolens. : ICELANDIC. PANCAKES. 9 ogee, eate ‘Ys cup.augar %\tep.'ealt :: Ya-top. vanillg:. -Y tap einnanion o “Ws tp sda ne NA “won TED. wots. complained : - - Recreation © _ going nomen cuentas iuueeasnnnin i) 9 Land Development @ Utility Installations. 260 East tla 988-2314 & 908-3815: , 7 ‘North Vancouver . :y 5 ruvinenaeecnaetanniuesaneain bid ANNUAL WOOL REMNANT | ate . The day-care facilities that Mrs.. White deplored are merely. a baby-sitting ser- vice, provided. for mothers . who are ‘participating in programmes at the Recrea-" tion Centre, at the very. nominal cost of 50c. an hour. . -. This service.is in- no way | intended to be a day-care _ ; " facility, and: cannot . be- expected. to have all the amenities of a full day- -care centre. . . Mrs. White may be inter- ested to know that. an average of 40 children a -day are. accommodated in this — ' facility, with -no complaints ‘from their’ mothers, but rather, appreciation — for having the ‘available. a - 8 1 was. pleased that council | agreed to allow. the renova- tion of the old Gross house. at - . 83 Chesterfield. The plan is’ to convert this old landmark. to. a. good: restaurant, .which means that the house, which has existed i in our ’City. since © 1907, will be. preseived for _everyone’s enjoyment. The: issue.of contention here was | ‘over the. number of. parking © stalls. The number of spaces - - proposed seemed to run - - afoul. of the Zonifg By-Law. 7 ‘In the end, Council agreed with the Architect’s ‘plan .to~ _ provide 17, since. the devel- opment is to proceed under - the terms of a-Land. Use - Contract _ (that wonderful - ’ Council to use’common sense convenience ~ our lives... gues nn, os For’ ‘Your. Convenience oe. WO: will be. open on Saturday, Feb. 14,21 & 28. Our office will also be open will 9 p.m, from Feb. 16 to Feb, 27. iby Alderman Frank Marcino gimmick; which ‘permits INSURANCE AGENCIES - Authorized Agent os. 988-4222 _ 136 W. 3rd Sty. North Vancouver ' instead of rigid rules). _ Pity that the automobile, ‘Moving or_parked, can have | such a devastating control on Beautify ye your: bathroom . wee with a vanity top. of cast: ‘cultured marble. locally manufactured: by” Bartel Industries. Attractive . one-piece, . -easy-to-care-for ‘units styled and coloured to suit your plan and. decor. ‘And .a Bradiey. faucet, . distinctively designed in a -bright or brushed chrome, gold and China finishes: | With washerless valves guaranteed against dripping -e for 3 a life time. The utmost in reliability. : a BARTEL INDUSTRIES LTD. i strib ted b i u ye 120 tast Esplanade, North Vancouver 380-1349 J B Borderless esis From Your. ~ Colour Negatives eos . Offer good: fora” = | limited time only. ‘a a { 4 aA y ¥ i maces fr iin ie , i de . Hanolottes ; - ee ate LONSDALE » ‘NORTH VAN, . ° | OTTO ‘ott is “bake other ‘side. fom one \ with sugar: and roll. Should... “be made thin in oder to roll.