Group fights to save col Claims Presentation House Cultural Society board abandoning North Van stage REPRESENTATIVES OF local theatre are attempting to save the stage at Presentation House in the only way they know how: wresting it from a board it says is ready to permanently pull the curtain best theatre. Dorothy Jenkins, past-president of Theatre West Van, said that by failing to include theatre in a report on the city-owned art cen- tre’s future, the Presentation House Cultural Society board is in effect destroying community theatre in North Vancouver. “The board is just a gallery board. It has written off the theatre completely,’’ said Jenkins, who has also worked as a stage manager at Presentation House. She and other prominent North Shore artists want to create a sep- arate board that would put con- trol of the theatre into the hands of its users. The group says it will meet tomorrow night at Argyle down on North Vancouver’s By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter House to hash out a plan. Presentation House adminstra- tion has said that, while the board did not want to be seen as dump- ing the theatre, after trying but failing to cultivate a professional theatre, it felt it should ‘focus on what it is good at’' — i.e. running a gallery. But Jenkins literally witnessed valuable scenery and props being dumped in Presentation House’s parking lot — equipment she says theatre ocople ‘would kill for’* — NVD Council ignores wage formula index, approves 2% pay hike “NONE. OF us needs the money,’? argued Coun. Paul Turner. i ‘By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer But, while it was Jess than the recommended amount, North Vancouver District Council agreed Monday night to a 2% pay hike. Under the terms of the Municipal Act the “indemnity” for a mayor or councillor is not meant lo represent a wage, but a repayment for the expenses and loss of income experienced by those in public service. In May 1988, council approved ‘a formula for the calculation of council indemnities after a serics of, meetings with citizens, ratepayers groups and staff. The formula produces an an- nual index based on the Van- couver consumer price index, the average North Shore income and the gross domestic product. There is also provision for a job - content adjustment which provides for a 2% increase in indemnities for each 10% increase in district population from the 1981 base of 65,000. This year’s formula produced a suggested increase of 2.7% which would have added $1,573 to the mayor’s annual indemnity of $58,232 and $524 to each coun- cillor’s indemnity of $19,422. ; Several North Vancouver District councillors voiced reserva- tions about the formula. “Building in an annual increase becomes part of inflation. It’s taken as a given, and we should take a stand in changing that,” argued Turner. Coun. Jim Cuthbert suggested that the formula reflected the more positive economic times of 1988 and agreed with Turner that it would be ‘‘most appropriate to hold the stipend at its current level.” NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL But Coun, disagreed. He said, the 2.7% was fair and equitable, and he poinied out that council’s increase last’ year was less than the cost of living. Crist also argued that it| was “hypocritical” to be advocating no increase while endorsing a con- ference attendance policy that Crist claimed was $2,500 larger than it used to be. Turner countered that the educational/conference policy adopted lust’ year merely gave council members the choice of at- tending the two major municipal conferences of the year (Union of British Columbian Municipalities and Federation of Canadian Municipalities) or using the same money to attend different educa- tional’seminars. Coun, Joan Gadsby argued that a reasonable stipend was required to attract a qualified Jevel of can- didate but that this was ‘‘not the year for any increase."’ in the end Crist was the only councillor to vote in favor of the 2.7% increase. Council then adopted Coun. Rick Buchols suggestion of a 2% raise and will vote formally on the matter next week. The increase will add $1,165 to the mayor’s indemnity for a 1993 total of $59,400 and $388 to each councillor’s indemnity for a 1993 total of $19,810. By comparison, Coquitlam, which has a population of 87,147 compared with the district’s total of 76,389, pays its mayor $65,726 and its councillors $19,719, The mayors in West. Vancouver District and North Vancouver City are paid $51,000 and $47,280, respectively. West. Vancouver councillors are paid $17,000 annually; North Vancouver City councillors are paid $15,760, annually. . Ernie Crist index @@ Budget Beaters £2 Business BB Classified ... & Lifestyles. ® North Shore Now EE Sports 8 TV Listings & What's Going On Weather | Thursday and Friday, rain. Highs 11°C, lows 3°C. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreament Number 998723 at and says the theatre sign was taken down from the door downstairs. She said she is particularly con- cerned that grants obtained by Presentation House are currently benefiting the gallery only, with no money going towards the upkeep of the theatre. ; Theatre West Van rents the fa- cility for $1,000 a week and has to put up with broken windows and teccives no assistance from Pres- entation House staff, she said. Presentation House board president Gordon Harris would not comment on how grants are presently being used. But he dismissed the charge that the theatre community had been denied a say in the future of the arts centre. “ft don't understand it,'’ said Harris. ‘*The theatre is there and it is being used — more now than Wednesday, March 3, 1993 ~ North Shore News - 3 7 unity when we were trying to do profes- sional theatre, “Our staff is currently meeting with community groups to see how their needs can best be serv- ed. Community groups are being included more, not less."’ But that is not the story being told by North Vancouver's theatre community. “They have a theatre and they’re not using it,’’ lamented North Vancouver Community Players president David Mcintosh, “It's terrible. It’s in a terrific Jocation and it’s deserted,’’ said former Presentation House board member Richard Strachan. Jenkins, McIntosh and Strachan agree that the only way to save Presentation House Theatre is for the theatre community to take matters into its own hands and strike a new board composed of representatives from local groups. theatre Some have even suggested that a resideit company or companics be brought in. “The big problem with the way things are now is that current board members are not users of the theatre,”’ said Strachan. “Unlike the Community Players and the Deep Cove, Cultural Society, Presentation House has to go running to the City (of North Vancouver) for everything.’’ Told of the idea for a separate board, Harris said he would love to see a proposal. ‘But we’re saying if we’re go- ing to be involved with theatre, it has to be as good as everything else we do.’” Jenkins, however, said that for the board to ignore the theatre purely because it wants to be pro- fessional is ‘‘criminal.”’ Mees NEWS photo Mika Wal A SEMI-TRUCK driver looks over his rig after it flipped on its side on the Upper Levels Highway on Monday. The truck was southbound on the Cut near the Mountain Highway overpass when the accident occurred. lore alternatives sought for Lions Gate ridge overhaul | WV concerned about project’s impact on municipality THE THREE multi-million-dollar options offered by the provincial Transportation and Highways Ministry for Lions Gate Bridge’s overhaul have not impressed West Vancouver District Council. Council called Monday night for more alternatives and public input on the issue. It also voted to tell the ministry that it agrees the bridge must be upgraded to ensure public safety, but is concerned about the impact of an upgrading project. “This is a key component of our highway system. It delivers people to work, to Squamish, Whistler...it serves a number of demands. That’s why we need some public debate,’’ said Coun, Don Griffiths. Coun. Andy Danyliu said the ministry should be asked for in- formation on the impact all three options would have on both bridge entrances. “T hope the Squamish people will also be involved in all of these discussions,’* said Coun, Diana Hutchinson. : She also said it was difficult for West Vancouver and Taylor Way. By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer to take the brunt of all of the traffic headed to the ferries and “up the Squamish Highway. Hutchinson suggested through- traffic be given alternative routings. West. Vancouver Mayor Sager was in favor of public consulta- tion. “Tt must receive a letter a day - offering suggestions for Lions Gate Bridge. Some of them are very pretty innovative,’ - said Sager. In his memo on the transporta- tion ministry’s report on the bridge, West Vancouver staff engineer Gordon MacKay said the bridge should be upgraded as soon as nossible, According to the report, the ex- WEST VANCOUVER _ DISTRICT COUNCIL isting bridge has strong cables, but is deficient in structure, earthqua- ke resistance, lane width, safety and capacity. MacKay said the transportation ministry believes a five-lane replacement bridge would be the best option from a technical point of view. The three bridge options for public discusions are: @ 1) $86 million: Keep the existing bridge, strengthen its understruc- ture; place cycling and walking lanes outside the existing bridge cables, thus widening the existing three lanes, @2) $118 million: Widen the ex- isting span to four lanes. This would require changing the suspension cables on the bridge. Cycling and walking paths would be built outside the cables. @3) $121 million: Build a new five-lane span beside the existing crossing; dismantle the Lions Gate Bridge.