_ 6 - Friday, October 22, 1999 ~ North Shore News

YCLISTS and pedestrians are
second-class citizens on the
North Shore.

The B.C. Transportation Financing
Authority (BCTEA) decision to close
both Lions Gate Bridge sidewalks for
nine menths beginning in January
2000 confirms that sorry fact. ~

. While the heat of debate and. con-

, césn has been focused on the needs of
‘thc.s.who drive vehicles’ across the
:, the needs of those who walk or

oss the inlet are being trashed.

bridge construction period will
painful: and awkward. enough.

er =. than «encourage « alternative,

that. doesn’t. involve

intrigued:

(Oct
this ‘country and the logic behind it.
il stated ‘thar socislism was equality 2 all: .
in poverty. ‘Tnat’s the kind of equality our
ictoria are driving us to."

Ottawa and

na cl

north shore news

VIEWPOINT

in a few months it will be altogether
impossible.

Drivers will be accommodated with
a temporary bridge spanning the
reconstructed Lions Gate.

Cyclists and pedestrians? Well they
get a vague promise of a look at alter-
native means of conveying cyclists and
pedestrians across Burrard Inlet.

B.C. Transportation Financing
Authority (BCTFA) spokesman Ian
Druce says the total Frosure. of the

_ bridge sidewalks has been part of the

construction plan since May.
The BCTFA just recently published
information on its Web site about. the

- closures. The BCTFA kas pulled a fast
. one. This plan to displace the hundreds
‘who cross the the bridge daily without

- Cars seems to have been made in ad-hoc

fashion and with little regard for the

"implications.

FoR ALL
WE KNOW,
THEY cOULPD GE
NORWEGIANS

_ Managing a ania oe

THE real reason why 2 mumnicipal-.
ity “lost” a municipal manager:

It's'a love’ story.

That’s the story ehind the actions of

Jim Godfrey, chosen West:
Vancouver municipal ,
manager from about 30;

_ applicants and a short | list
of four or five; a man“
who charmed and

i a everyone he”

cager.
et

ached off} just ;
den before he was’ sched
ciled to begin work.

A pian who, therefoi * stunned West

” Van council and renewed ‘the turmoil

around the municipal managership _
essentially wasting taxpayers’ doliars and
iticians’ hours that °

countless staff and po

newsptsa an ques °—

S indepancett
*. under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the

Coun,

“fad let down eve

were invested in searching for a replace-
ment for departed Doug’ Allan. ~

. Only a coupic'of weeks previously, said >
n. Wood, th un: Victor

". The initial reaction to Godfiey’s reizeat,
it’s fair to =y, was bewilderment and anger.
:Coun. Liz.Byrd was furious: God
one including the
municipal hal . He had already attend-
d several staff meetings and impressed...
“ everyone. :
A press release said that Mayor Patricia

‘Boname was‘ “astounded” at Godfrey's ..

manager at Whistler for the list three years. *-
_ +7 and said the municipal solicitor w ould

be asked for his opinion of West Van’s |. | ~

“legal options.” That sounded pretty ~

threatening. Translated, it could only mcan ”
that among those possi-
ble options being sought
was a breach of contract -
suit against Godfrey.
” Lee’s deal quickly with
that: There was ns co

- poi
would be the ae of taking legal : action?
he municipality attain, even if”

What would
it.won?
Coun. Allan Willams, council's elder
ither ‘by

“statesman, wasn’t amused

competition among municipal gov

ments to get —~ aad keep — top yaa It’s

seller's market os out th managers like
rate reputation‘and

jab ine
ing arrangements, while bridgin

ing o ones, separating her and Gi me aes for

Godfrey hasn’t talk X I
this writing, but it’s’a paren thi
coricemed about h nd’s

thrown Naat Whistler Thana each
caught West Vancouver looking,
in baseball.”

Informed of Godfrey

pending
departure, Whistle

ae