4 - North Shore News - Wednesday, March 1, 2000

NV City addresses

Anna-Louise Pentland Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver City has voted to implement a process to protect councillors against “frivolous and/or malicious charges of conflict of interest.”

Part of the poliey would enable councillors to hire independent lawyers, when necessary, and be reimbursed by the city for the costs.

Coun. Bill, Bell brought forward the motion. He cited his frustration in getting clear direction from city lawyers about what constitutes a con- flict. Part of the problem, he said, is that the lawyers are paid from the public purse and so are unable to defend both the rights of the individ- ual and the «municipality simulraneously.

Bell also said the provincial government has left many parts of the contlict of interest policy in BHI SS too vague. “TP good intentions pave the road to hell, this policy is the road to hell,” he said.

as an example, he said it is unciear whether he could vote on issues pertaining to suites, because he has a legal suite in

ys dicnise

One of the only defenses anaiost contin of interes, is to show that an erroy in judwement was made, but in good mith.

To demonstrate good tath, a councilor would have to show chat a lawyer had been consulted,

Bell said) accusanons of conflict of interest: have got- ten out of hand. “People are using it as a tool to. stifle debate, and what have you,” he said.

Relt said he hoped some of the lingering legal costs of Mayor Barbara Sharp, who was accused of contlice of interest by Coun. Bob Fearnley prior to the last municipal election, could be covered. Fearnley acctised Sharp, who is married to a firefighter. of voting on mat- ters pertaining to the North Vancouver City fire depart- ment and participating in che search for a new fire chief. Sharp was found not guilty of the charge.

Sharp said the accusations racked up more than $21,000 in legal bills.

After being cleared in B.C. Supreme Court, Sharp said she took the unusual step of going back to the court to ask for increase costs. After the courts awarded her the

Bargaining NV school workers back strike vote

SUPPORT workers at North Vancouver schools rated last week to take strike action if contract negotiations are not satisfactory,

CUPE local 389 president Cindy McQueen said workers have been without a ceatract since December 1999. Local 389 membership includes custodians, administrative staff and teacher's aides. McQueen said bargaining sessions with North Vancouver School District have proven fruitless.

Forty seven CUPE locals across B.C. are part of a K-12 bar- gaining committee aiming to reduce workloads and increase job security, benefits, pensions, and pay equity.

“We're short of 23 janitors,” McQueen said. “We don’t have enough werkers to supply clean schools. They're not cleaned, they're tidied.” She desenbed janitorial staff as “overwhelmed

and exhausted.”

B.C. Public School Employers’ Association executive diree- tor Hugh Finlayson said unlike health care or college staff, K- 12 workers have no common bargaining table. Reaching a col-

lective agreement is difficult.

But he said CUPE locals had agreed Jan. 24 to an interim accord and the ongoing assessment of technical issues — and should wait und! the end of the accord process in mid-March

before considering job action.

—Katharine Hamer

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increased costs, she stil had more than $12,000 to) pay. Fearnley was stuck with the remainder of the bil, Sharp said she’s not sure whether

she would take auvantage of

the policy if it is putin place, calling the event “water under the bridge.

Though Fearnicy support- ed the majonty of the motion, he did not support the por- tion deaing with protecting council members from “trivo- lous and/or — malicious charges.” Said Fearnley, “I had wo legal opinions saying what 1 was saying was quite accurate.” Added Fearnley, “in faet, the judge never said it was frivolous or malicious.”

City statf will be drafting a policy for council to consider.

. Bay ‘mayor’ dies

TOM Sewell was con- sidered by many to be the unofficial “mavor™ of Horseshoe Bay.

Yhe man who lent bis fanily name Co the community's man naand pioneered sport fishing in Howe Sound died peacefully in his sfeep Friday. He was 88,

When Sewell and: his par- ents, Dan and Eva, and brother Art, moved to Horseshoe Bay in 1931, the only access was by boat, tram and then) Marne Drive. The tiny resort consmu nity grew during the 1940s when workers employed at North Van) shipyards started buying, summer homes ins the area.

The Sewells owned and operated the Whytecliff Lodge. Sewell’s nuarina operations grew and business turned to servicing boats as well as renting them.

Interviewed by News con- tnbutor Vikki Finkbeiner tor 2 profile story last November,

Sewell recalled his family’s ets to build the bi s. “We hada vision and ait of

thought and meanct labour

went inte it” he sid. “We had nothing, and started business in

2 primitive way. We knew how

to drive nails, sa we built our

first Hoats and: beats and went dato the maring aralinn keeping business.”

Sport fishing boomed dur- Ing the postawar years, bringing vars like Bing Crosiy, Rav Milland and Fred MeMiurrav to fish from the marina.

Danny the 1960s, Sewell shared fishing tips as host of a radio program on CRG. In 1968, Sewell ventured into the boat sales business and became one of the larger dealers in the Vancouver area.

fn recent years, operation of the marina had passed to his son Dan. Sewell is also survived by his wite, Laverne, daughter in- hw Marviou, daughter Tricia and her husband David Forst,

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TOM Sewell! passes.

grandchildren Corrinne Dewit, Tamura Forst, Megan and Eric Sewell and thtee great-grand- childres:. Funeral services are at li am., Friday, March 3 at West Van's St. Francis in dhe Woods Anglican = Church, 4773 Piccadilly South. In lieu of flow- ers, donations may be made to Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

— Layne Cinistensen

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