Saturday, January 9, 1993 @ : 3 Nw o }o - > S = S = November was a little tense for the City of Castlegar and its workers. The News contacted a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2262 to be told relations were strained between the city and its workers and that, in fact, a grievance had been filed. The worker — who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution — said CUPE’s main concerns were contracting out and the leadership of Castlegar’s Superintendent of Public Works. When The News began to ask questions, union representatives and city officials denied there were any problems. The union even issued an apology for their member’s comments. “This was the action of an individual employee and does not in any way reflect the opinions of CUPE local 2262 executive,” the letter stated. However, a few days later a curious thing happened. The News was slipped a copy of the grievance. The document entitled “Conclusions from Stage 4 Grievance Meeting” was the outcome of an Oct. 1 meeting between Castlegar and CUPE representatives. The report stated that city crews were unhappy with their work environment and certain issues had to be resolved before morale was going to change. Some of those issues included the workers’ desire that: they were consulted more, they receive more training, leading to more qualified manpower, and that they would like management to respect and comply with the collective agreement. “Clearly management recognizes the need to continue addressing the outstanding issues identified in the Price Waterhouse report and the Oct. 1 | meeting. “Council confirms that the actions || taken in the last two years have been || appropriate and supports the leadership % Mayor Audrey Moore apologizes. provided to the works crew by management team,” the report stated. CUPE’s regional office declined comment on the skirmish between their Castlegar members and management and said they would only get involved at the request of Local 2262. The request never came. Also on November’s list of things to remember was a special meeting set up between Castlegar city council and School District No.9 — a meeting which many on both sides are hoping is the first of many more to come. The meeting was called at the request of trustees and councillors upset about a brief written and presented by Coun. Doreen Smecher to the province’s Education Funding Review Panel in October. The report in question called for the centralization of school board authority in Victoria on the basis of trustees have their own political agendas. “The insinuation here is that boards are not capable; of making decisions and that’s bull+*+*+**,” trustee Evelyn Voykin said in response to the report. Mayor Audrey Moore’s first response was that councillors were given the report a few hours before it was delivered and they had the opportunity to speak out. However, at the meeting she formally apologized on behalf of city council for the report. “We must chastise ourselves,” Moore said. , Council was given copies of the brief, albeit not long before the brief was presented,” she said, calling the process flawed. Moore proposed joint meetings be held on an on-going basis so both bodies have a better understanding of what their functions are, and to prevent such misunderstandings again. “I’m the chair and I should have been more diligent.” eee November notes: The proposed Castlegar-Robson. bridge was unveiled to the delight of local residents. The 487- metre long structure will cost $26 million... A coalition of groups concerned with local water levels was formed and headed up by Harry Stan. “It will give a common voice in order to give (Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy) some ammunition,” Castlegar and District Development Board’s executive director said.“Right now all he’s getting is individuals approaching him. He needs a united voice.” Community Futures underwent a five- year review of its books following allegations of wrongdoing by former executive members. A Castlegar provincial court judge granted Crown councel’s request to have a Selkirk College student — charged with sexual assault and six other related criminal offenses — undergo a mental fitness exam. The exam was to determine if the accused was fit enough to stand trial. @ Saturday, January 9, 1993 December1992 | “unhappy” December was another busy month for 1 the City of Castlegar. A second meeting between the | Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2262 and Castlegar to discuss on- going concerns of workers was to take | place but the tragic death of a city worker forced its cancellation. By the end of December issues of contracting out and employee-management relations were still not addressed. The biggest issue council had to deal with this month was the appointment of a Regional District of Central Kootenay representative. What was supposed to be an easy task wasn’t thanks to a power struggle between Mayor Audrey Moore and Coun. Doreen Smecher. It took three secret ballot votes before Moore was chosen as Castlegar’s representative to the RDCK board. Moore gave her Christmas presents to councillors on Dec. 16 with the announcement of people to standing committees. Some were happy with what | they were given, others were not. “Some councillors didn’t get any : standing committee and they thought they would be most effective. Why?” | Coun. Doug Green asked. But at least one of those people who didn’t receive anything didn’t seem too | concerned. “I’m not unhappy,” Smecher said, who was zero for three on the committees she | had requested. But Green said, “any position or standing committee that the | mayor has appointed a liaison to may have an ulterior motive.” Moore however defended her actions, | saying “I don't do this lightly.” December also saw council appoint a | Citizens Review Select Committee to look | into the possibility of stipend increases : for councillors. While Smecher may not have been about committee rsday Ed Conroy concerned about review panel. appointments, she was definitely happy about one thing this month. The provincial government announced that no money will be going out to West Kootenay hospitals until a review of acute care services is undertaken. “That’s wonderful,” she said when she heard the news. Smecher has been advocating a review of services to cut down on unneeded spending. While the local government came under scrutiny for some of it’s actions in December, the NDP government had its share of criticism, too. Charges of conflict of interest came from Liberals and even some NDP members after Dr. Margaret Fulton was appointed to head up a review of post- secondary education in the Kootenay. 5 Although Fulton’s credibility was never questioned, her link to Nelson University | Centre as a past consultant had some people believing the review may be biased. The appointment was made by Advanced Education Minister Dr. Tom |}: Perry, Economic Development Minister | David Zirnhelt, Tourism Minister Darlene Marzari — with the help of Nelson- Creston MLA Corky Evans. Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy was so concerned that his government may be caught in a conflict of interest charge, he addressed NDP caucus members to voice his concern. Fulton herself said she would step down if people were concerned. ~ “I can see why the perception (of conflict of interest) would be there,” Fulton said. “If there is a perception of conflict of interest, that really should be dealt with.” eee y December notes: The Coalition | Unaccepting Rash Bureaucracy had a membership drive and while the group is [| pleased with it’s 150 registered members, | they’re not so happy about being “$600 in the ditch...” Drivers are warned to listen to road reports before they venture out on long trips. . The warning comes after two New | Zealand travellers receive minor cuts when their car windshield is blown out by | | an avalanche on the Kootenay Pass. . Celgar Pulp Co. drops a September | grievance against Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada Local 1. The original grievance was filed with the union for prolonging this summer’s strike by four days. “We're hoping to wipe the slate clean,” | mill manager Jim Browne said. ; “It’s a new year and we’re hoping to | build better relations at Celgar.”