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» The great rate debate

sewer, water f

TERRACE -— A program

combitiing. life skills and
- computer-assisted academic
‘ training has graduated its se-

cond group of students,

Fifteen people from the

federally-financed Pathway
program were treated to a
banquet Jan, 23.

Program co-ordinator Ron:

Jacobs said he was happy
with the progress of the
students who completed the
32-week course.

“The training is very

heavy in life skills. It’s like -

cpen heart surgery. Students
deal with themselves,’’ said

_ GRADUATES of the employment training Pathway program were ho
a banquet last week. They are Priscilla Williams, Pamela Campbell, Deborah .
Tait, Elaine Christensen, Alrene Moore, Marlene Abou, Linda’ Porter, Rose §
Tashoots, Margaret Jackson, i
Muldoe, Anne Wright, Lynda Seymour. Inset photo is, Teresa Steinhauer,

On the right path |

Mary Johnny,

Jacobs.

That combined with
academics through a soft-
Ware (program ‘called

further: training or for:'the
job market, he said.

“Two of the students
already have part time jobs
and three have job offers
when the program finishes,”’
he said. st ,

Students receive a training
allowance and child care
payments when required. :

Financing from the

Canada Employment and
Immigration Centre amounts

Marjorie MacMillan, Michael

Pathfinder prepares them for

noured at

to $200,000. -

- Jacobs said the job search
skills take up five weeks and

- is a valuable part of the
. COUrSE. ’

“*There’s also six weeks of

_ work -experience in the com-

munity,” he continued.

Sandra Fifi, graduate from
the first group, has com-
pleted life skills training and
will, work with the third
batch when they begin-

Studies Feb. 11.

Two graduates from last
week are off to take courses
in giving life skills training,

“teMe

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behind

TERRACE -— New water and
sewer rates once again appeared

‘on council’s agenda last week,

but aldernien quickly submerg-
ed the issue by moving discus-
sion behind closed doors.

The disappearing act was pro-
mpted by an amended. sewer
connection -and rates. by-law
which proposed increases Gf 68
to 76 per cent. _ ee,

That contrasted sharply with
the 40 per cent hike suggested
last month by city’ treasurer
Keith Norman and would, .for
example, “increase local
homeowners’ quarterly bills
from $23.10 to $38.75, ;

In making his recommenda-
tion, Norman had pointed out

Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 30, 1 B91

’

the sewer account had been

historically subsidized out of
general revenue. That amount
was $170,000 in 1990 and the

figure to cover staff.costs and |

overheads was more than
$100,000 too low. ©
‘+ Council decided . the

“discrepancy warranted further
discussion but it should take

Place in camera, a method nor-

- mally used only when legal, per-'
sonnel or property items are in-

volved.
Although the sewer and water

rates did not appear to meet any _

of those criteria, alderman Dan-
ny Sheridan explained a person-
nel matter was involved on this
occasion. That opinion was
echoed by Ruth Hallock,

—.Page Ag. .

Asked if that meant council :
had a problem with one of its
staff members over what: a:

4

information. requested .of -city.. ° . at

officials,

The proposed - increase’ in
water rates tabled at last week’s
meeting is eight per cent. That is
the amouint suggested in. Nor-
man’s December memo‘ and
would see homeowners quarter.
ly bills rise from $26.40 ‘to
$29.50. a re

¢

School board may loosen —
reports on some meetings

TERRACE —- Each committee
of the school beard will vote to
decide whether it will open its
meetings to the public, board
chairman Edna Cooper says.

That commitment could see
much greater public access to
the school “board’s functions
than now exists. School District
88 has never had an open com-
mittee system, with all commit-
tee meetings being held in-
camera, behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the board at its
Jan. 8 meeting unveiled a new
policy of releasing summaries of
some of what goes on during the
in-camera meetings.

The new moves came as
board chairman Edna Cooper
committed for the: second
straight year to contiaue work-
ing toward a more open school
board structure.

“I think we’re moving closer
to it all the time,’’ Cooper said.

She said the board’s Jan. 8
public meeting seemed to pro-
duce.much more debate than at
most board meetings, at which
dissent and split votes are ex-
tremely rare,

"I think finally they (in-
dividual trustees),

bly Low Price
ARRIVING THURSDAY, JANUARY 31

getting the

idea that, yes, they can express
their opinions,” Cooper ex-
plained. ‘‘I think we’re over-
coming a bit of reticence.”

She said the board is going to

try to adhere to its guidelines.
for what issues should. be

discussed. in-camera, rather
than referring sensitive or con-

i

troversial issues to in-camera
sessions simply. to reduce the
pressure Of public scrutiny. -
“We have to work at making

, Sure we have more of this kind
of discussion in open meetings,
Hopefully people will get more -
comfortable about debating in
public.”

Snow pamphlet
worth the cost

TERRACE — It cost the city
$1,500 to produce the snow
removal pamphlet which ap-
peared in the mail last week, but
engineering director Stew
Christensen says that amount is
insignificant compared to the
$350,000 the city spent on
winter road maintenance last
year, .

Put together by public rela-
tions consultant Doug Smith,
the pamphlet was suggested by

‘council, Christensen said. He
also pointed out that suggestion

ao ir. :

Of

was made before the Dec. 2-3
storm which saw a 100.6écm
snowfall virtually paralyze the
city. ‘

The pamphlet was ready
before Christmas but its impact
might have been less given the
amount of mail circulating at
that time, said Christensen,

He said the pamphlet. is
Meant to let residents know
what the city's. snow clearing :
priorities were, ‘why we do
what we do’? and the restraints
— including finance — it faces.

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