Al4- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 4, 201 City treasurer bids goodbye because of kidney failure KEITH NORMAN has te- tired as city treasurer after finding out he needs a kid- ney transplant. Norman, 55, finished work March 30, City coun- cil has named deputy trea- Surer Judy Degerness to re- place him as the city’s five years to live. He said that’s suddenly made it harder to care about whether the city bal- ances its budget. “My priorities are changing,” he said. “J have a very hard time con- centrating on work now.” chief financial officer. Norman says he was diagnosed as having kid- ney failure just weeks ago and has under- gone a battery of tests since then. His brother in Parksville has agreed to donate a kidney if a transplant is possible. So far, that looks pro- mising, he says, and a transplant could take place as quickly as the summer. Because he’s a diabe- tic, Norman has been told without a transplant he will likely be on kidney dialysis within two years and could have less than Workers take job action WORKERS BELONGING to the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) are involved in various types of strike action this week to back up demands for a new con- tract. Its members include 70 people employed at Mills Memorial Hospital here. The hospital has put into place its essential ser- vices manpower plan in preparation for strike ac- tion. Under the plan, some HEU members are required to stay on the job to safe- guard patient care, The HEU issued strike notice last week after say- ing it wasn’t getting any- where in attempts to settle a new contract for 43,000 of its members at various health care facilities across the province. HEU negotiators oppose efforts of employers to in- clude pay equity increases as part of the monetary package for general wage increases. And while HEU mem- bers are out, nearly 1,000 members of the B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU) in the northwest are sche- duled to take a strike vote today to back up demands for substantial pay and benefits hikes. ‘The contract between the union and health care employers ran out March 31 and nurses said they're frustrated because there’s been little progress. All told, the BCNU re- presents 25,000 registered and registered psychiatric nurses across the province, B.C.’s registered nurses want wage increases of 60 per cent. They now make, on average, $26.50 an hour but they want that in- creased to $42 an hour. The average registered and registered psychiatric nurse now makes approx- imately $50,000 a year, not including overtime or olher factors. The wage increase de- mand would: push that’ average to close to $80,000. Nurses say a failure to earn more money mean there will be an exodus to other parts of the country and the world where higher wages are paid, pe A ea three He says he opted to take early retirement now when he can enjoy it, ra- ther than try to stay on with the city and take large amounts of sick time off. “It’s the tight thing to do,” he said. “It wouldn’t be fair to the city to stay on and not give them the full effort.” He said he is scheduled to be at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver for testing by May 22, and possibly soo- ner. Norman was treasurer here nearly 23 years, com- ing from Port Hardy, where he worked as chief ac- Small House (2500 sq. ft.) s/s mid-efficient furnace Before July 2000 - $770 Keith Norman countant for a mining company. Degerness takes over the city’s top financial jab with considerable exper- ience and credentials. She’s been deputy trea- surfer under Norman since 1989. Prior to that she worked See Robin at Acadia Northwest Mechanical See what a Lennox G26 high-efficiency upgrade can do for you! Free estimate - Let us show you how to pay for this with your savings! Large House (4000 sq, ft.) s/s mid-efficient furnace Before July 2000 - $1233.10 After January 2000 - $1,367 After January 2000 - $2, 191 Northwest Mechanical Inc. ace my Yom Judy Degerness for the city’s parks and re- creation department, and at the hospital and the col- lege. “Pm sure Judy’s going to do an excellent job,” Norman said, The city has thanked Norman for his service and has wished him well, 5239 Keith Ave. ¢ 635-4770 or 635-7158 Out of Town - 1-800-566-7158. 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