News Continued from Page Al Speaking to the impaired driving charge, Crown counsel Edward Ormheim said two experienced police officers belicved Potinho was intoxicated. Her driving, difficulty in finding documents when requested by police and physical signs of intoxication support the impaired dnving charge, Ormheim said. But Kelliher disagreed, noting police did not report Potinho was unsteady on her feet and did not ask the woman to perform sobriety tests. The fumbling with the documents could have been caused by nervousness, he said. Metzger said Potinho’s driving was no doubt improper and that police testimony showed she spoke improperly to officers. However the evidence did not prove impaired driving, he ruled, acquitting Potinho of that charge. TRANSIT Continued from Page Al Anything that improves a high- way’s ““people-moving power” makes the public’s investment in blacktop more worthwhile, Lin- gwood said. And efficiency can be improved with such things as curb lanes reserved for buses and traffic light Systems that adjust when they electronically see a bus coming. Better traffic lights and curb- lane restrictions “could save us hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Lingwood said. “You may not think this has a great deal to do with Sidney. But when people from Sidney go downtown, this will speed up the trip and that greatly enhances transit as a travel mode,” Lin- gwood said. The centennial of bus service in the region will officially be cele- brated tomorrow with 5-cent bus fares. It was those fares 100 years ago that helped whip the competi- tion — horse-drawn rides cost a dime. Today, the system has 113 buses, a budget of nearly $22 million, ridership of 38 passengers per bus-hour of service, and an award- winning safety record. Revenues pay about 43 per cent of the budget. The province pays 38 per cent, and a local Hydro levy, kicks in the remaining 19 per cent. In the 1940s, the transit system switched from rails to rubber tires. But any switch back is a lot more complicated than meets the eye, Lingwood said. The city is built around a road network, not a rail network, so distribution is less efficient. Lingwood admitted that electric service is an ideal system for the environment. But he also noted that B.C. Transit is constantly improving the environmental stan- dards of its fleet. A rail system means park-and- ride lots along the route, because people must come to the rail line. And it invites development in “nodes” along the route, Lin- gwood said. Park-and-ride for the bus system has had a poor local success rate in the past, Mayor Norma Sealey said. Once a commuter drives to the bus or rail line, the decision to “just keep going” is inviting, Sea- ley said. Council also heard that two routes in North Saanich, served by small buses, are reaching success- ful levels of use. Transit currently has no plans to eliminate them. A2 TheReview Wednesday, February 21, 1990 — DISMISSED : " u = | Socreds elect team amid tension” by Glenn Werkman The Review Two factions of Socred MLA Supporters crowded into Parkland School Friday night to elect a an executive for a brand new constitu- ency. The result of the founding meet- ing of the Saanich North and The Islands Social Credit Constituency Association has both MLAs ready to fight it out for the nomination. In one comer is Mel Couvelier — in the other is Terry Huberts. Huberts supporter Melissa Hernblad was elected president of the new association and former Huberts ministerial assistant Shane Janzen was elected as vice president — defeating Couvelier supporters Mickey de Bruin and Roberta Cuppage. “I don’t quite agree with those people who said it was a defeat,” Couvelier said Tuesday. “I don’t see it in those terms.” Today, Couvelier is formally announcing in Greater Victoria community newspapers that he will seek the nomination in Saa- nich North. “I wanted to do it by advertising so all the citizens of the old riding were told at the same time,” he said. y Couvelier bought a house in Sidney late last summer and: “Once we decided Sidney was the place we wanted to live the rest was easy.” Huberts has said since 1986 he will seek the nomination in the northem constituency. And he doesn’t like getting in the middle of a fray with his former cabinet colleague. “This is a natural democratic process and it’s not a lot of fun when it’s within your own party, but we’ll be working hard, make no mistake about that,” Huberts said. Right from the meeting’s start there was a clear definition between two factions of Peninsula Socreds. Huberts protested a statement that both MLAs endorsed selec- tions of the nomination committee — which included de Bruin for president and Cuppage for vice- president. “I blessed the nomination com- mittee but they never came back to me and asked if I approved the nominations,’? Huberts said. Couvelicr said: “I was support- ing the slate put forward by the nominating committee because it was a balanced slate — it had friends of both MLAs on it.” Hemblad and Janzen were both nominated from the floor but 13 of 23 director nominees on the nomi- nation committec’s slate were elected. Newly elected association presi- dent Hernblad said Monday she’s committed to putting non-partisan leadership for the constituency association ahead of personal feel- ings. Hernblad said: “It’s very important that the executive act in a non-partisan fashion.” Hemblad was elected to a two- year term as president after 279 registered party members cast a ballot. Presidential nominee de Bruin did not allow her name to Stand for nomination as a director after she was defeated: Huberts said he is “really pleased with the fair-minded peo- ple on the board. “The big thing is not Mel or Terry. It’s keeping the north end dedicated to free enterprise,” Huberts said. Couvelier echoed that feeling. “T see us all as supporters of the North Saanich plans new purchasing policy Bidders’ complaints prompt committee formation Monday A new municipal purchasing policy for North Saanich will be drafted by a committee struck Monday. The decision follows complaints from two suppliers over a verbal invitation to tender on a $50,000- plus tractor and mower last sum- mer. All three bidders submitted ten- ders on different pieces of equip- ment, based on each company’s understanding of the municipal- ity’ S requirements. “While I am satisfied the dis- trict received good value in the recent purchase of the mower, establishment of a purchasing pol- icy would avoid any future misun- derstandings,”” administrator Ron O’Genski suggested. O’Genski presented a proposed purchasing policy to council, how- ever Ald. Art McKinnon said he would like to see proper tendering procedures and invoice control. “T can’t buy this,” he said. Director of purchasing and sup- plies for Air Canada before his retirement, McKinnon offered to work on the municipal purchasing policy. Ald. Don Caverley suggested the municipality send a letter of apol- ogy to those companies involved in the misunderstanding over the tractor and mower tender. Mayor Linda Michaluk said the tendering process was not improper and no apology was required. O’Genski agreed no apology was needed, although there may have been some misunderstanding between the municipality and the suppliers. Ald. Maurice Chazottes was surprised to learn the municipality had not used written invitations to tender on the tractor-mower pur- chase. “Perhaps we have been a little too informal with our procedures,” he said. ME iach ae le ste ekers - McKinnon, O’Genski and trea- surer Ralph Gillis were appointed to the purchasing policy commit- tee. Until the purchase of the tractor and mower, the municipality had contracted out the road mowing. Alex Mowat of Sidney Tractor was paid $7,600 in 1989 for roadside mowing. NICHOLAS W. LOTT R.G. WITT LAPPER D. MAYLAND MCKIMM 9830 FOURTH ST. SIDNEY, B.C. 656-3961 McKIMM & LOTT BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES GEORGE F. McKIMM Personal Injury / Real Estate Criminal Law / Wills & Estates Family Law / Commercial & Co. Law Municipal Law FIRST 1/2 HOUR CONSULTATION FREE CHRISTOPHER S. LOTT TIMOTHY F. LOTT GRANT S. WARRINGTON 118 HANSON RD. GANGES, B.C. 537-9951 He said he received compli- ments on his work. “I was quite Surprised they went out and bought a mower.” Municipal engineer Igor Zahyn- acz said the municipally owned tractor and mower would save North Saanich the $7,600 for grass cutting plus the $8,000 spent annually on drainage work and the $2,000 spent on tree and brush cutting. Social Credit party and I can work with any of them. Both slates have loyal party members.” Directors elected from the nomi- nation committee’s slate are: Paul Anderson, Keith Bracken, Gary Diamond, Bob Glazier, Ladi Holovsky, Mike Massie, Lee Mesher, Bud MacLean, Martin Olivier, John Robertson, Tom Thompson, Bob Whyte and Ray Wilson. Nominated from the floor and elected were Judith Carey, Laurie Salvador, Frank Towler, Bert ter Mors, Roxanna Smith, Dave Gou- let, Maryanne Kraatz, Bjorm Ols- son, Les Page and Cory Porter. The new constituency boundar- ies go in effect March 1! and create the constituency of Saanich North and The Islands, which begins at the Saanich-Central Saanich municipal border and goes north. MELISSA HERNBLAD Baha'i Faith Jt teaches: “The advent of the Prophets and the revelation of the Holy Books is intended to create love between souls and friendship between the inhabitants of the earth.” For more information, please phone: Mon. Group 656-3599 Tues. Group 656-0601 | Come in and j and sterling silver T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts fine selection | by well- wood and of locally known local |soap stone— hand-carved | wildlife by our 114K gold artist local Sue Coleman | Beautiful a hand-carved natives. | | &