Continued from Page A6

Dec. 11 (Bitter exchanges as Jones
critiques new committees) I feel
that there is a need for me to
clarify my positions on the issues
discussed.

While I am concerned over the
recent council committee appoint-
ments, I will not allow my disap-
pointment to lessen my commit-
ment to the taxpayers of Sidney, as
I feel that I have served with
dedication on all committees that I
have been assigned. This will con-
tinue to be the case.

The Cuff report of 1991 made
numerous recommendations
regarding committee structure, one
of these recommendations being
the elimination of the Fire War-
den’s Committee, of which I was
the chairperson. I argued the need
for such a committee, which ALL
other aldermen felt did not merit
three aldermen sitting on it, favor-
ing instead a revamped structure
with one alderman serving.

I argued that the fire department
was an unique volunteer organiza-
tion that deserved the attention of
a committee as it is currently
organized.

While I was successful in pre-
serving the committee, I was not
successful in returning to the chair,
a position that I feel I have eamed,
having saved it from the wrath of
“Cuff.” The current chairman of
the committee (Ald. Dave Goulet)
supported the committee’s demise,
a fact that should concem the fire
department.

Also of concer, is a statement
made by the mayor at a meeting on
Dec. 11 in which she indicated
that the committee may yet be
eliminated as a result of Cuff
report recommendations.

Your article also states that the
new “Protective Services Advi-
sory Committee” will be chaired
by myself. This is an error on the
part of the Mayor (not a misprint)
and is certainly indicative of the
confusion prevalent “at the top.”

The committee should have a
civilian chair with an alderman
sitting as a liaison person only.
Further, the committee will report
to the council, once annually, if
“Cuff” recommendations are fol-
lowed.

As far as attendance at meetings
goes, I am sometimes unable to
attend evening meetings as I occa-
sionally work evenings as a
requirement of my employment as
a police officer. However, even at
that I attend almost all meetings of
consequence and have over the
past four years missed very few
council meetings.

I must state that I do not under-
stand Ald. Ted Daly’s attack on
me at our meeting Dec. 9. Meet-

ings are after all only a small part
of the commitment we make as
elected municipal officials. Iam at
Town Hall almost every day during
business hours, I have attended
seminars on behalf of Sidney in
Vancouver and Victoria and yes, I
have attended social events repre-
senting the Town.

The Cuff report is worthy of an
article by itself so I will not deal
with it in detail at this time. In
response to the observation of one
alderman who stated that the
majority of council/staff supported
the report’s recommendations, I
suggest that it 1s possible the staff
may support the report out of need
for self-preservation and contin-
ued career well being.

The Cuff report repeats the
recommendations of the Smith
report of 1979 and offers broad
recommendations that could apply
to “Any Town,” Canada, popula-
tion 10,000-15,000; a computer
generated profile enhanced with
some human specifics (and human
victims).

The report was compiled, in my
opinion, without sufficient input
from staff, and remains in need of
Sidney specifics in it’s now final
draft.

Finally, I would caution the
residents of Sidney not to misinter-
pret confusion as openness on the
part of the council.

Ald. Robert W. Jones

Sidney

Adapt practices to
save wesiern yew

Editor:

Present forestry practices in
coastal British Columbia could be
easily adapted to preserve and
enhance populations of western
yew trees (Taxus brevifolia), a
potentially highly valuable
resource for pharmaceutical and
specialty wood uses.

Although very little is known

_ about the ecology of western yew

in British Columbia, an excellent
description of the species is given
by Bolsinger and Jaramillo in
Silvics of North America, Volume
I (1991).

Of particular interest is the
observation that western yew has
the potential for growth release
after overstory removal.

Thus, rather than leaving yew
trees to rot in clear cuts, a better
altemative would be to leave them
Standing. This inexpensive prac-
tice could be a wise monetary and
ecological investment.

For example, small yew trees
would have the opportunity to
increase their growth rates sub-
stantially while large yew trees

“O star of wonder, star of night”

May the spirit of peace and friendship
visit your home this Christmas season.

HAYWARDS
FUNERAL SERVICE

SIDNEY
Bill and Sharron Elsom

would serve as centres for seed
and vegetative propagation, and

could be harvested for their wood ¥

and taxol reserves as required.

Furthermore, large yew trees in
old-growth forests we are studying
are between 300 and 400 years
old, well beyond the limits of an
80-year forest rotation cycle.

Ideally, scientific investigations
on the population dynamics and
distribution of yew in British
Columbia should be initiated
soon.

However, we believe that by
leaving yew trees and saplings
Standing after harvesting old-
growth forests we will be keeping
Our options open for the manage-
ment of this important species.

Andre Arsenault

Gary Bradfield

Botany Department,

The University of

British Columbia

Missed Santa

Editor:

Yesterday when we went to the
parade in the daily newspaper it
said 3 p.m. so when we arrived
there at 3 p.m. we were very
disappointed because we found
out from Santa Claus that the
parade was at 2 p.m. and that’s
why we are disappointed.

Love,

Amanda Kulyk and

Kalsie Hartmann

(r FAWCETT )
SHOE

REPAIR
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