Maple Ridge News, June 26, 2013

Page 1

B.C. Views Cabinet rookies handed hot files. p6

First all-boys K class finishes year. p3

THE NEws

Arts&life Ballerina lands on the big stage. p20

www.mapleridgenews.com wednesday, June 26, 2013 · serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢

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Anthony Versfelt, carrying his RCMP uniform, leaves his home to help flood victims in High River, Alberta.

Colleen Flanagan/the news

Coun. Corisa Bell has been at odds with other members of council on several issues of late.

A chill on Maple Ridge council First-term councillor files complaint against staffer by Phil M elnyc h u k staff reporter

A video of a Maple Ridge council committee meeting was not posted to the district website, as it would be normally, and was reviewed by lawyers, while Coun. Corisa Bell has filed a complaint against a senior staff member. During that meeting, Bell questioned staff about the 2013 municipal budget.

She has publicly been in disagreement with other members of council in recent weeks on issues from pay parking at the local hospital to construction of a new fire hall in Albion. And now Bell, first elected in 2011, feels the rest of council no longer wants her to be a part of it. “The way it feels, they don’t even want me there,” she said. “They wish I was never elected, that’s how it feels.” The video of the committee meeting, on June 17, was never posted on the district’s website and Bell was told it was sent to district lawyers to review for possible defamatory comments.

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“I didn’t know what I could potentially do to put me in more trouble,” said Bell. “I never imagined in a million years this would be happening.” Daykin Bell had been questioning the budget and said that at the June 17 meeting she felt misinformed or misled about the process. “It was totally a general statement. It wasn’t prefaced to anyone in par-

ticular, but they took offence to it.” She didn’t mention any names and wasn’t directing comments to anyone in particular. “No one can even tell me what I’ve done wrong. If I made a mistake, why is nobody advising me on this?” Bell asked. “If anyone was to take offence, I think it should be council.” Bell, fearing legal action could be taken against her, wants her own copy of the video from the June 17 meeting. However, she’s been told she can only view it at municipal hall. “I want a copy of that so I can have my own legal advice. see Council, p5

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Mountie from Ridge helps in high River Alberta town Maple Ridge man’s first RCMP post by Ne i l Cor be tt staff reporter

The RCMP officer was standing in the bucket of a loader, helping flood victims into the lift, after they were driven out of Alberta’s flood areas in the back of a dump truck. The video images played across Canada as the media covers the devastating floods in Wildrose Country. The Mountie helping the floodedout residents was Maple Ridge’s own Anthony Versfelt. Having just graduated from depot in May 2011, he just finished the second year of his career’s first post in the accurately named High River, which has been the hardest hit by flooding of any Alberta town. see Flood, p3

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