Up front: Trapped kitten can now get a good night’s sleep On stage: Benatar’s best shot still packs a punch
Your news leader since 1905
page 3 page 18
For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com
Friday, July 12, 2013
Auditor the answer for salary swell?
CVRD: Director wants information after double-digit wage hikes Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
A
provincial audit of wages and raises being paid to Cowichan’s top bureaucrats may be ordered by month’s end, a regional director explained. Ian Morrison believed most directors read his recent letter of shock about brass remuneration hikes — averaging 11 1/2 % — and his call for a municipal audit about salaries topping $75,000 a year. “I suggest most of the board read my article, and have that on their mind; (the audit request) seems to be a good fit.” How good a fit was foggy as Cowichan Valley Regional District Ian Morrison: senior staff explained their raises in a private suggests auditor session Wednesday. Morrison, the director for Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls, stressed he’s bound by privacy rules governing the closed, 45-minute salary huddle between the board and its senior non-union staff. But his public letter calls for the municipal auditor to do a performance audit on CVRD finances and operations. The auditor’s role, he states, is giving local governments objective information and advice for community accountability about stewardship of public assets, and reaching story, stucco home with attached garage. It’s believed Reid wasn’t home when the fire Peter W. Rusland value for money spent on operations. The inferno was fully involved when atstarted. She was unavailable for comment by News Leader Pictorial CVRD’s options also include hiring contended by two trucks from North Cowichan’s press time. sultants to probe their executive pay scales, south-end hall, plus a back-up rig from A neighbour believed Reid’s two dogs were Molly Avenue home is believed using private and public wage-rate criteria; Duncan’s fire hall. saved due to fast action by neighbour Ken to be a loss after Thursday’s 1 freezing wages in coming years; and clawThe home on Molly, off Carmel Drive, was Stubbs, who was also not available for comp.m. fire. ing back remuneration. owned by local lawyer Alix Reid, the News ment. The intense blaze destroyed “It’s about process, and freezes and The fire’s cause was unknown at press time. what was believed to be a single- Leader Pictorial confirmed. clawbacks have to be based on good-quality information,” he said, noting annual Andrew Leong economic numbers could guide CVRD’s Captain Brad Coleman was among the North Cowichan South End fire crew members who responded to a house fire on Molly Avenue, off Gibbins Road, on Thursday. The fire apparently ability to pay senior wage rates. more on page 6 started from the garage. No one was home at the time. Duncan fire department assisted in mutual aid.
North Cowichan home gone
A
Run Date: July 12, 2013 Duncan Newsleader (10.25" x 1.5") Full Colour EOR#5731
3 1/4” x 3/4” SOLID HARDWOOD E SALDS EN N! SOO
5.99
$
sq ft Hickory Plymouth Brown 1100 sf available
HARDWOOD
TILE
PLU
Duncan | 5880 York Rd (corner of York & Beverly) 250.701.9191 | endoftheroll.com
CORK
AREA RUGS
LAMINATE
MANY M S IN-STORORE SPECIAL E S!
VINYL
CARPET