B.C. Views Help the hospital, get a flu shot. p6
New fees for pool, halls and rooms. p11
THE NEws
Sports Ridge runner wins provincial cross-country title. p19
www.mapleridgenews.com wednesday, November 6, 2013 · serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Pitt council bypasses pay raises to donate seven per cent increases to charities, events by M o ni s ha M a r tin s staff reporter
Pitt Meadows council will donate a seven per cent salary increase received this year to charity. City council struggled last week with a bylaw that recommended the significant increase in their remuneration while discussing proposed budget cuts and a demand for no new taxes in 2014. Coun. Janice Elkerton failed to get support for a motion, calling for the city to disregard the bylaw and maintain council salaries at 2012 levels. Following the meeting however, the city reported each member has decided to donate the proposed amount or a portion of the increase back to a local charity. “It’s a step in the right direction,” said Coun. Elkerton. “I see this as a temporary solution but I don’t see this as the ultimate benefit to the citizen.” see Salaries, p9
Colleen Flanagan/the News
Fallen leaves Andrew Richard blows leaves into piles in front of the Legion Gardens building on Tuesday. see story about cleaning up leaves, p8.
‘Parking letter misses point’ Coun. Corisa Bell critical of letter to health minister
at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. The letter addressed concerns raised by residents about parking fees at Ridge Meadows Hospital and “the hardships it by Phi l M elnyc h u k causes some of our residents.” staff reporter But the letter doesn’t mention anything about reducing fees and Maple Ridge has written to the just acknowledges that parking lot health minister about hospital revenue helps with health costs. Instead, the letter says: “Based parking fees, but there’s no menon our residents’ feedback, we retion of reducing charges. spectfullyBURGER request that signage in Mayor Ernie Daykin wrote to FEATURED Health Minister Terry Lake on Oct. the hospitals be enhanced to inFEATURED BURGER form patient families or visitors 17 and first thanked Lake for meeting with council members earlier that long-term rates are available
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“I think it was clear why we raised the issue,” Daykin said. “If it’s free parking, you’re going to fill up the lot with people who use it for park and ride,” he said. “In every community there will be potential use of the lot for other than parking use.” But Coun. Corisa Bell said the letter missed the whole point. “They’re not representing what the public asked for,” she added. “Nowhere in the letter to the minister does it mention reduced parking, free parking, nothing.”
see Parking, p4
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when the stays are prolonged.” The letter also says that social workers should be able to tell clients of parking discounts available for those on limited incomes. Bell Daykin said the point about high parking fees was made during the meeting with Lake.
Opinion Letters Municipal education Arts&life sports Classifieds
6 7 8 11 16 19 23
Municipal: Councillor wants derelict buildings bulldozed. see story, p3
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