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Sentinel
Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 58 No. 49
Recycling depot’s rent raise hurts KUTE Once again KUTE (Kitimat Understanding the Environment) is faced with a financial crunch which has them seeking support from council. With their lease up for renewal, the recycling organization is faced with their rent for their recycling warehouse in the Service Centre rising by over $2,000 a month. Right now they pay $1,656 plus tax, which is rising to $3,800. It’s a drastic increase which put their operation in jeopardy. The change is also very sudden. KUTE President Barb Hall said they only learned how much their rent was increasing about four weeks ago. Hall said she needs assurances from the District that they can increase their subsidy to the organiza-
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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tion to cover the additional costs. The boost would be in addition to other possible monies the group may ask for in upcoming budget discussions. “I don’t feel comfortable signing a lease with that much of an increase without some assurance that we’ll be okay,” she told councillors at the November 25 Committee of the Whole meeting. Cutting labour is the only other way the society can see to make up the difference in their rent. The increase equals 173 work hours, more than a single full-time employee. Alternately it could mean a 49 hour per month reduction in the depot’s hours. The new lease would be for three years. Continued on page 2
Humane society needs financial bump Cameron Orr With a self-imposed $5-an-hour pay cut for the manager and other concessions, the Kitimat Community Humane Society is still lagging in resources and wants the District of Kitimat to kick in over $100,000 next year. Councillors at the November 25 Committee of the Whole meeting heard a presentation from shelter manager Maryann Ouellet. Under the District’s current animal control contract with the shelter, they receive $73,380 a year, or $6,115 a month. Their contract has actually expired as of March 31 this year, but they’ve been operating
under the terms until a new contract is established. Now Ouellet wants to see an increase in their contract to $178,496, as well as see their funding become an operating grant rather than an annual contract. Primarily the proposed increase will alleviate staff problems at the shelter, allowing a better wage and reducing the amount of time they are shortstaffed. She said her proposal, which included a personnel list of new positions should she get the funding, is flexible and she could adjust the budget, if only slightly. “We could probably do with one less
full time dog control officer and just have someone part time, because I’m the one who does the majority of the work, and just so there is that back-up person who will have the experience and knowledge to deal with the problems,” she said. “It can be flexible to a point.” While right now it is herself and two parttime employees, she proposes one bylaw officer, one full-time dog control officer, two part-timers of the same position, one receptionist, two full-time shelter employees and two part-time employees. Except the manager, all should be unionized, she wrote. Continued on page 6
Talk about shopping in comfort. This family was among the many who came out to the downtown area — City Centre to Mountainview Square — on November 22 in their pajamas to shop the discounts at area stores for the annual Jammie Night. The City Centre Mall also hosted a craft fair that same weekend.
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Community supports typhoon relief ... page 9