THURSDAY JUNE 25, 2015
IL
TH
NEWS
TRA
IL
S I N C E
1 8 9 5
DA
Softball champs crowned
S
TIM
CREEK NEW IL
TR A E
TH
Follow us online
1895 - 2015
IM ES
TRAIL T
INCLUDING G.S.T.
ES
105
TRA
Y IL
Vol. 120, Issue 99
$
E
Page 9
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Trail council agrees to review stipends and expenses
HERE COMES SUMMER HOLIDAYS
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Not all Trail politicians are on the same page when it comes to an independent review of payment for civic services. Coun. Sandy Santori was vocal in opposing a $10,900 external study of council stipends and expenses during the Monday governance meeting. “Personally I am opposed to it,” said Santori, the meeting chair. “We are having the review for no other purpose than to give ourselves a raise. “The fact that some other politicians have voted themselves in with gold-plated mileage claims and all that other stuff,” he noted, referring to a discussion about regional stipends. “I personally didn't run because of the money, I knew what I was getting into.” “You wonder why politicians get painted with the same damn brush all the time,” he said. “There is an agenda here, that's my personal opinion. You don’t go out and do a study to see if you are paying yourself enough or whether or not your pay is fair if you have no intent in upping it if it comes in higher. “Because we all know the outcome will be higher than what we make.” Trail Mayor Mike Martin, and the four councillors present disagreed with Santori's view, voting in favour of an unbiased study, while maintaining results will provide a baseline for future decisions about raising remuneration during annual budget talks. “Really what we are looking for is to make sure elected representatives in Trail are being compensated in a fair and equitable manner compared to other municipalities, the regional district, and the school board,” Martin told the Trail Times Tuesday morning. “I can only speak for myself, but I did not run for compensation, and what I can say is it really doesn't compensate for all the time and expenses involved in holding the office. That wasn't my driving force, my main driving force was to see what I could do to assist this community.” Urban Systems Ltd., a B.C. consulting firm that has collaborated with Trail on past projects, agreed to undertake the review, which includes a presentation to both council and the community at large. “I think an important component is not only having a professional review done, but also going through the process of a public consultation,” said Martin. See NO, Page 2
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
There’s no containing the ear-to-ear grins in the hallways of Webster Elementary School, and every other elementary school, today marking the last day of school year. Pictured is Mrs Bourchier's split classroom of Grade 3 and Grade 4 students eager to head for the exit.
More student support needed, says school counsellor BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
School District 20(SD20) students are at risk, and Kathleen Carelli, elementary school counsellor for the district, says they need more help. The first delegation at Monday's board of trustees meeting, Carelli shared her experiences with at-risk youth and how the problem seems to be getting worse.
“There has been an alarming increase of anxiety and depression amongst our children. They are not equipped to deal with the emotional demands our culture expects of us,” she told the trustees, citing home life, technology and more as reasons for the increase in youth issues. “This has led to many more incidents of self-inflicted violence, where a child will cut themselves or use an eraser
vigorously on their skin to experience physical pain for temporary relief from their emotional pain.” She proposed a solution to the issue of struggling students who aren't getting support at home, or not enough supports in the classroom. “I would like to strongly recommend having two counsellors for a district this size, over 2,000 children and large distances, and the
growing needs,” she said. “It would be important to have a male and a female, given that some of the issues are sensitive to gender. Each school would also benefit greatly from having a fulltime child and classroom worker (CCW). “They are essential to the counsellors work. They see these kids each day and are able to identify escalating and See COUNSELLORS, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN866-897-0678 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
Supporting our community West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Support for Survivors and their Caregivers in the community. Visit their store every Thursday at Waneta Plaza beside Crockett Books to view the artistic endeavours of their clients
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
Free kids playroom and ball pit
www.wanetaplaza.com
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B