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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Tuesday, April 14, 2015 LANTZVILLE
Mediator to settle council concerns ‘These are not new issues, although some are trying to paint them as new,’ says Mayor Colin Haime ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
An arbitrator will be brought in to help the District of Lantzville deal with its ongoing personnel issues. Lantzville Mayor Colin Haime said that district councillors made a motion late last week to bring in an independent individual to review and report to council on relationship issues between council, district managers, CUPE workers and members of Lantzville’s fire department.
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Haime said issues have been raised regarding ongoing relationship problems between council and its senior managers, as well as between the managers and the district’s workers. Council felt it was time for an independent review to try to fix the problems, said the Lantzville mayor. “These are not new issues,
motion to bring in an arbitrator was a “good idea.” “It’s a serious situation that has to be sorted out, and I’m not hopeful that we can handle it without the help of an independent third party,” he said.
nifer Millbank, Rod Negrave, Graham Savage and Dave Scott — signed a letter last week that was sent to all households in the community stating they “do not condone” inappropriate behaviour from “some members of council” towards staff members. The mail out to the community came on the heels of an internal memo that was sent to council from five senior managers on March 26 raising concerns with the “ridicule and criticism of staff’s work in a public meeting.” Coun. Graham Savage said the
although some are trying to paint them as new,” he said Monday. “There has been a significant turnover of senior staff in Lantzville over the last three years while I’ve been away (from council). “There is a level of depth that will be required of the arbitrator so it could take some time to choose the right one. Until then, our staff is on the job, as well as council.” Four of the seven members of Lantzville’s city council — Jen-
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» City
As new deadline looms, no sign of construction at downtown hotel site
Duffy framed pictures on Senate cash, trial told The senator’s daily diaries, filed in court last week, also include a reference to sending photos to Barbara Bush. » Nation & World, A6
DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
C
Lantzville Foothills effort set for public meeting Lantzville’s city council will host a town hall meeting on the project on April 21 and officials representing the developer, will be on hand. » Nanaimo Region, A3
India grapples with risk as air pollution goes up Plans are afoot for an air quality index, with a draft proposal in October based on New Delhi’s small network of air quality monitors. » Health, B1
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onstruction still hasn’t started on a downtown hotel less than seven weeks from the deadline for the foundation to be poured. When the city sold the Gordon Street property to Chinese developer SSS Manhao for $565,000 in 2013, it was with the agreement that a 21-storey superior quality hotel would be going up by now. The building foundation is to be finished by May 30, but work hasn’t yet started. “There’s no change,” said Dale Lindsay, city director of community development. “They continue to have an active development permit but there is no movement on a building permit.” A development permit is required for the design stage and a building permit from the city is needed for the actual work to get underway. “At this point we’re simply waiting for (them to obtain) the permit,” Lindsay said. The development site, at 100 Gordon St., is across from the Vancouver Island Conference Centre and below the Nanaimo Military Museum. The developer plans to use the hotel to house Chinese tourists, and the city sees benefits for the conference centre, which needs more quality hotel rooms downtown. The contract requires a foundation to be in place by May 30 or the land sale could be reversed, which would return the site back into city ownership.
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The Gordon Street site a developer acquired to build a hotel in downtown Nanaimo. No work has begun, despite a May 30 deadline, but the city economic development office says SSS Manhao is committed to the project. [DARRELL BELLAART/DAILY NEWS]
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to reach out to the city and council, to update them on progress on the project.” Angus said that part of the delay around the project has been to meet building code requirements.
nomic Development Corp. chief executive officer, said the developer has assured him the project will proceed. “I talked to them over the past couple of weeks and I know they’re working on most of the things needed to move the project forward,” Angus said. “I’ve strongly encouraged them
The developer missed a Dec. 17 deadline to submit final building plans, which cost Manhao a $25,000 deposit toward a $250,000 building permit fee. That also triggered newer, more stringent building code standards to kick in, which will drive construction costs up. Sasha Angus, Nanaimo Eco-
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