Racers ready Season opens
1 2TAfoRTrERS
at Nanaimo’s BMX park.
PAGE 38
S
BUY 1 GET 1
FREE
C&S TRANSMISSION
Starting at 3pm everyday! With Coupon
SPECIALTIES LTD.
“EXPERT SERVICE SERVED RIGHT” NAIMO Y., NA W H D LAN 27 6550 IS 250-390-12cation only lo alid at
Offer v
this
6852 Mart Rd. LANTZVILLE
www.nanaimobulletin.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
250.390.1871
VOL. 27, NO. 95
COUNCIL REVISITS ACTING MAYOR’S PAY INCREASE TEMPERS FLARE AS DISCUSSION DURING MONDAY’S MEETING FOCUSES ON ACCUSATIONS OVER MAYOR’S CONDUCT BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
School’s out
Ray Nielsen, who attended Grades 5 and 6 in Harewood Elementary School, and Eleanor, his wife, who taught at the school from 1963-71, watch the building being torn down Tuesday. The majority of the structure was demolished this week after windows, doors, fire escapes and asbestos were removed from the building throughout March.
Investigators still looking into what caused downtown fire BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Fire investigators have finished their physical investigation in the Jean Burns Building and are now interviewing witnesses and firefighters. The downtown building at the corner of Commercial Street and Terminal
Avenue, was gutted by a fire that heavily damaged or destroyed tenants’ properties March 31. “We’re basically finished the on-site investigation, but now we have a ton of interviews to do,” said Capt. Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s chief fire prevention officer. Mond said Nanaimo Fire
Rescue would likely turn the site over to insurance investigators Wednesday or today (April 7). As to a possible cause for the fire, Mond would only say the investigation is still ongoing and would not speculate. Donations are also being collected for business owners affected by the fire.
15 SAVE
NANAIMO 1250 ISLAND HWY SOUTH 250-734-4450
% *
For more information on the crowdfunding campaign, please visit http:// bit.ly/208xQAN. Support is also being co-ordinated through the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, which can be reached at 250-754-8141 or www. dnbia.ca.
Nanaimo city council withdrew acting mayor pay from a new policy amid criticism there wasn’t the chance for public input and procedure wasn’t followed. Nanaimo city council set aside its new acting mayor rate, which amounted to about a three-per cent increase to councillors’ annual pay, to allow for further discussion later this month, but it was not prepared to overturn new policies on governance and spending. Accusations flew during an open meeting Monday as several councillors aired grievances against the mayor, who is blamed for the need for policy, and the mayor alleged councillors have held “secret” meetings. Council approved new policies in March, which lay out the process for how and when councillors can spend tax dollars, the role of the acting mayor, and a requirement for all incoming correspondence to go to all council members. A spending policy included new pay of about $1,189 for councillors who rotate into the acting mayor role every six weeks. City manager Tracy Samra previously called the guidelines urgent and on Monday, explained reasons behind the new policies. She said problems arose with communication and notification of invitations to meetings going to the mayor’s office not being shared in a timely way, if at all, with the rest of council.
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 9 ONLY
IT PAYS TO RENOVATE ON THE PRODUCT OF YOUR CHOICE
*On regular price. In store only. Limit of 15 units of the same product. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Details in store. For our full policy and further information on the AIR MILES® Program, please visit rona.ca. ®/TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and RONA inc.
See ‘ACTING’ /6