A life well lived
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Friday, March 1, 2013
Oak Bay to hire interim CAO Council and administrative officer part company The District of Oak Bay is on the hunt for a new chief administrative officer following the departure of Mark Brennan. Brennan, who had been with the municipality for three years, reached an agreement in midFebruary that would see him “pursuing other interests,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. “After a period of discussions and reflection (Brennan) and Oak Bay council agreed this was an opportune time, given the fact that our community is facing challenges. … But also (Brennan) was at a stage where he wanted to move on to other opportunities,” Jensen said. “That set the stage for us to agree with him this would be a great time to see a new administrative leader for the Megan Cole municipality.” Reporting Some of the challenges Jensen mentioned involve the Official Community Plan process which the municipality is working through, along with the work council and staff are doing on the strategic plan for police services, the heritage plan and the creation of an Active Transportation policy. “We’re a vital and changing community, so the task of the new CAO will be to take all of these plans and translate them into action,” Jensen said. The district hasn’t begun the hiring process for the position Jensen said it may take four to six months before a full-time replacement is selected. “We’re likely going to do something like we did when we hired our police chief,” he said. “We hired a retired police chief from Saanich who looked after the department for about six months while the police board sought a full-time replacement.” mcole@oakbaynews.com
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Megan Cole/News staff
Oak Bay United Church volunteer Don O’Coffey with the 2000 BMW 323 that was left anonymously as a donation at the church late last year.
Church seeks mystery car donor Volunteer turns detective to help turn used car into cash Megan Cole News staff
Old mason jars, Harlequin romance novels and VHS tapes are among the bargains at most garage sales, but in the days leading up to Oak Bay United Church’s garage sale in December, an unusual item was dropped off: a 2000 BMW 323. The car went unnoticed at first, but upon further investigation Don O’Coffey noticed keys inside the unlocked vehicle. In addition to the keys, the mystery owner left an unsigned note with the BMW. “Whoever left it wanted to donate it to the church,” said O’Coffey, a regular volunteer at the church. “They couldn’t afford the maintenance on it any more.”
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Unfortunately, including missing plates, In hopes of avoiding a potentially the BMW was also missing registration three month-long process – which would and ownership papers, which began a declare the car abandoned – O’Coffey multi-province quest to transfer owner- would like the owner to come forward ship to the church. and sign transfer forms, so they can proIn hopes of finding answers to the mys- ceed with selling the car for the benefit of tery vehicle, O’Coffey first the church. headed to Boorman’s Insur“I think it’s common – “I sent ance, where he was able particularly in Oak Bay – to contact ICBC. While the Saskatchewan $10 that older people donate quest to find the owner may their cars to charities like have seemed easy at first, only to find out they churches because they O’Coffey discovered, due to couldn’t give us simply can’t afford the cost the Freedom of Information any more, and maybe aren’t any names.” Act, he was unable to get using them,” O’Coffey said. - Don O’Coffey the name of the owner. But O’Coffey, who worked in he did get a clue that would the automotive industry for start another part of the investigation – several years, said the BMW 323 needs the BMW isn’t registered in B.C. Instead, some work but someone who is handy its papers originated in Saskatchewan. could do a lot of it themselves. “I sent Saskatchewan $10 only to find “ICBC told us in average condition it out they couldn’t give us any names would be worth $6,000,” he said. because of the Freedom of Information If you have any information on the car and Privacy Act, but did confirm it was that could help the church, please conregistered in Saskatchewan,” O’Coffey tact the office at 250-598-5021 said. mcole@oakbaynews.com
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