TUESDAY
S I N C E
MAY 27, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 81
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
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Residents question student hiring practices BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
A group of Montrose residents schooled in the village’s summer student hiring practices approached council last week to question why an out-of-area and not a local student landed the job this year. Traditionally, the village hires one of its own for an entry level summer position with duties that include lawn care, park maintenance, painting and general sanitation. Although Montrose doesn’t currently have a policy for summer student hiring, a condition for employment is the student must be a bona fide high school graduate or attending college or university with declared intention of returning to school following summer vacation. Usually taxpayer dollars and small community grants cover the student’s paycheque. This year, Montrose’s chief administrative officer (CAO) applied for and received a federal grant to cover about one third of the wage with the caveat that the student must be in the field of engineering. From a pool of 15 applicants, an engineering student from the Okanagan was awarded the position described as 50 per cent traditional and 50 per cent special projects. “I’ve been in the village for 31 years and this is the first time that we’ve hired someone from outside the area,” said Gerald Parker, a former Montrose councillor and delegation presenter. “That is what has everyone shook.” In 1997 Montrose council stepped back from the summer student hiring process because the issue then was favouritism, explained Parker. “It was about who you did or didn’t know,” he said. “But because of past policies and practises we just assumed the student would be from Montrose.” Additionally, the summer position was widely advertised both locally and at four universities but Montrose council wasn’t aware of the grant, the extent of advertising, or the student hired, according to Parker. “The CAO and works foreman have the right to hire who they choose,” Parker continued. “And he did tell council that he wanted to hire a student who could do some engineering and mow the lawn. “But a bit more openness in the hiring is what I’d like to see.” See COUNCIL, Page 3
ART HARRISON PHOTO
The Dig Dirt Day at the Beaver Valley May Days provided an opportunity for kids to see big equipment up close or, and more popular, the chance to dig up some dirt with their own equipment. For more photos see Page 2 or visit traildailytimes.ca.
Smart meters coming locally in fall BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
FortisBC’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project begins in Trail in September when crews will be going out into the community, swapping out new for old. “We’ll be notifying customers by mail a few weeks before we send the crews out to begin the exchanges,” said David Wiley, spokesperson for FortisBC. “We are offering the radio off option for any people with concerns. This option will include a fee that has been approved by the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC).” Various groups have
emerged in the area after the company was approved to begin the AMI project last year by the BCUC, voicing objections to the technology as a possible health hazard. However a discussion forum that was initially planned for Montrose and was eventually mover to a larger forum in Trail in anticipation of a large crowd drew less than 50 people. Anyone wishing to request the new electrical meter have its WiFi turned off will be required to pay a one-time fee of $60 if the request is made before the exchange is made and $88 if requested after the new meter has been installed. In addition to the one-
time fees, customers who choose the “radio off” option for their meters will also be required to pay an additional monthly fee of $18. “The additional fee is only to recover the cost associated and make sure the financial benefits of the program are enjoyed by our customers who choose it,” said Wiley. “The benefits of the AMI program means reduced electrical theft and a more efficient electrical grid which means that rates can be kept lower with AMI than without it.” The new meters mean that customers will be able to choose different billing options, such as being billed monthly rather than every
second month if it might make their budgeting easier. It will also be possible for customers to use online tools to see what their actual energy consumption is to anticipate their bills. “It’s an update to the electrical system to make it more efficient, more reliable, and more cost effective,” Wiley said. “When there are power outages it makes it easier to pinpoint the source of the outage quicker, which makes for better customer service.” After beginning in Trail in the fall the company will continue with the exchanges, community by community, with an anticipated completion date of 2015.
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
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