Fighter funding
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Firm gets federal loan to work on fighter jets
Extinguishing scam Advice aimed to combat recent fraud attempts
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Wrapping it up
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Ladner blueliner named to Canada Winter Games team
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Civic politicians get another raise
Staff report finds workload is greater yet council remuneration had fallen behind Lower Mainland average BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
Civic politicians voted to give themselves another raise Monday. The 2.5 per cent hike will see Mayor Lois Jackson’s salary go up almost $3,000 to $103,032, while Delta council salaries will increase just under $2,000 to $44,048. Their vehicle allowances will also increase $100 per month. A staff report stated council salaries have historically been
calculated based on comparison to four similar-sized Metro Vancouver municipalities: two with larger populations (Coquitlam and Richmond) and two with smaller populations (Township of Langley and District of North Vancouver). Delta salaries are set at the average level of those four. The Delta rate, according to the report, had once again slipped below the average of the four cities. The report also pointed out
Delta continues to be the largest municipality in B.C. to employ a mayor and six councillors, whereas the normal practice for cities with populations greater than 50,000 is to have eight councillors. Noting they carry an additional workload, Jackson said having smaller regular adjustments for inflation is more palatable than much larger increases every few years. Saying he expects criticism
from the public, Coun. Robert Campbell defended the increase. “I provide community value and everybody else at this table provides community value for the remuneration we receive,” he said. “There are people who will call you late at night and people who will e-mail you at any time of the weekend and expect you to respond at any time. There are events you go to, so this is a job that goes on and on.” Coun. Heather King said it’s
difficult voting for a pay hike for herself, but council is only keeping in line with the average. In May of 2009, an increase resulted in councillors’ annual pay going up about 15 per cent, while the mayor’s salary increased by roughly 10 per cent. The previous time council members gave themselves a pay hike was December of 2007 when councillors’ salaries jumped 13 per cent and Jackson’s salary increased five per cent.
Community Kitchen to host Xmas dinner BY
DAVE WILLIS
dwillis@delta-optimist.com
The Ladner Community Kitchen is getting ready to host its second annual Christmas Dinner next Monday. About 30 people came to the dinner last year. “This year we’re hoping to have more [people attend]. Volunteers from the food bank are also invited,” said Ladner Community Kitchen organizer Jini Aroon. The soup kitchen, which will mark its first year of operation later this month, works in conjunction with the South Delta Food Bank at Ladner Christian Fellowship. There were a lot of leftovers after last year’s event after volunteers prepared enough food for 100 people, Aroon said. “Nothing went to waste. We froze all the turkey and kept making soup,” she said.
Ladner Community Kitchen organizer Jini Aroon (left) and volunteers Trina Gowan and Tanya Armstrong handed out food weekly. The soup kitchen volunteers prepare soup, sandwiches and muffins once a week for those who come to the food bank. Aroon said she’s grateful for
food bank co-ordinator Joe Van Essen and pastor Danny Stebeck for allowing the soup kitchen to operate at the church. The dinner is scheduled
for 5 p.m. at Ladner Christian Fellowship, 5545 Ladner Trunk Rd. Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate perishable food can
PHOTO BY
DAVE WILLIS
contact Aroon at 604-940-9355 or jini_aroon@hotmail.com. The group is looking for donations of turkey, potatoes, vegetables and cranberry juice.
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