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Trustees gave themselves a raise

Every Friday we feature Comox Valley history taken from our back issues of the Comox Valley Record.

Five years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:

Just months after trustees voted to close two schools, they voted in favour of hefty pay raises.

During their first-ever committee of the whole meeting, district trustees engaged in a healthy debate on pay raises but in the end voted 5-2 to give themselves more money. Trustees Ken Dawson, Karen Charlesworth, Janice Proudfoot, Jean Rowe and chair Rick Grinham were in favour of pay raises while trustee Danny White and vice-chair Susan Barr said no.

As of July 1, trustees annual pay was to increase to $10,500, a 15.8 per cent jump. Grinham and Barr were to receive $13,500 and $12,000 per annum respectively.

Ten years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:

Young entrepreneurs were disappointed the Youth Entrepreneur Centre was to close this month.

Human Resources Development Canada would not renew the centre's contract, which caught young business owners and staff by surprise. Vanessa Ager said she relied on the centre to help operate her women's clothing business called Cozmikgurl Designs.

"I don't have a computer," said Ager, who saved thousands of dollars using the centre to research fabric suppliers, print, photo copy and use the phones. "I think it's horribly unfair. Had it not been for the centre, I would still be a single mom stuck on welfare."

Fifteen years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:

Comox Mayor Alicia Burns was accused of using 'Soviet tactics' in a mailer. The leaflet asked taxpayers if they would support a bylaw giving voters the right to recall or initiate council decisions if 25 per cent of voters ask for a referendum.

"This voter bylaw is in effect in two other municipalities," Burns states in the leaflet. "It is an effective way for voters to be involved and direct council at all times."

But Coun. George Piercy noted there was only a box for a 'Yes' response to the question.

"I've been asked by people what this means," Piercy said. "It's like the Soviet Union type of voting, where you are given only one choice."

Twenty years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:

The fate of the old Denman school was in the hands of islanders and trustees who prepared to go head-to-head with Education Minister Stan Hagen.

Hagen wanted the school district to sell the turn-of-the-century building at market value, overturning a previous school board decision to give it to the Denman Island Ratepayers Association for a nominal sum.

Hope glimmered when the Islands Trust offered to take on the building.

Twenty five years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:

Courtenay aldermen were in the process of giving themselves and the mayor a five per cent pay hike.

Mayor George Cochrane's salary was set to increase to $12,675 while the six aldermen would each receive $4,836. It was their first pay raise in two years.

Cochrane opposed the raise, saying it was a touchy point with him.

Both Cumberland Mayor Bill Moncrief and Comox Mayor George Piercy said their councils would not be receiving extra pay in 1986. Moncrief, noting unemployment in his community, said council was trying to do as much as possible without spending a lot. Piercy said his council had not received a pay raise in four years.

"If we did it would not be at tax time," he said.