News Arson charges dropped in dock fire A man accused of actions lead- ing to a $300,000 fire on the Mayne Island government dock Aug. 13 pleaded guilty to mischief in Sidney provincial court July 11. Mark Aitken, 30, pleaded guilty only to causing skid marks, scor- ching and ruts in the wood of the dock. Charges of arson were stayed by crown counsel Stephen Fudge. Fudge said witnesses on Mayne Island saw Aitken driving his truck on the dock, revving the engine to perform wheel-stands, Fudge said. A large amount of smoke and HEARING noise from the spinning tires was reported by witnesses. At about 5:15 a.m., flames were seen on the dock in two lines corresponding to the area where Aitken had been seen doing the wheel stands, Fudge said. Fudge said a fire expert sug- gested the blaze was caused by the friction and heat of Aitken’s spin- ning tires, but had smoldered for one to two hours after Aitken left the dock. Since Aitken could not have foreseen the results of his actions, Fudge said the man can only be Continued from Page Al said council is not to receive further submissions on the issue because people must have a chance to rebut opinions in an open, public forum. Rosko, who was away on busi- ness Monday, wrote a second meeting “will allow for any new information to be presented and rebutted by all parties, and will defeat any criticism that either side of this issue presented information to council which could not be debated at a public hearing.” She suggested a mid-September DEMAND date, but aldermen opted instead for Oct. 7. Pullen said he found it “unbel- ievable’”’ council members would initiate the July 8 meeting and jeopardize a bylaw vote. He said he was asked to be available to answer questions at the informal meeting, and that he didn’t say anything that wasn’t already brought out in public. He also wondered why he wasn’t contacted by the Town that another meeting was going to be considered by council. Centinued from Page Al the configuration of the parking lot changed and office space rede- signed to minimize the impact on the surrounding residential area, Rhodes said. Chazottes said he respected the tenacity of those opposing the terminal expansion and the Lands End Road interchange but felt council must now work with the ministry to gain the best possible interchange design. “T think we’ve lost the morato- rium battle and we should move on to the next battle, which is the Lands End Road interchange,” Chazottes said. Ald. Bill Turner agreed the mor- atorium demand should be scrapped. He also said the upgrad- ing of the highway and the ferry terminal is required for safety. Increasing ferry traffic will even- tually lead to more accidents, he said. “One of these days there is going to be one or two children killed,” he predicted. Line-ups for the terminal now exist on weekdays as well as on weekends, he added. “We've got to get the people from that ferry terminal out of North Saanich as fast as we can,” he said. : Both Ald. Edo Nyland and Bailin cited an auditor-general’s report criticizing the lack of suffi- cient planning staff in the Ministry of Transportation and Highways. Ald. Ross Imrie suggested a moratorium on the Lands End interchange but said the ferry ter- minal expansion should go ahead. “The highways people obvi- ously need more time,” he said. Ald. Bill Gordon agreed with the mayor that North Saanich could not stop the projects. Only Bailin and Nyland voted in favor of Bailin’s motion to con- tinue demanding a moratorium on both projects. Council unanimously approved Bailin’s motion to hire a highways D ANNOUNCEMENT Under extensive renovations and announcing planned open- ing the First Week in August. Look for a roof garden cafe, a whole new look in the dining room, and watch for banquet hall news. We are excited and with the new facilities and family-oriented menu we be- lieve you will be excited, too. SEE YOU IN AUGUST. Theo Macris TheReview Wednesday, July 24,1991 — A2 > sentenced for the damage he knew DISTRICT OF would occur from doing the wheel RT : Stands on the dock. ba NO H SAANICH i Defence lawyer Mayland : os Board of Variance McKimm said public pressure fol- Sores Ss lowing the August fire cost Aitken ee his job on Mayne Island and District of North Saanich is accepting applications from persons forced him to leave the area interested in serving on the Board of Variance for a three-year term. Aitken now lives in Ghemanine The board meets on the last Friday of each month and considers antl 8 on Soeial aes appeals for variances to the Zoning By-Law on siting, dimensions or ASSISEMNCS, size of buildings or structures, and on matters relating to non- Judge Alan Filmer placed Ait- conforming structures or uses. ken on 18 months probation and Interested persons should forward their names to: ordered him to do 150 hours R.R. O’Genski, Administrator ; : “be District of North Saanich ee oes an 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, B.C. 13 eas (Mailing address: PO. Box 2639, Sidney, B.C. V8L 4C1) by Wednesday, July 24, 1991. A luxurious Cinema located ~~; : : in the heart of Langford at Mowe meeting Thursday ai 777 Goldstream. Where, night, the Ratepayers Association ‘€ @ when you take the drive ee record as) favoring; a S iI