B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) members for the Town of Gibsons have accepted a four-year contract.
On July 30, BCGEU members voted 77 per cent in favour of a tentative deal that was recommended by both sides.
The contract includes wage increases of one per cent for 2013, 1.5 per cent for 2014, and 1.75 per cent for 2015 and 2016. The two sides also negotiated a training program to cross-train eligible employees in water and wastewater operations.
BCGEU communications officer Karen Tankard said the Town has 34 BCGEU members, but she did not know how many participated in the ratification vote.
Council is expected to officially endorse the contract at its first meeting in September.
Gibsons chief administrative officer Mani Machado said the contract provides good value to the taxpayer while demonstrating the Town's belief that "our staff is our best asset."
"It wasn't an easy negotiation - they never are -but they were cordial and respectful," Machado said. "I'm relieved that we have a positive result."
Watermain contract
Council has awarded a watermain replacement contract for Gibsons Way to BA Blacktop, after receiving no other bids.
The contract is worth $472,000 plus applicable taxes. Staff also applied a 25 per cent contingency due to "some unknowns with the locations of water services," and an additional paving allowance to cover the "worst-case scenario" for pavement restoration, pending talks with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff.
The total cost comes in at $723,449, still below the $780,000 budgeted for the project, director of engineering Dave Newman told council at a July 30 special council meeting.
Newman said the Town could re-tender the project to get more bids, but added there would be little benefit, as BA Blacktop's bid was within budget and its unit costs were "very reasonable." As well, he said, another round of tendering would cost more staff time and consultant fees, offsetting any savings from a lower bid.
The work will be carried out between Mahon and School roads, in an area with both the highest water pressure and a history of leaks, Newman said in his report. The project will replace 500 metres of 46-year-old pipe and eliminate about 300 metres of watermain from the Town's inventory, saving $120,000 in future watermain replacement costs.
The Town has about 11 km of asbestos-cement watermains that have reached the end of their life expectancy. A planned leak detection study will provide more information and a replacement schedule.
Newman said construction crews will work at night and, while some noise could be created in the process, he called it "the lesser of two evils."
Lot Q amendment
Almost two years after giving it first reading, council has passed a zoning bylaw amendment to allow Leeon Projects Ltd. to construct a four-storey commercial/residential development on Lot Q, Gibsons Way, next to PetroCan.
Council gave final adoption to the bylaw amendment on July 30, after staff reported that Leeon Projects registered a covenant on the property title, securing two affordable housing units that will be priced at about $225,000 and $240,000. The covenant also includes an open space area on the property's frontage.
The applicant plans to finalize drawings and submit a building permit application, staff reported.
Council gave first reading to the bylaw amendment in September 2011, but the application stalled afterward, due in part to a disagreement over the number of affordable units required by the Town.
