Mr McAllister sworn in as Kaiapoi’s mayor

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 12

Mr McAllister sworn in as Kaiapoi’s mayor

Kaiapoi’s new Mayor, Mr Hector McAllister, was sworn in at the new Kaiapoi Borough Council’s first meeting last evening. After 18 years as a councillor, Mr McAllister said he was “reluctantly” giving up the council chair tie had filled for so long to the new deputy chairman, Mr Alastair Blackie. Mr McAllister’s aims included better communication through the press and improving the image of Kaiapoi Borough. “I want every councillor to have the opportunity of taking part in discussions; and I feel that we have an excellent council because we have got that experience intertwined with the new councillors,” he said. Mr Blackie has held the post of deputy chairman before, from 1980 to 1983. Centre may close Kaiapoi’s social services centre may have to close

because of increasing overheads.

The Town Clerk of Kaiapoi, Mr Gary Saunders, said the main user of the centre, the Health Department, was “virtually certain” it would withdraw from the centre for security reasons and move to Papanui. Another user, the Labour Department, had also indicated it would withdraw, leaving the remaining services to meet increased shares in the running costs. The centre had also been hit by the loss of employment scheme subsidies for the receptionist’s salary. The receptionist resigned about a month ago and the centre had been manned by volunteers, but this was not a satisfactory arrangement, said Mr Saunders.

Those services using the centre were the Health Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Labour Department, the Justice Department, .the Nurse Maude Association, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Legal Aid.

Mr Saunders said the council had initially agreed to administer the centre provided it was not asked to contribute to the running costs, estimated at $5500 a year. “The council’s view was that the centre was for servicing, in the main, Government departments,” he said. However, at a meeting between service representatives. and the council earlier this month, the council was asked to contribute towards the costs and recover the balance of costs unable to be paid by users. The council was also asked to waive half the property’s rates and continue to waive administration charges. "In summary, I reluctantly feel that the centre should close,” said Mr Saunders. Because it was some I councillors’ first meeting, the council decided to have a steering committee consult the Town Clerk, further and hold the matter over until next month.