Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 28, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba Local i free november 2000 presentation Issue prompts councillor to storm out Gerbasi butt Heads Over High tech cameras by Bruce Owen an angry Garth Steek stormed out of civic committee meeting yesterday after he traded barbs with Rookie committee chairwoman Jenny Gerbasi Over the Purchase of High tech Thermal cameras by the Emer gency response the the first for the Protection and Community services committee under the new appoint set the stage for an ongoing Sandbox scrap Between the defensive Gerbasi and the outspoken it also left two other committee Harvey Smith and Gord in i dont want to be on that committee if its like Smith said i feel like a child in a bad divorce sleeves its Gerbasi said All she was attempting to do is run the meeting efficiently As possible by not walking on items not on the meeting Steek said All he was attempting to do was respect the democratic i believe on any standing committee when citizens come Forward one is obligated to Steek the two started butting Heads when Steek asked that Winnipeg Ger Bob Simmons make a presenta Tion on fundraising efforts to help the City buy new Thermal imaging Simmons was not on the delegation list prepared prior to the Ger Basi said while Simmons information was the rules had to be respected so As to not clog up the meeting or delay other that set the tone for the rest of the which at one Point saw a frustrated Smith pack up his books to walk a member of the Kinsmen club of win said the service group is willing to donate towards the Purchase of the he said he first discussed the donation with Steek about three weeks ers chief Wes Shoemaker said the Purchase of four to six cameras is in the departments draft budget for next its hoped the which Cost to a would be introduced in the new the cameras allow firefighters to see trapped people inside smoke filled by detecting they also allow firefighters to see fires behind Shoemaker said the department is currently Field testing different using one most recently on saturday at a fire at Art after Steek had the three remaining com Mittee members agreed to put the matter Over to 5 when they discuss budget Wayne Lowacki Winnipeg free press making a child smile Kim an organizer with operation Christmas says shoe boxes packed with gifts for children suffering from the effects of extreme poverty or Nat ural disaster were brought to the Manitoba col Lection Centre this i Brief All wheel drive in Stock Dodge jeep world beat festival gets Grant the world beat festival got a Grant from the City yesterday after a Las minute plea from its director that the event needed the Money to get a firmer foothold in Winnipeg summer festival it reestablishes in out mind the festival is credible and deserving of Nick Cumberbatch said yes were glad it was finally dealt with in a respectable the cites Protection and Community services committee approved the Grant after Cumberbatch said it go towards paying acts who performed at last augusts festival at the the committee had earlier withheld the Grant because the festival broke the cites noise bylaw by going late into the resulting in a number of complaints by Boniface Cumberbatch said the festival is addressing that he also said the Volunteer run Festi Val has a deficit of about but that other avenues of Public funding Are being we know we have a far Way to he adding the festival is important in that it showcases ethnic performances african and Caribbean music normally not seen by next years festival is in the plan Ning dates Are to be announced sex Trade committee seeking a citizens committee set up to study Winnipeg sex Trade will have to wait two weeks to see if it qualifies for civic funding to continue its co chairman Wayne Helgason told the cites Protection and Community services committee yesterday the Money is needed to allow the Volunteer committee to begin its research and to get an acknowledgement from City Hall that the group is serious in investigating the it is a modest executive director of the social plan Ning i dont know if this should be a difficult Helgason also said the group is also exploring getting funding from Ottawa and the he said besides looking at prostitution in the the group wants to address homelessness among Young people and come up with other ways to prevent especially from becoming the committee was set up earlier this year to look at ways of better regulating the cites sex including the possibility setting up a red Light the fou member civic standing committee agreed the committees work should but put Over the funding request to 5 As part of the cites 2001 budget membership in the 10member task Force is expected to be approved by City Council next it also includes retired judge Edward Kim a a healthcare work a Young aboriginal woman and social services it plans to hold Public meetings in january and report to City Council with recommendations by in the world of business 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