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And the mayor believes one of the first steps in that process was city council‘s recent acceptance of chief adminisâ€" trator Tom Stockie‘s resignaâ€" announced aane. MH his 28â€"year career with the city will end Aug 31, 2003. He will leave his role will a severance package worth about $750,000, based on the terms of an employment conâ€" tract he signed in 1998. And she wants the public to be part of that rebuilding "We‘ve been through an ordeal by fire," she said. "And it‘s been a very hot fire. But, in the words of my grandfather, the steel." Woolstenâ€" croft stated for weeks that she wanted Stockâ€" ie removed from his posiâ€" tion for his role in the RIM Park financing She got her wish last week when Stockie The mayor admitted she was not entirely pleased with the settlement between city the mayor have had to come to grips with (certain) financial obligations and contracts that we‘ve never seen anything like," she said. "There weren‘t many choicâ€" es for us. I guess over time, cerâ€" tain contracts and financial obligations were forgotten. contracts might not have stood up to public scrutiny." But Woolstencroft is deterâ€" mined to prevent similar events happening in the future. And she plans to hold a public forum to seek input on the roles of the city‘s officials, including chief administrative officer, chief financial officer City of Waterloo ready to move on Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW www.bkmotorsgqroup.com the City of Waterloo is on its way back, says Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft "The forum would then be open to the floor, for people to She has also demanded new bylaws be developed for any position at the city which requires hiring by bylaw, including the CAO, CFO and city clerk. And those contracts, she assured, will be made available to the public. With the role of CAO now vacant until after the Novemâ€" ber municipal election, Woolsâ€" tencroft said she wants the selection process to be She wants speakers from both the public and the private sector, to outline what‘s expectâ€" ed of the parties who hold "And the person who is ultiâ€" mately chosen should be a ty and city staff." But in the meantime, Woolâ€" stencroft hopes the RIM Park scandal can be put on the backburner until the concluâ€" "A lot of people think we‘ve only done RIM Park," she said. "But in fact, we‘ve taken a lot of include the Research and Techâ€" nology Park at the University of tute for Physics, the Centre for international Governance want to be the mayor who cleans it up," she said. "And these are just a few of the steps towards making that happen." initiatives which, in some cases, have been revolutionary for our city." Those other projects Innovation, partial redevelopâ€" ment of the uptown, and the initiative on the former Brighton public school site. "I was not the mayor that made the (RIM Park) deal, but I ke Up Your Space °* Ne _ with Câ€"olour "Residents should be able to define what they‘re lookâ€" ing for in a CAO," she said. "I want to capture the interests of the commuâ€" Now is a great time to revive the look of your home with fresh new colours! Drop by Heer‘s for some expert ! PARA advice and great tips! P xo T N T s "Of course the best singer," Richards said, describing what she was looking for in the competiâ€" tion. "But we also want the whole package. Over 800 â€" hopefuls lined up outside the Waterloo Inn early Tuesâ€" day morning, awaiting a chance to strut their stuff in front of a panel of celebrity judges, which included Richards, recordâ€" ing artists Alan Frew and Jamie Warren, modelling director Pete Travers. The "it" quality. That‘s what Nancy Richards of CKCOâ€"TV was looking for yesterday, when she heard the vocal talents of 100 contestants during a preâ€"audition for the Canadian Idol talent competition. "Someone who looks the part, sounds the part, and has the endurance to go on to the next level. "When you see them, you just know. And when they open their mouth, they‘ve got it all." expert Audrey Wilson, and 105.3 KOOLâ€"FM program Sisters Joanne and Krystal Lahey lined up at 6 a.m., hoping for their moment in the spotlight as the CKCO Idoi winner. Local idol hopefuls strut their stuff PAGE 3 By Anprea Baney Each candidate was Chronicle Staff given a raffle number. Only 100 tickets were ranâ€" he "it" quality. domly drawn after 8 a.m., hat‘s what Nancy and the candidates holdâ€" ards of CKCOâ€"TV was ing those numbers ing for yesterday, received a coveted audiâ€" n she heard the vocal _ tion spot. TCona ns "Listening to some of these people, they‘re really good," said 17â€"yearâ€"old Mallory MacDonald. "But I‘ve been performâ€" ing for a long time. I defiâ€" At the end of the day, one person was declared the CKCO Idol, and earned the right to go to the front of the line for the actual Canadian Idol auditions, to be held May 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Some eager contestants lined up as early as 5 a.m. to secure a place in line. And they soon found out, the competition was stiff. The sister team of Joanne and Krystal Lahey brought years of vocal experience with them. They‘ve performed in shows all over Ontario, specializing in pop, rock and country music. nitely have stage presence, and I can sing. Hopefully that‘s enough." _ _"This is our dream," Joanne said. "We‘re going to give it our all." ____ _ She also said they‘ve taken some tips from watching the current American Idol competiâ€" tion. fan of American Idol, Richards said, "I‘m glued to it." Arriving at 6 a.m., they had their eyes on the "Who knows. The person we choose could go on to win the whole compeâ€" tition. Wouldn‘t it "We watch it all the time, even last year," Joanne said. "We‘re be exciting to know the Canadiâ€" an Idol is right in our own backâ€" yard" When asked if she is a CKCO idol judge 583 King Street North, Waterloo Phone: (519) 772â€"1 127 ww w .heersdecorating.com HDECORATING â€"â€"& DESIGN CENTRES â€"â€" Travers said the local winner has a genuine shot at becoming the first Canadian Idol. "Who knows," he said, "the person we choose could go on to win the whole competition. But the local entertainâ€" ment reporter, and coâ€" host of the noon news, assured she would be a kinder judge than the show‘s infamous music critic, Simon Cowell. "I have to live in this community," she said, with a laugh. "I choose to couch my remarks, and break the news gently." "Wouldn‘t it be exciting to know the Canadian Idol is right in our own backâ€" "I‘m pulling for everyâ€" body," he said. Travers said he found it difficult to choose one But when it came down to the crunch, he said, originality deterâ€" mined the outcome. "I look for believabiliâ€" ty," he said. "Someone who can show their true, personal voice, without copping an imitation of somebody else‘s style."