June 22, 2004

 

The last regular meeting was held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, June 22, 2004, with the following in attendance:

 

            Mayor Gosine

            Deputy Mayor Pendergast

            Councillor Pitts

            Councillor Kent

            Town Manager,  Mr. Kent

            Town Clerk, Mrs. Butler

            RCMP, Corp. Merrill

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:10pm.  The minutes of the last regular meeting were adopted as circulated on a motion by Councillor Pitts and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pendergast.  Motion carried.

 

RCMP

 

Corp. Merrill reported on the following topics:

1.       DARE program – success.

2.       BICYCLE rodeo – success.

3.       SUMMER schedule – 4 officers will be working all summer, instead of the usual 5.

 

ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

 

1.       Motorcross events – huge success – some grading needed to be carried out on the road leading to the bell.

2.       Canada Day – council to arrange for some fireworks and a little celebration at the town hall.

3.       MMSB – a lot of work carried out by Hurley’s Construction, with still more left to do.

4.       Northern Ranger – request be made to the Dept. of Environment to try to have this old shipwreck removed from the ocean at Lance Cove Beach.

5.       Wrecks – over 100  wrecks removed and crushed.

6.       Buses – a motion was made by Councillor Pitts and seconded by Councillor Kent that people with old buses and wrecks be ordered to have them removed. Motion carried.  Particular mention was made of the old bus on Don Crane’s property, and buses on Kelloway’s property.  It was decided that the Town Manager be authorized to order the removal of these buses.

7.       Dilapidated buildings:

Wayne Crann – repairing his building and has agreed to pay the outstanding taxes.

Dan Craig – securing building at Lance Cove Road.

Brian Tulk – repairs not satisfactory to council. Check with lawyer, Goodridge, to determine if we can still order the removal of this building).

Florence Pynn – has removed the roof from her old building on Quigley’s Line. (Check with lawyer, Goodridge, to determine if we can still order the removal of this building.)

         James Kelloway – write him concerning the condition of the old Lumber yard building, Bennett St

Tom Kelloway – white him concerning the condition of the old Prince’s Theatre on Main St.

 

8.       Environment:  Agreed that we contact the Dept. of  Environment re the following properties:

1.       Dennis Young, Lance Cove Road.

2.       Gary Taplin, Lance Cove Road.

9.       Mines and Energy:  Agreed that they be contacted to check the quarry areas around the West Dam.

10.   Lighthouse:  Area has been cleaned up, but the house there still needs to be painted.

11.   Old Tires:  There is a problem with where to store them as vandals burn them when they are stored on the dumpsite.

12.   Road paving:  A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Pendergast and seconded by Councillor Kent that we have the following roads repaired with asphalt when the paving contractor is on the island.  Motion carried:  Hussey St., Hunt’s Hill, Renown St., and any other roads that the Town Manager’s deems necessary to be repaired.

 

13.   Street Lights:  Tyrone Neary, Kavanagh’s Lane – not recommended at this time, due to budget restraints.   Terry King, Court House Hill – this request has been on going for a long time, agreed that no action be taken at this time.

14.   Mural – to be moved to the Post Office mural site as soon as possible.

15.   Highway repairs – it was reported that a work crew was here recently to carry out some minor road repairs.  It was mentioned that ditching is badly needed, and brush cutting.  Agreed that we contact our MHA with a view to obtaining some funding to carry out brush cutting.

16.   Greenhouse – court case could be started re greenhouse removal.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT – accepted as presented.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT – Mr. Kent reported that a request has been made to have the old ore car relocated near Paddy’s Pond, with a sign erected advertising the Mine Tours. This project could be cost shared with the Heritage Society.

 

Mr. Kent reported that a new guide to Bell Island is being prepared by Young and Wells, and should be ready soon.

 

Mr. Kent reported that eyewash machines have been installed in all the pumping stations.

 

A request from employee, Gary Sweeney, to have some changes made to minutes of council.  This was denied as only councillors have that authority if they feel something is reported incorrectly or left out.  Mr. Sweeney to be notified of this.

 

A note was presented from employee, Gary Sweeney, from his doctor advising that he was off work from June 16 to June 21, and can now return to regular duties.  Council did not consider this a full medical clearance for Mr. Sweeney to return to duties other than that of incinerator/dump watchman.  Also it was mentioned that council has documentation from WHSCC that Mr. Sweeney was awarded a settlement for a Permanent Functional Impairment, and felt he could not be considered for any other position unless a full medical clearance is received.

 

Mr. Kent reported that some clean up work was carried out at the Beach with funding from the MMSB. It was felt that Bill Hynes from the Dept. of Transportation be contacted to have the area around the Flanders docking facility cleaned up.

 

Mr. Kent said the ballfield will be extended, and perhaps the work could be done by Hurley’s Construction as part of the MMSB project. This to be checked into.

 

ARENA REPORT – It was recommended that Minor Hockey take over the canteen at the arena for next season.  This was acceptable.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

(1)     From NLFM regarding Options for the convention.  It was agreed that we go with option 3, which is that all conventions be held in St. John’s where accommodations are available.  This was agreed on a motion by Councillor Kent and seconded by Councillor Pitts.  Motion carried.  Deputy Mayor Pendergast suggested that we make the following comments concerning our decision to go with option 3:  (1)  Membership in the Federation is growing so more space is required (2)  Many towns like to send more than 2 delegates so more space is required (3)  St. John’s is the only city with adequate hotel space.

 

(2)     Letter from Avalon East School Board re bus shelters, advising that our letter to them had been forward to the Dept. of Education.

 

(3)     Letter from Ocean Net re clean up of Lance Cove Beach for June 17th.  Agreed that as many council members as possible attend if they can.

 

COUNCILLORS CONCERNS:

 

(1)     Deputy Mayor Pendergast – reported that he had received many complaints about dirty water on Main St. Agreed that some flushing be carried out as soon as possible when the water pressure increases.  Deputy Mayor Pendergast suggested a holding tank be installed on this pumping station, to help with the supply.

.

(2)     Mr. Kent said that Lucina Murphy has requested to have her property connected to Fancy Hill pump and removed from the one she is presently being serviced from.  This to be looked into.

 

(3)     Deputy Mayor Pendergast said he was approached by Mr. Gerald Sheppard to have the drain near his property cleaned out.

 

(4)     Councillor Kent inquired about the paving program and when it will be starting. It was mentioned that it should be starting next week. He said that West Mines Road, Lighthouse Road, and O’Neill’s Hill, Lance Cove,  will be included in the program.

 

(5)     Councillor Kent said we should concentrate on flushing water lines as often as possible to cut down on the sediment and odour in the domestic water systems.

 

(6)     Mayor Gosine suggested we send a note of sympathy to the late John Littlejohn’s family.

 

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:45pm on a motion by Councillor Pitts and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pendergast.  Motion carried.

 

 

____________________________

Mayor

 

_____________________________

Town Clerk

 

Next meeting Tuesday, July 20, 2004