May 25, 2004

 

The last regular meeting was held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, with the following in attendance:

 

            Mayor Gosine 

            Deputy Mayor Pendergast

            Councillor Laurie

            Councillor Kent

            Councillor Pitts

            Councillor Squires

            Councillor Wade

            Town Manager, Mr. Kent

            Town Clerk, Mrs. Butler

            RCMP – Corp. B. Merrill

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:15pm my Mayor Gosine.  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 spoke on the following topics:

1.       Today’s meeting with various town and government officials re the ferry situation for the islands/towns who depend on ferry services for their main mode of transportation.

 

2.       New RCMP officer moved in on Monday.

 

3.       Officers taking safety courses in St. John’s. These courses he said are excellent and geared towards saving lives.

 

4.       Bus stop near Kevin Galway.  Corp. Merrill was delighted this shelter was removed so quickly.

 

5.       Bicycle rodeo taking place in two weeks time with lots of bicycles and other good prizes.

 

6.       Waste Disposal Act – Corp. Merrill said we can charge people under the Waste Disposal Act, if they leave debris around after our annual cleanup or any other times.

 

7.       Suggestion was made for a Clean-up Day perhaps with the schools involved.

 

ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

 

(1)        Dilapidated houses – agreed that we write the following people advising that we are not satisfied to date with the steps they have taken or not taken to have their properties brought up to standard:

Brian Tulk, Wayne Crann, Dan Craig, Florence Pynn.

 

(2)        Environmental concerns – agreed that we have officials from the Dept. of Environment come to the island to check out various places that could present potential hazards to the environment:  Dennis Young, Gary Taplin, Ben Brown, George Yetman, James Kelloway (buses), and others as well.

 

(3)        Dumping of human waste at incinerator site – it was decided to announce in the next RCMP community newsletter that the dumping of human waste is not permitted at our incinerator site, and that it has to be transported to Foxtrap for disposal.

 

(4)        Chlorination system – still some problems with levels and people getting strong chlorine odours in their homes.  Hopefully these problems will be ironed out in the very near future.

 

(5)        West Dam – a real eyesore and needs to be cleaned up. Agreed that someone from Mines and Energy should check the condition of the areas where quarry operations are taking place.

 

(6)        Lighthouse – nothing new yet.  Apparently the contract has not been signed off yet.  It was mentioned that the lighthouse is supposed to be manned for the next five years.  Mr. Kent said that the IAS is working on plans to submit to ACOA to have the area beautified.

 

(7)        Car Wrecks – Mr. Kent said he has been calling Newco to have them come to the island to clean up the car wrecks. This should happen soon and we will get $100.00 per load for the wrecks.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

 

Several questions were asked about the report, and were answered by the Town Clerk or Town Manager.

Report accepted.

 

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

 

Tire burning – Mr. Kent said that NF Shredding Co. has been contacted to come and remove the old tires. 

Report accepted.

 

ARENA REPORT

 

Reported that the IAS is submitting a grant application for girder work at the arena.  It was felt that the Arena Manager should attend our next meeting to discuss some of the maintenance requirements which he had listed in his report.

Report accepted.

 

APPLICATIONS

 

(1)        Scott Clarke to build a house at Armoury Road.

(2)        Joe Somerton to build a house at Tremblett’s Road.

(3)        Don Skanes to build a house at Armoury Road.

A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Pendergast and seconded by Councillor Wade that approval in principle be granted to these people. Motion carried.

 

Some concern was expressed that maybe council is not checking out these applications fully.  Mr. Kent assured council that we do make every effort to insure that things are carried out according to the National Building Codes, and under the guidelines of the Dept. of Government Services where septic systems are involved.  Larger towns would have a planning or engineering department to look after such issues, but in small communities such as ours we go by the guidelines set out, and keep applicants informed as much as possible on what is required of them before a permit is issued.

 

CONCERNS

TOWN MANAGER:

 

(1)        Mr. Kent said he has received a request from Tyrone Neary for a street light for Kavanagh’s Lane (near his late parents’ house). This to be checked by the Light Committee.

(2)        Mr. Kent informed council that repairs are required to our lift station and will cost approximately $4000.  Authorization to have this work carried out was approved on a motion by Deputy Mayor Pendergast and seconded by Councillor Wade.  Motion carried.

(3)        Mr. Kent informed council that pagers are required for new firemen.  Authorization was given to purchase these pages and was covered in a motion by Councillor Kent and seconded by Councillor Pitts.  Motion carried.

(4)        Mr. Kent said he would like to have permission from the Murals Committee to transport the replacement mural near the post office.  It was mentioned that Tony Power recently resigned as chairperson of the Murals Committee, but that a new chairperson could be appointed soon.

(5)        Mr. Kent informed council that two bids were received from local contractors to do work under the MMSB program.  He said Hurley’s Construction was the lowest bidder and will be awarded the contract.

(6)        Mr. Kent informed council that we have obtained a used dump truck from the Town of Gander, and it is in pretty good condition.

(7)        Mr. kent said he is still trying to obtain the old Imperial Oil fenced area for a smoke house location for the Fire Dept.

 

COUNCILLOR WADE

 

(1)        Inquired about the annual clean up – this is in progress right now.

(2)        She reported that she did not have any success in obtaining information from the Dunville Teen Centre re grants, etc.

(3)        Councillor Wade reported that the Battle of the Atlantic was a huge success with many people attending.

(4)        Councillor Wade said she carried out her duties at St. Michael’s Graduation ceremony.

(5)        Councillor Wade requested a leave of absence to go to work in Halifax for three months.  This was approved.

 

DEPUTY MAYOR PENDERGAST

 

(1)        Deputy Mayor Pendergast said he has received another request from Terry King for a street light in his area.  Agreed to check again to see if the current light on his street could be moved up a pole or two.

(2)        Deputy Mayor Pendergast suggested we have some much-needed repairs to our paved roads carried out when Weir’s Construction comes to do the capital works program. Several areas were identified and it was felt some move should be made towards having this work completed while the contractors are on the island.

(3)        Deputy Mayor Pendergast agreed that the quarry areas need cleaning up but it should not be council’s responsibility to do this work. 

 

COUNCILLOR PITTS

 

(1)        Councillor Pitts requested that the flower fountain at the bottom of Town Square be dressed up and beautified. It was suggested we ask Bridie Pynn of the Touch of Class Operations to do this work.

 

COUNCILLOR SQUIRES

(1)  Councillor Squires said all his concerns had already been dealt with during the course of the meeting.

 

COUNCILLOR LAURIE

 

(1)        Councillor Laurie reiterated that our roads are in dire need of repair and should be upgraded with asphalt as soon as possible.

(2)        Councillor Laurie reminded council that the outside workers have not as yet made appointments to have Hepatitis shots.  Agreed that appointments be made as soon as possible for them.

 

COUNCILLOR KENT

 

(1)          Councillor Kent inquired about the paving program and when it will be undertaken.  Mr. Kent said they should start around the end of June.

(2)          Councillor Kent felt we should write the Dept. of Works and Services to make sure a work crew is here on the island to carry out various improvements to the roads, etc. as this is long overdue.

(3)          Councillor Kent inquired about ore rock and how much money we were getting from this mineral.  Mr. Kent said that we get small amounts from one of the contractors, but other than that we are not getting anything, as this matter is very difficult to control.  Councillor Kent said that a local truck owner recently transported about 45 truck loads of rock around the island with no compensation to council.  Mr. Kent said he had given permission to one truck owner to obtain this number of loads for his own use.

(4)          Councillor Kent was concerned that the greenhouse was dismantled and wondered what was going on with this situation now.  Mr. Kent said there is an investigation on going concerning the greenhouse.

Also he said the greenhouse is the property of the IAS, and not Operation Sunshine.

(5)          Councillor Kent inquired if Mr. Arch Durdle had obtained a permit to remove his mother’s old house and to build another house on the same lot.  He was informed that permission was granted.

 

MAYOR GOSINE

 

(1)        Mayor Gosine gave a verbal report of today’s meeting concerning ferries services.  He said the meeting was well attended with lots of good ideas exchanged. He said Edward Kent has to be commended on formalizing the meeting and making it a success.  Also he said a Coalition of member islands depending on ferries, was formed and they would be obtaining some money from the NLFM to get them up and running. 

(2)        Mayor Gosine inquired if the ballfields would be completed this year.  Mr. Kent said he would be finishing them as promised.

(3)        Mayor Gosine asked about vendors who sell items from their trucks, and if they have proper permits.  This to be checked into, and also to see if they are required to pay Business Tax.

(4)        Mayor Gosine mentioned that bike races would be taking place at Bell Meadow soon which is a big event with a lot of spinoffs for our island.  He said some grading is required alone the course area, but that permission has to be obtained from the owners of the properties involved.  It was decided that when permission is obtained, council can send its grader and an operator to assist there.

(5)        Mayor Gosine reminded council that Sean Wiltshire promised council that the old town hall building would be painted and dressed up when a Touch of Class took it over.  This to be checked into.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:30pm on a motion by Councillor Pitts and seconded by Councillor Wade. Motion carried.

 

 

____________________Mayor  _________________Town Clerk

 

Next meeting Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 4pm