TOWN OF WABANA

Oct. 11, 2005

A meeting to swear in the recently elected councilors was held on Tuesday, Oct. 11th at the Wabana Complex. The meeting started at 4:50. Mayor Gosine congratulated everyone on their success at the polls, and stressed how important team work is in making decisions that will be in the best interest of our community. He hoped the next four years would be good ones with all councillors taking their civic duties seriously and responsibly.

The oaths of office were administered in the following order:
Gary Gosine was sworn in as Mayor by the Town Clerk.
John Pendergast was sworn in as Councillor by the Mayor.
Alexa Laurie was sworn in as Councillor by the Mayor.
Kevin McCarthy was sworn in as Councillor by the Mayor.
Brian Kent was sworn in as Councillor by the Mayor.
Joey Somerton was sworn is as Councillor by the Mayor.
Patrick Craig was sworn in as Councillor by the Mayor.

A photo session took place with Mr. Louis Carbage taking pictures of the newly elected councilors.

Next Councillor Kent made a motion that Councillor Pendergast be appointed to the position of Deputy Mayor (after receiving the highest number of votes during the election), this was seconded by Councillor McCarthy. Motion carried.

Next the councilors presented their property disclosure statements and their campaign contribution disclosure statements as required under the Municipalities Act.

REGULAR MEETING

The minutes of the last regular meeting were adopted as corrected on a motion by Councillor Kent and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pendergast. Motion carried.

The corrections were as follows:
(1) Page 1 re the Crane property should read that the house will be removed by the Crane family, not by council.
(2) Page 2 re Council equipment should have read that the motion was passed unanimously that the employees not take council equipment home during lunch breaks, with the exception of the foreman Jim Pendergast.

ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

(1) Councillor McCarthy asked if Mr. Tom Strickland was qualified to serve as Commissioner to hear our assessment appeals. The Town Clerk responded that Mr. Strickland is qualified and has been conducting our hearings for years, and comes highly recommended.

(2) Deputy Mayor Pendergast felt we should meet with our outside employees soon to discuss in more detail the issue of vehicles being driven home for lunch breaks.

(3) Councillor Craig asked if we knew when Mr. Gary Sweeney would be returning to work. Mr. Kent responded that Mr. Sweeney's next doctor's appointment is on Oct. 28th, we should get a report after that time.

(4) Mayor Gosine said that Ms. Jill Hart has the new town map almost ready now. We should be receiving it any day.

FINANCIAL REPORT - accepted as presented. A request was made by Councillor McCarthy that a copy be made of this year's budget for council's benefit, and also a listing of loans/monthly payments, etc.

TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT:

(1) Councillor McCarthy said that council created the problem at the beach with the fish plant; he said it should never have been erected there. It was decided that we would write them concerning the stench with a view to having it controlled, and also in the same letter we would once again ask that they install a holding tank for water, as the town supply is not adequate to service them.

(2) Councillor Kent asked if the dozer was repaired yet. Mr. Kent said that we are still waiting for parts.

(3) Councillor Laurie said that the area near Jim Kelloway's needs to be leveled off a little better than it is. Mr. Kent said he will contact Mr. Kelloway to have this work done.

(4) Councillor McCarthy felt that council perhaps could have carried out the repair work on the mural at the Green via our own work force. Mr. Kent said that Bill Whalen is a qualified painter and was part of the mural program and thus was involved in having the mural cleaned and touched up.

(5) Deputy Mayor Pendergast said it is good to see the potholes repaired with asphalt. However Councillor McCarthy felt this was a band-air treatment and we should seek to have a five-year capital works plan in place. Mr. Kent said that our engineers will be upgrading our five-year plan with council's paving priorities.

(6)Mayor Gosine said that the Dept. of Works and Services will not be doing any paving until next spring. He said this could be a good thing and will give us some time to lobby for extra funding for paving.

(7)Councillor Craig said that water supply is one of our biggest concerns and improvements to our system should be documented in our proposed five-year capital works plan. This was agreed by all, and a motion was made by Councillor McCarthy and seconded by Councillor Kent that road work and water works be outlined on a priority basis in our five-year capital budget/plan. Motion carried.

(8) Mayor Gosine felt we should write the Minister of Transportation and Works with a view to obtaining free transportation for council employees and equipment traveling on the ferry. Also that copies of this letter be forwarded to the deputy minister, our MHA, our MP, and the regional manager.

(9) Mr. Kent said that Imperial Oil would be installing a fence at the pier to keep people off the wharf for safety and security purposes. It was felt that we write them with a view to having the old wharf removed, and also that we ask once again to have the old tank farm site transferred to council so that our fire department could use it as a smoke house training area.

(10) In his report the Town Manager asked for authorization to pay $4050.00 plus tax to Pyramid Construction for asphalt for road repairs. This was approved and covered in a motion by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor Kent. Motion carried.

ARENA REPORT: It was mentioned that Bill Ford is presently working with the new manager, Todd Gillingham, and will remain with him until the ice is on.

APPLICATIONS:

(1) From Blaine Galway to open a variety/convenience store on Armoury Road. This was approved in principle on a motion by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor McCarthy. Motion carried.

(2) From Ms. Crystal Baker to build a summer house in Freshwater. This was approved in principle on a motion by Deputy Mayor Pendergast and seconded by Councillor Somerton. Motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

(1) Information from NLFM re convention - agreed that those councilors wishing to attend the convention to let the Town Clerk know tomorrow.
(2) Information from NLFM re the Stephenville Flood Fund. It was decided that a donation of $500.00 be made towards this fund, and could perhaps be presented to the appropriate people at the convention in Corner Brook early in Nov. This was covered in a motion by Deputy Mayor Pendergast and seconded by Councillor Craig. Motion carried.

COUNCILLORS' CONCERNS:

(1) Councillor McCarthy suggested that if committees of council are formed we can perhaps ask some of the defeated candidates to serve on such committees.
(2) Councillor Craig asked about the North East Avalon Joint councils and that he would be interested in serving on that committee. Councillor Kent said he could serve on this committee too.
(3) Councillor Craig presented a list of various committees, some of which council may be interested in forming.
(4) Councillor Laurie volunteered to serve once again on the Ferry Users Commttee. and a committee to look at vacant land with a view to selling it or locating the owners.
(5) Councillor Laurie informed council that a survey undertaken by the National Research Council and other health related groups will be available soon, she said this would be of interest to council as it includes all levels of socio-economic recommendations.
(6) Deputy Mayor Pendergast said he would be willing to serve on the finance committee and the fire committee.
(7) Deputy Mayor Pendergast said that he had received a request to have a street light moved to the intersection of St. Pat's Lane and Colbourne St. This to be checked into.
(8) Councillor McCarthy suggested a review be done of all street lights to ascertain if all roads have adequate lighting.
(9) Councillor Craig said that the Economic Development Committee should be combined with council and should in fact be under the umbrella of council, so that council will be involved in the various development plans and opportunities and will be 'in the loop' so to speak with the IAS.
(10) Councillor Somerton said that he would be interested in serving on a
Recreation/arena committee.
(11) Councillor Kent inquired about the garbage contract and how far we can go
before we have to renew it. It was felt that we would continue on a month to
too month basis for the present time as things are working quite satisfactorily.
(12) Councillor Kent mentioned that we should continue to lobby for funding to carry out brush cutting, and he also reminded council that a new Municipal Plan is needed, even though we presently will operate under the old one until a new one is developed.
(13) Councillor Kent suggested we consider giving the volunteer fire brigade an increase in their practice fees. This to be discussed at another meeting.
(14) Mayor Gosine said that there is a serious problem in the elementary school with head lice, and that the Community Health Nurse is trying to educate children and parents about this problem
(15) Mayor Gosine suggested to council that the road leading to the Kiwanis Park be named after the young man, Brian House, who was killed during a Motocross event. This was agreed by all and covered in a motion by Councillor Kent and seconded by Councillor Somerton. Motion carried.
(16) Mayor Gosine reported that there are some dangerous holes in the area of the Diamond Club where Mr. Kelloway intends to erect a fence, agreed that he be contacted to have this area marked or completed to insure the safety of the public.

After a discussion it was felt that future council meetings of this council be held on Tuesday nights, perhaps around the middle of the month, at 7:30 pm. A schedule to be drawn up and delivered to the councillors with their agendas for the next meeting.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:25pm on a motion by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor McCarthy. Motion carried.

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Mayor

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Town Clerk