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TOWN OF WABANA The last regular meeting was held on Tuesday, Apr. 24, 2007, with the following in attendance: Mayor Gosine Lance Cove Improvement Committee. Also in attendance were three council employees: The meeting was called to order at 8pm my Mayor Gosine. LANCE COVE COMMITTEE Members of the committee introduced themselves, and Mr. David Rees, the chairperson of the committee, acted as spokesman. He explained that he is seeking as much help as possible from council towards raising funds to beautify Lance Cove Beach. He said his committee plans to hold an annual accordion festival, which should be a huge tourist attraction, thus bringing new people to the island, and of course creating some benefits for our business sector. Also a motion of council was in order to build washrooms on land which was recently acquired at Lance Cove Beach. This was approved and covered in a motion by Councillor Craig and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pendergast. Motion carried. Mayor Gosine thanked the committee for attending, and the committee in turn thanked council for meeting with them. It was felt by everyone that with the lines of communication open, big things could happen this summer at Lance Cove Beach. ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES (1) Water System Upgrades – Mr. Kent brought council up to date on the proposal for funding for the water system, and how the Federal Gas Tax will be utilized for council’s share of the proposal. He said he is presently revising the financial analysis for the Dept. of Municipal Affairs. (2) Capital Coast Seminar – Councillor Kent said that information will be forwarded to the various town councils concerning the seminar and the topics discussed. (3) Code of Ethics - A motion was made by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor McCarthy that the code of ethics which was recently prepared and studied by council and employees be approved. Motion carried. (4) Log of Equipment Repairs – it was felt that all employees should keep a log of equipment repairs, including the plumbers. (5) Brian Clarke/Classic Molding – Mr. Kent informed council Mr. Clarke said he would be here later this week to pay his rent and get his project up and running. (6) NLFM Symposium-Gander – Agreed that the Mayor and the new Town Manager, Mr. Mercer would attend, and any councilors wishing to attend to let the Town Clerk know as soon as possible so they can be registered. FINANCIAL REPORT – Accepted as presented. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT (1) ATV’s causing problems in the vicinity of Courthouse Hill and Lahey’s Lane. Agreed that we forward a letter to the RCMP, asking that they step up patrols in this area. This was covered in a motion by Councillor Craig, and seconded by Councillor Laurie. Motion carried. (2) Lucina Murphy – request for an improved water supply. It was felt that Main St. pump and Fancy Hill pump could be interconnected to step up the supply of water in the area of Ms. Murphy. (3) Joyce Skanes – agreed that a curb stop be placed near her property so that she can have her home connected to the main water line. ARENA REPORT Mayor Gosine explained that Mr. Gillingham could not be present at the meeting tonight, due to a family matter. CORRESPONDENCE (1) Info from the NEAJC – ordered placed on file. (2) Letter from Stats Canada – ordered placed on file. (3) Letter from the Town of Holyrood – seeking support to have problems corrected concerning the emissions from the Newfoundland Hydro generating Station. A motion was made by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor Kent that we forward a letter to Premier Williams and the other people mentioned in the letter from the the Town of Holyrood, supporting their efforts. (4) Application from G.S. Hunt for a quarry permit – This was approved on a motion by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor Kent, with the stipulation that the road in the area not be compromised. Motion carried. (5) Letter from FCM – ordered placed on file. (6) Letter from the NL Heritage Foundation re community heritage success stories that could appear in upcoming publications, and could give communities an opportunity to show off everything that they have accomplished to the rest of the province. It was suggested that the No. 2 Mine Tour could be such a success story. (7) Letter from the Dept. of Justice – advising that retirement is no longer mandatory at age 65. (8) Letter from Tidy Towns re workshop on May 12th. in Gander. (9) Letter from NL Lung Association – posters etc have been placed in the Town Hall, and brochures for those wishing to have them. (10) Letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs re pension for Town Manager, and advising that pension schemes should be cost shared with employees and council. However, because the precedent had been set with former Town Mangers, it was felt that Mr. Kent should be treated the same way and a pension allocated. It was agreed that we check with the NLFM for a legal opinion. (11) Letter from the Dept. of Environment – Agreed that we nominate Mr. Gerald Fowler once again for the Environment award. (12) Application from Ms. Lisa Boone to construct a new house in the Scotia # 1 Area. This was approved in principle on a motion by Councillor McCarthy and seconded by Councillor Craig. Motion carried. (13) Letter from Mr. Terry Parsons (Beacon Point Music), seeking support to help him produce a music/advertisement video about Bell Island. Agreed that we pass this request to Mr. Brad Lawrence from the Community Centre Alliance, to see if there is anything he can do to help Mr. Parsons obtain needed funds. (14) Letter from the Dept. of Municipal Affairs re Municipal Awareness Day, May 16th. Councillor Craig said he would make mention of this in the newsletter, and that we can have an open house here so people can come by to meet the new Town Manager. (15) Letter advising that the next meeting of the Killick Coast Committee will be on Thursday, April 26, 2007. (16) Memo re a new book by Mr. Ron Pumphrey, Human Beans, which he is promoting about his early years on Bell Island. NEW BUSINESS Garbage Contract – A motion was made by Councillor Kent and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pendergast that we would call for tenders for a new garbage contract. Motion carried. Newfoundland Map – Mr. Mercer informed council that he attended a workshop recently on tourism, and was informed that the Baccalieu Heritage Corridor Trail Committee is developing a digitial map of Newfoundland, and the various towns in the zone will be highlighted, including Bell Island. CONCERNS (1) Councillor McCarthy asked about the audit report, the capital works program and the need for paving this summer, the arena proposal, the condition of The Valley, shouldering and shaling. (2) Councillor Kent also asked about road paving, and whether the Arena Manager will be remaining on during the summer months or will he be laid off. (3) Councillor Laurie said that she heard that there were people smoking
in the Arena during the Figure Skating show recently, this problem has since
been addressed. (5) Councillor Kent spoke about dilapidated buildings and the need to have them taken down or repaired to a satisfactory standard. (6) Councillor Craig asked about clean up week, he talked about the NLFM webpage which he helped design, also the NEAJC meeting which was held on Bell Island recently and was well attended, and he mentioned Scotiabank and that we should continue to try to set up a meeting with the vice president to talk about banking issues. He talked about compost bins, and that we should once again sell them to residents, and he talked about the Junior Blues and their recent winning of the Veitch championship. (7) Mr. Kent informed council that the dump would be reopened on Saturdays starting May 5, 2007. (8) Councillor Kent said that we should obtain legal advice concerning the huge stockpile of pallets at Marilyn Sheppard’s property. Also that he had a request from Riv Ford to have the West Track upgraded, and that we should lobby the Dept. of Transportation and Works to keep the work crew here longer this summer as there is plenty of road work that needs to be done. (9) Mayor Gosine informed council that St. Augustine’s School had been declared an International Peace School, and will be flying a flag signifying this distinction. (10) Mayor Gosine talked about the teacher allocation at St. Michael’s school, and that it will remain the same as this year. He also talked about the Kiwanis Music Festival, Heritage Students, Flag at Beach Monument, and that tomorrow would be Administrators Day. He asked all councilors and staff to be here at noon for a luncheon to honor our administrators. Also he said a meeting will be held here on May 2nd, re ferry operations in the province. And Mayor Gosine said that we should make sure the RCMP are aware of the time of next month’s council meeting, as they have missed the last two. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 10:45pm on a motion by Councillor McCarthy and seconded by Councillor Craig. Motion carried. CONFIRMED ______________________ ______________________
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