By Mark Squibb
The newly minted Witless Bay council wasted no time getting to work following this month’s municipal election.
Following the selection of mayor and deputy mayor – Jacob Hayden and Justina Nawaz respectively – during the opening minutes of the October 15 meeting, council tackled a full agenda that included development applications, committee appointments, and more.
First, council ratified an earlier e-vote of council to approve a single-family home at 29-33 Carter’s Road. The permit will be issued once all other applicable government approvals have been received by the Town.
Council approved construction of accessory buildings at 67 Country Path Drive, 94-96 Gull Pond Road, 12 Island View Place and 41-45 Dunn’s Lane, all subject to various conditions, and approved an application to subdivide land at 1-17 Southern Shore Highway, pending provincial government approval. No development applications will be considered until the land has been subdivided.
Council also approved the purchase of an M18 chainsaw for the fire department at a cost of $499, plus HST, and approved the installation of a back power generator for the Town Hall at a cost of $3,043 plus HST.
Council also approved a number of new committee appointments. Margaret Swain and Susan Byrne will sit on the recreation committee, Robert Thor and Gerard Dunn will sit on the public works committee, Ralph Carey and Justina Nawaz will sit on the finance committee, Susan Byrne and Justina Nawaz will serve on the human resources committee, and Susan Byrne and Margaret Swain will represent the Town on the Southern Shore Joint Council.
Most items put to council were approved, however, a request for the Town to provide materials and manpower to extend the Carey’s Road culvert was denied.
Meanwhile, bank signing authority was granted to Mayor Hayden, Deputy Mayor Nawaz, and councillor Carey.
