Witless Bay seeking neighbours’ support for updated fire hall feasibility study

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Witless Bay has requested letters of support from neighbouring communities that avail of the town’s fire and emergency services for an updated feasibility study to determine the current market cost of building and operating a new fire hall, as well as whether there are more cost-effective options available.

In 2023, council accepted $2 million in provincial government funding for construction of a new regional fire hall and agreed to pay the Town’s portion of $815,646.

That funding agreement, however, was based on a feasibility study conducted in 2019 and did not include costs for ongoing operations of a new fire hall. Town CAO Jennifer Aspell said that furthermore, there was concern that 2019 prices may not been reflective of the current market.

While the Town still has access to that funding, Aspell said the results of a new feasibility study will determine how council proceeds.

Parsons elected to Petty Harbour council

By Mark Squibb

Kayla Parsons, 31, has been elected to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove town council following last week’s by-election.

Parsons garnered 46 votes, narrowly beating candidate Craig Chafe’s 44 votes. Mark Glynn tallied 11 votes.

Parsons grew up in Conception Bay South, but moved to Petty Harbor in 2018, where she lives with her husband Brett and three daughters. She boasts a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University and has worked in a number of different fields from youth care to construction. She currently works for the provincial government.

“I felt that I may be able to bring a new perspective (to council chambers),” said Parsons, citing her youth and work experience. “I’m hoping that I can create a space that young families want to move to.”

Besides her focus on families, Parsons said road conditions and water quality in the town are concerns that she shares with residents.

She attributes her win to her and her family being active and well known within the community, and to the residents’ interest in having a fresh, new voice at the council table.

Since the by-election, Parsons has been sworn in and attended her first public meeting Tuesday night.

“Everybody seems very nice and very welcoming,” said Parsons of her council colleagues. “There wasn’t a lot on the agenda for that evening, but I’m sure there will be lots to chat about as I get further into this. I’m just taking this one little step at a time right now.”

Parsons, who noted her life motto is to leave a place better than when she found it, also expressed her thanks to all those who cast a vote in the by-election, regardless of who they voted for.

“It’s so important to get out and cast your vote,” said Parsons. “And it seems that less and less people are getting out to vote. So, I would like to thank everybody who did vote, and for those who voted for me, I hope I can fill the seat well.”

Swain reinstated to Witless Bay council

Witless Bay councillors Ralph Carey, left, and Gerard Dunne during the debate on their motion in February to evict Margaret Swain from office for allegedly breaching conflict of interest rules. Swain appealed the decision and council has since reinstated her but won’t say whether it is reimbursing Swain’s legal costs or commenting on the costs of its own legal bill. Craig Westcott photo

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council voted last Thursday night to reinstate councillor Margaret Swain.

Swain, who could not be reached for comment ahead of Thursday’s deadline, had been kicked off council last February over an unproven allegation of a conflict of interest in regards to a proposed Crown Land Reserve for the Ragged Beach area.

Voting for the motion back in February to sack Swain were then Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard and her husband and fellow councillor Alan Richards, along with councillors Gerard Dunne and Ralph Carey, who made the motion to evict Swain. Mayor Trevor Croft and councillor Jacob Hayden both voted against it.

Swain hired a lawyer and filed an appeal. Neither council, nor Town officials will say how the matter was settled before it went to Supreme Court for trial. Neither will they say whether they have covered Swain’s legal bills or disclose the amount of the Town’s legal bill.

Town CAO Jennifer Aspell said that though Swain has been reinstated, her appeal has not yet been formally discontinued, and the Town would not be commenting on the legal proceedings while the matter is still before the court.

As to the legal fees incurred by the Town, Aspell said an Access to Information request would need to be filed before that information would be released.

Mayor Trevor Croft declined to comment, and redirected inquiries to Aspell.

Former Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard, who, along with Richards, resigned shortly after Swain’s dismissal, e-mailed an unprompted comment to the Irish Loop Post.

“The decision, which I participated in, to vacate Ms. Swain’s seat was made in response to a conflict-of-interest complaint filed with the Town on December 13, 2023, and discussed over two lengthy privileged sessions of council,” said Yard. “I felt it was the only correct decision that could be made with the information I had before me and the reasonable application of the legislation. While I am no longer on the Town Council of Witless Bay I am still bound by required confidentiality regarding any discussions that occurred on this matter and cannot comment on the basis for the decision or what legislative processes the Town did, or did not, follow. I wish councillor Swain the very best in her future role with the town.”

Meanwhile, despite Swain’ reinstatement, council remains short one member.

The Town held a Nomination Day Wednesday to fill the vacancy, but no candidates stepped forward.

Goulds Elementary students reading contest

The Goulds Lions Club hosted a reading contest from June 7 to the June 13 open to all Goulds Elementary students. Parents were encouraged to share photos on social media of their children reading for a chance to win one of ten $20 Chapters gift cards. In front, from left are Valerie Byrne, Hadley Weir, and Jayne Fitzpatrick. In back, from left is Goulds Elementary teacher Krista Finn, Sarah Jane Cull, Owen Bennett, Olivia Bennett, Hailey White, Blake Byrne, and Alyssa Vincent. Submitted photo

Bay Bulls says ‘No’ to residents’ privacy fence

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has voted against a proposal to build a privacy fence for a resident along the Long Pond walking trail.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien, during last week’s meeting, moved that the Town refuse the change order, which would see a privacy fence constructed on a residential property as part of the upgrades to the Long Pond walking trail at a cost of $21,500 plus HST, and likened the approval of the motion to using Town funds to benefit a single resident.

Councillor Ethan Williams, disagreed.

“I understand the concerns that have been brought forward by my colleagues, but I do feel that it is in the best interest of the Town and the stakeholders to approve the change order,” argued Williams.

Williams proved to be the lone supporter for the proposal as council ultimately rejected the change order.

The current work on the trail is part of phase 2 of the project

Phase 1 of the project, valued at $475,444 (less HST), was cost shared by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments under a Municipal Capital Works program, with each level of government paying a third of the cost. Phase 2 is valued at $144,229, and of that cost, the Town is only on the hook for 10 per cent — $14,422. The rest of the cost, minus costs above those previously approved, are covered by provincial COVID stimulus funding.

Bay Bulls council denies request for civic number compensation

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has denied a resident’s request for compensation following a change in a home’s civic numbering.

Town Manager Ashley Wakeham explained there had been inconsistent civic numbering in the Long Pond Path area.

“The Town requested the Municipal Assessment Agency, which is responsible for civic numbering in town, to complete a review of the area, which was completed in 2020, and renumbering was done at that time,” said Wakeham “The Town recently received a request for compensation to change the numbers on one particular house on that road.”

Mayor Keith O’Driscoll said the Municipal Assessment Agency is responsible for assigning civic numbers.

“I feel that this is their issue,” said O’Driscoll. “If they issued a numbering for an address and then further down the road change it, that’s on them to compensate the resident for the error.”

Councillor Ethan Williams pointed out the Town does in fact provide numbers free of charge at the Town Hall.

Council also denied a resident’s request for a speed bump on Cemetery Lane West.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien said the Town cannot control the speeds at which folks drive, nor the vehicles they drive, and that speed bumps don’t seem to be curbing speeding.

“It’s all about the person driving, not so much the road,” he concluded.

The motion to refuse the speedbump request passed unanimously.

Witless Bay council to establish youth committee

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council is hoping the establishment of a youth committee will get young people more involved with the goings on of the town.

Councillor Ralph Carey moved during the June public meeting that council establish a youth committee to give youth the opportunity to provide input to council and help with planning and organizing events.

“What we’re trying to do is engage the young people in the town to become part of what we can,” said Carey, who added that working with youth would make Witless Bay better for everybody.

Appropriately enough, besides being Pride Month, June is also Recreation Month. Council acknowledged both at the start of the meeting.

In other recreation news, the Town recently hosted an online recreation survey which netted about 40 responses. The Town also coordinated with the Kin Club to host a community cleanup, and recreation committee chairman Jacob Hayden said while the cleanup was not well-attended, a great deal of garbage was collected, nonetheless. The Town has also recently hosted an introduction to boccia event and a painting night.

Hayden also noted Town staff have received naloxone training, and that the Town Hall is registered as an official naloxone distribution site. Naloxone is medicine used to fight opioid overdoses by reversing and blocking the effects of opioids.

Town staff are currently working with community groups to prepare for the upcoming Canada Day festivities, and council voted to purchase $500 worth of fireworks, plus HST.

Witless Bay to tackle flooding at recreation grounds

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council last week accepted over a million dollars in multi-year capital works funding to help mitigate flooding at the recreation grounds.

The project has been valued at $1,174,847, the lion’s share of which will be paid by the provincial government. The Town of Witless Bay will be on the hook for $106,539.

“We’re delighted to be able to share that we’ve accepted this project on a 90/10 split,” said councillor Jacob Hayden. “As most residents know, that area has become a bit of a flooding issue, and we’re hoping that with this funding and with this project we’ll be able to mitigate some of that flooding and help stop damage to town infrastructure in that area.”

Hayden extended his thanks to Town staff for their work in securing the funding.

Mayor Trevor Croft noted further that in her 11 months on the job, Town CAO Jennifer Aspell has secured $1.7 million in gas tax funding for the town.

The motion passed unanimously.

Council also awarded a contract for upgrades to Harbour Road to Dexter Construction Ltd., in the amount of $226,274, HST included.

Meridian Engineering was appointed prime consultant on the project.

Bay Bulls supports feasibility study for new fire hall

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has agreed to write a letter of support to the provincial government on behalf of the Town of Witless Bay requesting funding for a new fire hall, but the town, as of now, won’t be helping finance the project should it come to fruition.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien moved that council write a letter supporting the call for a feasibility study to better secure possible funding for a new fire hall.

Councillor Corey Ronayne said the request was essentially for an updated feasibility study.

“We’re not saying that we’re in support of a new fire hall or not,” said Ronayne. “But they want to do a new feasibility study, and that’s the basis for this.”

Deputy Mayor O’Brien added the fire hall is owned and operated by the Town of Witless Bay.

“We have no financial control over how they spend their funds,” said O’Brien. “We pay a fee for a service, that’s all.”

The motion carried unanimously.

Beginning in 2021, when Witless Bay first budgeted for construction of a new fire hall, the Town placed great emphasis on bolstering its fire protection services, including the hiring of a full time chief and the purchase of new equipment.

In 2022, Witless Bay council accepted $2 million in cost-shared funding from the provincial government for the construction of a new fire hall and agreed to pay its share of the project, which at that time was $815,640. However, work has not proceeded on the project to date.

Bay Bulls and Witless Bay councils waive fees for young entrepreneurs

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls and Witless Bay councils have both voted to waive permit fees for Youth Ventures participants for the remainder of 2024 in a bid to entice young people to submit business applications.

Youth Ventures is a program run by the Celtic Community Business Development Corporation that provides financial help and advice for young people interested in starting their own businesses, even just for the summer.

Witless Bay council voted unanimously last week to waive all fees for the program’s participants. Bay Bulls council did the same this week.

“The Youth Ventures Program is a great program offered by the CBDC throughout the province, that many young people avail of,” said Bay Bulls councillor Ethan Williams. “It’s a great opportunity for them to be introduced to the world of business and it provides them with lots of wonderful, real world, practical experience.”

According to its own numbers, Youth Ventures has helped nearly 8,000 young people across the province since its foundation in 1992.