Councils worried about trash talk at waste facility

Members of the town councils in both Renews-Cappahayden and Bay Bulls are sounding the alarm over allegations of harassment at the Renews-Cappahayden Eastern Regional Service Board (ERSB) waste facility.

“It’s concerning to all the residents of the region,” said Renews-Cappahayden Mayor Jack Lawlor. “Certain people are going to the facility and bringing items that they want to dispose of that are items that are not on the list of approved items. The Eastern Regional Service Board has published a pretty detailed list of what you’re allowed and not allowed to bring to the facility and when they have been told those items are not acceptable, then their attitudes become a bit belittling.”

RCMP confirmed there was a report of a threatening message made, but no charges were warranted.

Bay Bulls Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien shared a similar sentiment as that of Lawlor.

“We’ve been having issues with the public coming in and basically threatening and giving the attendant a hard time,” said O’Brien. “Some people don’t want to follow the rules, and some people think they can drop off whatever they feel like, and when the attendant says, ‘No, we can’t take this’ or ‘You can’t drop that off,’ people start getting disrespectful.”

The facility is typically manned by one attendant, and O’Brien said the service board has cycled in employees from other facilities who have been met with similar disrespect.

“It’s getting to the point that workers don’t want to go there,” said O’Brien. “And in this day and age that doesn’t fly anymore.”

He said there haven’t been any such issues at the Bay Bulls facility, and that if the abusive behaviour continues, the ERSB may be forced to close the Renews site entirely.

Both men say the behaviour has to stop.

“We have these waste recovery facilities in place, they’re in place for a reason, they’re a valuable resource to residents and allow residents to drop off bulk waste and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way, and we need to keep these facilities open and functioning on a regular basis,” said Lawlor. “But it’s no different than any other workplace. You can’t have people come in and bully you and disrespect you in your workplace, and we can’t have this happening at the waste recovery facility.”

The facility was closed during much of August due to the issues.

The service board was unable to comment on the matter due to the RCMP investigation.

Both councillors, meanwhile, say the majority of users are respectful of both the rules and the facility’s workers.

Bay Bulls tenders snow clearing contract

By Mark Squibb

The dog days of summer are only just winding down, but the Town of Bay Bulls is already looking ahead to winter.

Council earlier this month approved the release of the tender documents for the 2024-2025 snow clearing contract.

Council typically pays for snow clearing on an as-needed basis, but last year, it awarded the snow clearing contract to Southeast Construction at a bid price of $329,900 plus HST. Council paid an additional $5,000, plus HST, for snow clearing in February and again in March.

Earlier this summer, council decided not to renew the contract and instead moved to tender a new snow clearing contract and go back to an hourly rate rather than a fixed contract.

The release date for the contract was September 3.

Shore’s youngest politicians say there’s plenty room at the table

Bay Bulls councillor Ethan Williams sitting in the Speaker’s chair in the old House of Assembly chamber during the 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament session

Witless Bay Justina Nawaz, centre, being sworn in earlier this year. Left is grandmother Jessie Burke and right is her mother Michelle Nawaz.

Ferryland councillor Nathan Ryan followed in the footsteps of his parents Wayne and Vivian Ryan, both of whom served on council, when he out his name forward for nomination in 2021.

By Mark Squibb

Three young people along the Southern Shore are challenging the notion that seats at the council table ought to be reserved for retirees and the middle-aged.

Ethan Williams was 19 when he was acclaimed to Bay Bulls council in October of 2023.

“Finding ways to better the community that I grew up in and that supported me was one of the big reasons I decided to run for council,” said Williams. “Even if we can’t do everything, it’s good to know that we can do something to better the community.”

Williams said he was overwhelmed with the support he received both from within the Town Hall and from the community at large.

“It’s been incredible, and that’s no word of a lie,” said Williams. “When I put my name forward there was definitely a little bit of worry… but it’s been nearly a year and it’s been absolutely incredible. My colleagues at the Town Hall have been extremely supportive of me and of making sure I got on the path, that I was understanding everything, that I was picking everything up, that I wasn’t being left behind at the discussion table, which was of course greatly appreciated. But the coolest thing for me to see is how supportive my community has been.”

Williams recalls that the 2015 provincial and federal elections were the first political events of any kind that he paid close attention to.

The federal election in particular, and the possibility of long running Prime Minister Stephen Harper losing his seat to Liberal Justin Trudeau, sparked political discussion amongst Williams and his elementary school classmates.

“There were discussions among me and some of my friends, even in sixth grade, about what was going on,” said Williams. “There was a lot of talk about the possibility of Stephen Harper being ousted. Keep in mind, we were born in 2004, so at that point a Stephen Harper led country was all we had known, and so that actually sparked a lot of conversation among me and my friends, even though we were only 11 or 12 years at the time. ‘Oh my goodness, Stephen Harper could be gone!’— and for us, that was a big deal. We didn’t know a lot about politics, but we knew that he was the leader of our country.”

As Williams matured, so did his interest in all thing’s politics — outside of Bay Bulls council, he serves as a board member and vice-president of internal affairs for the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament and as a member of the Young Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador.

He said youths often offer a different perspective from other community leaders.

“You still don’t see a whole lot of youth representation at the decision-making table, and when you really think about governance as a whole, the best way for us to have a strong government is to ensure that all the different voices from our communities, from different age ranges and backgrounds, are represented,” said Williams. “You can learn so much from a different perspective, from a different opinion, or when something new is brought forward.”

He encouraged other youths to also put their names forward for council should they feel compelled to do so.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, and I really do stand by that one because I think we have a really big misconception when it comes to elected office and leadership positions as a whole,” said Williams. “A lot of times young people feel like they really don’t belong in those positions, and I think the best thing myself and other people who are in these positions can do is to say that they absolutely do belong at those decision-making tables.”

Besides serving as a member of council, Williams is working towards both a political science degree and a business degree at MUN.

Justina Nawaz, 19, was acclaimed to Witless Bay council this past May. Nawaz said her grandmother Jessie Burke encouraged her to put her name forward for council.

“She knew that I was pursuing an education in political science and suggested I consider running for Witless Bay council,” said Nawaz. “I initially dismissed the idea as I believed I lacked any necessary experience to take on such a position. During our conversation, I told her I felt I had no place acting in a role that granted me voting power on issues that I knew others could be much more knowledgeable in. She was quick to remind me that no singular community member is more important than the other, and any person willing to step up and put themselves forward for the town was one deserving of the position.”

Nawaz, who is majoring in Law and Public Policy at MUN, said she’s been interested in politics from a young age.

“I remember listening in on political conversations as a kid, whether they were on the news or in my living room and was drawn to the enthusiasm it brought out in others,” said Nawaz. “I started taking political science courses my first semester of university and I’ve been consistently taking them since.”

Like Williams, Nawaz said that it’s important to have young voices at the council table.

“Including youth in political spaces such as the council table results in a council that properly reflects the community they represent. I think encouraging young people to get involved in municipal politics provides a great learning opportunity for those like me who have interests in both the field and in their community,” she said. “Recognizing the value of our voices ensures that our opinions and perspectives are considered at the same level as everyone else’s. Council members bear a responsibility to consider all of those they represent. By creating space for youth in their political spaces, the council table becomes less intimidating and more accommodating.”

Nathan Ryan was 20 when he was elected to Ferryland council during the 2021 general election.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics and in being involved in the community,” said Ryan. “From a very young age you would see me volunteering, whether that was with school sports or with different community functions. I was always very interested in giving back, and once I got into my high school years, I started to look at politics and tried to see where my values best aligned, and of course then I got involved with the Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that’s been a great experience for me, and I’ve made lots of allies and friends in that world. And so, I said to myself, I love being involved in politics, and so what’s the best way I can be involved in politics but also give back to my community? And the logical step was council.”

Ryan said at the time, there were no young people at the council table.

“Some of my buddies said to me, ‘Maybe you should run! You’re involved in politics, you’re involved in the community, why don’t you give it a shot? We’ve never voted in municipal elections before, but we would for you,’” said Ryan. “And so that was a bit of motivation, and so I said. ‘Okay, I’ll put my name in.’”

Ryan is following in the footsteps of his parents Wayne and Vivian Ryan, both of whom served on council, and said the support of his parents was a big factor in his decision.

Ryan said he is proud of the work council has put into establishing a local wharf, which was at the top of his mind when he put his name forward in 2021, and the launch of the Ferryland Fall Fair and Ferryland Days festival in recent years, amongst other council projects.

“It’s not always rosy, but the benefits in the end pay off because you see your community thrive, you get to give back to a community that you love so dearly, but also you get to expand your network along the Southern Shore,” said Ryan. “We’ve got a great town, with great people in it, and having the opportunity to work with the people in your community is fantastic. Our town is small, but we’re mighty when it comes to effort. Our council works hard, and in terms of council, everyone has their strengths, and everyone pulls those strengths together for the betterment of the community. Members of council don’t always get along, but, in the end, they come together with the common goal of making their community better. Everyone has different viewpoints, everyone has different ways of making a decision, but in the end, we come together for a general consensus and for the betterment of the community.”

Ryan said he’s glad to see other young people, like Nawaz and Williams, step up in neighbouring communities, and hopes he can encourage others to run for municipal office. He said people in Ferryland were excited to see a young person run for council, and he reckons the rest of the Shore would be the same.

“We need more young people involved in these communities, because we’re the future of these communities,” said Ryan. “Twenty, 30, 40 years down the road, we’re going to be the people trying to keep these communities alive. Starting out young in council isn’t a bad thing because you learn, and you learn early, and you make mistakes, but then you learn from those mistakes.”

Outside of council, Ryan is a member, and former chair, of the Southern Shore Joint Council, and an active member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He’s also heavily involved in a number of other groups, including the Southern Shore Breakers.

He encouraged anyone considering politics to shoot for the stars.

“That’s something I’ve always believed in,” said Ryan. “There’s nothing in this life that you can’t do. Hard work always pays off. Never say never until you try. I think there are people out there who are passionate, but who are nervous to step up because they may perceive councils as an old guy’s club, but really, it’s not. When you have a supportive community, those bridges are there to be built.”

Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts from MUN and a degree in Public Relations from the University of Regina and hopes to continue his schooling in the near future.

Bay Bulls council seeking money for trail upgrades

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has applied for funding to upgrade a trail connecting Lower Path to Winnonish Road.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien last week moved that the Town submit a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) to the Gas Tax Secretariat for $5,775, exclusive of HST, to finance the work.

Mayor Keith O’Driscoll said the trail would feed into the Long Pond Trail, and would provide users with access to the trail without having to park on the Long Pond parking lot.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said the mayor.

The Town had to seek permission from NL Power to conduct the upgrades to the existing transmission line, which is already frequented by ATV users, to bring it up to a walkable standard.

The Town has recently undertaken phase 2 of the Long Pond Walking Trail upgrades, valued at $484,290. Of that, the provincial government pitched in $290,575, representing some 60 percent of total project costs. The Town, meanwhile, was approved for CIP funding to cover its portion of $193,717.

Witless Bay undertakes second fire hall feasibility study

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council last week voted to go ahead with a feasibility study to help determine a more up-to-date price for a new, regional fire hall.

Councillor Jacob Hayden moved that the Town undertake the feasibility study based on a 70/30 cost split with the Province.

The Town’s portion will be $27,666, plus tax.

“We did have a feasibility study done back in 2019, but as everybody knows, 2019 prices do not reflect 2024 prices,” said Hayden.

In 2022, Witless Bay council accepted $2.4 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. That funding was based on the 2019 feasibility study.

Hayden said that conducting a new feasibility study will not negate that funding, but project overruns would fall to the Town, and so it would be best to get an updated idea of just how much the project will cost before moving ahead with construction.

Bay Bulls calls tender on coastal erosion project

By Mark Squibb

Members of Bay Bulls council last week ratified an e-mail vote taken July 26 to approve a public tender call for work on Northside Road.

The so-called ‘Coastal Erosion and Upgrading’ project is valued at $1.8 million.

The cost for the project is being split among all three levels of government, with the federal government pitching in half of the total cost, some $920,437. The remaining cost will be a 40/10 split between the Province and the Town – $736,350 and $184,088 respectively.

The aim of the project is to improve road stability and storm water management in the area.

The contractor, once hired, will replace 300 metres of retaining wall currently in place and install an additional 50 metres of retaining wall in the Bread and Cheese area, as well as replace the existing culvert.

Concern over coastal erosion and its potential impact on both Northside Road and Bread and Cheese Road dates at least as far back as 2020 when council first applied for funding for the project.

The current funding was applied for in 2022 and approved in April of last year.

27th annual Youth Ventures Award Ceremony

The Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) Celtic was well represented at the 27th annual Youth Ventures Award Ceremony held at the St. John’s Farmers Market last week, as two of its members were named award recipients. Pictured is Cameron Whelan of Whelan’s Lawn Care, located in St. Mary’s, who was awarded the Excellence in Customer Service Award. Presenting the award is sponsor Allison Chislett of iDesign Ltd. CBDC Celtic’s Youth Ventures mentor, Katie Barbour of Renews, meanwhile, was named Mentor of the Year. Youth Ventures Newfoundland and Labrador photo

Swain gets her legal fees back

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council has paid out $3,324 for the wrongful dismissal and reinstatement of councillor Margaret Swain.

Swain was kicked off council this past February after an alleged conflict of interest regarding a proposed Ragged Beach Crown Land Reserve. Soon after being acclaimed to council last November, Swain had allegedly remarked, during a private meeting of council, that she would not be voting on the matter because she knew landowners in the area. Shortly after, during her first public meeting of council, Swain proposed council delay voting on the matter so that she could get up to speed on the issue.

During a private meeting held on January 30, councillor Ralph Carey accused her of being in a conflict, and at yet another private meeting in February, Carey, then Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard and her husband and fellow councillor Alan Richards, along with councillor Gerard Dunne voted to fire Swain over the alleged conflict. Mayor Trevor Croft and councillor Jacob Hayden voted against the motion to dismiss Swain.

Yard and Richards have since both quit council.

Following her dismissal, Swain indicated to the Irish Loop Post that she intended to appeal the decision and bring the matter to Supreme Court, paying for her lawyer’s fees out of pocket.

However, in June, before the matter made it into court, council reinstated Swain, and has since agreed to cover her legal costs.

The motion to reimburse Swain the $3,324 worth of legal fees was moved by new councillor Justina Nawaz at a private meeting held on July 29. Both Carey and Swain declared a conflict of interest on the matter and did not vote on the motion to pay the legal bills. The remainder of council voted unanimously to pay the bill.

As the Municipalities Act requires that decisions of council made in private be ratified in public, council did just that during Tuesday’s public meeting

Carey and Swain again both declared conflicts and did not participate in the public vote. The remaining four members of council all approved the motion to ratify the decision.

Prisoners to build benches for Long Pond Walking Trail

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council this week approved a number of upgrades to the ongoing construction of the Long Pond Walking Trail.

Councillor Ethan Williams moved to ratify an earlier e-mail vote of council to approve a change order for the installation for additional culverts and landscaping at a cost of $7,000 plus HST. Williams also moved that council ratify a second e-mail vote of council to install lights along a 1.3 kilometre stretch of trail, at a cost of $41,800, HST included. Bay Bulls is on the hook for $22,642, with the rest cost-shared with the provincial government.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien added the goal is to install lights along the whole length of the trail from start to finish. Mayor Keith O’Driscoll said the lighting will be a great addition to the project.

Later in the meeting, council approved the purchase of $2,373, plus HST, worth of building materials from Hickey’s Timber Mart to build six benches and two garbage boxes to be placed along the trail.

Councillor Williams said he was glad to see council purchase from a local business, while O’Brien noted that all three bids were close.

The materials will be delivered to inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, who will assemble the benches and boxes.

“This gives some incarcerated adults an opportunity to hone their skills while they are completing whatever sentencing they are required to,” said Town Manager Ashley Wakeham. “It’s always nice to see a program like that that helps people better themselves for when they do actually get released back into society.”

Just over a million dollars has been allocated for the project thus far, much of which has come courtesy of the provincial and federal governments.