Bay Bulls Town Hall to undergo repairs

By Mark Squibb/May 5, 2022

The Town of Bay Bulls in the April meeting approved some repairs for the town hall that members of council say need to be seen to sooner rather than later.

“There have been a series of items around the building that have been identified that need to be addressed,” explained Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien.

Council unanimously approved $19,000 plus HST, worth of repairs.

“It’s work that has got to be done,” said councillor Keith O’Driscoll. “If anyone’s been down to the council building lately, they would notice some rot around the windows and around the doors. Unfortunately, the building is getting to the age where we’re going to have to start spending money on it.”

Councillor Jason Sullivan agreed with the assessment, saying that if council waited any longer the situation would likely only get worse.

The Town also awarded English’s Paving a contract worth $23,925 plus HST, to patch paving at  six areas throughout town.

Sections of Sheldon Drive, Southside Road, Quay’s Road, Jane Walsh’s Lane, Bill Joy’s Lane and Marsh Road will receive patching.

Troake at odds with colleagues on hiring of Town Clerk

By Mark Squibb/May 5, 2022

There were only a handful of items on the agenda last week, but Witless Bay councillor Alex Troake voted against two of them.

The Town of Witless Bay council held a special meeting last week to approve an emergency work tender.

Also on the agenda were motions to hire a new town clerk and award a tender for janitorial services.

Troake voted ‘nay’ on both, with another councillor adding his ‘nay’ as well, which, because of limited numbers of councillors available to vote, was enough to scuttle the awarding of the janitorial contract.

Troake first voted against a motion, moved by councillor Ralph Carey and seconded by councillor Jacob Hayden to appoint Katherine Doyle as a temporary town clerk, as town clerk Geraldine Caul is on leave.

“I was just going to ask, for the benefit of everybody listening, a recap of the recruitment process overall,” asked Troake.

Carey said that he himself wasn’t involved in the recruitment process, but as far as he knew, the Town had narrowed the choice down to “three worthy individuals,” and that Mayor Trevor Croft and Town Manager Shawn Kavanagh, “came up our new town clerk, Kathrine Doyle.”

Carey described Doyle as a native of British Columbia, a real estate agent by trade who’s also worked for the CRA and Canada Post and has experience in bookkeeping, customer service and in the travel industry.

While Carey, Hayden, Gerard Dunn, and Croft voted in favour of the hiring, Troake voted against the motion.

Next, Dunn made a motion that the Town hire Trillium Services for janitorial work. Carey seconded that motion.

“If I’m not mistaken there were only two applicants, weren’t there?” asked Troake.

Carey confirmed there were only two bidders, but added there is no guarantee that if the Town put the tender out a second time it will receive any more bids. Later in the meeting Carey noted that one of the bidders back out, leaving only one true applicant.

In a follow up e-mail, Kavanagh clarified that in March the tender was awarded to the lowest bidder, but that that company had since backed out. As far as he knew, the Town has never had a contract with the runner up.

“The previous years that we’ve had our cleaning services out to tender, we’ve only had one applicant, and it was that same service that we are probably going to go with,” said Carey.

“I don’t know if I’m comfortable if we’ve only got one option,” said Troake. “It’s ‘take it or leave it.’ And in that case, I would prefer we put it back to tender and actively recruit because I’m sure there’s others in the area that would apply if they had seen the original job ad.”

The ad was not advertised in the local newspaper.

Carey argued that the Town had put the service to tender, and received only two applicants.

“I’m just saying, that sometimes you might have to recruit, or call people, and get them to participate in the tender,” said Troake.

Council discussed the matter for a few more moments, with councillor Jacob Hayden adding that he agreed with Troake that more choices would be nice.

The motion was put to a vote, and councillors Hayden and Troake both voted against the motion.

In favour of hiring the remaining bidder were Dunne, Carey, and Croft. Both Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard and councillor Nancy Burke, who is on leave from council, were absent form the meeting, and thus did not vote.

The motion, having only the support of three members of council, did not pass.

The Southern Shore Breakers are once again Newfoundland’s senior hockey champs, defeating the Clarenville Caribous for the Herder Trophy. The members of the Breakers include, starting in the back row, from left: Mick Cutler (Trainer), Gerry Dalton (Assistant Coach), Darryl Costello (Assistant Coach), Josh Lunden (Head Coach), Blake Dalton, Connor McCarthy, Daniel Dalton, Steven Fowler, Brandon Baird, AJ Doyle, Brendan Houlihan, Dan Cadigan (A), Edward Farrell; and in the middle row:  Kieran O’Driscoll, Ian Sullivan (General Manager), Riley Spurrell, Michael Chafe (A), Bobby Upshall, Peter Kavanagh; and in the front, from left: Andrew Gale, Shayne Kavanagh, Mark Power, Keenan Kennedy, Jeremy Nicholas (C), Mark Yetman (Goaltender), Stephen Oates (A), Matthew Oates, and Andrew Brennan. Missing from the photo are Brandon Pye and Bradyn Brown.

Council approves contract to make emergency repairs at pool, North Side Track

By Mark Squibb/May 5, 2022

The Town of Witless Bay, in a special meeting of council last week, approved over $10,000 worth of work to help repair recent flood damage.

Councillor Ralph Carey made the motion that council approve the work, valued at about $10,290. Councillor Jacob Hayden, seconded it.

Councillor Gerard Dunne declared a conflict of interest as he works for Harbourside Engineering, the company contracted to do the work.

Carey said there was an urgency to get the work done as soon as possible, and that it would be completed within 14 days of awarding the contract.

The work will focus on two locations: the swimming pool/playground area and a section of North Side Track Road.

Councillor Alex Troake asked if the work was government funded or out of the town’s pocket.

Hayden said the town has submitted an application for emergency funding to help repair the flood damage from two previous storms.

“We’re going to apply for the funding but whether we’re successful or not, this work has to be completed, as it’s a safety hazard to anyone in the area,” said Hayden.

Troake asked what the safety issue was, and Hayden explained there was debris in the pool area, that fencing had been knocked down, and that culverts along North Side Track had been washed out, amongst other safety concerns.

Carey noted that as the weather warms up, more families are likely to visit the area, which makes the work even more urgent.

McDonald delivers ACOA cash to firms in Cape Broyle, CBS and Harbour Grace

Avalon MP Ken McDonald was in Cape Broyle Tuesday to splash around some ACOA money for a company there as well as businesses in Harbour Grace and Conception Bay South.

The Liberal MP announced that PD Industries Limited, headed by president Paul Dalton, is getting $600,000 to buy a “fuel-efficient” tugboat to provide services at St. John’s harbour and other harbours on the Avalon peninsula.

Harbour Grace Ocean Industries Limited is getting $473,500 to upgrade its equipment in order to improve its productivity and serve customers in the aquaculture industry.

And Bursey Manufacturing of CBS is getting $140,000 to buy digital technology, including a computer-controlled press brake, to be used in the manufacturing of steel tanks.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is designating all three contributions as “repayable,” which essentially means they are loans.

McDonald said the three infusions of money, for a total of more than $1.2 million, will create 13 jobs.

“Over the past two years, our local businesses have had to adjust how they operate to respond

to the challenges created by the pandemic,” said McDonald. “Supporting resourceful companies like PD Industries, Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises and Bursey Manufacturing will help them pursue new

opportunities, increase productivity and create jobs here in this region.”

PD Industries Limited, located in Cape Broyle, is a family-owned marine service business that

provides rescue towing, anchor handling, barge towing, vessel towing, and other services.

Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises Limited repairs and refits vessels, and also provides construction services for the fishing industry, tug and barge companies and the offshore oil sector.

Bursey Manufacturing Inc., of Long Pond, makes residential and industrial septic and oil tanks, as well as environmental double wall and waste oil tanks. The company also provides welding, sandblasting, industrial painting and plasma table cutting services to the oil industry, plumbing and heating retailers,

and industrial businesses.

Councillors denied access to plow monitors

By Mark Squibb/April 28, 2022

Councillors in Bay Bulls will no longer have access to a snow equipment monitoring system following an investigation from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

At their April 13 public meeting, councillors acknowledged the results of the investigation and rescinded a February motion in which they had granted themselves access to the AVL (auto vehicle locator) login system. The system tracks snow clearing equipment.

Back in February, the decision to access the AVL system caused a fair amount of debate.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien moved the motion to give councillors access to the system, while councillor Keith O’ Driscoll, opposed the idea, but seconded O’Brien’s motion so that council could discuss it.

“For myself, I don’t know if we actually really need to have a log in,” O’ Driscoll argued at the time. “At our last meeting that we held, we requested to see if the software could provide us an email or text message. If that’s something that the software is unable to do, maybe we can be given the ability to contact the contractor if we were to have a request from any of our residents.”

O’Driscoll suggested that if the AVL system is unable to e-mail or text councillors as to the whereabouts of snowclearing equipment, perhaps they could contact the snowclearing contractor directly to pass on requests from residents.

Mayor Neil O’Brien, however, countered that AVL is a common tracking system, and that if councillors had access to it, they could use it to keep residents updated on snow clearing, or answer specific snow clearing questions.

“With a log in you could do on your phone, you could answer some questions, like if someone had a question on if equipment is working or not, it would be easy to address,” said the mayor. “We have the tools and we’re paying for the service.”

Councillor Jason Sullivan said that as the motion involved access to a private contractor’s equipment information, the Town should check with the Privacy Office before proceeding. He also suggested that maybe just the chairperson of the Public Works committee have access to the log in code.

“Again, he’s a private contractor, yes, but he’s doing a public service,” said Mayor O’Brien. “He’s providing a duty to the residents of the town.”

Sullivan said he was just suggesting council tick all its boxes before moving ahead with the action. Councillor Keith O’ Driscoll voiced his agreement with Sullivan’s idea.

“I don’t see why elected town officials can’t have that same access,” said O’Brien. “I just don’t see why this is such a roadblock. I don’t see it.”

O’Driscoll made a motion that the Town make any inquiry to the privacy commissioner before voting on the matter.

Aspell then said that as a motion had already been made to grant access to the AVL log-in, council could either amend the first motion, or let it go to a vote, and, should that motion fail, make a second motion to check with the privacy question.

“Let’s go ahead for a vote,” said the mayor. “All in favour?”

Mayor O’Brien, Deputy Mayor O’Brien, and Jason Sullivan voted in favour of the motion to grant councillors access to the system. Councillors Keith and Shannon O’ Driscoll voted against it.

That vote set up the debate and vote for the April meeting.

Councillor Keith O’Driscoll noted the Privacy Commissioner’s ruling that councillors’ access to the AVL system was prohibited and that the Town should limit the number of staff who have access to it.

He then moved to rescind the February motion, which was seconded by councillor Shannon O’ Driscoll. Council then voted unanimously to rescind it.

Dunn may have picked wrong meeting: Commissioner

By Mark Squibb/April 28, 2022

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has found no evidence that the Town of Witless Bay withheld documents related to a recent Access to Information request.

Resident Anita Dunn requested the town to provide “all emails, phone records, texts, and any forms of communications, both on private forms of communication that were used for official town business and official forms of communication, prior to and after the swearing in of officials, between all members of the Witless Bay town council, including the mayor and deputy mayor, and between all members of the Witless Bay council and any employee or former employee, and between the Witless Bay town council and any private citizen, regarding the motions that were rescinded in the first and second town meetings by the new council.”

In the early months following the September election, the new council rescinded half a dozen motions that had been passed by the former council, some at the behest of an unidentified resident. By rescinding two of those motions, the new council effectually reinstated a 99-hectare Crown Land Reserve in the Mullowney’s Lane area that essentially halts any potential development in the area. It was information relating to those motions that Dunn was in search of.

That search turned up dry, though the town provided Dunn with statements from councillors saying they did not have any records related to her access request.

The response did not sit well with Dunn, who then requested a formal investigation.

“With all due respect, it is unreasonable to assert that not one phone call took place, no texts or emails, no social media messages happened in the wake of such a flurry happening over 3 days, especially during a pandemic,” Dunn was quoted in the Privacy report. “I fear that information I requested is being deliberately withheld.”

The formal investigation dug a little deeper and shone a light at how the town operated (or didn’t operate) in mid-to-late 2021, a time marked not only by the transition of a new council in the fall, but by the resignation of almost the entire town staff.

The Town acknowledged that there was a brief period in early October when newly-elected councillors did use their personal email accounts to coordinate their first meeting, as they had not yet been issued Town emails. The coordinator requested those emails, and found no reason to believe that councillors withheld records.

The Town also claimed that the Town Office was closed for four months in 2021.

“The Town Office was closed from June 11, 2021 to October 11, 2021 and the Town explained that, during this time, the Office was not staffed, and that councilors were not sending correspondence to, or receiving correspondence from the Town,” reads the report.

The new councillors also advised the Acting ATIPP Coordinator that they had discussed rescinding motions when they gathered prior to their first formal meeting.

In the end, the Office belived the Town “demonstrated reasoned efforts to assist the Complainant.”

“There has been no evidence to support the Complainant’s claim that responsive records were ‘being deliberately withheld,’” reads the report.

However, the report did note that the two October council meetings, the ‘first and second meetings’ referenced in the initial request, did not focus on rescinding motions.

“It is possible that the Complainant mistakenly thought that the November 9, 2021 meeting would fall within the parameters of the access request,” reads the report. “If the Complainant would like access to records relating to this, or any earlier or later meetings of the new Town Council, she must file a new access request with the Town.”

During that November 9 meeting, council voted to rescind four previous motions of council, and delayed rescinding of two (which were rescinded at a later meeting)

Council rescinded a 2018 decision of council which stated that road standards within the town of Witless Bay, including all public rights-of-ways, shall be at the discretion of council.

Council also rescinded a 2021 motion (which was made to rescind an even earlier motion) to provide conditional approval for a single family dwelling at 215-217 Gallows Cove Road.

Council then made a new motion to approve the home.

Council also rescinded a 2020 motion of council to demolish a barn on 41 Dunn’s Lane. Councillor Gerard Dunn declared a conflict of interest and did not vote on that motion as his son owns the property.

Two further motions of the former council were rescinded during the December 14 meeting. Those moves effectively reinstated a 99-hectare Crown Land Reserve near Mullowney’s Lane. One of the decisions rescinded was a 2020 decision to rescind a former motion, made in 2014, that established the Land Reserve in the first place. The second motion rescinded was a 2020 motion to send a letter to the Department of Municipal Affairs asking to remove the Land Reserve from the regional plan.

With that last motion rescinded, councillor Ralph Carey, who was also part of the council two terms back that created the Land Reserve, requested that a letter be sent to the Department of Municipal Affairs to inform it of the move and to request a meeting with officials.

That motion was passed unanimously.

Since April 15th, Portugal Cove South has been hosting some avian celebrities from the East, namely four Barnacle Geese (above) and six European Golden-Plovers. “The Geese were probably enroute from their wintering grounds in western Ireland to their breeding area in eastern Greenland when they got blown off course,” said Richard Thomas, who took this photo. “Together with other Barnacle Geese and Black-tailed Godwits on the Bonavista Peninsula and several other species, they are part of a significant incursion of European vagrants that has got the Province's birders and bird photographers very excited. As I write, the four Geese in PCS are still around. Hopefully they'll find their way back to where they should be at this time of year. Photo courtesy of Richard Thomas

Woman praises Witless Bay firefighters after Good Friday incident

By Mark Squibb/April 28, 2022

Rosemary Ivany is singing the praises of the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department and other emergency personnel after they helped her and two others at the scene of a rollover accident on Good Friday.

“They give freely of their time, and they’re there when you need them,” said Ivany. “They give up doing things in their own personal lives to help others. They were remarkable.”

The Bay Bulls woman and her two passengers were heading to a hockey game in Mobile when a burst of blinding sunlight caused Ivany to go off the road in Witless Bay.

“It was no time and the volunteer fire department was there,” said Ivany. “They had to cut the windshield out, and then cut the roof back to get everybody out… One of the firefighters, and I’m not trying to single someone out, but he stayed with me and held my hand the whole time while another was still tending to my passenger in the back, and making sure he didn’t move too much because he clearly had injuries that were visible.”

Ivany and another passenger were trapped in the vehicle for maybe 40 minutes before they could be safely removed.

“They performed their duties so professionally and without hesitation,” said Ivany. “They knew exactly what to do and they took complete control… they’re wonderful, just wonderful people,”

She said that most everyone knows in the back of their minds that emergency personnel, many of whom are volunteers, will help them in their time of need, but that your appreciation for such people becomes much more real once you’ve lived through such an experience.

“We are very blessed to have such wonderful volunteers,” said Ivany. “They were just awesome.”

The office is closed, but the doctor is in

By Mark Squibb/April 21, 2022

Anybody listening to last week’s Bay Bulls public council meeting might have gotten a fright when they heard that council was in receipt of notification of the business closure of Morry’s Walk in Clinic along the main road.

In a province where ‘doctor shortage’ seems to be a commonly accepted fact by everyone but the politicians, news of a clinic closure on the Southern Shore would doubtless raise concerns.

The clinic, which opened in 2015, is indeed closed — and as of last week has been removed from the town’s tax roll — but Dr. Peter Morry is still practising.

The Irish Loop Post spoke to a staff person at the clinic, who confirmed that though the clinic building is closed, Morry is still seeing patients by virtual appointments.

Like many doctors, Morry, originally of Ferryland where he now resides with wife Jo, has been seeing patients largely through virtual appointments through the pandemic.

The Irish Loop Post did not hear back from Morry himself by publication deadline.