By Mark Squibb/September 2, 2022
The Town of Bay Bulls has accepted $50,000 in funding that the previous council had applied for — although the vote to accept the money was not unanimous.
Town CAO Jennifer Aspell, during the August public meeting, explained where the funding was coming from and how it would be used.
She noted the Town had completed an asset management program back in 2020.
“Basically, that’s an inventory of all of our infrastructure, buildings, or assets of any kind,” explained Aspell. “And the purpose of the asset management program is to allow for budgeting, planning, anticipating issues that might come up, say a failure in a road network or something as simple as when a culvert has reached its maximum life. We’re also having some issues with climate change and coastal erosion and storm water management issues.”
Back in the spring of 2021, said Aspell, the Town applied for funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to develop an eco asset management program, which would be tied closely to the town’s asset management but focus specifically on environmental concerns.
Now, the feds are willing to offer a $50,000 grant towards the development of the $65,000 plan, leaving the town on the hook for $15,000.
Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien allowed the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Councillor Jason Sullivan, however, reminded council that future funding may depend on having some sort of environmental asset management plan in place.
Aspell agreed.
“Projects that fall under the Green Infrastructure program, which receive the highest allocation of funding, 90/10, do require a climate change lens evaluation,” said Aspell. “It’s costing the town $15,000, because it’s an 80/20 split, but this data will be valuable for the next number of years.”
Mayor Keith O’Driscoll asked whether the $15,000 had been budgeted in the annual budget, and Aspell confirmed that it had indeed carried over from the 2021 budget. O’Driscoll said that in his opinion, the money would be worth it.
Deputy Mayor O’Brien then argued that costal erosion has been around since the ice age, and that the Town has had no trouble getting funding for infrastructure projects in the past. O’Brien stuck to his guns, voting against the motion to accept the funding. The other three members of council voted in favour of the motion.
