Councillors curious whether other towns are contributing
By Mark Squibb / June 16, 2023
The Town of Bay Bulls will be supporting the Bay Bulls Bauline Athletic Association (BBBAA) to the tune of $1,400 to help cover the costs of the group’s annual Canada Day celebrations.
The matter was up for discussion at this week’s public meeting.
Councilor Corey Ronayne asked how much council typically donates. CAO Jennifer Aspell said the Town typically earmarks $1,000 for the event, and that last year the BBBAA had requested $800.
Councillor Shannon O’Driscoll asked if anyone knew whether the BBBAA has requested funds from any neighbouring communities.
“We don’t know,” said Aspell. “But the letter indicates that the cost share will be between the Town of Bay Bulls, the BBBAA, and the grant money that they’ve received. So, there’s no indication that the Town of Witless Bay is contributing. I can’t confirm whether they were asked.”
Ronayne asked where the event was being held, and Aspell said it will be held in Bay Bulls, although the letter didn’t indicate exactly where.
The motion passed unanimously, excepting Mayor Keith O’Driscoll and councillor Jason Sullivan, who were both absent from the meeting and thus did not vote.
“I think that this is a good event for families, I’m just hoping that our neighbouring towns contribute as well,” said O’Driscoll.
Ronayne suggested that council write the BBBAA and ask whether other communities were asked to contribute.
An initial motion to contribute $2,686, which opened the floor for discussion, was rejected unanimously.
Last year, Witless Bay council chose to deny the BBBAA Canada Day funding request, though it was a narrow vote. Alex Troake, who has since resigned from council, put forward the motion to deny the funding request back in 2022. Councillors Jacob Hayden, Ralph Carey, and Mayor Trevor Croft voted against the motion, while Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard, and councillors Alex Troake and Gerard Dunne voted in favour of the motion to deny the funding. Councillor Nancy Burke was not present for the vote, and thus the vote remained 3-3, and the motion was defeated.
A new motion to financially support the event was never made.
Witless Bay council has also yet to decide whether they will continue to support the organization financially this year through a signed MOU.
A previous MOU, which saw council contribute $37,000 annually to the organization, expired at the close of 2022, and though the item has appeared on the agenda a number of times, a vote on it has been delayed each time.
The Town of Bay Bulls meanwhile has continued to support the organization financially through an MOU as per usual.
When asked, Witless Bay Mayor Trevor Croft said he was not sure if his Town had received a request from the BBBAA for Canada Day support.
The Irish Loop Post could not confirm with the BBBAA whether it had requested funds from Witless Bay for the event.
