One busy year leading to another in Witless Bay

By Mark Squibb | Vol. 12 No. 26 (December 18, 2019)

Witless Bay’s new “old” mayor is looking towards a productive year ahead for his town.

Derm Moran was elected to council in a by-election Oct. 9, following the resignations of councillors Chris Brinston and Neil Stratton. Councillor David Ryan was also the same time as Moran.

Following Mayor Rene Estrade’s resignation for health reasons in November, Moran was elected by council to the Mayor’s seat, a position he initially occupied during an earlier term on council some six to 10 years ago.

Since then, another new face has joined the chamber, Dale O’Driscoll, who was acclaimed to the position Nov. 14.

The fall flurry of nomination days and by-election calls has left Witless Bay with a full sleight of councillors in time for the New Year.

“We have a good mixture of people in our council,” said Moran. “It’s an open minded (council). You do have your little conflicts, which is healthy. Because you can’t have everybody ‘yes, yes, yesing’ things. By people having a different point of view, it opens up your eyes and you say, ‘Oh, maybe I wasn’t thinking that out completely.’”

Looking over the past year, especially since his own election, Moran said there has been plenty on the go, including the recent 39th annual Kinsmen Club Santa Clause Parade.

“This year there was an excellent turn out, it was one of the largest crowds we’ve had. It was very encouraging,” said Moran. “The Tree Lighting Ceremony was that same day, Dec. 7, and we had a very nice turnout (as well).” Moran noted it was especially nice seeing so many young people and babies.

The mayor said council completed several projects in 2019, including putting new siding on the municipal building, completing road work on South Side Track, building an extension on the Puffin Centre, creating a turnaround for snow clearing equipment on Mulloway’s Lane, completing brush cutting near Dean’s Road, cleaning up an area near Lower Pond, and installation of poly carp on the baseball field fence.

Another major project completed in 2019 was the installation of a storm break at the end of Gallows Cove Road for people who park their cars while they access the East Coast Trail, or just to look out over the sea. But that work did not happen without some controversy.

The work began earlier this year, but came to a halt in August when it was discovered the Town had not received the proper permit from the provincial government to conduct work within 15 metres of the ocean’s high watermark. The project was also delayed at times by several local protesters who turn out whenever they see activity near the end of Gallows Cove Road fearing it signals development of a subdivision near Ragged Beach.

“The erosion project, as of now, that’s pretty well finished,” said Moran, adding that all that is left to do is maybe tidy up and place safety markers.

The mayor is hoping that a motion passed this fall will finally allay the fears of the few local protestors.

“Down on Ragged Beach area, there will be no subdivision,” Moran said.

“The town council, in 2019, made a motion, that has been ratified now, that there would be no subdivisions near the East Coast Trail, or Ragged Beach. That needs to be emphasized,” Moran said. The motion was put forward by council in November and ratified in December.

Meanwhile, Moran is looking forward to a productive year for Witless Bay. In the works for 2020 are plans for new playground equipment and work on recreational grounds, as well as plenty of excitement about Come Home Year.

“The committee is in place, and they have been quite active,” he said.

Council is looking at having a regional fire station constructed for Witless Bay, having submitted a feasibility study to the provincial government, as well as upgrading the position of volunteer fire chief to a paid position.

Council has applied to the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment for money under its capital works cost sharing program for the proposed new regional fire station. If approved, the province would pick up 90 per cent of the construction cost, leaving 10 per cent for Witless Bay taxpayers.

Currently, the volunteer department, which covers the region from Bay Bulls to Bauline, operates out of the municipal building.

“The population of the region is increasing,” noted Moran, suggesting that means a heavier workload for firefighters.

The 2016 census placed the population of Witless Bay at just over 1,600 people.

Doran said there are now about 770 houses, with an average of maybe three people in a home, so the population has significantly increased since then.

“And we’re still getting requests for houses to be built,” said Moran, who noted council reviews two or three construction requests per meeting.

He said that given its location, moving to Witless Bay makes a lot of sense for many people living on the Southern Shore.

“It’s an area that’s centered. They want to be close to town, and have easy access to St. John’s, plus they’re close to their parents and grandparents,” said Moran. “We seem to be ideally located.”

But Witless Bay is more than just a way station between St. John’s and the rest of the Southern Shore, Moran added. It’s an ideal place to live, he argued, with an active fire department, lots of recreational activities, and, he added jokingly, even a Tim Horton’s.

Moran said he would like to finish the year by thanking the community for its support during the year, and wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Shopping around

By Chris Lewis | Vol. 12 No. 26 (December 18, 2019)

The Town of Bay Bulls is looking to save a little money when it comes to employee health insurance costs.

The topic came up at the December 9 council meeting because the town’s current plan with TRIO Health had the possibility of being extended to councillors. Town Manager Jennifer Aspell explained that if the Town accepted the offer, every councillor would have to be included in the basic life insurance coverage, but could opt out if they have health and dental insurance provided in their own personal coverages.

This caused some councillors to ponder whether they could reduce the Town’s overall costs by exploring other options.

The current plan falls under an agreement offered through Municipalities NL (MNL). Aspell said TRIO offers specific packages for municipalities.

Both councillor Evelyn Tucker and Deputy Mayor Wendy O’Driscoll asked whether or not the town had reached out to other providers, such as Blue Cross or Manulife.

“I think that’s certainly something we should look into, just to see what the differences are,” O’Driscoll said.

However, other councillors in the room, Mayor Harold Mullowney included, doubted the possibility of finding a better deal than what the town currently has with TRIO.

“TRIO is also the only one that has an agreement with Municipalities NL. So, that’s why we went there and did not really shop around,” Aspell said. “I can’t speculate as to what the other rates might be.”

She added that not only does TRIO’s plan come from an agreement with MNL, it also includes coverage for towns with less than three employees.

Council ultimately decided that it could not hurt to get some comparison quotes from both Blue Cross and Sun Life, and the motion to do some insurance shopping was carried unanimously.

Lending a helping hand

By Mark Squibb | Vol. 12 No. 26 (December 18, 2019)

You may know Judy Brazil as the woman who organizes the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony in Trepassey.

Or, you may know her as the woman who organizes the collection of Christmas cards and gifts to send to soldiers, who cannot be home for the holidays.

Or, you might know her as the woman volunteering her time and talent at concerts and choir specials, both on and off stage.

Truth is, you may know Judy as any number of things.

Over the years, she has volunteered with Girl Guides, the 50 Plus Club, the Lion’s Club, and other groups. She has helped organize Come Home Year celebrations, special anniversaries, fundraisers, welcome home ceremonies for soldiers, Christmas parades, and more.

She has performed, free of charge, in fundraisers of all kinds, even driving so far as Sunnyside once to sing a commemorative piece during Canada Day celebrations.

And though she said she doesn’t volunteer her time for recognition of any kind, she has received some honourable recognition from the federal government.

Brazil was awarded the esteemed Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, a medal recognizing exceptional Canadian volunteers.

“I never in a million years expected anything like that. I was blown away,” said Brazil. “And, there’s an awful lot of volunteers out there, especially in the community, who are just as deserving of this award as I am.”

Appropriately enough, when she received the call from Ottawa in November, she was right in the middle of preparing for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

“’I said, ‘Can I call you back please, I’m really, really rushing to get down to church,’” she laughed.

Recipients are chosen after a nomination process.

Brazil said that she doesn’t know who nominated her. When she asked a representative at the Chancellery of Honours, a branch of government concerned with recognizing and honouring Canadians with medals and awards, she was told that the person’s (or peoples) identify remain confidential unless the person chooses to reveal themselves to Brazil.

They also noted the person would be informed that Brazil had been awarded the medal.

“I would like to say a big thank you to whoever the people were behind nominating me,” said Brazil. “I’m so honoured they would even consider me for it. I’m very happy about it.”

She noted that, like all volunteers, she doesn’t do what she does for the recognition, but that she does appreciate it.

Judy Brazil of Trepassey says she was honoured to be awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, a national award recognizing exceptional volunteers.

“I didn’t think it was that noticeable or remarkable, what I do. I do things, from my heart, and I don’t do it to get recognition. And to know that people do appreciate it, makes it better, and it helps me to continue on,” she said, noting that she is also appreciative of the many kind words of congratulations she has received since coming public about the award earlier in December.

Brazil said knowing that you’ve helped someone else gives you a great feeling of satisfaction, and that alone is a reward in and of itself.

She encouraged everybody to do what they can to help others, be it in big or small ways.

“Do what you can. Get out there and offer to help somebody, supposing it’s even just to visit somebody and bring them a sweet,” she suggested. “Anything, give them a phone call. There are so many people who are so lonely, and they’ve lost loved ones. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve been there for someone.”

An exact date for the awarding of the prestigious medal has not yet been announced, although Brazil said that she has been informed that it will likely be in the spring, and is set to be presented by Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote.

Witless Bay to hire region's first paid Fire Chief

By Mark Squibb | Vol. 12 No. 26 (December 18, 2019)

Witless Bay Mayor Derm Moran said that a growing regional population and increased work load means the Town has to consider upgrading the position of regional fire chief from a volunteer to a paid position.

“In Mobile, I can count six or seven new houses as you go along the main highway, and that’s only in the last two years. For a small community, that’s quite a substantial increase,” said Moran.

And that’s just some of the growth in a region that is fairly close to St. John’s but still far enough away to need its own first responders in the case of an emergency.

“What has to happen now, and it wasn’t in the budget or anything like that, but we will be doing the groundwork (to hire a paid fire chief),” said Moran.”That will include contacting the communities that are affected by it, naturally, from the Town of Bay Bulls up to the Bauline area, including Mobile and Tors Cove, etcetera. So, everybody needs to understand what direction we’re going in— and why the need that we’re looking for a fire chief.”

Discussions on the subject began when current volunteer fire chief Paul Evoy, who had served for the last couple of years, informed council earlier the fall that he would be stepping down due to work and family commitments.

“Paul was excellent. You couldn’t ask for any better,” said Moran. “They (the firefighters) are the type that don’t want to get into something unless they can give it everything they can and do justice to it.”

Moran said it has not yet been determined if the paid position of fire chief will be a full or part time job, and that discussions need to be held with the other municipalities about where to draw the revenue to pay the salary.

Moran said the hope is to secure a chief sooner rather than later, and he would like to secure a consulting company to help guide the town’s hiring process.

In the meanwhile, said the mayor, Evoy will help bridge the gap, and that even without a chief there will still be a reliable chain-of-command.