Lawyer to ask resident to pick up personal belongings

The Town of Bay Bulls is giving a property owner another chance to pick up personal belongings from the town hall, though it will be the town’s lawyer doing the asking.

On September 1, 2021, the town removed a number of items from a property on Track Road Extension following complaints about the property, and after requests to the owner to clean up the property went unheeded.

A number of those items have been held in storage at the town hall since September 1.

“The property owner has been notified on several occasions and he still hasn’t receive his personal belongings from the town,” said Mayor Neil O’Brien, who noted the items are being held in the town garage, adjacent to the town hall.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien moved that the town’s lawyer draft a letter requesting the property owner pick up the items.

That motion was approved unanimously.

Eastern Health fails to advertise booster clinic: Nobody shows up

By Mark Squibb/January 27, 2022

Members of Bay Bulls council say a recent vaccination clinic would have been better attended if people had been given more notice about it.

The clinic was held Friday, January 14 at the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre, and was a topic of discussion at the January 17 council meeting.

“I did hear some chatter from residents that there was kind of a late notice,” said councillor Keith O’Driscoll. “Some residents weren’t even aware of it. I don’t know if that’s the case because they were struggling to find a place and just came up with this at the last second.”

CAO Jennifer Aspell noted she had attended the meeting with Eastern Health and the Northeast Avalon Joint Council Meeting when the clinic was first announced.

“The meeting was held at 1:30 on Thursday afternoon, and during that meeting, Eastern Health announced that there would be a clinic in Bay Bulls the following day,” said Aspell. “They had just received notice themselves from the facility.”

Aspell said the town immediately posted a notice about the clinic on social media.

Councillor Jason Sullivan said Eastern Health ought to have done a better job promoting it.

“It was unfortunate too, and it was totally on Eastern Health,” said Sullivan. “There were 16 doctors in sitting down, and not one person getting their shot… Hopefully they can get their act together, because it’s not the best use of our medical professionals.”

According to provincial government data, the Southern Shore and St. Mary’s Bay lags slightly behind the metro area in terms of vaccinations.

Paradise and Conception Bay South both boast a vaccination rate of 100 percent, while Mount Pearl boasts a rate of 99.6 percent. Conception Bay Centre, which includes Holyrood, Harbour Main-Chapel’s Cove-Lakeview, Avondale, Conception Harbour, and Colliers, boasts a vaccination rate of 92.5 percent. Goulds and Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove boast a vaccination rate of 97.20 percent.

Meanwhile, the Southern Shore boasts a slightly lower vaccination rate of 89.8 percent, while 88 percent of folks in St. Mary’s Bay are fully vaccinated.

Notre Dame Bay has the province’s lowest vaccination rate. Some 85.7 percent of folks in that region are vaccinated.

Carey wins appeal against Town of Witless Bay

By Mark Squibb/January 20, 2022

An appeal filed by councillor Ralph Carey to overthrow the Town’s decision to approve Stephen Dunne’s application to build a home at 32 Dunn’s Lane in April, 2021 has found favour in the eyes of the Eastern Regional Appeal Board.

Carey had to step out of the January 11 council meeting while the correspondence from the Appeal Board was read. Councillor Gerard Dunne also had to step out of the meeting, as he had appeared before the Board last year on the same issue as a representative of the Town and as a developer.

In his submission to the board, Carey had argued that the council of the day had not addressed objections to the variance application, and that the lot size was insufficient and would create a safety issue with respect to a well on his own neighboring property.

Dan Noseworthy of LW Consultants had argued the Town has the authority to approve sub-standard lots without going through the variance procedures, but noted the Town did go through the variance procedure in this case, including the public notification process.

This is not the first time an application for the property has gone through the appeal process, and the board had to consider a former appeal when making its decision.

In February 2021, the Board ordered that decisions of council made in March and May of 2020 to grant approval in principle to Dunne for construction of the home on Dunn’s Lane be reserved. The Board at that time ordered that the application be referred back to council for review.

The Board found that council, when again making the decision to approve the application last April, did not specifically consider its ruling when making the decision. So far as the Board could tell, an e-mail sent to council from Carey listing concerns such as lot size, well placement, and a steep slope, was not properly considered by council.

The Board thus determined that the Town failed to comply with its previous order, and that it did not properly review the application. Thus, the Town’s decision to approve the application had to be reversed.

The Town will have to pay Carey the $230 he spent to file the appeal.

The Board’s decision was read during last week’s meeting, but there was no further discussion on the matter.

Yard cleared of conflict by council colleagues

By Mark Squibb/January 20, 2022

Witless Bay council has voted that Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard was not in a conflict of interest when she voted on a motion related to development off Mullowney’s Lane, despite her decade-long involvement with lobbying efforts to prevent development in the area.

“As the conflict-of-interest allegation was filed against me, I am going to declare a conflict and not participate,” said Yard last week prior to council’s discussion of the matter, which was precipitated by a complaint from a lawyer acting on behalf of landowners in the area.

Council received a letter from Daniel Bennett of Bennett Law, on behalf of his clients Ann Marie and Gary Churchill and Ron and Trudy Harte, on December 5.

That letter, which was published in full in the Irish Loop Post two weeks ago, alleged Yard was in a conflict of interest when she voted to rescind a motion in October. The rescinding was one more step towards establishing a 99-hectare Crown Land Reserve in the area below Mullowney’s Lane.

Bennett argued that as Yard raised funds for a legal battle against the Town over its approval of an access road and the construction of a gazebo in the area, prior to her election to council this past fall, she has a monetary interest in motions relating to development in the area.

Bennett noted that Yard is listed as the organizer of a GoFundMe Page, the “Save Ragged Beach Legal Fund,” which raised $18,331. On that page, Bennett added, Yard claimed that lawyer Michael Crosbie and the firm McInnis Cooper approved an additional $40,000 in pro bono work so that the advocacy could continue.

Yard is also a moderator of the private Facebook group Save Ragged Beach.

During the January 11 meeting, each member of council took a moment to share their thoughts on why they felt yard was not in conflict.

Jacob Hayden was up first.

“From my understanding of the conflict-of-interest regulations governing municipalities, I don’t see how she is in a personal conflict of interest,” said Hayden. “There’s no gain, there’s no loss, there’s no potential work coming from this to benefit her. I have to say ‘No,’ that she’s not in a conflict of interest on this.”

Councillor Gerard Dunne concurred.

‘Nope, she’s not in a conflict,” said Dunne. “There’s no personal gain, so I can’t see how she’s in conflict according to these guidelines.”

Councillor Ralph Carey, who is also a longtime opponent of any development off Mullowney’s Lane, spoke next.

“I’ll just echo what Jacob and Gerard said, I don’t see how she could be in conflict of interest,” said Carey.

Next to speak was Councillor Alex Troake, who said he also thought Yard was not in conflict.

“I would agree with what everyone else has said,” said Trokae. “The definition that the provincial government uses for conflict of interest is what it is, as Jacob said. And unfortunately for any activists, you can’t’ define a definition of conflict of interest that suits your end goal. So, Deputy Mayor Yard certainty did not have any monetary motive in this motion. So, I can’t make it any clearer than that.”

Mayor Trevor Croft was the last to voice his opinion, and said that he didn’t think Yard was in conflict “in any way, shape, or form.”

After the vote, Troake noted the Town’s lawyer said there was no conflict of interest.

“The lawyer made it quite clear that there’s no conflict of interest here, so I think it’s obvious which way we have to vote here,” Troake said.

In response to inquires from the Irish Loop Post, Bennett said he couldn’t comment on council’s decision as he had not yet received word from the Town on the matter.

He did, however, say his clients will likely commence a judicial review of the Town’s decision.

“Given recent precedent set in our Supreme Court on this very issue, my clients are expecting a
positive outcome,” the e-mail concluded.

Les Clowe sees Ferryland's unique street names as gifts from the past

By Patrick Newhook/January 13, 2022

From its long history to its cultural impact on Newfoundland, Ferryland is a unique spot. 

The town of 414 people also has some unique and interesting street names. 

Take Horse Nap Lane. 

Hidden away in the back of the community, Horse Nap Lane connects to Merrymeeting Road, runs behind Reid’s Road and then cuts through where North Side Track and Reid’s Road meet before finally connecting to Route 10, right next to the town’s post office.

Primarily a residential street, only a few houses occupy the lane. Les Clowe, who has been living in Ferryland for 71 years, has spent 35 of them on Horse Nap Lane. 

“Years ago, what the story is, what my grandfather told me, and he was here his whole life, up in this area where I’m to now on Horse Nap Lane, there were no houses or no nothing here,” said Clowe. “This lane was just a cow path and in the summer time, it’s where all the horses were let go (to graze).”  

Clowe said the origin of the name is very literal. “Years ago, every bit of meadowland that was around would be used for hay and growing vegetables,” he explained. “In the spring of the year, there would be green grass in the lane because the meadows were all fenced in and they couldn’t get in the meadows, so they (the horses) would graze around in the lane and then they all came up in the day when it got warm to lie down and get the breeze that came out over the hill. That’s where the horses used to lie down. It’s what the name implies, Horse Nap Lane.” 

Clowe estimates the name dates from the early 1800s. “As far as I know,” he said, pointing out  Robert Carter was Magistrate in the area from 1832 - 1852, and mentions Horse Nap Lane in his journals. 

Horse Nap Lane isn’t the only colourful name in Ferryland. The town contains other unique streets and areas such as BarkHouse Lane, The Y, Sunnyhill, and The Pool.  

Clowe said Barkhouse Lane got its name from the way people used to build cod traps on it. Fishermen would “bark” the twine on their traps in big pots using resin and pine tar to coat the cotton lines so they wouldn’t rot as fast in the water. 

Similarly, The Pool got its name from an area of land and water that looks like a pool. Clowe said that back in the day it used to be an important spot.

“It’s a safe place to put boats to get them out of the weather,” said Clowe. “Everything historical from Baltimore time right up to the moratorium of 92’ that’s where all of the community activity took place, in that pool.”

Names like these are unique to Ferryland and represent the town’s past.

“Most of the names in Ferryland have historical significance like Lookout Road, where you can go up on top of the hill and look all over the place,” Clowe said. “The same with the big hill up over the church, called The Gaze. You can go up there and gaze out over the ocean. Years ago, they used to see the boats coming (from there). And the Quarry Road, the reason that’s called the Quarry Road is that the man who put the slate on the stone church, that’s where he cut the slate.”

Clowe never wants to see the names changed. If you took something like that away, you’d be taking away from the town’s identity and heritage, he argued. 

“No sir I wouldn’t to see it changed,” said Clowe. “It has an historical value to the community. I mean what would you change it to? You can’t be destroying your heritage because you’ll be destroying what your people made for you.”

Witless Bay budget up about 30 per cent

By Mark Squibb/January 13, 2022

The Town of Witless Bay will spend some $1.36 million more this year than it did in 2021, according to the budget document released by the Town.

The 2022 spending and taxation plans weighs in at $5.76 million, an increase of about 30 per cent over last year.

The town expects to collect $1.26 million in taxes, both business and residential. Residential taxes, totaling about $905,185, will account for the lion’s share of tax revenue. Some 750 homes will be taxed, including 69 properties that will be taxed at the minimum rate of $550. Some 41 businesses will be taxed for a total revenue of $102,916 in property taxes. The town plans to collect a further $137,560 in other business taxes.

As reported in the Irish Loop Post last week, taxes for businesses are increasing pretty well across the board.

A large portion of the town’s anticipated revenue comes courtesy of provincial and federal governments. The town has budgeted over $2.89 million in government grants and subsides, the majority of which is expected to come from the provincial government.

One of the larger expenses is the cost of annual road and vehicle maintenance for which the town is budgeting a total of $393,000. Snow removal is estimated at $238,000.

The town has budgeted $124,500 for recreational and cultural services, $203,177 for fire protection, and just over $376,970 for general government, which includes salaries, benefits, travel, supplies, and insurance. The general government budget includes over $26,360 set aside for professional services. That term covers a wide gambit of occupations including architects, accountants, engineers, and lawyers

The town will also make a payment of over $212,000 to the Community Credit Union for five loans the town has withdrawn for various town projects, including a $899,442 loan for a new fire hall.

Council presented certain portions of the budget during a public meeting on December 30.

Baked, boiled and bred in the bone

Growing up on the Southern Shore, John Curran was steeped in Irish music

By Patrick Newhook/January 13, 2022

Across the coasts of Newfoundland and along the sea of Labrador, music is a predominant aspect of everyday life.  

The town of Ferryland, a small community of 414, is among the more prominent when it comes to music and breeding musical talent.  

Among that pool is John Curran, a founding member of The Masterless Men, one of the most well-known acts in the province. He was raised and lived in Ferryland until he graduated high school. Growing up there, Curran describes it like any other bay town. 

“I say it was like any typical Newfoundland outport community. I loved it, I have many memories of growing up in Ferryland, from going to school to playing sports, to playing softball, going to church,” said Curran. 

Curran’s father was a fisherman and his mom worked at a local store, and both played music and sang.

 Curran recalls his childhood as being surrounded by music. Being around it so much encouraged him to start playing. 

“Music was always a major part of our family. There were many parties at our house, I remember watching and listening to guitar playing and singing when I was young and I remember being made part of it as I got older and it was always there,” said Curran. 

Curran said the Southern Shore has having a distinct sound when compared to other areas. He would describes the style as ‘Irish.’ Growing up there played a big part in defining Curran’s taste and style in music.  

“There was always Irish music in our house, on our record player, on our cassette players,” said Curran. “It’s just what we did, so growing up in Ferryland, on the Irish Loop, Irish music was a major influence…it was just what we grew up with.” When looking back, Curran isn’t sure he would be the same type of musician if he had been raised somewhere else, allowing every part of Newfoundland has its own unique preferences. 

“Oh, I would say definitely not. Our band, The Masterless Men, we started off as Colcannon some years ago. We’ve traveled fairly extensively as a professional band. We’ve been to the West Coast, we’ve been to the various bays and peninsulas in Newfoundland. Different styles are very obvious. Like I remember we went to Wesleyvill and I remember being backstage, for instance, and some guy said, ‘Which one of you plays accordion?’ and we said we don’t have an accordion and he was appalled. He said, ‘What, no accordion in your band?’ Every bay, peninsula, segment of the island for sure has a different style of music.”

Even the names Masterless Men and Colcannon have a Southern Shore flavour. The Masterless Men is based on stories of early settlers who rebelled against the strict conditions imposed by their employers and bosses on the coast to fend for themselves as masterless men inland. Colcannon, meanwhile, is a popular term of describing vegetable hash. 

Curran visited Ireland once, and when there he noticed how similar it is to what he grew up around.  

“I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and I did with my wife and my sisters a few years back and I was amazed at how similar Ireland was to where I grew up,” he said. “I sang some of these songs with the place names in the songs. We went to Athenry or wherever, and it was like ‘Oh yeah, I’ve been singing that song for 25 or35 years.” 

The band turned 30 years old in 2021. For Curran, it’s been an honour to see younger generations enjoying the same songs he grew up listening to. 

“I’m 57 now, and I started the band 30 years ago. It’s so encouraging to be on a stage whether it’s at an Iceberg Alley, or O’Reilly’s Pub or the Arts and Culture Centre or George Street Festival wherever it may be,” said Curran. “You look down at the front of the stage and you see people who are in their 20’s or barely in their 20’s singing the words to songs that I’ve been singing for 30 or 40 years, and you’re saying, ‘Sure that person’s only 18 years old and they know all the words.’ That’s fantastic. I think It’s encouraging to see lots of the younger generation who have latched on to Irish and folk music.”

Bay Bulls budget half-a-million dollars higher than 2021

By Mark Squibb/January 6, 2022

The Town of Bay Bulls has balanced the books right down to the penny.

The 2022 Budget, which was presented during the December 13 public meeting, is perfectly balanced at exactly $3,411,368.94. Both revenue and expenses are up considerably from last year’s budget, when the town budgeted $2.73 million in revenue and $2.68 million in expenses, leaving council with a surplus of roughly $52,000.

By way of revenue, perhaps the largest single difference between this budget and Budget 2021 is approximately $810,000 in federal grants and subsides absent from the 2021 budget. Budget 2022 also includes an additional operating surplus of approximately $234,600. The Town did see a slight dip in provincial grants and subsides, dipping to approximately $559,850 from $654,290.

The Town is anticipating a slight uptake in residential tax revenue this year. The mil rate, as previously reported by the Irish Loop Post, will remain at 4.5 mils, however the town will receive taxes from 701 homes as opposed to just 620 in 2021. Commercial tax revenue however is anticipated to sink, as the number of taxable businesses dropped to 36 from 41. The town is anticipating $106,135 from commercial mil rate tax, against $116,744 collected last year.

The addition of a new staff person has increased town salaries from $128,750 to $181,400.