Harbour Construction and O'Brien's Trucking to share emergency calls in Witless Bay

By Mark Squibb/September 16, 2022

If you can’t pick between two, just pick both.

That was the philosophy Witless Bay acted on this week when awarding a standing offer contract for the supply of goods and services in emergency situations.

The Town issued a limited call for bids back in May, seeking standing offer prices for services provided on an emergency basis, and received proposals from both Harbour Construction Ltd., and O’Brien’s Trucking Ltd., each of which, said councillor Ralph Carey, provided fair market prices based on the services being offered.

He therefore moved that the Town offer the contract to both contractors.

‘We need to get work done in emergency situations, so it’s important we get the motion made,” said Carey, reminding folks of the heavy rains and wind that battered the island over the weekend.

Council voted to approve that motion unanimously.

Councillor Gerard Dunne declared a conflict and did not vote on the matter, as he works for Harbour Construction. Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard was not present at the meeting, and thus did not vote on the matter.

Crosswalk installed along busy Bay Bulls main road

By Mark Squibb/September 16, 2022

Folks should find crossing Route 10 in Bay Bulls a little easier — and safer — now that a new crosswalk, complete with pedestrian operated flashing lights, has been installed at the intersection of Route 10 and Cemetery Lane West and East

The new system was installed last week, and was fully operational as of last Friday.

Back in June, council unanimously voted to hire Construction Signs Ltd., to supply and install the lights at a cost of 19,550 plus HST.

“I think this is a very dangerous intersection, and I really think the town needs some type of signage here,” said councillor Shannon O’Driscoll at the time.

Concerns over pedestrian safety along Route 10 have been a common theme with both this current council, and previous councils.

Bay Bulls receives federal funds for enviromental assets management

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.

Witless Bay mulling sale of commemorative benches

By Mark Squibb/August 26, 2022

During the August 9 public meeting, the Town of Witless Bay had a brief discussion about ways to commemorate people who have passed away.

Glenn Williams had requested that council name the trail that goes from the swimming pool area to the Upper Pond area after his brother Roger Williams who, tragically, drowned in the area a few weeks prior.

However, council was not fully onboard with the idea of naming trails, buildings, etcetera, after residents.

“It’s hard to name town infrastructure after someone as you don’t want to leave someone out,” Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard argued.

But she did float the idea of creating commemorative benches that residents can purchase in honour of their loved ones.

“One idea we thought about was putting out benches with a plaque commemorating that person,” said Yard.

In a follow up e-mail, Yard said the Town is working on getting specs for the benches, which would be installed on a concrete pad, and which could have a small memorial plaque attached to them.

“We intend to offer a program in 2023 where families can purchase a bench, have it installed and donate it to the Town in an area of significance to them in memory of a loved one,” Yard said. “That way there will be places for reflection around the town and everyone will have an equal opportunity to remember their loved one in a place that meant something to them.”

Councillor Ralph Carey added his own thoughts to the discussion and recommended a community clean up in Williams’ honour.

“I grew up with the resident that recently passed away and I know he was a great champion for cleaning up the area,” said Carey. “I think if we did have a bench, maybe once a year or twice a year we could have a memorial clean up. And we would want the family to become involved in any way they wish. And it would serve two purposes, it would remind us of our friend who recently passed away, and at the same time, do a good deed and clean up the area on a regular basis.”

WBFD gets approval for extension, uniforms

By Mark Squibb/August 19, 2022

Witless Bay council has approved $5,000 for an extension to the fire department’s smokehouse training facility.

The money will be put towards building a set of stairs to the two sea cans that make up the second floor to allow for installation of windows and doors upstairs.

“It will allow members to get practise on stairs in a zero-visibility situation and as well it will help them prepare for scenarios where there could be a fire in basements or apartments,” said Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard.

The work will mark the beginning of phase 2 of the smokehouse construction, and the $5,000 will come out of firefighting operating expenses.

Councillor Alex Troake noted that communities in the region pay into that operating budget.

Later in the meeting, council approved a request from the fire department for new uniforms.

“Right now, we have 14 new recruits, and they don’t have uniforms,” said Yard, who moved that council approved funding to purchase the uniforms as needed.

“As you know the fire department wear their uniforms at ceremonial events such as Remembrance Day and funerals, and official events such as the Fireman’s Ball, or if they were to go give a presentation at a school,” said Yard. “So, there is also a situation where some of the people that have been there a while, their uniform may be missing a piece, or it may not fit so well.”

Yard said the request was to provide uniforms to members who don’t yet have one, and those who need a new one. She noted the fire department has found a new uniform supplier, which she expected would save the Town some money.

Other uniforms may be purchased on a ‘need-to-buy’ basis.

Yard said the cost to get new uniforms for all members would be about $5,000.

Both motions were approved unanimously.