Witless Bay council promises to resume public meetings

By Mark Squibb/March 31, 2023

After over three years of tuning in by phone due initially to pandemic restrictions, residents of Witless Bay will finally be able to attend in-person council meetings again next month, as council has committed to re-open the chamber.

Witless Bay is one of the few municipalities in the province whose council continues to meet out of public view since the Covid-19 pandemic was declared in March of 2020.

“I wanted to let people know that meetings will be open again to the public in April,” said Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard following a short council meeting held via teleconference on March 23.

Yard added that Mayor Trevor Croft will be back from the west coast to chair the meeting.

For the last number of months, Croft has been helping with the Clean Harbours Initiative on the island’s west coast, and the duty of chairing the meeting has fallen to a handful of councilors who took turns chairing the sessions.

During last week’s meeting, from which councilors Alex Troake, Jacob Hayden, and Ralph Carey were absent, council voted to hire a temporary office assistant through Advantage Personnel, a national staffing agency. The Town Hall is down to one staff person following a couple of years of hirings, firings and resignations among staff. The Town Hall has been frequently closed for business since the new council was elected in September 2021 and council has yet to say whether it will extend deadlines for permits and other matters that are set to expire as residents and developers have been unable to complete their business because of the unpredictability of operations at the Town Hall. With 1,640 residents, according to the 2021 census, Witless Bay is the largest populated town on the Southern Shore.

While people living in larger municipalities such as Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South, or Paradise rarely attend council meetings in person, unless to give a presentation, Witless Bay and neighbouring Bay Bulls often attracted full houses before the pandemic closed chambers across the province. Bay Bulls too is continuing to meet via teleconference. No date has been set for its return to full public meetings.

The official date for Witless Bay’s return to regular in-person meetings has not yet been announced other than it is said to be in April.

Council hoping feds will see the light on trail application

By Craig Westcott/March 24, 2023

The Town of Bay Bulls is applying for an Age Friendly Building Grant from the federal government.

At Tuesday’s public council meeting, Mayor Keith O’Driscoll explained that council had actually approved the application in a phone poll earlier this month. That was done to meet the deadline for applications. On Tuesday, council voted to ratify that decision with all of council voting in favour of it, except councillor Jason Sullivan, who was absent.

If successful, the Town will use the money to install solar lighting along the Long Pond Walking Trail.

“Mayor O’Driscoll, we should probably just mention it was a quick turnaround on the funding,” said Town Manager Jennifer Aspell. “Council had suggested solar lighting (would be better) on the trail – I believe it was councillor Roynane who brought it up, but if we’re successful we will be installing 40 solar lights on the existing section of trail.”

In other development news, council has approved two applications to demolish buildings situated at 56 – 64 St. John’s Road. One was for a house, the other for an accessory building.

“The demolition must be completed in accordance with the Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Health and Safety Regulations,” said councillor Shannon O’Driscoll.

The demolitions appear to be needed to make way for a new business, as council shortly afterward approved a new commercial development permit for the same address, namely an eating establishment and lounge.

Council also approved a residential development permit for a single family dwelling at 185 Northside Road conditional upon approval from the relevant government departments related to septic and other matters.

“It’s good to see more dwellings and more development,” said Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien. “People deciding to move to Bay Bulls is a good thing to see.”

And council also approved an application to erect an 8’ X 12’ utility shed at 16 Southside Road.

The Mobile Monarchs won the Grade 7 Provincial B Championship held at Beaconsfield Junior High last weekend defeating Paradise Intermediate in the final. The team includes, from left: Coach Chris Doyle, James Choke, Grady Dalton, Olive Pike, Cam Maloney, Grady Williams, Braden Joyce, Jordan Cahill, Cohen Doyle, Rower Power, Cameron Barnable, Raiden O’Reilly, Austin Cahill, Jacob Sullivan and Keith Dalton.

St. John’s South—Mount Pearl MP Seamus O’ Regan presented over a dozen Local Hero Awards last weekend at a ceremony held at the Church of The Good Shepherd in Mount Pearl. The award recognises those who go above and beyond to help others in need. Recipients included Scott Hillyer of Coffee Matters, known for hosting free community suppers, the Goulds Lions Club, Branch 36 Legion volunteer June King, Ross King Memorial Library librarian Cindy Hall, who provides homeless people with Ziplock bags filled with essential items, Luke Thompson, who raised over $100 for the Red Cross this summer through his homemade lemonade stand, Knights of Columbus member James ‘Jimmy’ Boland, 14-year-old musician Alex Taylor, who has hosted a number of benefit concerts, community volunteer James Bulger, volunteer and Celtic Fiddlers founder Korona Brophy, Roger Chafe, who maintains the Petty Harbour graveyard free of charge, and James and Bernice Hart, residents at Bishop Meaden Manor who work tirelessly to obtain grants and organize activities for the Manor’s social club. Frank Scurrey, a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion, who passed in August 2022, was awarded a posthumous Local Hero Award. Pictured is O’Regan presenting Chafe with his award.

Annual Goulds charity hockey games raises almost $7,000 for charities

By Mark Squibb/March 17, 2023

Current members of the St. Kevin’s Mavericks and the St. Kevin’s Mavericks Alumni All-Star Team hit the ice for an evening of competitive hockey and fundraising last Friday night, as community volunteers hosted the 7th Annual St. Kevin’s High Alumni Hockey Charity Classic.

Jason Snelgrove helps organise the game each year.

“You’re always wondering if the support is going to lessen, if it’s going to get a little bit stale, a little bit old, but there were lots of people in the rink,” said Snelgrove. “We had lots of students in the rink, lots of young kids and families.”

Lots of laughs and smiles.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, support for the game has held steady over the years with $6,500 becoming a sort of fundraising benchmark.

Volunteers raised $6,900 this year through donations and ticket sales. Organizers donated about $2,600 to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund, and about $4,300 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society.

“It seems like every year we get a few more monetary donations prior to the game,” said Snelgrove. “So, it’s kind of nice going into the game knowing that you have a little bit of a cushion.”

And though the main order of the night is raising funds, both the young and young at heart dress for the game hungry for the win.

This time around, the alumni team earned the bragging rights.

“The older fellows managed to squeeze in a win,” said Snelgrove. “It was a very clean, intense hockey game.”

He said tat the game was tied 3-3 early in the third period, but the alumni were able to get a few ‘fluky’ goals and empty netters late in the third. The final score was 9-4.

“The final score didn’t really indicate what kind of a game it was,” said Snelgrove. “I think it was one of the most competitive games we’ve had. They’re starting to show us that the old guys are going to have to buck up their game a little bit if we want to continue our winning streak, because those young guys are right at out heels… it was a very close hockey game.”

Snelgrove said the event is a chance for young people to learn about doing good for others, and that it helps bring the community closer together.

The day of the game, members of the high school team, decked out in their jerseys, went to Goulds Elementary to read to elementary students and promote the charity event.

Snelgrove said the elementary kids treated the high school boys like rock stars, cheering them on and asking for autographs.

“That’s what it’s about,” said Snelgrove. “Making those connections and building positive role models within the community.”

Witless Bay looking to tighten security at Town Hall

By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023

Witless Bay council is looking to spend some money to tighten security at the Town Hall, although council has not committed any monies as of yet.

“Essentially we are looking into some upgrades,” said councillor Alex Troake at a February 21 meeting.

That was before the latest departure of staff from the Town Hall, which has all but shuttered town business.

Troake said town staff and members of the volunteer fire department had identified some security concerns.

“Right now, we are not prepared to finalize any one provider or a scope or work or a schedule but will continue to look at the budget and what’s needed and report back when appropriate,” said the councillor.

The matter was put forward as a point of information only, and as such, council did not take a vote on the matter.

When the current iteration of council was elected back in September of 2021, one of council’s first orders of business was to change the locks on town buildings, including the Town Hall, Fire Hall and Puffin Centre.

Municipal Affairs steps in as Witless Bay loses more staff

By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023

Senior officials from the Department of Municipal met with members of Witless Bay council on Monday following the departure of two senior staff members this week which has drastically affected the Town’s ability to conduct day to day business on behalf of its residents.

In a strange twist, however, Mayor Trevor Croft said there was no such meeting with provincial officials, though its occurrence was confirmed for the Irish Loop Post by staff at Municipal Affairs.

The departure of Acting Town Manager Geraldine Caul and Assistant Town Clerk Katherine Doyle leaves just Financial and Administrative Assistant Cassie O'Rielly as the Town’s lone office employee.

The Town announced through its Facebook page the office would be closed on Tuesday, February 28, due to “unforeseen circumstances,” and then again on Friday, March 3. The Town office is also closed to the public on Wednesdays, a policy council enacted sometime back to help office staff, then numbering four, to catch up on their workload, meaning the office was only open for two days last week.

Mayor Trevor Croft wouldn’t agree to an interview regarding the staffing situation and the impact on the public, but did send a statement to the Irish Loop Post.

“The Town of Witless Bay are committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for employees by providing a competitive salary and benefits program in a union environment, as well as training opportunities, flexible work hours and work from home opportunities when possible, considering the service needs of residents as well as accommodating for the family responsibility of employees,” read the statement. “In response to staff concerns about increased demands in an ever-growing town, council voted to close the office to the public every Wednesday to allow staff to get caught up on administrative tasks. The acting town clerk position recently resolved as expected, and our long-term town clerk who came back last August as acting town manager, ended her position after a long career with the Town of Witless Bay. We express our appreciation for her service to the town and wish her the best on the next chapter.”

The statement concluded with, “It’s true to say it’s a time of transition, but we are looking forward to moving forward with qualified professionals who will help us move the Town of Witless Bay forward in a positive manner.”

Croft said the above statement was the only comment he could make. When first asked last Saturday if a meeting between council and Municipal Affairs had been scheduled, he said it hadn’t been set in stone.

When asked again Tuesday morning, after the meeting between Municipal Affairs and council had already occurred, if the meeting pertained to councillor code of conduct training which the department is holding with councils around the province, Croft said the training has not yet been scheduled, and he was not aware of any other meeting with Department officials.

The Department, however, told a different story.

Emily-Jane Gillingham, who handles media relations for Municipal Affairs, confirmed that a meeting did take pace between council and the Department.

“We can confirm that a meeting was scheduled for and took place on Monday, March 6,” read an e-mail from Jane Gillingham. “The meeting was an opportunity for council to have a discussion and ask questions and for the department to provide support to council. Meetings of this nature are consistent in how the department proactively provides assistance to municipalities across the province.”

Further inquires as to who was in attendance at the meeting went unacknowledged by the Department.

The Irish Loop Post reached out to the other six members of council, via e-mail, to ask if they were available to discuss staffing concerns.

Councillors Alex Troake and Jacob Hayden both responded, but only to say they would not discuss the matter.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss this as all media requests are to be directed to Mayor Croft,” read Hayden’s email.

“Mayor Trevor Croft is the official spokesperson for the Town, and it would certainly be inappropriate for individual Councillors to comment on HR matters,” read Troake’ s email.

Neither of the other four members of council responded to the inquiry.

The Shoreline office has been receiving calls from people complaining about business being delayed or undone because of the situation at the Town Hall.

The departure of Caul and Doyle is the just the latest episode in a long series of hirings, firings and resignations at the Town Hall over the past several years. The last time the Town Hall and council in Witless Bay was this dysfunctional was in the 1990s when then Municipal Affairs Minister Art Reid was forced to disband the council and appoint an administrator in order for residents and others to conduct day to day business with their municipality. Without a Town Clerk, or acting Town Clerk, council cannot even hold a proper meeting where minutes are recorded for the public record.

The Irish Loop Post has requested an interview with Municipal Affairs Minister Krysta Lynn Howell.

Bay Bulls council approves one business, notes closure of another

By Mark Squib/March 3, 20223

Bay Bulls council approved a new business at this week’s public meeting, but also struck another from the Town’s books after being notified of its closure.

Council unanimously approved Marine Repairs and Servicing at 130 Winnonish Drive.

Just a few moments later, council voted to strike Cruise Industry Services, located on Irish Town Road, from the tax roll and provide remission of taxes for 2023.

The motion marked the third notice of closure addressed by council already in 2023. During the previous meeting, held on January 16, council struck Building Blocks Preschool and Healing Hands Massage Clinic from the tax roll.

Besides the new business application approved this week, council also approved a variance application to reduce the required lot area by 2.6 percent and a variance to reduce the minimum building line set back by 7.4 percent from 8 metres to 7.4 metres at 232-238 Northside Road.