Christmas kicking off Saturday with Lions Parade

Santa Claus will be back in Mount Pearl this Saturday, weather permitting.

The annual Lions Club Christmas Parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and wind its way along Ruth Avenue and Park Avenue before ending at Mount Pearl Square.

If the weather is bad, the parade could be rescheduled for 2 p.m the following day.

The City's Christmas Tree lighting is also scheduled for Saturday. Mayor Dave Aker is inviting the public to join council at 6:30 p.m. at St. David's Park for the lighting. 

The event will feature live entertainment, Lane noted.

And finally, the annual Breakfast with Santa has been set for December 18 at the Reid Community Centre from 9 to 11 a.m. Tickets for the event are $5 each and are on sale at the Summit Centre's customer service desk. Tickets are free for children two years old and younger.

Winter parking ban now in effect

By Craig Westcott/December 2, 2021

Every year at this time the members of Mount Pearl council sound almost apologetic about having to bring in the annual Winter parking restrictions.

That's because nearly every year at this time, there is little snow to be found and the weeks leading to Christmas are interspersed with days of mild weather.

But as every Newfoundlander knows, that could change in a blink.

Still, councilors couldn't help sounding just a little hesitant Tuesday as they approved the restrictions for the coming months.

The motion to make the restrictions effective starting Wednesday, December 1, was made by community development committee chairperson Chelsea Lane. They are set to expire March 31, 2022. Violators will be subject to a fine, Lane said.

Under the rules, no vehicle is permitted to be left parked on any street within the city between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., or at any time during a storm and for 12 hours afterwards.

"Any unattended vehicle parked on any street contrary to these regulations may be removed and impounded at the owner's expense," Lane said. "And no person shall shovel, plow, blow or cause to be shoveled, plowed or blown, any residue snow from a driveway or parking lot onto any street, carriageway or sidewalk in this city."

Mayor Dave Aker said the regulations don't mean winter has started, but is simply about winter readiness.

"Sometimes we'll get commentary from some of our residents wondering why on a day like yesterday (Monday), for example when it was 10 degrees and sunny, why would we implement a parking ban?" said the mayor, who then asked director of infrastructure and public works Gerard Antle for a briefing on the City's winter preparations.

"Winter readiness has already started for us," Antle acknowledged. "At public works we have a partial night shift that is in place right now. We have winter supervisors on shift 24/7. In the evening times we will get circumstances now that it's icing, that it's below zero. So, we do have machines operating throughout the evening times as well. This right now is the shoulder season. We don't know when we could get snow. Just a couple of weeks ago the forecast was for five or 10 centimeters and we woke up to find we had 17 centimeters fallen. It's about us being ready and being able to manoeuvre our vehicles, and at this point in time we are ready for winter."

To that, Mayor Aker pointed out that enforcement of the rules can take on one of two different styles, depending on the circumstances.

"There is the soft enforcement as we enter the shoulder season of winter," said Aker. "Might we do it differently in January versus when this gets implemented at midnight tonight?"

"Your Worship, our enforcement team certainly uses judgement when they're patrolling, when they see vehicles and depending on the event, and the time of year," said director of community development, Jason Collins. "A lot of factors are taken into consideration."

Put to a vote, the winter parking restrictions passed unanimously.

Fry wants less Amazon, more local

By Mark Squibb/December 2, 2021

Some of us can admit we’ve passed up an opportunity to buy a local product because it was cheaper to buy it online or at a big box store.

It seems the City of Mount Pearl is no different.

“I was looking at this last evening and at some of the expenditures we have, and the one thing that stood out to me is the number of expenditures we have from Amazon,” said councilor Isabelle Fry on Tuesday as council looked its expenses register. “I’m just wondering, and I  know we’ve talked about this before, and I know quite often we can get things at a cheaper price, but it’s not just the financial part of this, it’s about supporting local whenever possible, and I’m just wondering if this can be top of mind when purchasing, rather than using big suppliers like that, if there is an option to support local first, because our local economy depends on that,” said Fry.

Councilor Jim Locke responded in turn by pointing out that City policy is to take the most economical road.

“Well our procurement is such that we are keepers of the public purse, so we do have a fair process that we go through, and I don’t know if our taxpayers — and I support buying local where you can — but our process is to put out our RFPs and look for the vendors for the services and goods and we opt for the most economical supply,” Locke said. “But I take your point about supporting local where we can.”

Fry said she didn’t know that process was followed for smaller purchases and argued if it’s only a matter of a few dollars more, council should go with the local option.

“I mean, obviously, if there’s a big variance, that’s not realistic,” she allowed. “But supporting local creates local jobs within the community. So, I just wanted to bring that forward.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kielly then added her thoughts

“To that point, something that came to mind as a possibility, certainly we look at our policies all the time, and in relation to corporate services and being fiscally responsible, as councilor Locke has identified, I also see your point councilor Fry to shopping local, and recognizing there is an investment when it puts it back in the economy above and beyond a budget line,” said Kielly.

She suggested council look at the policy of procurement to see if council might better balance shopping local with fiscal responsibility.

Though council didn’t vote on the matter, it was decided the issue will go back to Corporate Services for review.

Hockey Heroes

Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association teams collectively raised $10,000 for local food banks this month during the annual Hockey with Heart fundraising event on November 6. Folks could drop off donations at a number of locations around the city where players and coachers were eager to collect. Pictured above are members of two Under 15 Blades teams who were happy to collect for the food banks. In the back, from left to right, are coaches Scott Hurley, Ron Power, and Tom Walsh. Players, from left to right, are Jaxon Lynch, William Skiffington, Logan Skinner, Lucas King, Luke MacPherson, Thomas Hoddinott, Caden King, Ashton Toope, and, in front, Alex Flynn.

Submitted photo

Council hopes funds come through for Barbour and St. Andrews

By Mark Squibb/November 25, 2021

Mount Pearl council voted unanimously last week to apply for $7.5 million in federal infrastructure funding for two city roads in bad need of repairs.

Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Green Infrastructure fund, the City is applying for replacement of the water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, asphalt, curb and sidewalk on Barbour Drive at a cost of $4 million and for the same scope of work at St. Andrews Avenue at a cost of $3.5 million. Barber Drive was listed as priority number one.

Mayor Dave Aker asked director of infrastructure and public works Gerry Antle what distinguished the two roads that one would be given a higher priority, and inquired whether both roads are overdue for work under the City’s asset management plan.

Antle admitted both roads are beyond service life, the underground in particular, and that both roads are badly in need of work, above other roads in the asset management plan.

Councilor Jim Locke asked, for the interest of the public, what the cost to the City would be should the applications be approved.

Antle replied that the city’s potion would be 30 percent of the total cost.

The deadline to apply was November 19.

Paying by the bolt

By Mark Squibb/November 25, 2021

A contractor change order for remediation work on the Old Placentia Road pedestrian underpass will have the City of Mount Pearl paying by the bolt.

Councillor Mark Rice explained that the tender for the pedestrian walkway underpass remediation was awarded to Eric Taylor Ltd., on July 19 for the bid amount of $269,186, HST included. But the need for blind bolts has increased the cost of the project.

“The installation of these bolts will reinforce the structure in areas where existing bolts have extensively corroded,” explained Rice during last week’s public meeting. The recommend change order came to council at the behest of the City’s Infrastructure and Public Works committee.

Those bolts come at a cost of $39 per bolt. The 100 bolts the City requires will cost $4,485, HST included.

Councilor Jim Locke then asked whether the blind bolts would have been used in the original construction of the underpass, or something that needed to be added after the fact.

Director Gerry Antle explained that sometimes during construction you can access the back of the cover, but, in this case, the bolts were required on just one side, as the other was reinforced with fill.

He said typically the bolts are designed for one side access.

The Pearl followed up with Antle for further clarification, and Antle explained the bolts are used when you cannot easily access the other side of a material for fastening.Antle explained that  because of fill on one side of the culvert, crews are unable to access that side, and need to use the blind bolts.

The pedestrian underpass is a larger culvert with fill behind it therefore crews are unable to access the other side.

Council voted unanimously to purchase the bolts.

Summit Centre roof repairs awarded as sole source contract

By Mark Squibb/November 18, 2021

Mount Pearl has awarded Summit Centre roof repairs to North Shore Roofing through a sole source contract rather than competitive bidding, meaning the company was chosen without checking comparative bids from other companies.

It was done, explained councilor Mark Rice, to protect and extend a warranty.

“Back in July, council, in a committee of the whole meeting, decided to move forward with a sole source roof repair through the original roof membrane manufacturer to ensure both quality work and to ensure the integrity of the existing roof warranty, which was extended, by negotiations, from a 10-year material only to a 15-year materials and labor along with a 25-year materials warranty,” he explained.

The quote received from North Shore Roofing to complete the repair was $99,790, HST included.

Rice said with the winter weather and the funding deadline of December 31 approaching fast, the City ought to move quickly on the matter.

Councilor Jim Locke said council is often reluctant to embark on sole source contracting, and he wanted it clarified whether the City went this particular route to protect the warranty or could they have gone with another bidder.

Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerry Antle explained that in order to keep the warranty integral to all of the building to one manufacturer, the committee brought to council the recommendation to have the work sole scoured.

Locke then asked for an assurance that going this route will protect the warranty, to which Antle said it would.

Mayor Dave Aker noted that while sole sourcing isn’t necessarily a red flag, it requires an explanation at the council table, as competitive bidding is how you typically get best value.

Either way, Mount Pearl is actually paying for very little of the project.

The City was approved for $125,770 in provincial government COVID stimulus funding for the Summit Centre roof repairs and a Track & Field accessible ramp/walkway entrance. The City’s contribution to the project is $13,970.

City adds more features to accessible playground at St. David's

By Mark Squibb/November 18, 2021

Mount Pearl city council approved another change order Tuesday to ensure the accessible playground being built at St. David’s Park is supported with all the infrastructure it requires.

Change order seven, related to the coordination of the new smart accessible playground, had no trouble passing.

“The scope of the project is to replace underground water, asphalt, curb, gutter, and sidewalk,” explained councilor Mark Rice. “The site of St. David’s Avenue work is in close proximity to the site of the new smart, accessible playground, which was at the concept stage during the same time. The concept included a proposed greenbelt to enable more landscaped area, and a new sidewalk. As a result of some overlap between the two projects, and to achieve objectives of the projects to maximize efficiency, council approved changes to address specific issues as they arose.”

Change order number seven was broken down into two separate pieces, the first for the relocation of a storm sewer and catch basin to accommodate the new playground at a price of $40,990, with calculated adjustments at a cost of roughly $20,940, for a total of $61,880.

Later in the meeting, councillor Isabelle Fry made an additional motion on a further change order.

“When we announced our smart playground, we were all so happy and proud about it,” said Fry. “We received some positive feedback from residents, but we also received some suggestions.”

Fry went on to say that change orders were proposed following consultations with user groups.

“It was agreed that enhancements to accessibility should be considered, including ramps, ground-based activity panels, and an adult change table should be researched for possible inclusion.”

The total change order for accessibility enhancement is $84,200.

On September 21, council voted unanimously on a number of change orders related to those features.

Four change orders related to expanding the scope of the project to include a new washroom and play equipment. Those change orders, submitted by Tract Consulting resulting from revisions to the tendered drawings, totalled about $7,760.

Three more change orders represent accessibility enhancements and deletions to the tendered contract, including the enhancement of the small play structure to be fully wheelchair accessible ($28,955.85, HST included), addition of three independent ground-based activity panels ($17,666.30, HST included), and removal, supply, and installation of a "quad rope tower” ($9,533.50, HST included).

Missing from those motions however was the adult change table.

“Now that the research has been complete, the adult change table change order is confirmed at $39,417,” said Fry. “And this includes building enlargement and adult change table with lift capabilities. And this is really important. It’s important to have.”

Councilor Bill Antle said he was glad to see the new addition.

“We’ve heard from residents that this is something that was needed,” said Antle. “And an adult sized change table is something that sets us apart, I think. And it’s something we need. I was talking to a resident a while ago, and she had to change her child on the floor of a restaurant. And that’s something that’s terrible to have to do that. But now we have this in our playground, and I think that’s a good thing to do.”

The initial change order, approved in August of 2020, for the St. David’s Avenue Street Construction Project as it relates to St. David’s Park would allow the creation of a green belt connection and more natural flow between the existing St. David’s Park and the smart accessible playground location, while also providing increased safety, and allowing blue zone spaces. That change order consisted of two parts, $2,783.00 (HST included) for Newfoundland Design to amend design work and $5,735.05 (HST included) for Modern Paving Ltd. to amend road construction.

Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerry Antle said that while groundwork, or ‘civil work,’ on the new playground is currently underway, the new playground equipment will not be put into place until next year.

The playground was officially announced in August of 2021. The cost is just under a million dollars, with the City committing $661,400, and the rest split between the federal and provincial governments.

Mount Pearl receives funding for Jackman Drive

By Mark Squibb/November 11, 2021

Residents of Jackman Drive will be glad to hear their street will be getting an upgrade.

Back in November of 2020, the council approved an application for funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, a cost sharing program in which federal, provincial, and municipal governments chip in money to complete public works projects.

The money will cover water, storm, sanitary, asphalt, curb and sidewalk replacement on Jackman, said councilor Mark Rice, who quoted the work at $4.5 million.

Council received notification of funding approval on August 28. The terms were that the federal government would cover 40 percent of the cost, with the remainder split evenly between the province and the city.

Mayor Dave Aker said the City had intended to repave most of Jackman Drive and Olympic Drive, and that council was thankful for the federal and provincial contributions.

Councillor Jim Locke pointed out the approval in this case is just for Jackman Drive, “in case any of the residents on Olympic Drive may have misheard, so I just want clarity on that.” Locke noted there was a separate funding application submitted for Olympic Drive, which has not yet been approved.

Aker agreed that is the case and asked Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerard Antle for further clarification.

The director said Locke was correct, but upgrades to Olympic Drive are under consideration. The City’s funding request for Olympic Drive, which was submitted last year at the same time as the one for Jackman, is valued at $5.1 million.

The third application the City submitted last year, under the Community, Culture and Recreation Program, is for a new Community Centre at Team Gushue Recreation Complex valued at $5 million.