Slight pay increase coming for councillors and management

By Mark Squibb/January 20, 2023

Members of council and City management staff are getting a slight pay increase.

During the January 10 meeting, council approved a two percent remuneration increase for management employees and Council effective December 22, 2022 and retroactive to July 1, 2022.

“As a part of the budget process, council considered the appropriate cost of living increase, and again that’s for non-bargaining employees, which includes council renumeration,” explained councillor Jim Locke, who added that non-bargaining wages had been frozen since Budget 2021.

“With the rising cost of living, its important to ensure that wages reflect the current environment,” said Locke. “It was determined that a two percent cost of living increase was appropriate.”

He noted that, as the increase is retroactive to July 1, it will coincide with unionized worker wage increases that were borne out of collective bargaining this past summer.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Dave Aker allowed that a two percent rise “was a very reasonable percentage increase.”

Aker then noted that though the motion was only just now tabled, the actual increase was built into Budget 2023, approved back in December.

City has to rejig and reapply for capital works money because of inflation

By Mark Squibb/January 13, 2023

Mount Pearl City council has finally managed to move around some infrastructure funding to reallocate it towards another project, but it took some doing.

Folks may remember that back in November, council voted to cancel and re-apply for two Investment in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) projects due to rising costs. 

Council also voted to cancel a third project outright —water, sanitary and storm sewer, asphalt, curb, and sidewalk replacement along Barbour Drive Area — and re-allocate some of that project funding to yet another project —full replacement of water, sanitary and storm sewer, asphalt, curb, and sidewalk on Jackman Drive.

At the December 13 meeting, councillor Isabelle Fry set in motion another attempt at transferring the just over half a million dollars.

Fry went on to explain that council had requested to have the unallocated funding transferred to the Jackman Drive project, but it didn’t prove to be quite as simple as that.

“In subsequent e-mails and discussions with Kim Kieley, who is the Director of Municipal Infrastructure, the only way the City can transfer the remaining unused funding of $514,253 remaining in the Barbour Drive account and add it to the Jackman Drive project is to cancel the existing Jackman Drive funding agreement and reapply for the Jackman Drive funding with the updated increased funding amount,” explained Fry.

The deadline for doing that was December 9.

Fry then brought forward a number of recommendations including cancelling the original Jackman Drive area project, which had been budgeted for $4.5 million HST included, and then re-applying for the same project at a cost of $5 million, HST included).  

“I think this is just another example of some of the inflationary pressures we’re seeing with anything to do with resourses, manufacturing and labour these days,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “So, this is very appropriate, and of course we want to tag along and get the money from the federal and provincial governments, so that’s why the motion is here tonight.”

Council voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations.

The first of the two projects council cancelled and reapplied for at higher costs back in November were water, sanitary/storm sewer, asphalt, curb, and sidewalk replacement along Farrell Drive (from Holden Street to Evans Place), funded at $5.1 million, HST Included. When it reapplied, the cost was set out as some $6.9 million, HST Included. The other project as for water, sanitary/storm sewer, asphalt, curb, and sidewalk replacement along Spruce, Birch and Roosevelt Avenues, Carroll Drive, and watermain lining Billard Avenue, originally funded at $5 million, HST Included, but reapplied for at $6.7 million, HST Included.

14-year old Alex Taylor of Mount Pearl organized a carol sing on December 17 to help collect for the Salvation Army food bank. The Alex Taylor & Friends Carol Sing at St. David’s Field was counted a success by all who attended. From left to right are Councillor Mark Rice, Leah Molloy, Claudia Carew, Alex Taylor, Leigh Zachary Bursey and Salvation Army Major Morgan HIllier. Submitted photo

Room in project budget to cover inflation, other costs

While the big news out of Mount Pearl council was the passing of Budget 2023, with much being said about mil rate increases and snow clearing contracts, council conducted about 40 minutes worth of City business before the budget presentation by Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, including approval of change orders for local municipal projects.

The first was a change order for upgrades to Park Avenue, Dunn’s Bridge, and Commonwealth Avenue, the third such adjustment for the project. The City approved $7,866 to allow for supply and placement of tack coat for Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, a petroleum products adjustment for Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, additional traffic control services for the bridge closure at Dunn’s Bridge, and a petroleum products adjustment for Dunn’s Bridge.

The changes will be deducted from the unused cash allowance included in the project’s budget.

Council also approved a revision of a previous change order.

“A review was completed for petroleum products adjustment using the updated petroleum products adjustment worksheet as published by the Municipal Infrastructure Division (MI),” said councillor Mark Rice. “This document has been updated three times however, the contractor has been using the original worksheet to calculate their adjustments.

The change will see the City pay an additional $11,511 for asphalt renewal along Smallwood Drive, a project approved and completed in 2021, due to petroleum product adjustments.

Council passes new maternity leave motion

By Mark Squibb/December 21, 2022

Mount Pearl councillors passed a motion last week that they hope will make a seat at their table more attractive for parents — or parents-to-be.

Councillor Jim Locke had made a notice of motion during a previous meeting that he would be bringing the motion forward at a future time. He made that motion during last week’s public meeting.

“The Corporate Services and Public Works Committee recommends adoption of the proposed amended Council Remuneration and Reimbursement Regulations, as attached, which, if adopted, will ensure that the City of Mount Pearl supports accessibility, diversity, and the inclusion and dignity of all people,” said Locke. “The amendment will also remove the need to obtain the discretionary approval of council prior to taking maternity or parental leave which approval would present a gap to full inclusivity, diversity and inclusion.”

Under the new policy, councillors will be given a maximum of 61 weeks leave, inclusive of the permitted, less than 3-month absence allowed for under the City of Mount Pearl Act. It can begin following the sixth month of pregnancy if the councillor requesting leave is the pregnant spouse, or also following birth or adoption.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley seconded the motion.

“I am exceptionally proud, along with my colleagues here, to be introducing this today,” said Kieley. “The value of this, at its core, is absolutely inclusion and diversity.”

Kieley said such policies will ensure diversity within the council chambers.

Councillor Chelsea Lane found herself in a very good position to discuss the motion.

“I only just had a baby on Thursday, so it takes a barrier away from me personally as well,” said Lane. “And I know there’s probably lots of other people who are in my position who would love to be able to join something such as City council, but the fact that that barrier was there and is now removed, I think this is truly a step in the right direction, and it’s great to see that we’re preparing for the future. I’m very proud of this decision.”

Councillor Isabelle Fry noted Lane was the first ever sitting councillor to have a baby, and councillors expressed their congratulations to Lane and her family.

Lane hasn’t missed a committee or council meeting yet — sometimes attending with little Max in tow.

In an unusual turn, the Grinch was collecting donations, rather than trying to steal Christmas presents, in this past weekend’s Lion’s Club Santa Claus Parade in Mount Pearl. Mark Squibb photo