Mayor says senior walking program a success

By Mark Squibb

Over the summer, members of Mount Pearl’s municipal enforcement division have been meeting with seniors every second week for a guided walk along the city’s trailways.

This Thursday past marked the final Safe Seniors Walk of the season.

“The initiative has been a great success,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “We’re targeting seniors and anybody who may feel a little uncomfortable walking the 70 kilometres of trails in the city.”

Aker said as many as 30 people, many of whom are members of the Senior’s Independence Group, attended each event. They met at a different location each session to mix things up and cover as much ground as possible.

“It’s nice that we can make the trails more accessible to more than just your typical, average walker,” said Aker. “It encourages physical activity, which, at the end of the day is good for people’s mental health, and it’s been great for those dealing with loneliness, because you’re going out with a small crowd. There are so many health benefits. I can’t praise our municipal enforcement division enough.”

Organizers also hosted special mug ups, complete with coffee, tea, and snacks.

Following this inaugural season, Aker said organizers will gather feedback to try and make next summer’s program even better.

Seniors, meanwhile, can join the Mount Pearl Senior’s Independence group or register for a senior fitness class at the Summit Centre.

Adult play day set for the Annex

By Mark Squibb

Elaine Marie Dunphy of Nia on the Rock and Ageless Grace and Pamela Martin-McDonald of Meridian Health & Wellness are inviting adults of Mount Pearl and beyond to come and play at the Annex.

“We’re trying to get the word out to as many people as possible and let people know how important play is for your brain, and for your overall wellness,” said Martin-McDonald. “Adulting doesn’t have to be so hard all the time. You can add in a little play.”

The duo will host an all day PlaySHOP at the Annex Saturday, October 5.

It will be a day of gentle movements, play, yoga, a scavenger hunt and rest, along with prize giveaways and snacks, and more.

“It’s a permission slip for adults to come out and do something different, something out of the norm,” said Martin-McDonald, who added adult play helps release stress, improves brain function, and stimulates creativity.

Martin-McDonald said that as folks grow older, they become more and more concerned with how they appear to the outside world, and that there is a stigma attached to play.

“Imagination is something that we tend to lose a little bit of a connection with as we grow, but the imagination is what allows us to compensate for the stress that comes with responsibilities,” said Martin-McDonald.

But is there a cost to regressing to your childhood ways, even just for a day?

In this case, yes. The cost for the all day session is $129.99.

Mount Pearl 'opens door' to help Big Brothers

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl is the latest organization to donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland’s 75 Doors campaign, and the first municipality to do so.

The 75 Doors represent 75 young people waiting to be matched with a mentor. While the organization has enough volunteer mentors to match with the youths, it lacks the funding to do so.

“Big Brother’s Big Sisters has a significant challenge,” says Mayor Dave Aker in a video ad promoting the partnership released on September 10. “They’re at a 20-year high in terms of their waitlist. And I want people to know the larger picture, that 13 percent of those children reside here in the City of Mount Pearl. I want to make sure that people understand that this can be close to home. This campaign is essential to get the word out so we can connect with the volunteers and ensure those children in our city, our future leaders, don’t fall through the cracks today.”

The funding helps support the process necessary to match young people with a mentor. Other donors include Pippy Park Golf, CIBC, Kent, VOCM, Hickman Automotive Group, Reddy Kilowatt Credit Union, Steele Mazda, and Fortis Inc.

The donation amount wasn’t specified in the City’s announcement but following an inquiry staff confirmed for The Pearl a donation amount of $1,500.

Lions see the way

The Mount Peal Lions Club has collection 3,895 pairs of second-hand glasses this ‘Lion’s Year’ (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024). The glasses have been sent to the Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre where inmates will clean them up and fix them up for shipment to disadvantaged people in countries as far away as Guatemala. Some are also donated locally through organizations such as The Gathering Place. Pictured here is Lion Gerald Coombs displaying one of the boxes the club uses to collect donated spectacles. Mount Pearl Lions Club photo

Super Soccer Saturday

There were lots of smiles and yes, lots of soccer, at the Mount Pearl Soccer Association’s (MPSA) Super Soccer Saturday last weekend. Hundreds of youths, along with moms and dads and nans and pops, came out to enjoy not only soccer, but barbequed grub and bouncy castles as well. At the forefront were MPSA staff who, after 12 hours of keeping things in order and running smoothly, stuck around the field for a few more games of soccer. From left are Rachel Organ, Zoe Ransome, Logan Holloway, Zachary Moyst, Courtney Abbott, Erin Dalton and Matthew Abbott. MPSA photo

Locke questions extra charge for manhole adjustments

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl City council during the August 13th public meeting approved two change orders for different municipal projects.

Farrell’s Excavating had requested an additional $41,494, HST included, to account for manhole adjustments and additional flagger hours, for the Olympic Drive resurfacing project.

Councillor Jim Locke requested further clarification on the matter prior to the vote.

“Manhole adjustments are a part of normal street work, and maybe they have come through here, but this is not a common occurrence,” said Locke. “I don’t remember seeing a lot of change orders for manhole adjustments because they’re a part of the street work… So, could I get some clarity on what had to be done here and do we normally get change orders for manhole adjustments or is this something specific to this particular project?”

Planning Director Gerry Antle, who retired that Friday, allowed the request is not usual, but in this case, there was a good reason for it.

“In our unit price contracts for street upgrades, there is a standard amount for manhole adjustment, and I believe the number, if my memory serves right, is 300 millimetres of correction, or adjustment, to a manhole that’s in an existing street,” explained Antle. “And that’s based upon there being no extensive or further deterioration — we accommodate for a certain, if you want to call it a normal amount of deterioration, over time. In the case of Olympic Drive, during the course of the work, the extent of the deterioration was more extensive than what we would call our usual amount. And each manhole was indeed more extensive than 300 millimeters. It was significantly more.”

The initial tender was awarded to Farrell’s Excavating in the amount of $798,933, HST included, in July of 2023. Council has since approved $264,847 across nine change orders, bringing the total project cost to $1.06 million.

Council also approved the installation of a new safety handrail on Birch Avenue.

Councillor Bill Antle explained that a new storm sewer had been installed with a headwall adjacent to the walkway trail and small stream, and while the height of the headwall was below the standard that would require a safety handrail, the planning committee recommended installing a safety rail due to the location of the headwall.

Council approved the new safety rail, payable to Dexter Construction in the amount of $4,942, HST included.

Council approves apartment complexes under federal housing program

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week approved funding for two new housing unit complexes under the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program.

Through the program, Ottawa provides municipalities with money to fund contractors looking to build multi-unit buildings, so long as they can complete the units within a two-year time period.

Donovan’s Homes applied for funding for two, three-storey, 12-unit apartment buildings, comprising 24 units all told, at 50-56 Dunrobin Street, while Karwood Contracting applied for funding for three apartment buildings consisting of 33 units at 166 Park Avenue.

The City’s HAF Steering Committee recommended Donovan’s Homes for $98,000 in funding and Karwood Contracting for $100,000. Council unanimously approved those amounts.

“This is exciting news,” said councillor Jim Locke. “This is in line with our strategic plan to intensify, to bring more housing and residents to the City of Mount Pearl.”

Locke said census data shows that Mount Pearl’s population has been on a decline, and needs more residents — and more housing for those residents — to increase the City’s tax base.

“The Accelerator Fund supplemented and complemented what we already had in our plan,” said Locke. “We’re on line to get a couple of hundred houses over the next two to three years, which is great news. It’s great news for building our community, but it’s certainly great news for our revenue, which we need to pay for the high-quality services that we have in our city.”

Other councillors, including Bill Antle, Isabelle Fry, and Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, threw their support behind the motion given the current housing crisis and the number of young families, immigrants, and seniors struggling to find affordable housing.

As per the HAF terms and conditions, only applicants who have already received a development permit will be considered for funding. The City launched the program at an open-house earlier this summer. Incentives that contractors can apply for include building grants, a waiver of development fees, and pre-construction grants. Projects can receive upwards of $100,000 in funding.

Newfoundland Cheer Sport Sharks raise funds for Worlds competition

Members of the Newfoundland Cheer Sport Sharks provided canteen services at last week’s Mount Pearl Movie in the Park to raise funds for their upcoming Worlds competition in Florida. From left are Summer Janes, Claire Howse, Claire Kenny, Mackynlie Healey and Lucy Bishop. On tap for the City’s showing of Trolls: Band Together was candy, chocolate, soda and more. Isabelle Fry photo

Broken bottle closes Summit Centre pools for two weeks

By Mark Squibb

Staff re-opened both Summit Centre pools last Tuesday after a smashed glass forced their closure.

The pools were shut down for about two weeks as staff had to drain, clean, and refill both pools after a bottle shattered on the deck.

“It’s very unfortunate that something like that happened, and I know there was a lot of talk amongst residents, and many were very understanding, as this was a complete accident and these things do happen, but unfortunately there was also a lot of people who were angry about the length of the process and the missed lessons,” said councillor Chelsea Lane during last week’s public council meeting. “But unfortunately, if glass gets in the pool, the staff has no choice but to drain it and then rebalance the chemicals. And it is a process.”

Lane expressed her gratitude to staff for getting the pools open again in a timely manner and added the workers were also able to reschedule some lessons that had been missed.

“And I think that’s fabulous because I don’t think people realize the amount of work that goes into scheduling and trying to get things situated, and I think it’s amazing that everyone was able to pull it together and get it happening,” said Lane.

Mayor Dave Aker, noting that “a little glass can do a lot of damage,” asked Recreation Director Jason Collins for a further explanation of the cleanup process.

Collins, who allowed that the process is a complicated one, said the bottle, which was brought into the building in a child’s backpack, was dropped in the laneway between both pools, and that glass was found in both pools.

Collins said that all the glass needed to be removed before the pool could be drained, and that staff had to be cautious when refilling the pool lest they fill it too quickly, as the water pressure could cause damage.

“We have adjusted our policies as well, when it comes to bags and where they’re allowed,” said Collins. “We did consider and talk about not allowing them at all, but there are also complications with that. But we have adjusted our policies to help avoid this going forward.

Meanwhile, registration for fall programs is fast approaching.

Swimming lesson registration opens on September 4th for residents and September 6th for non-residents, while seniors program registration opens on September 3rd for residents and September 5th for non-residents. Fitness program registration opens on September 3rd for residents and September 5th for non-residents.

Proof of residency is required for early registration.

Order to clean up properties a ‘last resort, says mayor

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl City council last week issued two property maintenance orders following numerous complaints, but members of council say that they are sensitive to the delicate nature of the situation.

A Montgomery Street property was noted for having a significantly overgrown lawn, while a Commonwealth Avenue property was noted as being much worse for wear.

“The (Commonwealth) property is noted to be in a dilapidated state with plexi-glass and plywood in place of windows, significantly deteriorated exterior cladding and debris,” said councillor Bill Antle. “(The Planning) Committee expressed concern about the habitability and safety of the structure. The property owner has refused an inspection of the interior of the home to determine the full extent of the deficiencies.”

“I’m glad this is coming to the public, and I’m glad we’re taking this direction with this issue, because I think it’s the City’s due diligence, and council’s due diligence,” said councillor Mark Rice. “We just can’t turn a blind eye to this anymore. This has been ongoing for such a long time in the city with these two properties. This has been ongoing for many years.”

Going forward, Rice said, he would like to see more such orders issued.

“If it comes to the point where the City has got to go in there with our staff and mow the grass, or whatever it is, and back charge the owner of the property, so be it,” said Rice.

Councillor Chelsea Lane also expressed her support for the motion.

“We live in such a beautiful city, and our people really take pride in living here,” said Lane. “And we totally are understanding of the fact that during peoples lives there may come a point when they have a hard time keeping up their property, but these are cases of ongoing neglect to properties. And it’s really troublesome to people who live in the neighbourhood or even just people who are driving by to see houses left in deplorable conditions, and that’s why we are taking a role as a City and trying to get this situation rectified, because it’s important to take care of your property for the people in your neighbourhood, and for the city as a whole. That’s why the regulations exist.”

Councillor Jim Locke expressed his support for the motion, but also issued a word of caution about the sensitive nature of such orders.

“I do support the orders coming through, but just a caution that a lot of these circumstance are not cut-and-dry,” cautioned Locke. “We’ve dealt with similar circumstances during my tenure on council and it’s not black-and-white sometimes… and it sometimes takes longer than we would like, but sometimes individual circumstances dictate that. There’s personal circumstances that may arise from health issues, mental health issues, financial issues, and the like, and I want to caution, not out of neglect or to turn a blind eye, but some of the issues we dealt with in the past are complicated, and other agencies had to be called in and other supports had to be called in. I understand the frustrations of neighbours. I fully appreciate that it’s an eyesore. But sometimes we cannot fully disclose the details behind some of these cases. I just want to throw it out there that we’re not the big bad bully coming in with the heavy stick. We are sensitive to the fact that sometimes it may take a little longer than we like for particular reasons.”

Mayor Dave Aker noted that it’s not the first time these properties have been brought to council’s attention, and that while council has been very understanding and patient, residents hold property owners to a high standard.

“And that standard has been violated at these two addresses,” said Aker. “And this is not the first time this has been talked about at this table. We’re not just following the political winds here; we’re doing what we think is right for the city. This is a last resort, at the end of the day.”

Antle noted the City had issued a development permit over a year ago for the re-development of the Commonwealth Avenue property into commercial office space, however, there has been no progress to date.

Both motions passed unanimously, excepting that Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley was not present and thus did not vote.