Hackers welcome in Mount Pearl

By Mark Squibb/March 3, 2022

The folks behind the Eastern Health cyber hack likely won’t be there, but the City of Mount Pearl hopes that a number of other, more helpful, hackers will attend Hacking Mount Pearl this month.

The three-day, virtual event will be held March 25 to 27, and registered teams will have to bring their creativity and ingenuity to the table to create a product that tackles issues related to business recovery.

A judging panel will select a winning prototype based on final team presentations.

First place winners will earn, aside from bragging rights, $3,000 in cash, a seat in the Genesis Centre Evolution Program, a free 1-year membership in TechNL, and a free 1-year membership to the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce.

The second and third place teams will also be awarded the same perks, with second place winning $1,500 and third place winning $500.

The event was launched in 2019 as part of the City’s Consider it Done campaign. That year’s winning team, Fantastic Five, developed a program, Fund Box, that would help municipalities better manage permit applications.

Wait what....paving contract comes in under budget?

By Craig Westcott

Here's something you don't see everyday – a big public works project coming in under budget.

But that's exactly what happened with the City of Mount Pearl's repaving of Old Placentia Road in sections from Nelder Drive to Ruth Avenue, the eastbound section of Ruth Avenue to Smallwood Drive, Smallwood Drive to Richard Nolan Drive, and Richard Nolan Drive to Commonwealth Avenue.

The job was awarded in 2020 to Weir's Construction Ltd., for $1.64 million. The funds came out of the City's federal gas tax grant.

By the time the job was competed, despite some additional sidewalk being replaced and other sections of asphalt being removed, the total cost weighed in at just over $1.4 million. That left a savings of $263,841.

Councillor Mark Rice, who co-chairs council's infrastructure and public works committee, described it as a good news story, which he had saved for the end of his regular committee report.

Rice made a motion that council return the savings to the Gas Tax account.

"It's a great news story," agreed Mayor Dave Aker. "And we've already allocated the money (from the savings) to other roadways here in the city."

Three Mount Pearl Senior High Huskies are heading to the mainland for competition this summer. Left to right are Brooke Ledevehat, Adam Goulding, and Michael Hann, who have each secured a place on the Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games Basketball Team that will be competing in Niagara Falls

City upping its flower planting effort this year

By Patrick Newhook/February 24, 2022

Thanks to the hiring of a horticulturist last year and the signing of a two-year contract for the supply of flowers and bulbs, council is expecting Mount Pearl to look even prettier than usual this spring and summer.

Councillor Isabelle Fry, who co-chairs council’s infrastructure and public works committee, made the motion for the flower purchase at last week’s public meeting.

“Spring is coming and we have to be ready for it,” said Fry, who noted the hiring of a horticulturalist last year actually saved the City some money as that person was able to help provide some of the City’s flowers. In the meantime, the City still does have to purchase flowers and bulbs from outside sources, because of the many areas where they are planted.

“To give you some background, the committee was advised that the tender for the supply and delivery of flowers for 2022 and 2023 closed on December 30 and only one bid was received and it was from Murray’s Horticultural Services in the amount of $62,740,” said Fry.

She recommended the sole bidder be approved to supply the flowers for the two years.

Councilor Bill Antle described the contract as a “great, great spend.”  His only question was whether the City was paying for the two years of flowers up front, or whether the amount would be divided over two budgets.

Infrastructure and public works director Gerry Antle confirmed the payments will be divided. “We would only pay upon receipt of the actual flowers, so there’d be a portion paid through 2022 and then again in 2023,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley also welcomed the purchase adding, “the more you invest in this the more you’re going to see.” She asked whether staff have any changes in mind for the planting program this year.

“We’ve been planting a little bit differently the past few years because of COVID,” said director Antle. “We’ve been focusing on some of the walking trails, St. David’s Park and around City Hall. I hope that as we start to come out of COVID, we’ll start to consider additional areas or different areas again. We’ve normally done areas at intersections, main intersections of streets and roads in Mount Pearl…  We’ll determine as we look with our committee as to areas that we’ll identify as a in priority for 2022. So, it could change. I’ll probably leave it with our committee and then come back to council as we come up with areas that we think are the best ones for 2022.”

The director added that staff will also be ramping up its tree planting efforts this year.

Mayor Dave Aker asked whether having the horticulturalist on staff will enable the City to expand its flower program. The director said it would.

Councilor closed the debate by observing that doing something as simple as planting flowers adds to the city. “It increases property values, it makes people happy, it’s great for the environment,” Fry said. “It’s just a win win all around.”

Old Placentia underpass work to resume June 1

By Craig Westcott/February 24, 2022

The City has approved a request from contractor Eric Taylor Limited to extend the construction time on repairs to a walkway and underpass on Old Placentia Road.

The CBS company was awarded the $269,185 contract in July last year with completion scheduled before the end of the construction season.

However, as councillor Mark Rice, who co-chairs the infrastructure and public works committee pointed out, delays in receiving supplies caused by the pandemic meant the work could not be done on time.

"So, the contractor submitted a request for a change order... which sees the work on this project recommence on June 1, 2022 and will be substantially complete within 51 days of the start date," Rice said. "Any measures required during the extension period such as bracing, repairs, will be the responsibility of the contractor and there will be no cost to the City."

Rice said his committee recommended approval of the extension and so he was making the motion for council to do so.

"This is a rare change order," allowed Mayor Dave Aker, referring to Rice’s statement that it means no extra cost for the City. “There are no financial issues here, or is there?"

Infrastructure and public works director Gerry Antle said there is no financial cost to the city as a result of the delay.

“If there is a cost, it is the result of some work that might possibly be done on the underpass during this period of extension,” Antle said. “It would be borne by the contractor. In this case here it's a reasonable request to extend the duration of the work until this construction season that is forthcoming."

That led Aker to ask why the City isn't similarly protected from extra costs in other public works projects that happen to go over schedule.

"Is that primarily because this is more of a fixed price contract?" said Aker.

"You're correct," replied director Antle. "Much of the unit priced civil works projects, unless we actually tender them as multi-year – some of the projects in the city actually do go into double years or triple years even and the schedule is build accordingly – the schedule for this project was for the duration that we anticipated. As a result of some challenges with the contractor in this case, they couldn't complete it in the fall season, so rather than bear the challenge of winter and the heating that comes with concrete, the request was to continue into the next year."

That led councillor Jim Locke to ask Antle if there will be lane closures during the work.

Antle admitted that lane closures are expected once construction resumes, in order to allow the work to continue underneath the road. "Traffic is required to be diverted for two reasons," Antle explained, “for safety as well as for the concrete to cure once it's placed. So, we'll be diverting traffic from one side of Old Placentia to the other side and then returning it once it's passed that construction zone. And then once we get (at) the other half, we'll move it to the other side."

Locke said he was curious about that because with the 51-day completion schedule, work will continue into the third week of July and he was concerned that it not drag on longer and impact traffic when schools reopen in September. 

The motion to approve the change order passed unanimously.

Tax deferral policy gets an airing

By Patrick Newhook/February 24, 2022

A motion to approve a deferral of property taxes for a low-income family sparked a discussion of the policy at Mount Pearl city council last week.

Corporate service committee co-chairman Jim Locke made the motion for the deferral in the amount of some $6,200.

Under the City’s tax policy, it can temporarily waive the payment of property taxes owed on homes that are owned by families that earn less than $40,000 per year, collectively.

Mayor Dave Aker asked how long an exemption can last.

Councillor Locke said it can be good for multiple years.

“As our policy permits, we will defer the payment,” he said. “Ultimately when the property is sold, the city will get this back. But in this case it is multiple years. They still have to pay water and sewer taxes every year as well as their garbage fee, we don’t defer that. But we can defer the taxes and the interest on the taxes.”

Councillor Bill Antle followed up on the mayor’s question for more specifics as to duration. “Could we continue this on for 20 years,” he asked. “Is there a limit that we stop deferring taxes?”

Locke reiterated what he had previously said, that the City collects the deferred taxes once the property is sold.

“There is no set time frame, everybody who is eligible for the low income earning tax deferral has to submit annual income statements to the City so that we can validate the income is under $40,00 which is our threshold and we wouldn't let the tax deferred exceed the value of the property,” added Director of Finance, Cassie Pittman. “It really varies based on the amount owed and the value of the property. So, there’s no set timeline, but it is monitored annually.”

Council approved Locke’s motion to allow a deferral in this particular case.

Family friendly facilities will stem population decline, say Aker and Lane

By Patrick Newhook/February 17, 2022

Nearly all of the municipalities on the Northeast Avalon have seen population growth over the past four years, according to the latest Census, with one notable exception – Mount Pearl.

According to the census, Mount Pearl’s population dropped from 23,120 people in 2016 to 22,477 last year. 

Mayor Dave Aker said it’s due to the city’s aging population. 

“I think it’s the aging population and in all honestly not every demographic within every family wants to live in Mount Pearl,” said Aker. “I think we are very well positioned in the region that we do live in, and I think basically you have a lot of people who have built up their houses over the years and the good news is they continue to remain in those homes, but naturally some of the offspring, as they grow up, they move to other places, including Mount Pearl, but they don’t necessarily stay in the city.” 

Rookie city councillor Chelsea Lane agrees with the mayor.
Lane is a young parent who chose to stay in Mount Pearl. She feels the city is limited with space unlike other towns on the Northeast Avalon, which makes housing options more difficult for young families.

The provincial government put a sharp limit on Mount Pearl’s expansion in the late 1990s when it handed over a lot of land on its borders to the City of St. John’s as compensation for taking over the Goulds, which had been an independent town of its own but in need of costly infrastructure upgrades. 

“I think some of it has to do with Mount Pearl only having so much land,” said Lane. “We are surrounded by other towns and cities. When it comes to building new houses, which is attractive to some new families, we are restricted in some ways. We’re working towards trying to figure out how to get some new properties here in Mount Pearl, because I know that for a lot of young couples, sometimes when they’re looking to buy their first home, they’re not looking for a home to do work on, they’re looking for a house that's fresh and ready to move in.” 

Population growth is a tricky problem to solve. Mount Pearl does have an advantage in that it a city with many amenities. In the past the city has invested in its recreation and other public facilities, including trails. It is also close to other important amenities, such as hospitals, in St. John’s.  Lane feels that by continuing these types of developments, it will be key in attracting families. 

“As a young mother here in Mount Pearl, when I think what’s going to draw new families to Mount Pearl, I think about stuff for families,” she said. “And one of those main things we have coming, which I think is a great addition, is we are going to be having a smart and accessible playground.”  

Mayor Aker agreed with that view and cited similar projects the city has built which are good for young families. 

“We are going to build a new civic center too,” said the mayor. “We want to replace an old building in Mount Pearl, the existing community centre called Park Place. One of the things we are doing with families in mind will be a year-round outdoor recreational space featuring a splash pad for the warmer months and an ice-skating surface for the winters and those two items are clearly targeted towards families. We continue as a city to plan ahead.”