Mount Pearl - Southlands MHA Paul Lane started political life as a city councillor, moved up to provincial politics as a PC MHA, crossed the floor to join the Liberals when then Premier Kathy Dunderdale got into trouble over fumbling the government’s handling of a severe electricity blackout, and then got turfed from the Liberals when he voted against an unpopular budget crafted by the new government. He has since managed to keep his seat as an independent in two elections.
Mayor says City accomplished much despite strike and skyrocketing prices
Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker at his office in City Hall. Amongst all the mayors on the Avalon, Aker faced perhaps the biggest challenges last year as council dealt with the lingering fallout involving the firing of two councillors and a chief administrative office the previous year, as well a strike this past summer by the City’s unionized workers. That was on top of the inflation crisis affecting all municipalities.
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
State of the art environmental technology paying off for Summit Centre
By Mark Squibb/December 9, 2022
The City of Mount Pearl is paying $79,750 to replace the system that monitors the pool’s water.
“It was determined that the Summit Pool water chemistry controllers required replacement to permit more effective and efficient monitoring of the pool’s water balance and its control systems,” explained councillor Isabelle Fry during last week’s meeting.
Council awarded the contract for the supply and delivery of pool water chemistry controllers to the lowest qualified bidder, Water & Ice North America.
Councillor Jim Locke asked whether it was the first time for the replacement of the controllers, as he had no memory of them being replaced in the past, and asked what the regular maintenance costs were.
Manager of Facilities Matthew Jones confirmed that it was indeed the first time replacing the system, and the new controllers are more advanced, and can be monitored remotely from a cell phone.
Later in the meeting, council also took a moment to celebrate two full years of continuously heating both Summit Centre Pools solely through recovered energy from the Glacier Eco-Chill System, which council said resulted in annual savings of approximately $65,000. Essentially, the energy normally removed from the Glacier’s ice surfaces during their operation is transferred as heat to the pools next door.
“To put that into perspective, that’s the equivalent of approximately 40 homes,” said Fry. “Council of the day invested in the technology at the time, and we’re now seeing the end results, and the savings, accordingly. So, that’s really exciting news. Two years of not using any heat to heat the pools. That’s awesome.”
Councillor Locke noted the news came with environmental gains as well as the financial gains and befits the City’s ‘green lens’ of looking at things.
“I and the mayor were a part of this decision-making process when this Eco-Chill came before the council table, and it was a tough sell, because there was an additional expenditure of capital upfront,” said Locke. “But the council of the day, and kudos to them, recognised both the environmental impact, the environmental savings, and the financial savings.”
Locke and Fry both tipped their hat to Jones, whom they said played a critical role in the process.
And while the City is saving money by recycling energy to reheat swimming pools, the price of pool chemicals has unfortunately increased.
“On October 11, 2022, the awarded vendor Bilroc Industries, the lowest bidder,
supplying the City of Mount Pearl with 205 litres of chlorine for the treatment of our pool water advised that they were no longer able to continue to supply this product for the tender price bid in January 2020,” said councillor Bill Antle. “The new chlorine price quoted by Bilroc for 205 litre units is $280.85 per unit, an increase from $182.45 per unit, which will have a total annual increase of $9,348.”
Council unanimously accepted the increase.
City hires outside contractor in case snow clearing crews don't want to work overtime
By Mark Squibb/December 9, 2022
For the first time in the city’s history, Mount Pearl council has tendered snow clearing to an outside contractor so that it’s unionized crews don’t have to work as much overtime.
“As our residents know, snow clearing in Mount Pearl is second to none in our region, and something we take great pride in,” Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley said at last week’s council meeting. “We have a great level of service for our residents and really, truly work hard to maintain that level of service.”
She then noted a number of extreme circumstances the City faced over the last number of years, including adverse weather, such as the Snowmageddon of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Then, we have to look at responding to staff in amongst these very difficult, demanding issues, who seek additional work-life balance and to opt out of overtime,” said Kiely. “This is a time we know that strain, mental health, and work-life balance has become more of a priority over the years — as it should be.”
The City also, of course, suffered through a labor strike this summer.
Kieley said that as a result of the latest collective agreement, the City will rely less on overtime by staff to better support employees’ work-life balance.
“So, for the first time in our city’s history, we’re doing things a little different and we’re opting to issue a tender for snow clearing services,” said Kieley. “While this has been done in all sorts of municipalities it is designed today to support our existing services and mitigate against the risk of decreased service levels caused by any of the concerns I’ve just mentioned. This is us creating a safety net to ensure our services are at the utmost but is also reflective of the realities in which we are living.”
Mayor Dave Aker noted the tender approval “amounts to a contingency, not quite an insurance policy.”
Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount said that prior to the start of the contract, staff will meet with the winning bidder, Farrell’s Excavating, to review service documents, staff expectations, and snow routes.
The contract is valued at $531,875, HST included, per year.
“There is going to be a learning curve here for sure,” said Dollimount. “But based on the past number of years I think that it is a very important part of a contingency plan in the event that we require extra equipment for our snow clearing.”
Both councillors Isaballe Fry and Jim Locke asked how the tender would work in relation to the work done by City staff, and Dollimount clarified that, essentially, the tender was budgeted as a contingency plan in case staff becomes overwhelmed with either COVID-19 or massive snowfall amounts, or do not wish to work overtime hours. Dollimount said the tender is based on yearly averages, and that the City may not spend the full amount.
Meanwhile, councillor Chelsea Lane reminded folks the winter parking ban would be soon coming into effect.
“It’s that time of year again,” said Lane. “As a reminder to the public, snow clearing regulations will come into effect starting December 1 through to March 31, 2023. An unattended vehicle is not permitted to be parked on any street or City- owned land within the City between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. For further information including fine amounts, visit the City website. And so obviously, the weather is beginning to pick up out there, and snow will be coming and it’s very important that we abide by these regulations. Nobody wants to get a ticket this winter, so make sure you park in your driveway.”
On the heels of Lane’s reminder, Mayor Dave Aker noted that the good news at least, is that Santa Claus is coming to town, as Lane’s next item was a reminder of the upcoming Breakfast with Santa at the Reid Centre on Sunday, December 18th from 9 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Tickets will be $5 each, and can be purchased online beginning Wednesday, December 7 . Children under 2 are free, though no no meal or seat is provided.
“This is an event that is always very well attended and often sells out, so I remind residents, that if they are interested in going to see the big guy with their children, to make sure that they log on Wednesday to get their tickets because they will absolutely sell out,” said Lane.
The Mount Pearl Senior High Huskies captured the 4A High School Boys indoor soccer championship last weekend beating Holy Heart of Mary of St. John’s in the final. The team members, who are also all members of the Paradise Minor Soccer Association, include, from left: Coach Jonathan Healey, Matthew Burridge, Evan Stuckless, Kyle Button, Marcus Paterson, Brody Wright, Alex Manning and Coach Matt Hart. Missing from the photo is Luke Walsh. Kelley Button photo
Mount Pearl Intermediate’s Grade 9 boys volleyball team recently won the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association’s Grade 9 and Under Regional East Male Tier 2 competition. From left to right are coaches Claudette Warren and Natalie O'Donnell, and players Tyler Marsh, Gavin Penney, Jax Montague, Ethan Whalen, Nick Bishop, Luke Parrott, Jeffrey Pinsent, Jacob Fleet, Zach Earle, Blake Mullaley, Riley Hogan and coach Valerie Penney. Submitted photo