Youths raise donations for local food banks

Mount Pearl youths Alex Taylor and Claudie Carew teamed up with Clay Cafe and Bridges to Hope to raise donations for the local food banks. The event, Youth Live Music and Paint Night, was a great success, and those in attendance had a great time raising donations for a good cause. From left to right are Mackenzie Benson of Clay Cafe, Claudia Carew, Lucy Maclean of Clay Cafe, Alex Taylor, Emily Noel with Bridges to Hope and Lesley Noel with Bridges to Hope. Submitted photo

City approves funds for community groups

By Mark Squibb/February 3, 2023

Mount Pearl City council has inked a new memorandum of understanding with the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl (AAMP) that will see taxpayers continue to provide a $10,000 annual operating subsidy to the community organization.

The new deal is effective from January 1, 2023, until December 31, 2025, and was approved by council during last week’s public meeting, with Mayor Dave Aker noting it was a “fine investment in the culture of our community.”

During that same meeting, council also approved the first installments of 2023 operating subsidies for both the Admiralty House Communication Museum and the Frosty Festival in the amounts of $57,500 and $35,000 respectively.

All three motions were approved unanimously.

Mount Pearl approves new row houses aimed at 55+ set

By Mark Squibb/February 3, 2023

Mount Pearl council has approved additional units along Avery Place, a subdivision home to well over twenty 55-plus condos.

“The City is in receipt of an application by RJC Services, on behalf of Placentia Bay Holdings, for a residential intensification project at 10 Avery Place,” said councillor Mark Rice during last week’s public meeting. “This proposal is for a three-building housing project with a total of 13 units: two buildings with 11 three-story row houses and basement parking at grade level, and a third building with common/office space on the main level and two units on the second and third floor respectively. The proposal also includes six parking spaces for the third building, private gardens at the rear of the two buildings on the southern and western ends of the parcel, and a 7.32-metre-wide road between the three buildings.”

Rice explained the Planning, Engineering, and Development Committee had reviewed the application and recommended approval.

Councillor Jim Locke applauded the project.

“We have 16 square kilometres of land here and limited land left in the Northlands for further residential development,” said Locke. “And as we know, we’re into our strategic planning sessions here and planning a course of action moving forward. Such intensification is necessary, it’s going to be needed for the city to grow and prosper. Given the limited land we have, we’re looking at alternatives, and this is the type of project I feel the city needs moving forward.”

He noted the proponent has committed to maintaining the unit as a 55-plus complex.

“That was welcome news to the residents in Avery Place,” said Locke. “That was a key concern that they brought forth. And of course, we all know the need for seniors housing in the City of Mount Pearl. We could probably use another 500 units here. So, again, I think it’s a great move that we’re intensifying this area. It’s going to be a great completion to that little neighbourhood down there. The residents love Avery Place and their access to the T’railway, so this will be a nice finish to the whole development down there, so I fully support this.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley added she was thankful for the residents who came out to a public consultation session and for the developer who gave a clear and concise presentation at that session. She added the building is being designed to be universal, that is, inclusive and accessible to all residents.

“That is something that more and more we should hope to see in developments, that concept that no matter what your abilities are or how old you are, the building itself is inclusively designed in a way that, well, speaks for itself — universal,” Kieley said.

Councillors Chelsea Lane and Bill Antle also both voiced their support.

“I think it’s great that we’re seeing intensification like this happening,” said Lane. “I think that we’re moving in the right direction, and I certainly hope to see more projects such as this coming in the future. And the fact that it’s going to be 55-plus is excellent, because I for one know that when I was going door-to-door, the need for seniors housing was something that I heard numerous times.”

Antle applauded the decision of the developer to steer clear of trees bordering on the nearby T’railway.

“I think everything with that development is going to bode well for the residents,” said Antle.

The motion was approved unanimously.

The Mount Pearl Seniors Independence Group reached out to their local food bank last month to inquire which items the food bank were in most need of. Soup was one time the food bank was lacking, so members took it upon themselves to collect soup throught out the month of January. All told, members collected 349 cans of soup, along with monetary donations, during the month of January for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. From Left to right are food bank representatives:  Con Milmore (Food Bank Rep), Doreen Squires, Sandra Milmore (Food Bank Rep), Bill Thomson, Gertie Norman, Clayton Courtney, Martina Chaytor, Barbara Gough, Pat Simms, Shirley Carr, Nancy Noseworthy, Ada Rose, Dot Thistle, Helen Carberry, Marion Abbott, Linda Collins, Harold Bussey, Lorraine Gillespie, Doug Babstock and Matt White.  Sitting; Phyllis McLean, Mona Chipman & Jean Warren.

City crews did well with biggest snowfall since Snowmageddon, says Locke

By Mark Squibb/January 27, 2023

Councillor Jim Locke spoke for some time during this past week’s meeting on the first major snow storm.

“We had quite a significant snowfall episode over the weekend,” said Locke. “Councillor (Mark) Rice was saying that he believed that in some areas we got a little more than the quoted 55 centimetres, and I wouldn’t doubt that, given the different microclimates we have throughout the city. To put it in context, we received about two-thirds of the same amount of snow we received during Snowmageddon, as people like to call it.”

He noted that on top of the snow, residents had rain, and then freeing and thawing conditions, that made the snow even more difficult to deal with.

“We all know how sticky and heavy the snow was afterwards,” said Locke. “So, it was a significant amount of snow to deal with, and I’ve got to say, our staff answered the call, as they typically do. I heard nothing but positives about the efforts and the pushback against the snow and how quickly it was done. Some chuckled and said that they were frustrated because the plows were coming around too often. They would get their driveway cleared and then the plow would come and fill them back in again.”

He said there were complaints from some residents that sidewalks were not cleared as quickly as they would have liked, but Locke said folks have to remember there are certain protocols in place that the City must follow.

“We do certain streets first, the mains, and then the secondary streets, and we put an emphasis on the school zones,” said Locke.  “Our staff are very well trained and very good at doing this, so we just ask for patience. We can’t start everyone’s street at the same time, so someone has to be the first street, someone’s got to be the middle street, and someone has to be the last street.”

He also noted a number of issues that can hinder the City’s snow clearing efforts, such as folks parking their cars in the street while clearing their driveways.

“That will prevent the plows from getting down,” said Locke. “And if you’re blocking the roads and the plows can’t get down, sometimes they’ll blow their horn, and other times they may look down and if they can’t get down they’ll go on and continue their route. So, they may by-pass and, then people get frustrated that the plow wasn’t down their road. But it’s due to the fat that some of their neighbours, or perhaps themselves, had put up obstacles with their cars.”

He said some people also complained that the T’railway had been groomed, perhaps at the expense of sidewalks.

Locke said that was not the case.

“It’s not ‘either/or’,” said Locke. “We didn’t groom the trail and not do sidewalks.”

Locke explained a different type of equipment is used to groom the trails, and that all available plows and snow blowers were out and about clearing streets and sidewalks.

“So, we didn’t groom the trail at the expense of city sidewalks or roads,” said Locke.

He said that while out walking along the T’railway that morning he met folks who said they were quite pleased the City had taken the time to groom the trails and salt St. David’s Park.

Cleaning was still underway as of Tuesday’s meeting.

“So, it was a huge snowfall,” concluded Locke. “Like I said, it was two-thirds of what we got with Snowmageddon. I think people were really surprised with the amount of snow that did fall. I thought we handled it quite well and I got far more compliments for our snowclearing, with respect to some of the concerns that I expressed.”

Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount concurred the City has not had to deal with such snow since Snowmageddon three years ago.

“So, in my time as director, this would be the biggest snow event that we’ve had to date,” said Dollimount. “And given how heavy and wet the snow was in this particular event, when it’s on the asphalt, if there’s any amount of vehicle traffic that travels over the snow before we have a chance to scrape it off, it sticks to the asphalt and it’s near impossible to get off. “

He said for that reason some city vehicles had to go out to clear routes that had already been plowed, and that crews were working around the clock to clear the snow.

“We received some criticism, and that’s all good, that’s part of it,” said Dollimount. “But we received a lot of positive feedback as well. And part of that goes to good planning from the City and good budgeting over the years. Our equipment is where it needs to be. It takes a team effort to make this effort. It’s a lot of work to make this happen, but we do it, and we do it well.”

Late last year, the City passed a motion to tender over $530,000 worth of snow clearing hours to a private contractor, Farrell’s Excavating, a first in the City’s history.

The rationale provided by council at the time was that the move would ensure the City was relying less on its own workers — who had been on strike for over 11 weeks this past summer — working overtime to clear snow.

Following the meeting, City staff confirmed to The Pearl that the contractor was not called in, and that all snow clearing was completed ‘in-house.’

Dollimount seemed to have the final word on snow, but councillor Bill Antle broached the subject a moment later during council’s round table.

Antle said he had received a number of calls from residents claiming that folks using trucks with snowblades and plows attached to them were clearing their driveways and pushing snow into the road.

“Even though you’re not supposed to do that and it’s a municipal by-law, people still continue to do that,” said Antle. “Sometimes, you just have to be a little bit more respectful. When you’re plowing your driveway with those snow scopes, don’t pop it in front of your neighbour’s driveway.”

He added that attaching snowblades and pushing snow onto the streets is against the law.

‘’You’re going to get a ticket,” warned Antle. “We’re paying attention to it now. Don’t plow on the roads. It impedes traffic and as councillor Locke said, ambulances and fire trucks have to get by, and if your plowing snow on the road, we can’t get by.”

Mayor Dave Aker asked whether council shouldn’t ban pickup trucks from plowing with blades.

“Because, unless you can do lift and place, which is really what is preferred, especially after any snowfall, my suggestion is, because we talk about it a lot, is why not take that back to committee?” said Aker. “I know there are other jurisdictions that will not allow those blades.”

Antle was agreeable to Aaker’s suggestion to bring the matter back to the Recreation and Community Safety committee, adding the fines would have to be stiff enough that folks don’t use the blades anymore.

“When you make it part of our regulations, you, how do I say this, ‘up the ante,’” said Aker. “It’s not just a traffic violation, it’s now a breach of a regulation and typically the penalties are a little bit more severe.”

Councillor Mark Rice added that a few residents on his street had a run in over the issue and that “a few words were exchanged.”

A number of O’Donel High School students were recently named winners in a Remembrance Day poster contest sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion. Isaac Manuel, Grade 11, won first place in the colour poster. Jirah Hiscock, Grade 11, Sarah Elliott, Grade 11, and Allison Stinson, Grade 10, won first, second and third place respectiveluley in the poetry contest, while Rachel Crowe, Grade 10, and Joel Thomas, Grade 10, placed second and third respectively in the essay contest. In the back, from left to right, are Joel Thomas and Isaac Manuel. In the front, from left tyo right, are Comrade June King, Jirah Hiscock, Sarah Elliott, Allison Stinson, Rachael Crowe and Comrade Calvin Smith. Both comrades are member of Mount Pearl Legion Branch 36. All winning entries will be judged at the Provincial level, and from there, if successful, they will be judged at the national level for a chance at further prizes. Submitted photo

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.