Septic permit wrangle cost town over $40K

By Mark Squibb

A council decision to revoke a septic system permit five years ago cost Witless Bay taxpayers some $37,862 in legal fees.

That’s what the Town of Witless Bay paid lawyers during two attempts in Supreme Court to uphold council’s decision to revoke a well and septic system permit that had been granted by a previous council to Gary and Ann Marie Churchill for their property near the end of Gallows Cove Road.

Council approved an application for the well and septic system in August 2021, and Service NL gave the greenlight for its installation in October that year.

However, when an entirely new slate of councillors was elected to office in September 2021, some of whom had campaigned on a platform of stopping development in parts of the community, it quickly rescinded a slew of motions from earlier years, including the permit for the Churchills’ septic system.

Gary Churchill appealed that decision to the Regional Municipal Appeal Board. The board determined it had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal, and so Churchill took the matter to Supreme Court in April 2024.

The Court determined the Board did have jurisdiction, and ordered the Town to pay the couple $1,100 in legal fees.

In a continuing bid to have the septic permit reinstated, Churchill took both the Town and the Appeal Board to court again last year after the Appeal Board had heard the matter and ruled the Town had the right to rescind the permit.

But once again, a Supreme Court judge ruled in Churchill’s favour, and once again, the Town was forced to pay the couple $1,100 in legal fees.

The Irish Loop Post had asked Town staff for the amount spent on legal representation but was told the information would only be provided through an Access to Information request.

The $37,862 the Town spent on lawyers does not include the $2,200 in legal fees it had to pay the Churchills.

Holyrood shifts community centre money to other projects

By Mark Squibb

Holyrood council last week voted to reallocate $908,060 in provincial government funding earmarked for the construction of a new community centre to sewer upgrades and other recreation upgrades instead.

“This project funding had to be spent by the end of the year, December 31 of 2026, this year, or it would be lost,” explained councilor Steve Winsor. “It’s a use-it-or-lose it sort of thing. But because we’re not shovel ready with the community center project – we’re in an earlier concept (phase) and seeking public feedback – so, there’s no way you would be able to start and finish that building in this time frame. You can’t do that. So, to preserve project funding, we’re moving the funding to more immediate projects that are near term and readily available to execute this year and we’ll reapply for the community center under an appropriate funding program.”

Winsor said the reallocation of the money in no way means a change of plans in regard to the centre itself.

“We’re doing this to protect funding,” said Winsor. “We’re not losing the community centre. We’re not losing funding. This is a very smart and proactive measure recommended by staff, which I support. I think it’s the right thing to do.”

A concept design and land survey for the proposed community centre have been completed to the tune of about $100,000 (much of which was covered by provincial government), and the Town recently hosted a hearing to gather community feedback.

Council announced its intention to apply for funding for the new centre in 2023 and was allocated the $908,060 in 2024 with a deadline to spend it by the end of this year.

CBS hires headhunter to find business attraction director

By Craig Westcott

The Town of CBS is rejigging its economic development department so that the new director will also be charged with competing against other municipalities on the Avalon to attract business investment.

Corporate headhunting company Venor is being hired at a cost of $18,000 to recruit someone for the position, which came open ago after the Town's longtime and respected director, Jennifer Lake, had to step aside to deal with a serious health challenge. The position has been filled on an interim basis for over a year.

"We've had some changes in the economic development department as we all know," said Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse at last week's public council meeting. "A couple of years ago we formed a partnership with Advantage St. John's along with our neighbours the City of St. John's and the Town of Paradise, and the mandate of Advantage of St. John's is to help attract new investment opportunities to our region. But as a town we still have to compete with other municipalities in the region for those investment opportunities once there is business interest in coming here. This position will play an important role in regard to that and will report directly to our CAO (chief administrative officer)."

Gosse said it's not a typical recruitment matter for the Town.

"This is something with a different focus and so it's going to involve a bit of a different skill set," she said. "That's why we're looking to Venor to do the recruitment for us."

Coastline wins bleachers Paradise bleachers contract

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Paradise is continuously working to replace wooden bleachers with aluminium ones at its various sports fields.

Councillor Jennifer Hiscock said last month the process began in 2023 with money being allocated to the program every year since then. This year, staff budgeted $60,000 for the purchase of eight sets of bleachers.

Two companies submitted quotes. The Bleacher Guys bid $68,308, and Coastline Specialties submitted a quote of $56,027.

Hiscock moved that council buy the eight sets of bleachers from Coastline Specialties at a total cost of $64,431, HST included.

Four sets are destined for the Diane Whalen Sports Complex and four sets for the Peter Barry Duff soccer field.

“It’s always good to see these upgrades,” said Hiscock. “We are aware that wooden bleachers are not the way to go, so these aluminum bleachers are most definitely an upgrade for our facilities, and I’m happy to support that.”

The rest of council was happy to support the motion as well, and approved it unanimously.

Meanwhile, councillor Sheldon Antle noted that tournaments such as SunSplash soccer are so popular that some parents have trouble even finding a bleacher to sit on.

Decision to opt out of Town water no reflection on Holyrood’s services, says Winsor

By Mark Squibb

Holyrood councillor Steve Winsor says a resident’s decision to install a private well and septic system rather than hook into Town lines ought not be viewed as a reflection on Holyrood’s town services.

Council approved the permit for a new home at 189-191 Conception Bay Highway back in February, with the understanding it would be connected to the municipal water and sewer system.

Council rescinded that motion during its April public meeting, as the resident opted to install a private well and septic system instead. Council approved the application.

“We have safe and reliable water and sewer system infrastructure,” said Winsor. “A person makes a choice, for personal reasons, to not connect due to technical challenges, maybe grade on the land, lift stations, length of lines, these sorts of things. Technical challenges come with a cost for that person. They may have personal reasons to want to be off the system and have their own well, their own septic within their control. That’s fine. They still pay for the service running by the door. I just wanted to explain that a little bit, and make sure that everyone understands, most importantly, that we do have safe, reliable water infrastructure which we’re constantly trying to improve, so people don’t think, ‘Oh, why isn’t the person connecting? Is it bad?’”

Deputy Mayor Michele Woodford concurred, and the motion passed unanimously.

The house was one of eight new homes approved for construction during the meeting.

Councillor Bruce King noted building lots in Holyrood are considerably cheaper than in neighbouring towns, making the community very attractive for families and developers.

“Small lots in Paradise right now, some of them are going as high as $200,000 a lot,” said King. “We only paid half of that for a house when we moved here. That’s what’s flushing people out of those places. You’re paying $200,000 before you even buy a stick of two-by-four. Imagine what your house is going to cost. So, Holyrood is affordable, and people should come out here and live.”

Council also approved eight other permits, including for a new garage, general repairs, and home-based businesses.

King said the number of applications is a sure sign spring is in the air.

“There are a lot of housing developments now starting,” said King. “People are getting out now and finally finding where their sheds used to be and their fence used to be.”

Former MUN think tank head to help CBS map out strategic plan

By Craig Westcott

Former Harris Centre head Dr. Robert Greenwood has been tapped to help the Town of CBS develop a strategic plan.

The former director of the Memorial University think tank will be paid $28,185 plus HST.

Councillor-at-large Christine Butler said Greenwood Consulting was the winning bidder of a limited call to consulting companies for the service.

"Each year, council sets its short-term priorities for our annual budget process," Butler said. "Of course, we also have medium and longer-term priorities. Council has decided to formally document our plans for a slightly longer planning horizon by preparing a strategic plan to guide our actions and expenditures for the next three to five years."

Three companies answered the Town's call for services, Butler said.

"After internal evaluation Greenwood Consulting ranked highest," she added. "Dr. Robert Greenwood will be leading this project. He is a former deputy minister of regional economic development; he was also the founding director of the Leslie Harris Centre for regional policy and development at Memorial University and has extensive experience with economic development and strategic planning. We look forward to working with Dr. Greenwood over the coming months."

Potential ‘major’ subdivision coming to Three Island Pond area

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Paradise has received an application for approval of a major subdivision on a 19.6-hectare parcel of Crown Land off Dawe’s Road and west of Three Island Pond.

As the land is zoned Rural Conservation, a groundwater assessment will be required.

Councillor Sheldon Antle said the applicant has been issued a Crown Land licence to access the land for the assessment but needs permission from the Town to undertake it. The assessment includes the installation of monitoring wells.

“It’s important to note, any designs or builds that would come forward would have to be compliant with rural residential conservation design principals to ensure that the natural look of the area remains,” said Antle. “It’s important for us, and we’ve had many conversations, about maintaining the natural look, and maintaining the aesthetic, and the environmentalism principles where possible, and rural residential conservation design principles help to ensure that.”

Council gave its approval for a groundwater assessment only. Any development approval will come at a later time and will depend on the assessment results.

Big Eric’s wins bid to supply fridges for new community centre

By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mount Pearl City Council has approved $80,148 worth of kitchen appliances needed to outfit the community centre that is currently under construction.

Big Eric’s was recommended by City administration as the lowest compliant bidder on the tender, which includes the supply of six appliances including a double door commercial refrigerator, double door commercial freezer, commercial propane range, commercial food warmer, commercial dishwasher and a commercial glass washer.

“The new Community Centre presently under construction will house a full commercial kitchen suitable to host a variety of catered functions from corporate luncheons to community events to wedding receptions,” read the report by staff that went to council at its April 14 public meeting. “Many of these appliances have specific electrical and plumbing requirements and as such must be sourced and identified prior to the start of the plumbing and electrical components of the construction process.”

Chandler provided a quote of $82,772 for the appliances, while the one from Atlantic Supplies weighed in at $80,403.

Delivery of the appliances will be deferred until this fall to align with the anticipated completion and opening of the new community centre.

Councillor Jim Locke pointed out the original concept was to move many of the activities from the Reid Community Centre to the new community centre, and revert the Reid Centre back to focus more on sporting activities.

“I know we spent some significant investments to upgrade the kitchen at the Reid Community Centre, so I’m just curious could that equipment,” said Locke. “I don’t know what the state of the equipment is like at the Reid Community Centre – is that something we could move down to our new community centre?”

Staff responded by saying that although the plan is to move most events down to the new centre, not every event and community group will be moved. Keeping the kitchen facilities at the Reid Centre, it was pointed out, allows capacity for booking events at the same time.

Holyrood ‘in a really good financial position,’ says Woodford

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Holyrood is in good financial standing, says Deputy Mayor Michele Woodford.

During council’s April meeting, Woodford said staff conducted a departmental budget review, and most departments reported first quarter spending below the 25 percent threshold. The one exception was the department of environment, which had spent 50 percent of its budget by the end of the first quarter. Woodford chalked up the overspending to an early payment of the annual garbage contract.

“That does not represent, of course, a budget overage, but rather, a proactive and efficient financial management practice,” she said.

All told, the Town is averaging 22.98 percent of its annual budget having been spent in the first quarter.

In terms of income, the Town has collected $970,941 in current year taxes and $83,796 in back taxes. That amounts to 23.44 percent of residential taxes, 18.58 percent of water and sewer, 15.43 percent of business tax, and 54.28 percent of fire taxes to be paid in 2026.

The Town was also advised recently that its gas tax funding allocation for 2026 had increased, and that Holyrood will receive an additional $15,376, resulting in a bump in the municipal budget to $5,220,745.

Woodford said gas tax funding is ‘project driven funding’ and will be allocated as fiscal services on the balance sheet.

The Town had initially budgeted $289,460 in gas tax income.

“Overall, we’re in a really good financial position,” concluded Woodford.