Holyrood slashes permit fees

By Mark Squibb

Holyrood council has approved a balanced budget of $4,746,905 that will see no tax increases for residents or businesses.

The residential and commercial mil rate will be held steady at 7 and 12 mils respectively.

Council also reduced – or, in some cases, eliminated entirely – a number of rates and fees. New construction permits, general residential repairs, and commercial extensions have all been cut by 50 precent, while fees associated with hookups to town services (both water and sewer) for both existing houses and new builds have also been reduced. Improvement fees associated with new housing and business builds, and fees associated with water shut off requests due to leaks and other emergencies have been eliminated altogether.

“These measures are being taken to support our residents and to encourage others to come to Holyrood and make it their place of choice to live, work and play in a supportive community,” said councillor Laura Crawley, who presented the budget. “The reduction in commercial fees will encourage companies to become members of the Holyrood business community and become good corporate citizens.”

The Town will continue to offer residents an interest free payment plan for tax payments, while seniors receiving the GIS will receive a 20 percent discount on property tax for their primary residence. The Town will also provide families who have a combined income of $30,000 or less with a 20 percent discount

Crawley said the Town continued to adhere to the Curran Report when drafting the budget. That report, an operational review drafted by consultant Pat Curran in 2023, found the Town top heavy with management and made 20 recommendations for improvement, including a restructuring of staff, an adoption of a revised pay scale, and the cutting of at least one management position.

Through cost-shared funding, council will undertake a complete overhaul of its aging sewage treatment plant, valued at about $2.2 million worth of work, for which the Town will be on the hook for only 10 percent.

In 2025, the Town will also host public consultation sessions in regard to the proposed new community centre. Council earlier this year accepted $908,060 in 2023-2026 multi-year capital works funding for construction of the facility. Councillor Sadie King, who led the campaign for a community centre, said that budget item was like seeing a long-held Christmas wish come true.

On the recreation front, council has budgeted for further improvements to the boardwalk.

The Town will also continue to attempt to secure radon kits for residents.

The lion’s share of Holyrood’s revenue, some $4,187,230, will come from taxes. The Town is also bringing forward a surplus of $69,000 from 2023.

“Our activities of 2024 have enabled our council to build a solid foundation for 2025,” said Crawley. “We are ready to begin the new year with renewed energy and enthusiasm.”

Mayor Gary Goobie said he was very pleased with the budget.

“I think that we took a balanced approach in recognising and addressing the priorities of our residents,” said the mayor.

Goobie also noted the debt servicing ratio had dropped from 13 percent in 2024 to 11 percent.

“That’s a very healthy and comfortable position to be in, and it’s on par with most municipalities cross the province,” he said.

Council approved both the budget and tax rates unanimously.

“I fully support the budget,” said Deputy Mayor Michelle Woodford. “We were able to maintain the mil rate, we were able to eliminate or reduce rates and fees, while still maintaining the quality and efficiency of the services within the town.”

Councillor Bruce King called the budget well planned, flexible, and realistic, and added that he hopes the fee cuts will attract residents and commercial operations to Holyrood.

Councillor Mabel Tilley said she had a positive experience with what was her first municipal budget, and that council and staff worked together as a team to bring forward the best budget for residents.

Councillor Steve Winsor echoed the sentiments of many of his fellow councillors, and noted that this year’s budget process went smoothly, which he attributed in part to recommendations from the Curran Report implemented by the Town, such as requiring directors to draft a business plan for their respective departments. Winsor also applauded the elimination and reduction of certain fees, citing the national housing crisis.

Coombs pleased with Harbour Grace’s financial turnaround

By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Longtime Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs has seen a lot of ups and downs in his town’s prospects over the years – over this latest term of council even his critics would probably have to admit things have been more on the upside.

In an end of year interview, the genial “Don” of municipal politics said the 2024 accomplishment he is most proud of is that this council kept the Town’s financials in good shape.

“The council of 2021 did a great job realizing the deficit we had, and we put a 10-year plan in,” he said. “And we’re following the 10-year plan so our financials are good. We are eliminating things off the 10-year strategic plan which is good.”

This past year saw continued infrastructure and housing development, Coombs noted, and businesses in Harbour Grace are doing well. Moreover, the old Terra Nova Shoes building was sold, and Coombs said the new owners will develop jobs for the town and the region.

Coombs said he is grateful to everyone in Harbour Grace for the overall success the town has seen, commending council, staff, committees, and residents. “Everybody is working together in a positive manner, and you can see it,” he said.

On the horizon, Coombs said some new facilities are expected to open in 2025. Work on the Church of the Immaculate in Harbour Grace is nearing a close after more than half a decade. The cathedral is being renovated into a distillery, which will also have a thousand-seat convention centre. Coombs is optimistic that it will open this coming summer. In addition, a new hotel is expected to open next year, which Coombs said will be a major investment in the region.

Coombs has been mayor of Harbour Grace, off and on, for a total of 27 years, and a council member for 32. He said he has worked with many good councillors over the years, but the current council, as a group, is the strongest one he has worked with. As an example, Coombs said he thought the Town’s deficit would take 10 to 15 years to turn around, but this council has begun to produce results in only four years.

When asked whether he plans to run for mayor again in the next municipal election, he admitted he was not yet sure. He is going to take some time to make his decision.

When asked whether he would consider running in provincial politics, Coombs admitted he has been asked to do so in the past but has no such aspirations.

“I love what I’m doing right now and I know you never say never, but my priority was my family for years when I was getting encouraged in a big way to run. I probably would have won the seat, but family comes first.”

As for federal politics, Coombs said he would never aspire to run at that level because of how much time it would require him to be away from his home and family.

Fourth time is the charm say CBS budget makers

By Craig Westcott

It’s the last budget of their term, and the consensus of all members of CBS council is it’s a good one to go out on.

One by one, each councillor praised the spending blueprint as they signed off on their last public council meeting of the year on December 17.

“This is our fourth budget, the last one of our term,” said Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who as chairperson of finance was the lead member in crafting the $44.3 million operating plan with Director of Finance Liz Davis and staff. “When I look back from the first budget to this one, this one was a happier budget, it was more stable, we have more opportunity to do things. In 2022, it was new, we were in the midst of a pandemic. In the 2023 budget we found ourselves having to do small increases in mil rates... what we needed to meet the demands that we were faced with. And it was the same then in 2024, we found ourselves in the same position. And that’s really a tough decision to make. Thankfully this budget, with increased revenue, the growth that we’ve had, we didn’t have to do that, and it feels really good that we didn’t have to increase any rates and fees. I guess it’s a sign, as we see expenses and things levelling off, of more stable times, which provides optimism and opportunities, and that’s what we see for 2025.”

For Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley, this was his 16th budget, and he was happy the Town was able to hold the line on taxes.

“With some of the things we are proposing for 2025, it is a very well-rounded budget, and I think residents will be happy,” he said.

Tilley was pleased that money has been earmarked to further prepare the Gateway atop Legion Road for more commercial development.

Councillor Rex Hillier said there are many good things in this budget, and focused on several in particular, including support for affordable housing.

“There are no permit fees for housing (built) under federal and provincial programs,” he pointed out, “and 50 per cent (off) building permit fees for multi-unit buildings. We know that we’ve got multi-unit buildings in the hopper right now ready to go. We’re looking at, as the budget said, some 50 units of affordable housing over the coming months.”

Hillier also praised the new partnership with the Manuels River Centre, which the Town is acquiring.

“It’s near and dear to my heart,” Hillier said of the river. “I go back to the origins of the Manuels River Natural Heritage Society and it’s great to see that this group is continuing on, and the Town is taking it upon itself to renew that partnership.”

Hillier noted 2025 will see the most ever collected in business tax, not because rates have gone up, but because the business base has grown. “That’s a big deal for us,” he said. “We’ve had something like 40 new businesses come into town this year, and that’s something that we’ve always pushed for, and we know traditionally it’s been a weakness in our budget, in our finances.”

Hillier also saluted the money to upgrade the Town’s aging infrastructure, including the chil-dren’s playground at Topsail Beach and the tennis courts in Long Pond, which were built for the 1996 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games.

Councillor-at-large Christine Butler said this, her 8th budget, is the best yet.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to give such a positive budget to our residents, and a lot of that is due to the hard work of all the staff, the management, the (members of) CUPE 3034, everyone involved in doing the work for the Town, for our residents,” she said. “And of course it’s always good to be able to offer our residents the continuation of property tax reduction initiatives, because they all look for it, and I’m pleased that we’re able to continue that. And also to finish our T’Railway – I mean who doesn’t love our T’Railway?”

Councillor-at-Large Paul Connors said it’s always a challenge to maintain existing services while trying to add new things. “I think in this budget we’ve achieved that,” he said. “I’m really pleased that we now are taking over the Manuels River Interpretation Centre. It’s going to be a great addition to our town infrastructure. I think it was always part of our town infrastructure, but the Town wasn’t actually running it. Now the Town will take that over and it will create another great space for groups within our town.”

Connors expressed optimism too over the efforts to promote the Gateway. “We’re hearing some real positive things,” he said. “So hopefully in 2025 that will bring some really good news.

Connors also praised the funds earmarked to find a solution to the strong smell emanating from the Cronin’s Head Treatment Plant, as well as a coming review of the ATV pilot project.

“I will be advocating for adding additional routes so more people can access our trailways for the responsible ATV users,” he said.

Ward 1 councillor Shelley Moores, who is in her first term, liked that there are no tax or fee increases. “I think it’s a very important thing with the times we are living in right now,” she said.

Moores also liked the funding for recreational facilities. “I think we’re a step above everybody else,” Moores said. “Everyone will want to live here because of the community wellness centre that we want to get open, the fact that we have 18 kms of T’Railway, the upgrades we are doing to the Topsail Beach Rotary Park, how we’re helping out the rugby facility and baseball. I just feel that all these things really encourage a healthy lifestyle and the fact that we now will have Manuels River under our belts, the Interpretation Centre, and the opportunities that are there to have recreational and cultural things offered at that facility, is very positive for everyone.”

Ward 4 councillor Melissa Hardy, who chairs the engineering committee, highlighted the money set aside for capital works, including $5 million for street and sidewalk work, $2.4 million to replace Seal Cove bridge, and $3.8 million for water and sewer upgrades.

“It’s going to be an ambitious year for us,” Hardy said.

Councillor-at-Large Joshua Barrett said this budget is the result of initiatives council has been building towards for some time, such as the upgrades planned for Topsail Beach park.

“We’re in an excellent financial position,” he added. “For any future projects we’re well versed to do any borrowing that we might need.”

Barrett heralded the decision to spay and neuter animals at the Town pound before handing them over for adoption.

“Spay and neutering was something we removed (as a service) in 2017 and I’m very proud that we as a Town will be offering this service again next year,” he said. “So, if you adopt a cat or a dog in 2025, for a small additional cost we’ll ensure that that’s spayed and neutered.”

Mayor Darrin Bent summed up the budget reaction by agreeing with Gosse on the position council found itself in after getting elected in 2021.

“We were really the pandemic council,” Bent said. “We came in not in the full force of the Covid pandemic, we came in with the full force of the effects of the pandemic, financially. We came into record inflation times. It was hard to get equipment. We came into a time when the cost of everything was incredible, making some of it inaccessible to the Town. It delayed some of the things that we wanted to do. But we held strong, and we didn’t dig too far into the pockets of our residents. I know some of our neighbours did, they dug deeper than we did, but we kept it to a minimum and we held strong through the last couple of years. We kept our fiscal management at a good level, we were very prudent and here we are on the other side of it. And this is the first budget, post-pandemic. It’s not that the price of things have gone down, it’s just that they don’t seem to be going up as much, or maybe at all in some cases anymore and things are becoming more accessible to us, fleet replacement and so forth... It’s a great place to be, knowing that we’ve been able to deliver a budget that has far reaching effects for our residents.”

Bent said the record amount of business tax collected this past year due to business growth, some $3.3 million, points to good things to come. “That’s not going down, folks, that’s going up,” the mayor said. “It’s trending in the right direction... As the population grows, the business (base) will grow, and that commercial tax base will grow and councils into the future will be able to do a lot more than we’ve been able to do in the past. But this year, I think, is the start of it; 2025 is a great year to get things going.”

Bay Bulls to get new tourism signs

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Bay Bulls hopes to catch the eye of people passing on through with a pair of new signs along the main road.

One sign will be placed at the intersection of Southside Road and the Main Road and the other at the St. John’s Road and Main Road intersection, pending approval from the provincial government.

“We are trying to promote tourism and advertise this lovely centre that we have here, and our restaurants, rest areas, new park, tour operators, and the municipal building, all right here in our ‘downtown core,’” said Town Manager Ashley Wakeham. “It’s a great idea to direct traffic down here so people visit this lovely town rather than drive past it.”

Council approved a number of other action items during the meeting, including a motion to award catch basin cleaning to the lowest compliant bidder at a cost of $5,520, plus HST.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien noted the Town received a number of bids and a variety of prices.

Mount Pearl CAO Dana Spurrell calling it a day

Outgoing Mount Pearl CAO Dana Spurrell during her four-year tenure at City Hall guided the City through a workplace harassment investigation, the pandemic, a union strike, and, more recently, the city-wide fear caused by random, violent attacks allegedly committedly by a group of Mount Pearl youths. Members of council praised her for her calm demeanor in the face of challenges. Mark Squibb photo

By Mark Squibb

Cool, calm and collected.

Those were some of the words used by Mount Pearl councillors to describe outgoing Mount Pearl Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dana Spurrell, and given some of the municipal quandaries Spurrell has had to lead the City through during her four years tenure, they were good qualities to possess for someone in her position.

Spurrell was hired in January of 2021, seven months after former CAO Steve Kent quit his position after having been suspended due to allegations of workplace bullying. Kent quit the position before council had cast an official vote on whether to fire him outright. Shortly after, councillors Andrea Power and Andrew Ledwell were dismissed from council for allegedly communicating with Kent inappropriately during the imbroglio.

On top of all that, the province entered it’s second COVD-19 lockdown on February 12 — Spurrell’s first week in office.

In 2022 Spurrell had to lead the City through a workplace strike that lasted nearly two months and occasionally turned ugly, with accusations of wrongdoing flying from all sides. And in the final weeks before her departure, the City has been rocked by a number of random, violent acts allegedly committed by youths that have left members of the community on edge.

“Talk about a baptism by fire,” said councillor Jim Locke. “Your tenure at the City was bookended by challenges… you have faced challenges, no doubt, but you always handled it with calm and poise.”

Locke said that Spurrell’s calmness in the face of adversity was a superpower, and that the City staff blossomed under her leadership. He wished her all the best with her future endeavours.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kiely, who was elected to council in September 2021, said Spurrell made her feel welcome at the municipal table.

“You have led by example, and I know, for one, that I am a better councillor because of your guidance and leadership,” said Kieley.

Mayor Dave Aker said Spurrell was the perfect person to lead the City the last four years.

“Your leadership was second to none,” said Aker, who added that anybody on staff would back up his claim.

After a round of accolades and well wishes from council, Spurrell herself took a few minutes to address council and staff.

“If nicer words are ever said about me, it’ll probably be when I’m dead, so thank you all,” quipped Spurrell. “Councillor Locke caused me to reflect a little bit. My first day, I had a cell phone, with no contacts, and I was home at my dining room table in the middle of a shut down. And maybe that was a sign, because if nothing else I’ve been steeped in crisis management.”

Spurrell said that as a work family, City staff and council have experienced weddings and funerals and births and deaths together over the last four years, and through it all have carried on the work of the City. She called it a privilege to lead the City these last four years, and expressed her thanks to staff and council both.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to position the City for growth and change,” said Spurrell.

She added that her massage therapist might disagree with council’s assessment of Spurrell as calm and collected.

CBDC Cabot saw loan activity increase in 2024

Regional lender CBDC Cabot celebrated its 35th year of operations during its annual general meeting earlier this year. Among those on hand were, from left: Director Kevin Pomroy, Director Wendy Taylor, Executive Director Margo Soucy, Business Coordinator Pooja Khokar, Loans Monitoring Officer Kathryn Anderson, Youth Ventures Coordinator Caleb Mercer, Program Coordinator Jill Jubabir, Business Development Officer Danny Reid, Administrative Assistant Trina Whelan and Chairperson Bill Scott. Olivia Bradbury photo

This past year saw CBDC Cabot celebrate its 35th year of operation.

The community business development bank, which serves communities girdling Conception Bay from Logy Bay to Marysvale, has approved some $42.5 million in loans over those years, its executive director Margo Soucy noted during the group’s annual general meeting held at The Launch in Holyrood earlier this year.

This year, Soucy added, Cabot hit a new milestone, with “over $3.5 million in approved financing for businesses and social enterprises across Northeast Avalon, supporting a wide range of industries.”

Soucy admitted it was an unusual peak but she hopes it is also the start of a continued trend following declines experienced during the pandemic years.

Besides financing small businesses and social enterprises, Cabot offers advising, consulting, and training.

Soucy’s presentation allowed members of CBDC Cabot to reflect on the corporation’s accomplishments. Local entrepreneurs were also commended for their success and influence on the community and economy. Soucy said that as the team behind CBDC Cabot is small, they rely greatly on volunteers and community and business partners.

“We’re just a team of five so you can imagine it’s very difficult to get into every community and learn about every business and social enterprise, so we really do rely on community partners to help us,” she said.

Soucy said the corporation has to stick to its roots and stay rural. Another goal is to be able to help their clients even more proactively. “A lot of what we do is dealing with clients in the moment,” said Soucy, “but we are trying to get to a point where we’re helping them five years ahead.”

More work planned at The Gateway

By Craig Westcott

The Town of CBS has hired Miller Equipment Rental to conduct site preparation work on Lot 1, The Gateway, in Kelligrews.

The Gateway is the Town’s industrial and commercial park at the top of Legion Road. After more than a decade of marketing, the over 100-acre site still hasn’t reached the goal of becoming a regional commercial centre as originally envisioned by the council that proposed and approved it. However, it does house the new CBS Arena, a large Kent building supplies store, a Tim Horton’s restaurant and Wingin’ It restaurant, and is also the proposed site for the Town’s new community centre, when funding to build it becomes available.

Miller Equipment will be paid $92,000 plus HST to conduct the site work. The work is unrelated to the proposed Rec Centre, but instead being done to have it ready for a potential industrial or commercial buyer should one turn up.

“We just have to be ready should anything come up in the future, we need to be able to receive materials and stuff for the site,” said Ward 4 councillor Melissa Hardy, who chairs council’s engineering committee. “So, we’re just trying to get ahead of it.”

Seal Cove development hangs on Billy Brook flooding study

By Craig Westcott

Developers anxious to build houses off Garden Road in Seal Cove are going to have to wait a little longer before the Town of CBS is ready to assess the applications.

That’s because the Town is itself waiting on a storm water study on Billy Brook, a stream running from Little Indian Pond to Seal Cove Pond. It crosses Garden Road between Woodview Place and Morgans Road. There is a lot of land on back of Garden Road going towards the western half of Seal Cove Road that could potentially be developed if the area is ever deemed suitable for building.

The latest application to come before council was for a single-family dwelling at 152 Garden Road.

Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley, who chairs council’s planning committee, told his colleagues at the last public council meeting that his committee was recommending that a decision on the application be deferred for now.

“We’ve received multiple applications for development in this area,” Tilley noted. “We’d be doing ourselves an injustice if we made any decisions or recommendations prior to having that report in our hands. So, we just have to defer it for now.”

Ward 4 representative Melissa Hardy, who represents Seal Cove, added there have been many discussions about flood zones in the area, so a consultant has been asked to review it to help the Town figure out how to address them.

“We’re hoping to have the report in the coming weeks,” Hardy said.

“It’s prudent to have that,” agreed Mayor Darrin Bent.

City approves land swap with humanitarian group

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl and the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of Habitat for Humanity this past November agreed to a land swap that should prove beneficial to both parties.

“The land exchange is intended to provide mutual benefits, enabling both the city and Habitat NL to acquire parcels that are better aligned with their respective needs,” said councillor Chelsea Lane. “For Habitat NL, this exchange would enable the development of a much-needed multi-unit housing project while the City would be able to construct a bulb (a wider turn area) in the Croucher Avenue location, eliminating a safety risk during the operation of heavy city equipment. The Committee discussed and agreed in principle to support the City proceeding with an exchange of land between the City and Habitat for Humanity.”

The committee had recommended that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be signed, which was approved by council during a recent public meeting.

“I think this is great news,” said councillor Bill Antle. “Habitat NL have been asking us for a piece of land for I don’t know how long. Since I’ve been on council, they’ve been trying to find a piece of land, and we finally got this to work, and it’s to the benefit of both of us. Down on Croucher Crescent, it’s hard for the snowplows and garbage trucks to make that turn down there. And up on Glendale Avenue, that’s a fine piece of land that the City owns, so this is great. We’re looking for new housing within the City so this is good news all around.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley voiced her support of the motion as well.

“When we talk about the larger picture, when we talk about a safer, violence-free community, these are the type of organizations, these are the type of initiatives, that support that,” said Kieley, who said financial stress and desperation can breed violence and crime.

Council delegates more power to staff

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council recently approved a new delegation of authority that could see some developments contrary to City rules cleaned up quicker.

The move allows council to delegate authority to staff to administer orders to “pull down, remove, stop construction, fill in or destroy” a building or development that has fallen contrary to the City’s regulations.

Previously, the regulation required that a cleanup order be passed through a number of committee meetings before being presented to council for a public vote. The new delegated authority will allow the director to issue the order directly once non-compliance is identified by staff.

“I’m glad this is coming forward and I certainly support the recommendation,” said councillor Mark Rice. “We have a lot of areas in the city that are starting to get run down and dilapidated, so I’m glad this is coming forward. At least we have some autonomy and authority to move forward and make some decisions on behalf of the City.”

Councillor Bill Antle, who made the motion on behalf of the engineering committee, said he believed it was a great idea.

The motion passed unanimously.