1996-09-03_Minutes
86-55
COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of
Saint John, on Tuesday, the third day of September, A.D. 1996, at 4:00 o'clock p.m.
present
Shirley McAlary, Mayor
Councillors Arthurs, Ball, Brown, Chase, Fitzpatrick, Gould,
Knibb, Vincent and Waldschutz
- and -
Messrs. 1. Totten, City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; C.
Robichaud, Commissioner of Municipal Operations; J. C.
MacKinnon, Commissioner of Environment and Development
Services; P. Groody, Commissioner of Human Resources; W.
Butler, Commissioner of Community Services; G. Yeomans,
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Finance; J. Baird, Manager,
Community Planning; W. Edwards, Building Inspector; K.
Galbraith, Manager of Public Affairs; S. Lodhi, Manager of Real
Estate and Facility Management; G. Tait, Fire Chief; G. Ingraham,
Assistant Deputy Chief of Police; Mrs. M. Munford, Common
Clerk; and Ms. C. Joyce, Assistant Common Clerk.
1. MeetinQ Called To Order - OpeninQ Prayer
Mayor McAlary called the meeting to order, and Reverend William Powell
of Hillcrest Baptist Church offered the opening prayer.
2. Approval of Minutes
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Arthurs
RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting
of Common Council, held on August 26, 1996, be approved.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
3. Mavor's Remarks
(Deputy Mayor Chase entered the meeting.)
Mayor McAlary advised that, on Saturday, August 31, during the 70th
Annual Provincial Meeting of the Royal Canadian Legion held in Saint John, Public
Affairs Manager K. Galbraith was presented with an award recognizing his efforts in
arranging the Legion's involvement in support of City functions; and proclaimed the
week of September 1 and the month of September 1996 in support of the 1996 United
Way Campaign.
4. Tender For Contract 96-21
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick
RESOLVED that as recommended by
the City Manager, contract 96-21, Rothesay Avenue - Point Road sewer construction,
be awarded to the low tenderer, Dean Construction Limited, at the tendered price of
$83,676, as calculated based upon estimated quantities, and the Mayor and Common
Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary contract documents.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
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COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
5. Tender For Contract 96-22
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that as recommended by
the City Manager, contract 96-22, Sand Cove Road water and sewer construction, be
awarded to the low tenderer, Fairville Construction Ltd., at the tendered price of
$216,054, as calculated based upon estimated quantities, and the Mayor and Common
Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary contract documents.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
6. Fire Hvdrant Marker Project
Read a report from the City Manager advising of the Fire Chief's concern
with the length of time, after a snow storm, when fire hydrants may not be visible, and
staff's proposal that a style of fire hydrant markers, new from those used in the late
1980s, be installed on 250 hydrants this year, with funding from the 1996 Water and
Sewerage Capital Program, at an estimated cost of $50 per unit for a total cost of
$12,500; and submitting a recommendation in this regard.
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that as recommended
by the City Manager, the Fire Hydrant Program, as described in the City Manager's
submitted report dated August 27, 1996, be added to the 1996 Capital Program at an
estimated cost of $12,500.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
7. Revised 1996 Establishment
Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager submitting a
recommendation for a number of further changes to the Establishment involving
deletions of some vacant positions and a number of additions (transitional) necessary
for the City's changing organization.
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that as recommended by
the City Manager, Common Council approve that: (a) two positions of Stenographer 1
be eliminated from the Establishment; and (b) the positions of By-Law Enforcement
Officer (Management, Grade IV) and Assistant Purchasing Agent (Clerical/Technical,
Group 8), be added to the Establishment at the classifications shown.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
8. Lower West Side Collector
Sewer Project Cost SharinQ
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that as recommended by
the City Manager, Common Council accept the cost-sharing offer of the Province in
accordance with the Canada/New Brunswick Infrastructure Program with respect to the
Lower West Side collector sewer, as detailed in the submitted letter of August 9, 1996
from the Minister of the Environment, and staff be instructed to proceed with completion
of the project.
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COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
During discussion note was made of a recent article in the local
newspaper on Saint John sewerage disposal and the Mayor suggested that, prior to
commenting in this regard, an attempt should be made to obtain a copy of the report to
which the article was referring.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
9. Elsie E. Wayne Re Proposal
For Space In City Market Tower
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Gould
RESOLVED that the letter from Elsie E.
Wayne, M.P. Saint John, advising of her disappointment in learning that the City is
considering a proposal to charge the non-profit organizations who are presently
occupying space in the City Market tower; and appealing to Council to review the
situation with respect to PRUDE and the Senior Citizens Centre as she feels their
removal from the City Market could see the end of these two most important service
groups -- be received and filed and Mrs. Wayne be thanked for her concern in this
regard.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
10. Gordon Mvles - Street NaminQ
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Vincent
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr.
Gordon Myles suggesting the name of Gordie Drillon as a possible name for one of the
City streets -- be referred to the City Manager.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
11. Irish Famine 150 - Placement of
Marker At St. Patrick's Square
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Vincent
RESOLVED that the letter from Irish
Famine 150 seeking permission to place a permanent marker near the Celtic cross at
St. Patrick's Square on Prince William Street to commemorate the 150th anniversary of
The Great Irish Famine -- be received and permission be granted.
Mr. Totten advised that staff would contact the above organization and
make suitable arrangements for the marker placement.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
12. Atlantic Salmon Federation
Request For Financial Contribution
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that the letter from the
Atlantic Salmon Federation submitting a booklet, "A Matter of Survival", with respect to
the implications of the threat to rivers and salmon stocks; and asking for a financial
contribution, through the Federation's 1996 Corporate Sponsor Campaign, in support of
the Federation's programs to conserve a unique and renewable resource -- be received
and filed.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
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COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
13. Brenda Chamberlain, M.P. Guelph-Wellington
Bill C-302. Oath Of AlleQiance To FlaQ
Read a letter from Brenda Chamberlain, M.P. Guelph-Wellington,
Ontario, referring to her recent introduction of Private Member's Bill C-302 which, if
adopted, would establish an official Oath of Allegiance to the Flag of Canada; and
asking Council's consideration of a motion of support for the idea of an Oath (or
Pledge) of Allegiance to the Flag of Canada, as well as for any efforts Council can
initiate that would encourage the participation of its constituents to consider sending
her a suggestion for an Oath.
The Mayor suggested that a motion of support could be forwarded to Ms.
Chamberlain for the idea of an Oath of Allegiance to the Flag of Canada.
On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick
Seconded by Councillor Arthurs
RESOLVED that the Common Council of
the City of Saint John support the idea of an Oath (or Pledge) of Allegiance to the Flag
of Canada.
Councillor Knibb noted that Canadians' present Oath of Allegiance is to
the Queen and Governor General; and suggested that, as the above letter is rather
subversive in coming from one member of Parliament, Council should refer the matter
to the City Solicitor for advice in this regard. The Mayor suggested that the letter of
support could be held until it was determined that what Council was proposing to do
was correct, or that the matter could be tabled.
On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase
Seconded by Councillor Gould
RESOLVED that the above matter be laid
on the table for further information.
Question being taken, the tabling motion was carried.
14. New Brunswick People First
Assistance To Attend Workshop
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the letter from New
Brunswick People First, a non-profit organization which works with people with
disabilities, requesting financial assistance for two of its members to attend a workshop
in Winnipeg -- be received and filed.
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Councillor Gould
voting "nay".
15. FCM - Activities & Issues
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Vincent
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr. Bryon
Wilfert, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, thanking Council for its
support and encouragement and providing an update on a number of activities and
issues involving the Federation -- be received and filed and Common Council wish Mr.
Wilfert well in his term as President of FCM.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
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COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
16. Robert C. George - Storm
Sewer Grate. Shoreline Railwav
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr.
Robert C. George advising that, having had occasion recently to walk along the former
Shoreline Railway line where a storm sewer line has been constructed in conjunction
with the trunk sewer route along the former Shoreline Railway right-of-way, a storm
sewer grate had been removed leaving a dangerous opening to the storm sewer
manhole; and suggesting that, before a tragedy occurs, the grates should be tacked or
spot welded on the manhole for safety reasons -- be referred to the City Manager.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Adjournment
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Gould
RESOLVED that this meeting be
adjourned.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Common Clerk