1997-11-17_Minutes
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17,1997
At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of
Saint John, on Monday, the seventeenth day of November, AD. 1997, at 3:00 o'clock
p.m.
present
Shirley McAlary, Mayor
Councillors Arthurs, Ball, Brown, Chase, Fitzpatrick, Gould,
Knibb, Trites, Vincent and Waldschutz
- and -
Messrs. 1. Totten, City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; A
Beckett, Commissioner of Finance; C. Robichaud, Commissioner
of Municipal Operations; P. Groody, Commissioner of Human
Resources; W. Butler, Commissioner of Community Services; P.
Woods, Deputy Commissioner of Finance; W. Morrison, Director
of Recreation and Parks; J. Baird, Manager of Community
Planning; W. Edwards, Building Inspector; S. Lodhi, Manager of
Real Estate and Facility Management; G. Tait, Fire Chief; C.
Cogswell, Acting Chief of Police; G. Ingraham, Assistant Deputy
Chief of Police; P. Palmer, Superintendent of Facilities; V.
Fitzgerald, Director of Somerset Community Centre; K. Watson,
Recreation Supervisor for Rockwood Park; D. O'Toole,
Recreation Supervisor for Community Development; R. Nelson,
Superintendent, Recreation and Parks; S. Doucette, Recreation
Supervisor; L. Hughes, Recreation Supervisor; Mrs. Susan
Fitzpatrick, Recreation Supervisor for Community Development;
Ms. Susan Greer, Communications Officer; Ms. Y. Huntington,
Director of Tourism and Communications; and Ms. C. Mosher,
Assistant Common Clerk.
1. MeetinQ Called To Order - OpeninQ Prayer
Mayor McAlary called the meeting to order, and offered the opening
prayer.
2. Approval of Minutes
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that minutes of the meetings of
Common Council, held on Saturday, November 8, 1997, Monday, November 10, 1997,
and Wednesday, November 12, 1997, be approved.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
3. Mavor's Remarks
Mayor McAlary proclaimed November 20 to be National Child Day in the
City of Saint John; thanked the members of the Saint John Fire Department and the
Saint John Police Force for their attendance at the November 11 Remembrance Day
ceremonies; and noted the Santa Claus Parade on November 15. The Mayor also
noted the opening of the Festival of Trees at the New Brunswick Museum on November
19; and the Saint John Port Corporation's fund-raising effort on behalf of the
community food banks was commended. Note was also made of the copy of a letter
from the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre to CBC (copies of which were
forwarded to Council members as an information item) responding to comments of a
CBC reporter about the operation of the Centre.
The Mayor noted the letter from the Fundy Region Solid Waste
Commission (copies of which were distributed to Council members at this meeting)
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NOVEMBER 17,1997
regarding its 1998 Capital and Operating Budgets, and asked if Council wanted to add
it to the agenda of this meeting or have it placed on the agenda of the next meeting,
and it was suggested that the letter in question should be placed on next week's
agenda.
4. Community Services
1998 BudQet Presentation
With regard to the status of the departmental budget presentations, Mr.
Totten noted the presentation by the Police Force requesting approximately $14 million
and the need for the Police Force to update Council further on some of the items on
which it has been working subsequent to its presentation, as well as the presentations
by the Fire Department, Municipal Operations, and Environment and Development
Services requesting $13.2 million, $15.4 million, and close to $3 million, respectively,
and the forthcoming presentation by Community Services requesting approximately
$6.7 million. Mr. Totten also noted the need for Council to hear submissions from some
of the administrative departments much smaller in nature, as well as the number of
non-departmental presentations already made to Council; and advised that, as Council
at the end of the Community Services' presentation would have heard up to about 80%
of the department and non-departmental submissions, he would over the next week or
two be putting together a draft budget for discussion with Council two to three weeks
from now. The Mayor suggested that, rather than have further special meetings of
Council to deal with the budget, most of the departments from which Council has yet to
hear could make their presentations at regular Council meetings.
Mr. Butler, noting the number of Community Services' employees
present at the meeting as well as the presence of Messrs. Ray Thompson and Murray
Carpenter of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, referenced the Community
Services' budget submission (copies of which were distributed to Council members at
this meeting) and, through a slide presentation, reviewed the staff complement and
services provided by the Community Services Department through the Recreation &
Parks Division, the Tourism and Communication Division, and Public Affairs, as well as
their respective budgets, reductions for Council to consider to meet the budget
guideline and the issues. With regard to the overall departmental budget, Mr. Butler
noted the approved 1997 budget of $6,571,610 and the proposed 1998 budget of
$6,684,499, the latter including the contractual salary/wage increases and a 1 %
increase in Goods and Services, and made the observation that, in order to present a
1998 budget that would reflect the same level of service provided in 1997 and meet the
10% budget guideline, it would be necessary to identify a reduction target of $770,000.
With regard to Recreation and Parks for which the proposed 1998 budget was
$5,351,934, Mr. Butler highlighted the administration budget and the services and
budgets related to Parks and Green Space Management, Facilities Management, and
Community Development; and presented the following considerations in meeting the
10% budget guideline: (1) an anticipated tax reduction for community centres and
arenas in amounts of $14,500 and $74,600, respectively, due to Provincial action; (2)
not filling a vacant Recreation Supervisor position for a saving of $41,700; (3) ceasing
the $15,000 contribution to the City Market Promotion Fund; (4) increasing rents for
space at the City Market by, effective January 1, 2.5%, which would provide an
additional $10,500 in revenue; (5) transferring the replacement costs of fixed assets to
the Capital Budget in an amount of $42,000; (6) reducing lifeguard service for a saving
of $28,000; (7) suspending the summer playground program at a saving of $38,000,
operating it only if funded by grants; (8) increasing the sportsfield rental rate for an
increase in revenue of $20,000; (9) a subsidy reduction of $30,000 for minor group ice
rental; (10) changing the subsidy reduction of $10,000 for minor groups based on hours
rented rather than registration; (11) increasing all hourly rental rates beginning in
October 1998 by $5/hour for an increase in revenue of $8,000 by December 1998; (12)
suspending the operation of one arena at the end of the 1997-98 season for a saving
of $40,000; and (13) a proposal for reducing community centre operating costs by
$80,0000 through the establishment of community development teams and focusing on
facilitating programs rather than direct program delivery; and reviewed issues related to
Union/Management relations, a seasonal work force, arena ice rentals, provisions of
service to charitable fund raising events, seasonal personnel and equitable distribution
of resources.
(Councillor Fitzpatrick entered the meeting during the above
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presentation. )
Mr. Butler responded to questions with regard to Recreation and Parks
during which time the issue of community centres being organized and operated by
volunteers was broached and Mr. Butler, noting the proposed budget reduction
consideration of $80,000 in operating costs of community centres beginning in June
1998, advised that reason the for picking June was because it would give staff an
opportunity to help solve the problem by considering whether or not community centres
are open at the right time and whether a parents' group could be involved at certain
times, and that he could foresee coming back to Council in February or March with a
proposal showing how community centres could be operated as soon as possible and
showing where the $80,000 could be saved; and advised that, while staff had not
reviewed the outcome of closing four arenas at non-prime times and lumping their
bookings into one to determine savings in wages, this could be done. With regard to
the City Market, Mr. Totten advised that staff's position was that the City Market tenants
should be paying a fair market rent, noting that Council previously turned down the City
Manager's recommendation that would have resulted in the City Market operations
being run in a different fashion; and made the observation that, when discussing the
issue of community service groups looking after community centres, the staff
component, some of whom are covered by security clauses, cannot be separated from
the issue. On the issue of arenas, Mr. Totten advised that, as Council was aware,
there was one particular arena that needs considerable capital work and, while an
operating expenditure of $40,000 was identified in the proposed operating budget and
may appear very small, dealing with that particular arena could result in the reduction in
the capital budget of an amount of $900,000 to $1 million.
With regard to Tourism and Communications, Mr. Butler, in noting the
proposed budget of $883,015 for Tourism Services and $125,728 for Corporate
Communications Services, outlined Tourism's 1996, 1997 and 1998 initiatives, the 1997
marketing activities, the challenges for 1998, and the meetings and conventions hosted
by the City, as well as the economic impact of tourism to Saint John; and also outlined
the services provided by Corporate Communications and Cultural Affairs, the proposed
budget for the latter being $61,513; and put forth the following budget reduction
considerations:- (1) suspending the regional television promotion at a saving of
$56,000; (2) seeking alternate operation of Barbour's General Store at a saving of
$20,000; and (3) reducing tourism promotion in an amount of $34,000. Mr. Butler
commented on issues related to the forthcoming regional economic development
commission, the need for a permanent supervisor to direct the operation of the Tourist
Information Centres, the lack of a tourist information centre on Highway #1 East,
revenue from advertising, the Bay of Fundy marketing program, promotional material
and the Reversing Falls.
Mr. Butler highlighted the services provided by Public Affairs for which
the proposed budget was $136,283, giving examples of civic activities, liaison duties,
ceremonial events and special events in which this division is involved; proposed a
budget reduction consideration by the reduction of the current vacancy in the
Community Services Establishment of a Clerk-Typist position which is funded for a half-
year in an amount of $14,200; and, in terms of further considerations for budget
reductions, advised that, as the target budget reduction for Community Services as
directed by the City Manager was $770,000 and the above-listed services reductions
would total $538,000, a shortfall of $232,000 still exists; and put forth the following
considerations to address this shortfall, noting that these were not recommendations:
(1) closing an arena in April 1998; (2) closing a community centre; and (3) reducing
permanent staff to a level required to offset the shortfall, which would require the lay-off
of the equivalent of five full-time positions.
During discussion Mr. Totten advised that, in reviewing the proposed
Tourism and Communications budget, he could take out economic-development related
items such as tourism and conventions and include them in an overall economic
development package for Council to consider, noting that economic development was
Council's number one priority.
The Mayor noted the procedure in terms of Council hearing delegations
at its 7:00 o'clock p.m. meetings, and in order to hear from the Board of Trade at this
meeting as requested under agenda item 19.
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On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Gould
RESOLVED that item 19, being a letter
from the Saint John Board of Trade, be brought forward for consideration and the
Board of Trade be invited to address Council at this time.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
19. Board of Trade - Request
To Make Presentation
Consideration was given to the letter from the Saint John Board of Trade
requesting to make a presentation at this meeting to comment on the significant
financial challenge being faced by the City of Saint John and to offer recommendations
to the members of Common Council regarding the City's 1998 budget.
Messrs. Thomas Gribbons, President; Gary Smith, 2nd Vice President;
Tony Goguen, Task Force member; and Darryl Goyetche, General Manager, of the
Saint John Board of Trade were present at the meeting; and Messrs. Gribbons and
Goguen, reading in turn from a prepared brief (copies of which were distributed to
Council members at this meeting), explained that, having become aware of the
projected $6.4 million shortfall in the City's budget for 1998 and recognizing the
implications, the Board's executive established a task force composed of a cross-
section of members to consider and develop recommendations for the City in preparing
its 1998 operating budget and the longer-term processes to be utilized by the City in
order to ensure its continued financial well-being, and that the report and
recommendations developed by the task force were subsequently reviewed and
adopted by the Board of Trade's Executive and Board of Directors. Mr. Goguen
advised of the Board's conclusion that there were three options available to the City
with respect to its 1998 budget: expenditure reductions coupled with productivity
improvements, an increase in the tax rate, or a combination of both; and put forth the
following recommendations with regard to the 1998 operating budget: - (1) there must
be no increase in the tax rate for 1998; (2) the expected budgetary shortfall must be
offset through productivity improvements and expenditure reductions; (3) if necessary,
all business and residential taxpayers in Saint John must be prepared to accept some
reduction in the scope of services, at least in the short term, in order to ensure that the
future, long-term best interests of the City are satisfied; (4) Common Council, in
partnership with the City Manager, must take a leadership role in adopting and
implementing a "no tax increase" policy for 1998 and beyond; and (5) all discretionary
spending for 1997 - operating as well as capital - must be curtailed immediately in order
for any savings arising therefrom to be utilized in the future, and all 1998 discretionary
spending must undergo thorough scrutiny with a view toward expenditure reduction.
For the 1999 operating budget and beyond, Mr. Goguen recommended that (1) an
external review must be conducted to assess and determine the future role of municipal
government for the City of Saint John in order to ensure the appropriate strategies are
in place to facilitate service delivery and all decision-making associated therewith must
remain under the control of Common Council and the City Manager; (2) as part of this
review, the City must retain external expertise to conduct, with the assistance of the
City Manager, operational and comprehensive reviews in selected departments, with a
view to ensuring the delivery of municipal services in the most productive, effective and
economical fashion; (3) the City should adopt activity-based costing models to
accurately determine the "true" costs of service delivery and properly assess whether
privatization of services is a viable option; (4) the City should adopt zero-based
budgeting principles; and (5) growth of the tax base is a more effective revenue
generator than is an increase in the tax rate, hence the City is encouraged to continue
with aggressive efforts to expand the tax base (i.e. housing incentive program and
efforts to promote economic development). Mr. Gribbons, in concluding the
presentation, expressed the opinion that the City Manager and his staff have the
necessary knowledge and expertise to properly identify and implement the required
business improvement practices within City Hall; encouraged Common Council to
demonstrate its support for these initiatives by expressly recognizing and encouraging
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NOVEMBER 17,1997
the City Manager as he proceeds with building upon, and enhancing, those efficiencies
which already exist within City Hall; expressed the opinion that home and business
owners in the City should not be called upon to pay for increasing municipal
expenditures but rather that civic leaders should be encouraged to listen to the voices
of those, such as the Board of Trade, who sincerely believe that Saint John and Saint
Johners simply cannot afford a tax increase.
Mr. Gribbons responded to questions with regard to the Board of Trade's
source of the referenced $1.7 million benefit to the City from the creation of regional
commissions, and its recommendation for an external review and his suggestion in this
regard that the City should prioritize what it should be doing for its current population of
approximately 70,000 rather than for a population of 98,000 as it was in 1967 and
benchmark this with other communities like Saint John through a consultant; and issues
were broached, including the City's contractual obligations to employees in the
bargaining units, examples of higher costs in Saint John which were identified in the
Board's study comparing Saint John with other communities of its size in Canada, and
the City's current involvement in Business Process Improvements; and Mr. Totten
suggested that, while he was not opposed to having a very focused review with a very
focused mandate done of any City department in an attempt to reduce costs, he should
first be given an opportunity to recommend to Council how to reduce costs, following
which the Board of Trade might still recommend to Council that particular departments
should be reviewed in terms of productivity and concerns about pockets of
administrative overhead. Mr. Goguen suggested a two-fold process involving a
comparison of the City of Saint John services provided with other similar municipalities
and subsequently going through the benchmarking exercise on those services that
Council believes this City should be providing to determine the priorities in terms of
expenditure reduction reviews, not to look at every City operation at once but rather to
benchmark, pick some priorities and then look at individual components in order of
priority, over a period of years; and expressed the view that the City now had a window
of opportunity to start this process because of the crunch it was currently in and
because of some of the clauses that expire the end of 1998.
The Mayor thanked the Board of Trade for its presentation.
4A. Skateboard Enclosure
Duke Street West
On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase
Seconded by Councillor Vincent
RESOLVED that the letter from Deputy
Mayor Chase asking for a report from the Police with regard to alleged illegal behaviour
at the new skateboard enclosure on Duke Street West, across from the New Albert
School -- be referred to the appropriate staff.
Deputy Mayor Chase, noting that the skateboard facility has now closed
for the season, suggested that staff should, in the general context of skateboard parks,
look at the issue of supervision.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
4B. Organizing Efforts Of
Harbour Station Workers
Read a letter from Deputy Mayor Chase advising his intent to move a
motion that Bob Hicks meet with Common Council in closed session next Monday to
present the story related to the organizing of the workers at Harbour Station.
On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase
Seconded by Councillor Arthurs
RESOLVED that Mr. Bob Hicks, Business
Agent for the Union formed at Harbour Station, be invited to meet with Council to give a
briefing on what can logically be expected as fall-out from the organization of a union at
Harbour Station.
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NOVEMBER 17,1997
The Mayor advised that she would be reluctant to get involved in labour
negotiations, and also that she has spoken with The Honourable Roland Macintyre,
Minister of Labour, who informed her that a mediator would be involved in the issue.
Councillor Waldschutz advised that, while he agreed that Council should hear from Mr.
Hicks, it should be in open, rather than closed, session of Council. Councillor Knibb
spoke in opposition to the motion in that the Harbour Station Commission should
determine what its relations would be in negotiating with a group of employees who
wish to become unionized and it would be unfair to the Commission in its attempt to do
its negotiations privately. Councillor Trites advised that he could not support the motion
because of the process that was underway, it being his understanding that the issue
would be before the Industrial Labour Relations Board tomorrow for an appeal of the
certification and, while it was a semi-judicial process right now, it could ultimately end
up as a judicial process should one of the sides appeal. Councillor Vincent agreed that
Council should not become involved at this point in time, even if there were no process
started, in that the Commission, which is appointed by the City, should tend to such
affairs. Councillor Ball expressed the view that Council was not the proper forum for
discussion in the above regard; and Councillor Gould made the observation that the
Harbour Station Commission was charged with the responsibility of operating Harbour
Station and that Council must not get involved in something delegated to the
Commission and outside Council's jurisdiction. Councillor Arthurs advised her intention
to vote against the motion, realizing that it was a labour situation and having seconded
it only to get it on the table for discussion; and Councillor Fitzpatrick advised that, had
Mr. Hicks submitted a letter asking to address Council, he would not have a problem
with him so doing, but he would not want to invite somebody to meet with Council who
was currently in negotiations with Harbour Station.
Question being taken, the motion was lost with the Mayor and
Councillors Arthurs, Ball, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Gould, Knibb, Trites, Vincent and
Waldschutz voting "nay".
4C. Parking For Councillors
And Visitors To City
Consideration was given to a letter from Deputy Mayor Chase asking for
discussion on a proposed motion to ask staff to acquire appropriate parking places in
the basement of Market Square and free up the three, inadequate Council parking
spaces in the City Hall parking garage with 15-minute parking to allow citizens easier
access to City Hall; and advising that this was not to affect the Mayor's space nor was it
the intent to relate to staff parking.
On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase
Seconded by Councillor Trites
RESOLVED that the City Manager be
asked if it would be appropriate to acquire parking spaces in the Market Square parking
facility and free up the three Councillor parking spaces in the City Hall parking garage.
Councillor Waldschutz expressed the view that, as there would be a cost
involved, it would be totally inappropriate for Council to be running up expenses for its
benefit at a time of budget restraint and also, that, if the three parking spaces in
question were freed up, the 15-minute enforcement issue would be problematic.
Councillor Trites advised that he seconded the motion because the Deputy Mayor
changed it from what was in his above letter; and suggested that, for the common
space charges being paid to Market Square by the City, there might be some parking
spaces made available without additional cost to the City, although he would not
support paying anything additional. Councillor Brown advised that he could not support
the motion if there were a cost involved; and Councillor Gould expressed concern about
cost.
Question being taken, the motion was lost with the Mayor and
Councillors Arthurs, Ball, Fitzpatrick, Gould, Knibb, Vincent and Waldschutz voting
"nay".
Councillor Vincent asked if the letter (copies of which were distributed to
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17,1997
Council members at this meeting with regard to item 4) from the Carleton Community
Centre Advisory Council and Concerned Parents should be received and filed, and the
Mayor made the observation that this group wanted to meet with Council at a later date.
(Councillor Vincent withdrew from the meeting as he was not present for
the September 15, 1997 public hearing of the proposed re-zoning of 1770 Sand Cove
Road.)
5. Zoning By-Law Amendment To
Re-Zone 1770 Sand Cove Road
Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager regarding the
application of Mr. Brian Robert Thorne for the re-zoning of property at 1770 Sand Cove
Road, which was tabled at the September 15 public hearing for two months to allow the
applicant additional time to come up with a reasonable proposal to ensure that a first-
class facility was possible in this area; advising that staff has received no additional
information regarding the proposed use for a canteen facility and, in addition, the
applicant was not able to pursue his proposal at this time; and recommending that the
application be taken from the table and be denied.
On motion of Councillor Trites
Seconded by Councillor Arthurs
RESOLVED that the above matter be
taken from the table.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Trites
RESOLVED that the application of Mr.
Brian Robert Thorne for the re-zoning of property at 1770 Sand Cove Road be denied.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
(Councillor Vincent re-entered the meeting.)
6. Zoning By-Law Amendment To
Re-Zone 600 Old Black River Road
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Trites
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "By-
Law Number C.P. 100-450 A Law To Amend The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint
John", insofar as it concerns re-zoning (a) approximately 1.02 hectares (2.52 acres) of
land at 600 Old Black River Road, also being identified as NBGIC Number 55141204
and portions of NBGIC Numbers 55119184 and 55119176, from "1-2" Heavy Industrial
to "1-4" Heavy Industrial Park classification; and (b) approximately 61 hectares (151
acres) of land at 600 Old Black River Road, also identified as NBGIC Numbers 424572,
340612 and 384545 and portions of NBGIC Numbers 434175,337386,424564,
370429 and 336198, from "RF" Rural to "1-4" Heavy Industrial Park classification, be
read a third time and enacted and the Common Corporate Seal be affixed thereto.
The by-law entitled, "By-Law Number C.P. 100-450 A Law To Amend
The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint John", was read in its entirety.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
7. Committee Of The Whole Report
Read the report of the Committee of the Whole
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NOVEMBER 17,1997
(as follows)
To the COMMON COUNCIL of the City of Saint John
The Committee of the Whole
reports
Your Committee reports that it sat on Monday, November 10,1997, when
there were present Mayor McAlary and Councillors Arthurs, Ball, Brown, Fitzpatrick,
Gould, Knibb, Trites, Vincent and Waldschutz, and your Committee submits the
following recommendation, namely:-
1. That as recommended by the City Manager, Common Council amend
the terms of sale of Lot 97-1, Paradise Row to Blair Construction Ltd., approved by
Common Council resolution of October 20, 1997, by deleting reference to the restrictive
covenant prohibiting the erection of a billboard-style advertising sign, and all other
terms of this sale remain the same.
November 17, 1997,
Saint John, N.B.
Respectfully submitted,
(sgd.) Shirley McAlary,
C h air man.
7.1. Amending Terms Of Sale
Lot 97-1. Paradise Row
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that the above report be
received and filed and the recommendation therein be adopted.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
8. Yolanda Lucus Re
Lovalist Man Svmbol
On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick
Seconded by Councillor Vincent
RESOLVED that the letter from Ms.
Yolanda Lucus advising of her recent promotion of the City of Saint John at a recent
trade show in Toronto by decorating her booth with the Loyalist Day's "Squire John"
flag and with the Loyalist Man pins -- be received and filed.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
9. Saint John Construction Association Inc.
Re PlanninQ & BuildinQ Inspection's BudQet
On motion of Councillor Vincent
Seconded by Councillor Knibb
RESOLVED that the letter from Saint John
Construction Association Inc. commenting on the options put forth by Planning and
Building Inspection for making up the projected shortfall in next year's budget -- be
received and filed.
Councillor Waldschutz suggested that the above letter should be
forwarded to the City Manager for consideration as part of the budget process.
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Deputy Mayor Chase
and Councillors Brown and Waldschutz voting "nay".
10. Project H.O.P.E.
Request For Support
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NOVEMBER 17,1997
On motion of Councillor Vincent
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr.
Pat Donovan, Chairman of Project H.O.P.E., a plan to locate a large eco-tourism and
recreational park on lands west of Coleson Cove, advising that the Project would not be
seeking financial support from the City but would appreciate assistance and guidance
from staff where needed; and advising that it would be his hope to appear before
Council in the coming months to outline the plans and progress, but for now the Project
was seeking a general letter of support for its efforts as it may prove useful in
concluding the lease arrangements to be able to show that the City was in support of
the Project -- be received and filed and a general letter of support be forwarded to Mr.
Donovan in recognition of his efforts relating to Project H.O.P.E.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
11. River Road Concerned Citizens
Committee - Crane Mountain Landfill
On motion of Councillor Vincent
Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick
RESOLVED that the letter from the
River Road Concerned Citizens Committee submitting copies of correspondence to the
District Medical Health Officer (Region 2) regarding toxic leachate at the Crane
Mountain landfill; and asking to be advised, now that the landfill was about to
commence operation without all of the promised features, of what the City would do to
protect the health and quality of life -- be received and filed:
AND FURTHER that the City Manager be requested, if not already on
file, to obtain a copy of Dr. Monir Taha's documentation referenced in the above letter.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
12. Linda Burnett - Crossing Guard
Paul Harris/Brunswick Drive
On motion of Councillor Trites
Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick
RESOLVED that the letter from Ms.
Linda Burnett referring to Council's approval on October 20 of a crossing guard for
Martinon, and requesting a crossing guard at Paul Harris Street and Brunswick Drive --
be referred to the Chief of Police.
(Councillor Gould withdrew from the meeting.)
Acting Chief of Police Cogswell advised that, as far as he knew, there
was now a crossing guard in place at the above location as of this date.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
13. Senior Swingers Senior Citizens Club
Proposal For Senior Advisorv Committee
On motion of Councillor Vincent
Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick
RESOLVED that the letter from Mrs.
Alice M. Howe, President of the Senior Swingers Senior Citizens Club, asking Council
to give serious consideration to the submitted proposal for a senior advisory committee
for the City of Saint John -- be referred to the City Manager for study and a report to
Council.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
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14. Canadian Federation Of Independent Business
Request To Make Presentation At Pre-BudQet Session
On motion of Councillor Waldschutz
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the letter from the
Canadian Federation of Independent Business requesting to make a presentation at
Council's pre-budget sessions -- be received and the group be invited to address
Council in open session.
Councillor Knibb proposed a motion initially, which was not seconded, to
thank the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for its interest and advise that
the City already have expert advice locally, noting that the above group was from
outside the City.
(Councillor Gould re-entered the meeting.)
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Councillor Knibb
voting "nay".
15. Andrew P. Aalund In Appreciation
To Saint John Police Force
On motion of Councillor Vincent
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr.
Andrew P. Aalund expressing his appreciation and that of his wife Barbara to the Saint
John Police Force, most notably Cst. Tanya Lawlor and Cpl. Stephen Patterson, in their
response to a call on July 16, 1997 regarding notification of the deaths of their children
in a traffic accident on Prince Edward Island -- be received and filed and a copy be
forwarded to the Saint John Police Force.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
16. Dr. Carl McDermott - Amendment
To Section 39 Conditions Of
Re-ZoninQ 815 Loch Lomond Road
Consideration was given to an application from Dr. Carl McDermott for
an amendment to the conditions of re-zoning of 815 Loch Lomond Road.
Consideration was also given to a letter from Dr. Carl McDermott (copies
of which were distributed to Council members at this meeting) advising that a private
building inspector informed him that serious structural deficiencies existed that make
the subject building unacceptable; and requesting that his application be withdrawn,
hopefully without loss of his fee.
On motion of Councillor Trites
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that the application of Dr.
Carl McDermott for an amendment to the Section 39 conditions of re-zoning of 815
Loch Lomond Road be withdrawn as requested by Dr. McDermott.
It was noted that Dr. McDermott would not lose his fee.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
86-728
COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17,1997
17. Hodges Hamm - Suggested
Areas For Revenue Generation
On motion of Councillor Trites
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the letter from Mr.
Hodges Hamm expressing the view that the City most hold the existing tax rate, and
providing suggestions of areas where revenues could be generated -- be referred to the
budget process and a copy be forwarded to the Provincial Minister of Finance.
Councillor Knibb initially proposed a motion, which was not seconded, to
receive and file the above letter, and the Mayor asked that the motion include that a
copy be forwarded to the Minister of Finance.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
18. Jeffrey Smith - Application For
Re-ZoninQ 169-171 St. GeorQe Street West
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Waldschutz
RESOLVED that the application of
Mr. Jeffrey Smith for the re-zoning of property at 169-171 St. George Street West be
referred to the Planning Advisory Committee for a report and recommendation and the
necessary advertising be authorized in this regard, with the public hearing to be held on
Monday, December 22, 1997, at 7:00 o'clock p.m.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Adjournment
On motion of Councillor Knibb
Seconded by Councillor Trites
RESOLVED that this meeting be adjourned
followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting of Council.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Assistant Common Clerk