No takers for Carbonear demolition

By Craig Westcott/August 26, 2022

Councillor Danielle Doyle was disappointed to learn that a tender to demolish the burned-out building at 47 Water Street attracted no takers.

The building, which included apartments and a sewing business burnt in April.

In asking director of public works Ian Farrell for an anticipated date for the demolition, now that the tender has closed, Doyle noted she gets asked at least 10 times a week about when the structure is going to be torn down.

Farrell said he couldn’t give a date at this point, noting it will have to be discussed at the next public works committee meeting.

“Oh no, I thought we were very close,” Doyle said, laughing ruefully. “Well, that’s unfortunate.”

In other council news:

Concerns about accessibility to washrooms at the sporting facilities located near the Carbonear swimming pool will be addressed in the Town’s upcoming recreation master plan, says councillor Malcolm Seymour.

The chairman of Carbonear’s recreation committee was responding to a question from Deputy Mayor Sam Slade, who had asked if the matter has ever been raised at the committee.

“We have had that issue come up a few times,” allowed Seymour. “We are in the process of having the strategic plan done up for recreation – what we’re going to be doing, where we’re going to go with it. We’re trying to come up with some scenario… And that is one of the biggest things that we have (to deal with). When it’s going to happen, I can’t tell you.”

Seymour said the schedule for the completion of the plan rests with staff. “We can only advise as a council and see where we’re going with it,” he added.

Slade said he would like to see accommodation made for any disabled people who may be attending balls games or other activities to be able to access a washroom when the pool itself is closed.

“It’s important,” Slade said.

Mayor Frank Butt confirmed the issue will be addressed in the Town’s recreation master plan.

Councillor Ray Noel, who sits on the recreation committee with Seymour, noted that in the meantime, things are being done to accommodate people as much as possible.

“Most times if there is a tournament on the field, if the pool is not open, the recreation director has been very accommodating and can make that (access) available,” Noel said. “We know we have some challenges there and hopefully we’ll get them resolved.”

Aside from the bathroom issue, Noel said he would like to see access for people from one ball field to another made a little easier. “Again, that should all be addressed when the master plan is completed,” he said.

The discussion led councillor Doyle to ask when the handicapped parking spots that were dug up outside the pool building to deal with a leak, will be resurfaced.

“Is there a date as to when those parking spots are going to be repaved?” she asked.

“We do paving from time to time as we’ve got enough asphalt,” said director Farrell. “I’ll make sure that one is on the list. We’re still at it.”

Doyle pointed out all four parking spots, or at least parts of them, were affected by the work.

Councillor Doyle is calling on the recreation committee and town staff to finish the landscaping around the Pergola on Beach Road. Her request came on the eve of Carbonear hosting a review by a representative of Communities in Bloom. 

“I keep nagging about this,” Doyle admitted. “The Pergola area and the rocky areas over by the Pergola, this doesn’t have to any complicated process – can we just throw some topsoil on it and throw some grass seed on it and let it grow? I’ve been over there when the Town offers the yoga sessions and there are sections there that are still very rocky. And if we’re going to do this, we should make sure that we’re doing it nicely.”

Councillor Seymour said the issue was discussed at the last recreation committee meeting and the director is looking into it. He noted staff have put topsoil on the area, but the vegetation hasn’t taken to the degree they would like.

“There’s been no topsoil, there’s been nothing done over there to the best of my knowledge,” Doyle replied. “But we’ve been talking about doing something for a couple of years.”

The Town’s municipal enforcement officer will hand deliver notices to homes in Flatrock to let the residents know they’re properties aren’t covered by Carbonear’s fire department. Finance committee chairman Chris O’Grady indicated that action stems from a discussion at the last committee meeting. O’Grady wasn’t sure how many properties are affected.

Mayor Butt said the fire department should be informed as well. “If they don’t receive a letter, they will probably continue to respond,” he said.

Action will be taken against property owners who have not arranged to pay their property taxes,” Councillor O’Grady told his colleagues. 

“With regards to accounts receivable, (according to) our update as of last week, the property tax is approaching 87 per cent collected for this year; water and sewer is at 82 per cent; and our business tax is approaching 90 per cent collected,” O’Grady noted. “There are some accounts who have made arrangements to pay, but there are some who will have their water disconnected, I guess, next week for nonpayment of taxes.”

And arbonear’s new strategic plan will “hopefully” be ready for council’s first meeting in December, said O’Grady. “That’s the plan right now,” he said, noting a copy of it will be forwarded to councillors prior to that public meeting. “So, we’ll get a chance to go through it,” said O’Grady. “You’ve seen most of it by now. There’s another document to be released to the public as well, a kind of ‘What we heard’ type document.”

The next public council meeting is set for September 13.