Bay Bulls pulls back payment to fire department

By Mark Squibb/December 9, 2022

The Town of Bay Bulls has voted to turn a blind eye to the Town of Witless Bay’s request for an outstanding fire bill — for now at least.

Councillor Jason Sullivan voted last month to remove a cheque made payable to the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department from the Town’s payables chart.

“It’s a request from the Town of Witless Bay for outstanding fire fees for $38,200,” explained Sullivan. “Basically, I want to remove this until we actually figure out what’s going on, because this was something that the previous council had agreed with. I think they had increased the fees to put towards the new fire hall.”

The motion was seconded so council could discuss the item, with Sullivan doubling down on his stance.

“Until we can get an idea with what’s actually happening with the fire hall and what the costs are going to be, I am personally not in favour of giving them $40,000 a year,” said Sullivan. “That is our taxpayers’ money, so I think that is best served staying with us. When they get the fire hall built, we can agree on what the costs are for the services going forward.”

The rest of council apparently felt the same and voted unanimously to remove the item from the payables chart.

The Irish Loop Post reached out to both municipalities requesting further information.

Witless Bay replied by e-mail that “taxes and fees are private matters that we would discuss only with the taxpayer/taxpayers.”

No response was received from Bay Bulls.

Back in 2020, Witless Bay increased the longstanding fee of $90 per household (plus a 911 fee of $5 to $10) to $180 per household effective January 1, 2021, with further increases to $200 per household on January 1, 2023 and to $220 per household on January 1, 2025 planned to help finance a new regional fire hall.

But following consultations with its neighboring municipalities, Witless Bay proposed a new fee of $155, which was more palatable to Bay Bulls and the Local Service Districts in the area.

Bay Bulls council, meanwhile, voted in February, 2021, to “provide regional support for the multi year investment plan for the Witless Bay Fire Department, provided it is reviewed on an annual basis, and that the regional advisory fire committee provides financial oversight for the annual fire department budget.”