Bay Roberts closes youth centre that has no permit
By Olivia Bradbury/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At the Bay Roberts town council meeting on October 22nd, councillors discussed an issue that was brought to their attention by a concerned resident: a property on Earle’s Road operating as a business without a permit. Specifically, the business is supposedly a youth centre where young people are taught life skills.
Bay Roberts Director of Protective Services Justin Parsons had begun to look into the business once it was brought to the town’s attention, but he has since left the town’s employment. At the October 22nd meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Nigel Black said that he had made contact with the owner of the property, who asserted that it was being rented by “some arm of government”. Black informed the owner that anything other than residential use of the property would require approval an approval process from the council. However, the owner has yet to initiate this process. Black forwarded a copy of the necessary application to the owner, but whether they fill out and submit it to the council remains to be seen.
Bay Roberts resident Michael Lundrigan, who lives near the supposed youth centre, attended the meeting so he could elaborate on what he had seen and heard. He says the property was renovated and he described the owners as being “cagey” when he about their intentions. At one point, Lundrigan says he saw the road to the business blocked off by the RCMP and two officers remove someone from the building. He noted that the property is about thirty feet away from a proposed daycare, and he fears the unapproved business could pose a risk to nearby children.
Councillor Perry Bowering said that to set up a business without coming to the town showed a “total lack of respect”. He made a motion to shut the operation down, at least until the council is able to get more information and cooperation from the owner. All members of council voted unanimously in favour, and the motion was passed.