Carbonear mayor presses for clean up of debris on Beach Road

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For the second time in two months Carbonear Mayor Frank Butt has asked staff when he can expect to see debris cleaned up on Beach Road, but there is still no firm date as to when it will happen.

Butt made his latest request at council’s March 25 public council meeting.

Butt said he first asked the public works department to take care of the clean up two months ago.

Beach Road runs alongside the ocean, separated from it by a breakwater. According to Butt, a December storm washed up the debris, and he has received many complaints about it. He asked his fellow councillors how they should go about having it cleaned up.

Town Clerk Cathy Somers noted the snow on Beach Road has melted and the area looks sturdy. Ian Farrell, the Town’s director of operations and public works, passed along information that he did not have seasonal staff to do the cleanup just yet. 

According to Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia Davis, Farrell indicated he intends to bring in seasonal staff soon as the weather improves. 

Butt asked if there is a time frame of when they will do the cleanup, remarking the debris has now been there for a long time. Davis said she would have to confer with Farrell to find out.

Deputy Mayor Sam Slade pointed out that Beach Road is the main stretch of road coming into Carbonear. 

“Perception, we say, is everything,” said Slade. “You know, you’re driving through town and the place looks dirty, what’s the first thing somebody will say? Waiting to bring in workers to do that job, it sounds some foolish to me, because we’ve got workers over there in that yard that’s quite capable to turn around cleaning that up in a short period of time.” 

Davis told Slade she would follow up on the issue.