Some thoughts on the CBS municipal election

A friend of mine always says, “It is water under the bridge, what’s done is done, there is nothing you can do about, so let it go.”
I am an older and somewhat grumpy fellow blessed with a good memory. When I look back on past and even recent decisions in our town, Conception Bay South, I just can’t “let it go.”
Reading The Shoreline seems to be the only way to find out what happens at the Conception Bay South Town Hall. Openness and transparency promised during every election fail as time rolls on.
One recent story showed a photo op of our federal, provincial and municipal politicians as they announced $14 million to fortify the Long Pond Harbour breakwater.
The Town decided and assumed responsibility for that harbour and surrounding area in 2016. One mayor who later pushed for further development in the harbour said it wouldn’t cost municipal taxpayers a penny.
The Gateway Development was created by the Town and included expropriation of farmland. Another announcement with much fanfare, that one council’s decision has become the responsibility of all future councils. And still only one major tenant!
More recently a $4.3 million “accessible” play area in downtown CBS was opened but with no parking near the site. One longtime councillor had said many times it is not in the right place. He voted for it!
The Town is now forging ahead on another project, the build described as a 100,000 square foot fabric cover held up by air pressure, located in the windiest and snowiest area of our town. A $16 million “community center” that is really a covered sports field. A dome is not a community center which a recent study had recommended.
Speeding and reckless driving are rampant all over town. The Town spent money to update the 2015 Traffic Calming Policy, adopted at the September 16 public meeting. It requires a lengthy and time-consuming process for citizens to get some calming measures in place. During the same timeframe, council decided to open some town roads to ATVs and other off-road machines, a decision that just adds more traffic.
Our present mayor has said he doesn’t want CBS to be a Quarry Town. The Town has many quarries within and outside its boundaries. Earlier this year, council permitted the reopening of a quarry on Red Bridge Road, near homes and a Town recreation area. Its permit had expired. At a very recent council meeting, despite a recommendation by staff to refuse the quarry, the mayor and councillors voted to approve it, one that months ago they had refused. It boggles the mind.
Our town is the second largest community by population in our province. We have one tiny indoor pool facility that seems to be constantly closed for repair. We have a dedicated and vibrant arts community but no culture, arts or theatre spaces. We have limited access to Provincial health services and no public transportation. Are these issues our Town council might address?
The Town has 10 sewage lift stations that dump raw sewage into our waterways when they fail. The Town’s water supply, as we found out recently, has no emergency backup systems causing a State of Emergency. This year alone almost $2 million dollars was spent to repair longtime problems at the Cronin’s Head Sewage Treatment Plant. Shouldn’t there be planned schedules to maintain and update our infrastructure?
This year’s terrible wildfires and water deficiencies show there must be increased attention paid to our local environment, environmental issues and climate change in general.
Our Town has paid little attention to the environment, has no environmental policies, nor are any employees dedicated to environmental issues or assessing environmental impacts.
And finally, a Shoreline article noted an administration process in CBS that gives complete power on hiring and firing to one unelected administrator. And there appears to be no oversight built into that process. On a whim and a prayer do you go to work for the Town of CBS.
Hopefully my friend is wrong in saying there is nothing I can do about it. Maybe he is right, and I am wasting my time. I hope he is wrong and that those who offer themselves up for public office pay heed to the decisions they make, the policies they create and the regulations they develop. It is our future. We depend on you.
Yours truly,
Neil Penney,
Kelligrews