All members were in attendance.
 

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.
 

Mayor Losier called three times for those to speak against proposed By-law No. 46 Re:  Residential Properties Minimum Standards. 
No one spoke against proposed By-law No. 46.
Mayor Losier called three times for those to speak in favour of proposed By-law No. 46 Re:  Residential Properties Minimum Standards.
No one spoke in favour of proposed Proposed By-law No. 46.
It was noted that there were no written comments received Re:  Proposed By-law No. 46.
 

It was noted there would be Neighbourhood Watch meetings on March 21, 2001 and April 2, 2001 in an effort to expand the Neighbourhood Watch Program within the community.

Deputy Mayor Black moved to receive and file the RCMP Statistical Report for the Month of February, 2001.

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.
 

Art Skaling, Director of Emergency Measures Organization for the Province of New Brunswick gave a presentation and noted that the Emergency Measures Act, Section 9, requires municipalities to establish and maintain a Municipal Emergency Measures Organization.

Mr. Skaling also noted that the Municipality has a responsibility to prepare itself for an emergency and to look after the people in the municipality in the time of an emergency.  The Provincial Emergency Measures Organization is there to assist the municipality in making those preparations, however no provincial funding is available in this regard.

He stated the Province would come to a municipality if it was not prepared in the event of an emergency and that this has already been done for at least one municipality in the Province.  Although the Province may charge for emergency assistance to municipalities it has not been past practice to do so.  He noted the possibility of legal actions exists with respect to disasters within municipalities.

It was also noted that when there is a disaster and there are damages to provincial infrastructure and to private property the Cabinet could decide to give financial assistance to municipalities.  There is an arrangement in place with the Federal Government that is applied when the provincial cost of a disaster exceeds a specific amount.  The cost sharing formula is progressive, depending on how much the overall disaster costs.  According to provincial policy, if the disaster does not reach that stage where the Federal Government would share costs, there is no assistance for municipalities to recover their costs. 

Mr. Skaling noted the Province does not normally provide any funding for things like radio equipment.  The Province does have a cost sharing program with the Federal Government whereby assistance for municipalities for certain purchases can be obtained through JEPP (Joint Emergency Preparedness Program), a funding program that can also be used for communications centers or emergency operations centers, but not for planning or obtaining staff.  In order to obtain JEPP funding a municipality must have an Emergency Measures Organization and a Plan.

It was noted that it is not a pre-requisite for the Director, Chairman, or members of the EMO to be residents of Grand Bay-Westfield.
 

Ross Cantwell of EDM introduced Hap Stelling of StellingKelly and provided an overview as to their approach for the proposed Municipal Plan By-law Review for Grand Bay-Westfield.

Mayor Losier departed the meeting.

Time:  8:20 p.m.

Deputy Mayor Black assumed the Chair.

Mayor Losier resumed the Chair.

Time:  8:23 p.m.

A general discussion occurred concerning the process for the Review with the representatives of EDM responding to inquiries from elected officials.

7. MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2001

Councillor Sutton moved to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of February 26, 2001 as presented.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.
 

Seconded by Councillor Calvin.  Carried.
 

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.
 

Councillor Sutton moved to approve the following item from Bills for Ratification:
# 37. McGowan, Diane Petty Cash Amb.   $ 67.46

 Seconded by Councillor Calvin.  Carried.

 Councillor McGowan rejoined the meeting.

 Councillor Sutton moved to pay the Bills for Payment enbloc for a total of $19,015.23, and approve the remaining Bills for Ratification for a total of $33,715.02, Grand Total $52,730.25.

 Seconded by Deputy Mayor Black.  Carried.

Councillor McGowan moved to receive and file the following Consent Agenda items:

a) Building Inspector’s Report for the Month of February, 2001
b) Dog Control Report for the Month of February, 2001
c) Works Commissioner’s Report for the Month of February, 2001
d) Recreation Director’s Report for the Month of February, 2001
e) Fire Chief’s Report of March 6, 2001 Re:  Recruitment

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.
 

None
 

None
 

None
 

Councillor Calvin moved First Reading by Title of By-law No. 77, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield By-law to Close Certain Public Streets or Rights-of-Way.

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.

By-law No. 77 was read a first time by title.
 

Councillor Calvin moved Second Reading by Title of By-law No. 77, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield By-law to Close Certain Public Streets or Rights-of-Way.

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.

By-law No. 77 was read a second time by title.
 

Councillor Sutton moved First Reading by Title of By-law No. 46, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield By-law Respecting Residential Properties Minimum Standards in the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield.

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Black.  Carried.

By-law No. 46 was read a first time by title.
 

Councillor McGowan moved Second Reading by Title of By-law No. 46, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield By-law Respecting Residential Properties Minimum Standards in the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield.

Seconded by Councillor Sutton.  Carried.

By-law No. 46 was read a second time by title.
 

None
 

None
 

Councillor Calvin moved to receive and file letter of February 21, 2001 from Hon. Kim Jardine, Minister of Environment and Local Government Re:  Rate of Assessment and Property Taxation on Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.
 

Councillor Calvin moved to receive and file Memorandum of March 1, 2001 from Emergency Measures Organization Re:  Exercise by the Bay for May 24, 2001.

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Black.  Carried.
 

Councillor Calvin moved to concur with the Development Officer per his report of March 7, 2001 in that staff contract the services of Signs by Carole for the creation and installation of three signage panels to be erected at the flashing light information kiosk (intersection of Routes 102 & 107) to read “Historic Site - Mount Hope Farm” and to remove three “River Road” indicator panels and one “River Landing” indicator panel from the kiosk.

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Black.  Carried.
 

Councillor Calvin moved to accept with regret the resignation of Gary McKay from the Emergency Measures Organization and to forward a letter of appreciation for his service to the community and his offer to continue as a volunteer within the community.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.

Councillor Calvin moved to refer letter dated March 6, 2001 from Gary McKay Re:  Resignation from Emergency Measures Organization to EMO.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.
 

Councillor Sutton moved to replace the Tanker at Fire Station No. 2 by the purchase of a used cab and chassis and to have a qualified firm construct the body of the vehicle and assemble all components, subject to the lowest complete and available bid; and further moved the costs for the replacement of the Tanker for Fire Station No. 2 be paid from the General Capital Reserve Fund.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.

Councillor Sutton moved the Works Commissioner determine if a 2000 half-ton truck is available off the lot for a low price and, if not, to proceed to public tender for a 2001 half-ton truck with specifications to be forwarded to known dealers at the time of advertising with follow-up calls to be made to the dealers to determine if a bid will be submitted; if a 2000 vehicle is available off the lot for a suitable price, Council will be consulted prior to the purchase; and further moved the purchase of a half-ton truck for the Works Department be paid from the General Capital Reserve Fund.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.

Councillor Sutton moved to have staff prepare a Request For Proposal (RFP) for selected Architectural Consultants with a Certificate of Practice licensed in the Province of New Brunswick to prepare and administer Contract Documents for renovations to the Town’s Administrative Offices located in the Centrum Building, 609 River Valley Drive.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.

Councillor Calvin cast a dissenting vote.

Councillor Sutton moved to engage Godfrey Associates Ltd. to prepare a public tender for 2001 General Capital Street Upgrading as follows:

Kirtley Avenue/Young Street – stormsewer/resurfacing 
Prosser Court – surfacing/re-surfacing
Teal Street – re-surfacing
Woolastook Drive – upgrading from Allan Street to June Avenue and beyond, subject to available funding.

Seconded by Councillor McGowan.  Carried.

It was noted Godfrey Associates Ltd. will be requested to meet with Council prior to tender advertising to address specifications for 2001 Street Upgrading projects.

Respectfully submitted,

          
Sandra Gautreau                                                                                                                      Grace Losier
Town Manager (Clerk)                                                                                                                      Mayor
    
Judy Sproule
Assistant Clerk

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