ATTENDANCE:  

• MAYOR: KEVIN RUSSELL

COUNCILLORS: 

• MORGAN VICKERS
• SHARON VICKERS
• AMANDA BRENNAN

CAO/CLERK: TINA HAYES
TREASURER/ASST.CLERK: JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN     

The regular meeting of the Miramichi River Valley Council met in the Council Chambers at 18:00hrs, April 1, 2025, with Mayor Russell presiding.

BRING MEETING TO ORDER:

The mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

COUNCIL ATTENDANCE: Councillor Gillespie was absent. 

GUESTS: Gary Bateman voiced his concerns on a number of issues.  (1) Not receiving notice of the upcoming election within the Miramichi River Valley.  He suggested flyers be distributed when important events are happening as not all people in the community have access to a computer.

(2) Tourism and lack of signage throughout highway 108 promoting businesses. 

(3) Lack of policing in our area.  He feels this is a scheduling issue and we should look at the idea of having the City of Miramichi police force cover some areas.

(4) Increase in taxes and lack of services being provided.  He would like to see streetlights added to the Derby area.  He suggested a public meeting be held to see if there is enough interest in having lights installed.  We will work on setting up a meeting to discuss costs.

(5) Unsightly properties in his community are becoming an issue and he would like to see these properties cleaned up and bill the property owners.  We are continuing to work on unsightly premises throughout the municipality.

(6) Residential areas being overcome by businesses opening, he suggested that an industrial park be built for the businesses.

(7) Look into the Millerton Wharf to see if there are any funds available to fix it up as it could be used by many boaters in our area.

Dean Allison requested from council (1) a list of members who signed the fire department policy; (2) a copy of the minutes from the January 15 meeting with the Sunny Corner Fire Department.

Jayde Beaudet requested a copy of the Code of Conduct bylaw and the process of appeal procedures.

Council went in camera at 18:25 to discuss as this is a legal issue.

Council came back into session at 18:40.

Council agreed to provide Jayde Beaudet with a copy of the Code of Conduct bylaw and the procedures of appeal.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA                 

It was moved by Councillor S. Vickers & seconded by Councillor Brennan to approve agenda as circulated. MOTION CARRIED.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No conflicts declared.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was moved by Councillor S. Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan to adopt the minutes, as circulated, of the Regular Council meeting March 4, 2025.  MOTION CARRIED

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

NIL

CORRESPONDENCE

Council has received all correspondence either through email or hard copy in their mailboxes.

BILLS & ACCOUNTS

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor M. Vickers that the bills in the amount of $37,304.66 for the month of March be paid. MOTION CARRIED

COMMITTEE REPORTS: REPORTS ARE ATTACHED

BY-LAWS: Councillor M. Vickers had nothing to report.

RCMP: Councillor M. Vickers reported that she reached out to Jason Leblanc with the RCMP for an update, but he was unavailable.

EMO:  Councillor S. Vickers reported that she received a few calls the morning the ice flooded some local households. Went to the office; John Gliddon was checking on people, coordinating the fire department, RCMP and NB power.  Kevin and I checked houses and roads throughout our area for flood damage. 

ANIMAL CONTROL: Mayor Russell submitted report from the Animal Control Officer.

MEDIA:  Councillor Morgan Vickers had nothing to report.

RECREATION: Councillor Brennan reported that Sunny Corner is applying for funds for renovations and new chairs.  The renovations are required for the new Zamboni and dressing area.  The next meeting will be held April 7 to discuss Sunny Corner days. 

Renous and Blackville had nothing to report.

AMBULANCE NB:  Councillor Gillespie was absent.  No report submitted.

TOURISM:  Councillor Brennan reported that she will in touch with Brooklyn Mercer to discuss summer markets.

CANADA DAY:  Councillor Brennan reported that she is planning Canada Day events.  She has been in touch with fireworks company.  Planning to have a foam machine and perhaps a magician along with usual events like bbq and entertainment.

WELLNESS:  Councillor Brennan reported that a meeting will be held on May 8.  The garden committee will be planning a planting day when it warms up. 

BEAUTIFICATION: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that she received an email from Kings Landing inquiring about shipping our other folk-art mural.  I was thinking that maybe we could have these secured into frames and displayed upstairs of the Renous fire hall. The temperature would be reasonably level year around there. I know they’re not to everybody’s taste, but they are 125 years old and part of our heritage. 

ENVIRONMENTAL:  Councillor M. Vickers reported that she has been in touch with Devon Matchett to set up a time to view the construction dumpsite in Strathadam.

PARK: Councillor Brennan reported that the new playground equipment will need to be installed when the park workers start back in May.

UNSIGHTLY PREMISES: Councillor Gillespie was absent.  No report submitted.  Mayor Russell reported that we continue to work on this issue.

FINANCE: Mayor Russell reported that the treasurer, Jennifer McLaughlin is to present a monthly financial report.

BUILDINGS: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that the generator at the Sunny Corner fire department kicks the RCMP computers out when it does its weekly service check.  Dwayne and I spoke, and he has called Pro Star to come and look after this.

Still only have one quote back from Forever Flooring on the repair of the RCMP building floor. It is quite a substantial amount so I think that maybe we should put it out for tender to get a variety of quotes.

The ladies at the thrift store are getting a lot of people stopping in asking about Mike Dawson‘s office and they’re concerned. I assured them they have a lease for that property and his office will not be there again.

WASTEWATER SYSTEM: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that the computer at the lagoon received damage from flooding and needs to be replaced. Jennifer contacted Shadd Comm., the company that originally installed it. David says he will put it a little bit higher in case this happens again. Obviously, the levels, input, output, pH Etc. are unreadable at this time. 

PUBLIC WORKS: Mayor Russell reported that he met with Darren Matchett with DTI to discuss issues throughout the Miramichi River Valley including route 420, the train bridge at the Enclosure, patching on Anderson bridge and the opening of the new bridge.

Regional Service Commission: Mayor Russell reported that he attended the following:

• Jan 23, GMSC Eco/ Dev Meeting.
• Jan 24, GMSC Mayors breakfast in Doaktown.
• Jan 29, GMSC Board Meeting.
• Feb 26, GMSC Dillon Consultant meeting.
• March 10, GMSC Community Dev Meeting.
• March 12, GMSC Board Meeting.
• March 19. GMSC Special Meeting.
• March 19, GMSC Public Safety Meeting.
• March 25, PRAC Training Meeting.
• March 25, PRAC Meeting.
• March 28, GMSC Special Meeting.

All Agendas and minutes are forwarded to Council as they are received.

Publicity & Promotion:  Mayor Russell reported that all promotional postings are on social media or sent out by email.

He attended the following events during the month. 

Other meetings.

• March 3, Meeting with MLA Dawson. 
• March 3, NBEMO Meeting.
• March 4. MRV Council Meeting.
• March 5, GMSC Consultant Meeting.
• March 6, Fire Services Meeting.
• March 8, RQFD Barbeque.
• March 11, MRV Office.
• March 19, MRV Office, Checking out flood areas.
• March 20, Meeting with Darren Matchett DTI.
• March 21, Meeting with SCFD & WorkSafe NB.
• March 24, MRV Office.
• March 25,26 & 27, UMNB Conference in Fredericton.

FIRE SERVICES:  Director of Fire Services, Dwain Hallihan reported that training is ongoing.  There will be Block D training this weekend, auto x training this week as well.  He is still trying to get in touch with someone from the province to obtain the old water pumps.

NEWBUSINESS:

(10.1) Sweeping of Streets

Moved by Councillor S. Vickers, seconded by Councillor M. Vickers to have the clerk put out a tender on having the municipal streets in Blackville swept.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.2) Weather Station

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor S. Vickers to allow Gabrielle Schenkels with the New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association to install a temporary Davis Weatherlink Station on our property from mid-April to the beginning of July to collect weather data.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.3) Flooring at RCMP Station

Moved by Councillor M. Vickers, seconded by Councillor S. Vickers to have the clerk put out a tender on having the floor replaced at the RCMP office in the Sunny Corner Community Centre.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.4) Lease with Elections Canada

Moved by Councillor M. Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan to lease an office space to Elections Canada from April 18 to April 21 in the amount of $800.00 MOTION CARRIED.

Moved by Councillor M. Vickers to adjourn the meeting at 19:50.