The regular meeting of the Miramichi River Valley Council met in the Council Chambers at 18:00hrs, August 6, 2024, with Mayor Russell presiding.

BRING MEETING TO ORDER:

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

COUNCIL ATTENDANCE: Councillor Hallihan was absent.

GUESTS: Penny Siddall, Lois Vickers, and Lorraine Underhill, directors with the thrift store requested that a lease agreement be drawn up specifying the areas they are permitted to use. 

Arlene Waugh and Jackie Jardine are working on starting a yoga class.  They have requested to use the Blackville Community Centre building to hold the classes free of charge.

RCMP member Benjamin Amdur was in attendance to discuss any issues council would like to address.  Theft, drugs and lack of coverage were all discussed.  There are 55 new members that will be coming to the province.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA                 

It was moved by Councillor Sheasgreen & seconded by Councillor S. Vickers 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 Gillespie to adopt the minutes, as circulated, of the Regular Council meeting July 2, 2024.  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 S. Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan that the bills in the amount of $42,703.82 for the month of July be paid. MOTION CARRIED

COMMITTEE REPORTS: REPORTS ARE ATTACHED

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

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Councillor Hallihan was absent.

RCMP: Councillor Sheasgreen had nothing to report.

EMO:  Councillor Hallihan was absent. 

ANIMAL CONTROL:  Councillor Sheasgreen reported that:

Tony Leblanc with Animal control for the Blackville area had called the office and wanted full uniforms for himself and a co-worker with Miramichi River Valley Logo on them, they were told that council had only agreed to supply shirts for them.

We have had no updates from NBSPCA on any issues within Miramichi River Valley, it was requested that they send a monthly report to Miramichi River Valley and there has yet to be a report submitted.

MEDIA:  Councillor Morgan Vickers had nothing to report.

RECREATION: Councillor Brennan reported that there will be a Blackville Days meeting on Thursday, August 8. 

Sunny Corner Days were a success.  Grants have been submitted for rollerblades, ice paint, renovations to downstairs and kitchen, as well as electrical upgrades.  Chase the Ace was a huge success.

We have requested financial statements from the Renous Recreation Council but have yet to receive them. To be included in 2025 budget we will need to receive these statements.

AMBULANCE NB:  Councillor Gillespie had nothing to report.

TOURISM:  Councillor Sheasgreen reported: 

A meeting was held at the Sunny Corner Firehall with Shawn McCarthy on July 10^th to discuss the potential of his company Character Matters putting together a “Play” at the Blackville Park about the Dungarvon Whooper, he has emailed us a quote on the cost of the set up and ongoing cost for 2025 in regards to making it a weekly event

We have reached out to HarleyAnn at RSC to help direct us in finding funding for MRV to be able to hire Character Matters to put the play on at the park in Blackville.

The wheelchair ramp will be paved at the Miramichi River Valley Tourism building by VYE Construction 

The Shed out behind the Miramichi River Valley Tourism building was finished by the park workers.

CANADA DAY:  Councillor Brennan had nothing to report.

WELLNESS:  Councillor Brennan reported that there will be a meeting held on September 14.  Horizon Health has put out a request for a nurse practitioner for the Blackville Health Centre.

BEAUTIFICATION: Councillor Sharon Vickers had nothing to report.

ENVIRONMENTAL:  Councillor Sheasgreen reported:

A concerned resident from Strathadam reached out to me about the Dump being opened again near their house, they were reaching out on behalf of a group of residents with the concerns of the dumping of materials that could potentially disrupt the waterways and animals in the area, I have returned a message about the concerns telling her that Mayor Russell, The Solid Waste Commission and I have visited the site and had a commitment from the Company that is leasing the property to reach out to me if any changes were made to the Lease going forward and that the Environmental Department of New Brunswick and Government officials from Fredericton have signed off on the proper documentation they needed to re-open the mill with their intended use. I have committed to visiting the site Monthly so I can keep them updated if anything changes at the site that would raise concerns.

PARK: Councillor Brennan reported that the park has been paved and looks great.  We have heard many positive comments.  The playground equipment is on order and should be here in the next couple of weeks.  The new solar lights are ordered and will be delivered tomorrow. 

UNSIGHTLY PREMISES: Councillor Gillespie reported that she is planning to visit the property in Maple Glen to understand the issues better. 

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

BUILDINGS: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that a rental agreement for the 1^st bay, bathroom, kitchen and front office space in the old fire hall needs to be drawn up for the thrift store.  Councillor Hallihan will provide us with white pavement paint for the outdoor rink surface.  Students can paint and clean up for the winter.

Snow Goers have put one groomer in the 2^nd bay at the old fire hall in Renous.  We need to get in touch with Darcy Colepaugh to insure they have purchased insurance, and we need to get a rental agreement drawn up.

WASTEWATER SYSTEM: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that David Donahue has offered to do regular maintenance and testing on the lagoon.  This will be discussed under new business.

PUBLIC WORKS: Councillor Hallihan was absent.

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

July 9, RSC Meeting.

July 16,RSC Community Development 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. 

July 1, Blackville Parade.

July 2, MRV Council Meeting.

July8, Provincial Trail Inspection.

July 10, MRV Tourism meeting.

July 11, Meeting with Mike Dawson.

June 12, GMCC / AGM.

July 13, Sunny Corner Days.

July 15, Meeting, old fire hall rental.

July 17, GMCC and Mayors Meeting.

July 20, Blackville Car Show.

July 20, RQFD, Blain & Fallon Bike Ride.

June 20, GMRSC Labour Fourm meeting.

July 22, Eel Ground/ Hatch Announcement.

July 24, Meeting with Canoe Insurance.

July 24, River Trail Farms & Ferine Sturgeon Meetings. 

July 25, RSC Golf Event.

July 29, Tuadook Lodge Meeting.

July 31, Meeting with Lisa Underhill

NEW BUSINESS:

(10.1) Housing Hub Proposal

We will not proceed with a feasibility study on development of any properties at this time.

(10.2) Renous Recreation Council Financial Statements

Councillor Brennan will make another request to have the financial statements for the Renous Recreation Council submitted to council.  In order to be included in the 2025 budget we will need to receive these statements.

(10.3) Fire Services Invoice

The fire services invoice is to be forwarded to Metepeniagag First Nation as per the budgeted amount for 2024.

(10.4) Sunny Corner Recreation Invoice

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Sheasgreen to approve the payment of $16,464.80 to the North & South Esk Rec Council for Chiller Re-Gasket.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.5) Quinn & Shaeffer Lane

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Sheasgreen to make Quinn Lane and Shaeffer Lane one-way lanes; to be entered through highway 8 and exited onto Digby Street.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.6) Events Tent

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor S. Vickers to approve the purchase of an events tent.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.7) Storm Drain Maintenance

We will request a quote on a maintenance agreement for the storm drains and sewer lines from Maritime Environmental.

(10.8) Storm Drain Main Street

A proper inspection of the storm drain will be done before any decision is made on repairing.

(10.9) Delinquent Sewer Accounts

Council has agreed to proceed with disconnections for account holders who are in arrears and have not made payment arrangements.    

(10.10) Public Meeting

A meeting will be requested between council and law enforcement to discuss issues we are having in our communities.  A public meeting will be considered after this meeting.

(10.11) Tractor

Moved by Councillor S. Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan to purchase a tractor for the municipal park from Patterson Sales in the amount of $24,999 plus HST.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.12) Gas Tax 2024

The Miramichi River Valley will receive $330,189 from the Canada Community Building Fund in 2024.  Clerk asked council to think about projects they want to see completed in our area.

(10.13) Exercise Class Rental

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Gillespie to approve the use of the Blackville Community Centre for the yoga classes Arlene Waugh is organizing free of charge.  MOTION CARRIED. 

(10.14) Lease Agreement

Councillor Morgan Vickers will work on a lease agreement for the thrift store located in the old fire hall in Renous.

(10.15) Lagoon Testing

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor M. Vickers to hire David Donahue to maintain and test the wastewater system.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.16) Character Matters

Moved by Councillor Sheasgreen, seconded by Councillor S. Vickers to approve the quote from Character Matters Miramichi in the amount of $12,000 for the Whooper Tour.  MOTION  CARRIED.

Moved by Councillor M. Vickers to adjourn the meeting at 20:30.