The regular meeting of the Miramichi River Valley Council met in the Council Chambers at 18:00hrs September 5, 2023 with Mayor Russell presiding.

BRING MEETING TO ORDER:

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

COUNCIL ATTENDANCE

All in attendance.

GUESTS:

RCMP officer Grundy came to address any issues council may have.  A discussion was held on the issues of atv’s in the village.

Mark Luciak spoke with council on his concerns over a storage building owned by his neighbour that is partially on village property.  He is requesting the building be moved off village land.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA                 

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

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No conflicts of interest declared.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was moved by Councillor M.  Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan to adopt the minutes, as circulated, of the Regular Council meeting August 1, 2023.  MOTION CARRIED

It was moved by Councillor M.  Vickers, seconded by Councillor Gillespie to adopt the minutes, as circulated, of the Special Council meeting August 15, 2023.  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 Hallihan that the bills in the amount of $32,762.64 be paid. MOTION CARRIED.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: REPORTS ARE ATTACHED

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

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Councillor Hallihan reported that a workshop is happening on Sept 8-9 at NBCC for all fire departments province wide.

An appreciation day will be held on September 9 at the RQFD for the reopening of the Pineville bridge.  Bridge workers, MLA, Mayor, Council, and the public are welcome.

Chief Sturgeon gave fire report for Blackville for the month of August 2023.  Total manpower available (18), Call responded to within village during month (0), call outside village (1), training session held (1); New equipment: 2x firepro thermal imaging cameras / 2 APX2000 TMR radios; Equipment Not in Service: NIL

RCMP: Councillor Sheasgreen attended a meeting at the Travel Lodge in Miramichi with the Minister of Public Safety, in attendance was RCMP, the Minister of Public Safety and his Deputy, DNR, EMS, Miramichi City Police Chief, Crime Stoppers as well as others, it was discussed about crime rate in the area, hiring of new RCMP officers, as well as what we as a group could add to the plan the Minister has going forward, some other topics were homelessness, addiction and mental health, all these topics were touched upon and the hope is to keep our area as safe as possible.

EMO:  Councillor Hallihan reported that he met with Public Safety Minister, Kris Austin regarding the RCMP spending time at the Renous Institution.  There needs to be more public education, TV advertisements, etc.

ANIMAL CONTROL:  Councillor Sheasgreen had nothing to report.

STREET LIGHTING: Councillor Gillespie reported that 2 streetlights will be added to the intersection by the Parker Road next year.  This cost will be added to the budget.

LEISURE SERVICES: Councillor Morgan Vickers had nothing to report.

RECREATION: Councillor Brennan reported that Blackville will be hosting a 4 on 4 basketball tournament on September 16.  September 8^th there will be an outdoor movie night.  Ladies of the River entertainment, bbq, corn boil, and washer toss will be held on September 15&16.  The rink upstairs has been cleaned up and is ready to be rented if someone is interested.  25X35 office space.  A ball tournament is set for October 15. No contact has been made with Renous and Sunny Corner recreation councils.

AMBULANCE NB:  Councillor Gillespie expressed her concerns over the lack of coverage our area has been receiving.

TOURISM:  Councillor Sheasgreen reported: 

Stopped into the office and chatted with Tina and Sharon about what needs to be completed at the Tourism building, there were no set plans on how the building was to be finished, the folks that were working on the building that decided they were done with it left no plans on what was left to be done. I stopped by the building and looked things over and have come up with a list of stuff to be completed.

1. There will need to be a Wheelchair ramp on the front of the building as well as a way to get to the back of the building and access to the bathroom in the basement

2. Some electrical needs to be finished up with lights being properly installed

3. A stand will need to be made for the signs to be attached to in the parking lot

4. It will need to be decided if the basement needs to be finished or leave it as is with just the bathroom there and an open room

5. Bathroom in the basement will need to have the finishing touches done to it with handles to be installed etc.

6. A clearly marked area for wheelchair parking

With the Tourism season ending shortly we will need to decide if we finish up the project this year or wait until spring.

We will need to have a tender issued to find a contractor to give quotes to finish the work needed and a timeline on when it can be completed.

CANADA DAY:  Councillor Brennan had nothing to report.

BEAUTIFICATION: Councillor Sharon Vickers had nothing to report.

PARK: Councillor Brennan reported that two of the park workers are now done for the season.  There is a lot of brush and boards at the back of the park property that needs to be cleaned up.  Perhaps we should get a quote on hiring a chipper for a day and get the area cleaned up. A company was looking at giving us a quote on paving the rest of the walking trails.  The final night market is being held tomorrow evening.  Been having a great turnout.

UNSIGHTLY PREMISES: Councillor Gillespie reported that she looked in a property that we have received complaints about, and it has been cleaned up.

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

BUILDINGS: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that she met with Penny Siddalls regarding relocating the thrift shop.  After some discussion with Councillor Hallihan about the usage of the old fire hall in Renous, it was decided that they will view the building and see if it is suitable.  The thrift shop is used by all ages so something on a ground floor will make it more acceptable for all to utilize.

Councillor Hallihan will be in touch when a time has been set to meet with Grayrock Construction to address the issues with the Sunny Corner fire hall.

SEWER: Councillor Sharon Vickers reported that she spoke with Dana Hogan and all levels at the lagoon are normal.  All the excess water hasn’t caused any hazard or overspill.

PUBLIC WORKS: Councillor Hallihan reported that there was a plugged culvert at Lloyd Underhill’s.  There are potholes on Riverside drive.  Trying to get culvert pipe from DTI to fix the water issues by Pam Jardine’s.  This needs to be done asap.  Will contact Ronnie Underhill to discuss. 

Regional Service Commission: Mayor Russell reported he attended a meeting on August 17, GMRSC committee; a meeting on August 25, mayors meeting; and a meeting on August 30, budget meeting; All agendas and minutes are forwarded to council as they are received.

Publicity & Promotion:  Mayor Russell reported that he attended the following events during the month.

August 1, MRV Council Meeting

August 10, Special Council Meeting, Regional Strategy

August 15, Special Council Meeting, Victory Baptist Church

August 18, Funeral in Doaktown, Mike Dawson, and Lloyd Underhill

August 19, Perry Brophy presentation, Renous Days, Sillikers washer toss, kids’ fun day and Joey White bike run.

August 27, Mayors bbq

August 29, meeting with Minister Austin, public safety

NEWBUSINESS:

(10.1) Four Year Plan for the PMHP Program

Moved by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Hallihan that the document entitled Miramichi River Valley Four-Year Plan for the PMHP Program 2025-2028 be adopted. MOTION CARRIED 

(10.2) Thrift Store Building

The old fire station in Renous will be viewed to see if it is a suitable area for the thrift store.

(10.3) Fire Truck

Moved by Councillor S. Vickers, seconded by Councillor Brennan that the Municipality of Miramichi River Valley submit to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board an application for authorization to borrow an amount not to exceed $730,250 for a term not to exceed 15 years for the purchase of a fire tanker.  MOTION CARRIED.

(10.4) Contracts for Sunny Corner & Renous Fire Departments

Tenders for snow plowing the Renous and Sunny Corner fire hall parking lots will be posted next week for a one-year period.

(10.5) Tourism Building

A discussion took place on what needs to be completed at the tourism building.  We would like to have it all completed this fall so we are ready to open for next spring. We need to contact the contractors to see if they can finish the project or hire someone else to complete it. 

Moved by Councillor Brennan to adjourn the meeting at 20:25 hours.