MINUTES

TORBAY ENVIRONMENT & TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, April 24, 2002, Kinsmen Centre

Present: Shirley Thorne, Madeleine Florent, Peggy Manning,

Mike Wawrzkow, Gerard Dunphy, Michele DuRand,

Paul Snelgrove, Kay Codner, Harvey Best

1. Welcome and Consideration of Agenda:

The meeting opened at 8:15pm. The agenda was approved.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting:

The minutes of the March meeting were approved and will be posted to the web. Because of the difficulty some people have had in opening up the minutes when they are sent as email attachments, Michele will instruct Madeleine on how to post them on the web using html.

3. Business Arising from the Minutes:

3.1 Trail’s End:

Mike has reviewed the draft development agreement and will email Madeleine a draft letter to Council with our suggestions and observations. Because this draft agreement is a generic one which the town intends to use for all developments in the town, we would like to see in the document an effective mechanism to ensure that the buffers are respected. Every bill of sale should contain the restrictions and there should be deterrent such as fines or a bond. This will help ensure that the buffers are maintained in perpetuity. It is not sufficient to simply mention the conservation zone. Harvey noted that no basement apartments are allowed in the development.

Madeleine has not yet followed up on the oil tanks found downstream of Trail’s End.

3.2 TETC April Newsletter:

Michele passed around a copy of our two-page newsletter which was submitted to the town yesterday for inclusion in the town’s spring edition. The plan is to have the newsletter out before the spring clean-up. It appears that the Heritage and the Recreation Committees will be publishing their own. We will be suggesting to Bob Codner that an editorial committee be formed for the town.

3.3 Hillside Festival:

Madeleine spoke to the chair of the festival committee who confirmed that the booth fee will be $75. There will be no booths during the Saturday night dance. There is an excellent line up of performers including the Navigators, the Walsh Family, Dermot O’Reilley, etc.

3.4 Torbay Emergency Disaster Plan:

Madeleine is coordinating our response to the draft plan and will be submitting it shortly.

3.5 Mapping of Trails Project:

Harvey, Sandy and Madeleine met with the MUN Geography Department Remote Sensing Laboratory and received a very enthusiastic response to our proposal. Both MUN and our committee have submitted applications for summer students (SWASP & SCP). If successful, the Geography Department will provide

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the facilities and the supervision for the students to undertake this project. We are awaiting a decision on these applications. We are now aware that the Town Plan has been digitized which will help the work tremendously. Gerry Hayes has indicated the town would like the rights-of-way included.

The sub-committee for this project is headed by Harvey and includes so far Gerard Dunphy, Annette Stapenhorst, Sandy Sandeman, and John Cooper. Shirley will ask Colleen Tapper if she is interested in participating. Madeleine has emailed Robbie Hicks of the ECTA to see if they would like to be included.

4. Gully Project Steering Committee Report:

The project is progressing well. The Open House was a success with over 150 people in attendance. Over $50 in recyclables was collected. Ken’s presentation was very well received. The Committee is in the process of completing its first Quarterly Financial and Progress Report which was due on April 10. A number of new partnerships have been forged. Ken has given presentations to a group of Girl Guides. Our ad appeared in this month’s edition of the Northeast Avalon Times. The next meeting of the Steering Committee is planned for June 1.

5 New Business:

5.1 Stewardship Association of Municipalities Meeting, Torbay, May 24-25:

Torbay is hosting this spring’s SAM meeting. A total of 20-30 people representing 12-15 municipalities will be attending. The town will sponsor the Meet-and-Greet on Friday evening at the Town Hall as well as lunch the next day. On Saturday morning, there will a walk-about of our wetlands and other attractions, followed by the business meeting in the afternoon in the Fire Department meeting Room. Shirley will be meeting with Bob C. and Gerry Hayes to finalize details and prepare invitations. EHJV will host the BBQ on Saturday evening which will probably be held at the club house on the Swilers Compound.

We will try to have displays mounted for the meeting like we had for the Open House. Also, we will talk to Ken about possibly doing a presentation.

5.2 Conservation Stewardship Conference, May 21-22:

Legacy Nature Trust is organizing this conference which will take place at the Fairmount Hotel. The first day will cover terrestrial conservation issues and the second, marine conservation. We will find out the cost, if any, and decide if we want to send anyone. If there is no cost and the meeting is open to anyone, Madeleine will post it on email.

5.3 Canadian Environmental Network Meeting, Ottawa, May 24-26:

The documentation on this meeting was tabled. There are no funds to send a representative to this meeting.

5.4 East Coast Trail Association Hikes:

Two hikes in this area that may be of interest:

(1) Beginner’s hike along the Father Troy Trail to Flatrock on April 28, starting at the end of Lower Rd at 10am;

(2) Plant identification interpretive hike in the Gallow’s Cove area on June 22, starting at Gallow’s Cove Rd at 10:30am; and

(3) Hike from Pouch Cove to Cape St. Francis (& return) on June 23, starting at the Waterwitch sign in Pouch Cove.

For further information, visit the ECTA web site at: www.eastcoasttrail.com.

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5.5 Nature Conservancy:

The April 13 edition of the Telegram featured an informative article on the Lundrigan’s Marsh project sponsored by the Nature Conservancy, which is one of our project partners.

5.6 Property Beautification Awards Sub-committee Report:

Peggy reported that the sub-committee was looking at possibly changing the prize structure for the awards, eg. having 5-10 winners and dividing up the tax rebate for example. Also we may want to have a rule whereby properties can only receive the award once since many of the properties come up again and again. We are also looking at changing the criteria and putting the emphasis on the preservation of the natural landscape, composting, the use of organic techniques instead of pesticides, etc. Peggy will be discussing the proposed changes with Ross Traverse and Bob Codner to get their feedback.

This year, we will be sending out letters to past and prospective supporters asking for donations of door prizes.

5.7 Neighbourhood Clean-up Day, May 11 and Spring Clean-up Dates:

We will hold our Neighbourhood Clean-up Day on Saturday, May 11. Like last year, we will give away spruce seedlings for every bag of litter brought back to the town hall. We will also be accepting donations of recyclables to the Gully project. Gerard will prepare a poster which will be put up in local businesses. Madeleine will arrange for announcements in the Telegram and on radio stations and ask Gerry Hayes to put it on the town sign.

5.8 Torbay Newfoundland Pony Project Proposal:

There was some discussion about this project. However, it is unclear what role the TETC is being asked to play in this project since we have no volunteers available for computer or other training. Shirley will speak to Annette and ask her to come to the next meeting to more fully brief us on the proposal and explain what support is expected from our committee.

5.9 National Volunteer Week, April 21-27:

Madeleine tabled the certificate of recognition which was presented to the committee by the Mayor earlier in the evening during a small reception at the town hall to mark National Volunteer Week. Representatives of all committees of Council were in attendance.

5.10 Community Hikes:

A very enjoyable hike to Moon Pond Ridge took place on April 21. The next community hike will be to the airport via the South Pond Watershed. Jim Cantwell will be asked to lead. The hike will take place on Sunday, May 26 which will enable participants from the SAM meeting to attend if they are interested. We will meet at the town hall at 1pm and proceed from there. There will be a mug-up at 3pm.

On June 23, there will be a hike to Jones Pond, details to follow. The issue of the buffers around this pond is one to follow. The town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove is interested in protecting this pond and is seeking support from Torbay. Jones Pond is an important pond for Logy Bay as the community has so few undeveloped ponds left.

Shirley will talk to Danny Gosse about scheduling a date for the Walk to the Mountains which we had to cancel last year. She will also approach Bob Codner about repeating the Mayor’s Canada Day Walk which we instituted last year.

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1. Report on Meetings Attended by Committee Members in April:

6.1 Town Council Meetings:

Nothing special to report.

6.2 Heritage Committee Meeting:

Harvey Best reported that the Heritage Committee is discussing the possibility of acquiring a house/building near the beach where a heritage museum could eventually be developed. Also, Heritage has decided to publish their own newsletter twice a year, although they will insert some information in the town newsletter as well.

2. Other Business:

7.1 Liability Insurance & Other Matters:

There are a number of issues which will require some discussion with the town, notably Council representation on the TETC, possible eventual incorporation of the TETC and obtaining charitable status. In addition, Madeleine will be preparing a letter to Council seeking confirmation of liability insurance coverage for the Gully Project. This is crucial as the project enters a more participatory phase and we are required to have such insurance under the EcoAction guidelines. The town had budgeted an amount for insurance as part of their in-kind contribution so we must clarify what exactly we are covered for.

7.2 Washrooms in the Kinsmen Centre:

Some concern was expressed about the water running continuously in the Kinsmen Centre washrooms. This will be brought to Gerry Hayes’ attention.

3. Date of Next Meeting and Adjournment:

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:15pm at the Kinsmen Centre. (Note: the date of our May meeting is incorrectly shown in the Capital Coast calendar as May 22)

The meeting adjourned at 10pm.

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