MINUTES

1. Introductions and Review of Agenda

Introductions were made and the agenda approved.

1. Review and Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting (February 23, 2005)

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

1. Gully Project/Torbay’s Community Challenge Update

Madeleine tabled the proposal from Common Ground Heritage to develop the concept and operations plans for the next phase of the Gully Project. A letter will be prepared to Jack Byrne inquiring about financial assistance to help cover costs.

Bob Schmiedendorf will be taking up the position of Coordinator on April 4. Mike confirmed that the town has hired a security firm for a month’s trial to carry out patrols of public places such as the Kinsmen Centre, the schools, Whiteway Pond, the Gully Gazebo, etc. There has been no feedback from landowners regarding our recent letter and no complaints about the Gazebo. We will need to get written support from adjacent landowners before construction on the HTHS outdoor classroom can begin.

Work on the nesting boxes has begun and we will try to obtain additional boxes from Ducks Unlimited to replace broken ones. Plans for the 4^th Annual Open House are well under way and many interesting displays are planned.

Madeleine mentioned that a representative from the CBC show “On the Road Again” had recently interviewed several people by telephone and that there was a possibility the Gully Project could be chosen for a story to be taped this summer. We do not expect to hear back for a while.

The Community Challenge is slowly getting under way as we have not yet received our first payment despite many inquiries. The launch of the Climate Change exhibition at the Science Centre went very well and this display will be open to the public until the summer.

1. 2005 Come Home Year Update

4.1 Great Torbay Pick-Me-Up, May 7

This year’s neighbourhood clean-up will be modeled after last year’s very successful one, ie. advertising will be done through a poster, the town sign(possibly a staggered message), radio,

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the Times, the CHY Activity Report, etc. We will have someone posted on the town parking lot the day of the clean up from 10am-4pm to hand out garbage bags and register participants when they return with the full bags. We will have a draw for prizes and participants will get their name in the draw once for each full bag submitted. We will again arrange pick up for those who are unable to return the bags to the town hall. Krista will ask Joanne Parsons to prepare the poster and will inquire from the Forest Ecology Lab if we can obtain seedlings to hand-out to participants. We will ask the fire department to help get people out like last year. Mike will invite all Council members to participate.

Madeleine tabled a letter to Council from the Grade 4 French Immersion students at HTES commenting about the litter around town. The Mayor is replying to the class and Krista will contact Carmen to see how we could use this as an opportunity to get the schools to participate in the clean up. Perhaps we could get the Grade 4 students to spearhead a campaign at the school and prepare a letter to parents encouraging their participation.

4.2 Property Beautification Awards

The Awards will be part of the Come Home Year celebrations and will therefore be held in July. Tentative dates are July 21 for judging and the award ceremony would take place during the last week of July. Dates will need to be confirmed with Ross and the CHY Committee as there is lots of activity planned that week and we need to make sure the Kinsmen Centre is available.

We are going all out this year to beautify our town. We will encourage residents to put out white lights to mark CHY and to pay special attention to things like garbage boxes and curb sides. The small public areas in our town, like the island at the start of Quigley’s Lane for example, will be looked at. The CHY Committee has suggested that businesses along the main road might consider putting out flower pots. Work will also be needed to prepare the Father Troy Trail for this summer’s busy hiking season.

Joan, along with Sharon Tobin, Gail Garland and Susan Boulos, will pay special attention to businesses in our community and encourage them to play their part in preparing the town for CHY. The Post Office in particular was singled out as a bit of an eyesore on the main road and we will ask for their cooperation in cleaning up their property, including the very untidy customer mail box stations. The schools should also be asked to look at how they can prepare their grounds for CHY.

4.3 Souvenir Calendar

Work is proceeding on the souvenir calendar. One thousand copies will be printed.

4.4 BBQ at Gully Gazebo

Information about the BBQ will be included in the CHY brochure. Tickets will be $3 and will be pre-sold. Members of the Volunteer Fire Department have agreed to help serve the food. We have applied to the provincial government for some moose meat and are waiting to hear back.

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4.5 John MacCallum Sculpture

After meeting with Shirley and Madeleine and visiting the Gully, Mr. MacCallum has opted for the beach as the more desirable location for his sculpture and he will be approaching Council for permission. This will be close to the location of his sculpture last summer.

1. National Volunteer Week Event, April 19

The Town is holding a social for its volunteers on Tuesday, April 19 at 7pm. All TETC/Gully Project members are invited and should confirm their attendance with the town by April 12.

The Gully Project is considering having some cloth grocery bags made for its volunteers and major supporters.

1. Development Issues Update

Corrie is following up with the provincial government regarding complaints about Withrod Pond.

From the TETC point of view, the article in the Times regarding Jones Pond was a bit misleading. According to Bob C., the buffer zone around the Torbay side of Jones Pond will in fact be 50 metres, 30 metres of which will be a public zone under the town’s control. The 20 metre buffer zone which is on private property will be included in the property deeds. Council feels this buffer will be more effective than the Middle Cove side where most of the buffer zone is on private property. Regarding a possible trail in the buffer zone, the TETC believes the existing trail is sufficient and that no formal trail needs to be developed like at Forest Landing given the small size and sensitive nature of Jones Pond, except for the access trail to the pond. Madeleine will relay the TETC position to Bob C.

1. Canadian Environmental Network Newsletter Article

There was some discussion about how to respond to the news item about a seal hunt protest which appeared in a recent issue of the Canadian Environmental Network electronic newsletter. The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network is asking its members for their opinion on how to respond, or not, to this article.

After carefully reviewing the matter, it was agreed that our position is that the TETC is an environmental group and we are not in the business of animal rights. As an environmental group, the seal hunt is not on our agenda and, in our opinion, the seal hunt is not an environmental issue. Madeleine will notify the NLEN of our position and our suggestion that the CEN should be more careful about including animal rights topics in their newsletter as we do not feel this is part of their mandate and it could create a precedent.

1. Other Business

8.1 Composting Conference

We have not yet been refunded for the cost of sending Ross to last year’s composting conference. Ross report on the conference has been submitted. Mike suggested we submit the

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documentation to Rodney directly and remind him that the town had agreed to pay for this as Ross was attending on behalf of the town.

8.2 Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Awards

Mike suggested that the TETC be put forward for this year’s award and asked Madeleine to see if Krista could prepare the necessary documentation.

8.3 SAM Request for Stewardship Investment by Towns

SAM has requested a summary of all the investment (dollars and in-kind) made by our town to the stewardship program for the years 2002-2004. Madeleine will review the financial reports for the past three years and relay the information to Shirley.