MINUTES

1. Introductions and Review of Agenda

The agenda was approved with the addition of Tidy Towns and SAM meeting.

1. Review and Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting (February 22, 2006)

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and the following update provided:

(i) March 31 is the deadline for printing the newsletter. The draft should be ready for review by Bob Codner tomorrow.

1. 2006 Municipal Plan Review - Review & Approval of Draft Submission

The Committee reviewed the TETC’s draft submission on the municipal plan to Plan Tech and several changes/additions were noted. Madeleine will revise the draft and prepare a covering letter for Peggy’s signature. Copies will be forwarded to Council. The submission will be emailed to all members with a reminder that individuals can make personal submissions to the review process should they wish.

1. Updates on Projects & Other Information Items

4.1 Trail Mapping Project

Harvey met with Dr. Simms to discuss where we go from here. MUN will help prepare a pilot of what the data bank can do for presentation to Council. We estimate that the total value of the work done so far with this project by TETC, MUN and summer students to be in the range of $50,000, a substantial contribution to our town. The completed data bank will make Torbay a leader and model in this area. We are applying for a summer student for 12 weeks from HRDC to update the data bank and prepare a trails brochure. We will share supervision with MUN. We will need to decide which trails to include in the brochure. Some trails will probably need to be walked. It was suggested that naturally-treed areas be identified in the data bank.

Harvey pointed to the need to revitalize the trails committee. New members are coming on board including a GIS teacher at the College. Representation from the Recreation Committee is needed.

Harvey updated the committee on the ongoing right-of-way issue which Council is dealing with on Marine Drive.

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4.2 Gully Project

Briefing books on the infrastructure plans for the Gully have been prepared for Council. Bob will try to schedule a meeting with landowners in the near future.

Regarding the outdoor classrooms at HTHS, Ralph will inform Council that we hope to proceed as soon as the weather permits. Harvey will touch base with Jerome Coady to determine when he will be available.

4.3 One-Tonne Challenge

Madeleine advised that our OTC project must officially close up on March 31. Despite numerous letters and support from our local MPs, we have not been able to obtain an extension to this project that would have allowed us to complete all of our activities. The OTC head office did however allow us to hire an assistant/outreach worker for three weeks in March to help complete the home visits. It is expected that the new government will be canceling the One-Tonne Challenge Program completely. It is not know what, if any, program, will replace it.

With the administrative and overhead monies due to TETC from this project, we will be able to keep our project coordinator on for 2-3 weeks in April which will allow us to prepare our final report and close out the project.

1. Funding Opportunities and Other Financial Matters

5.1 Eco-Action Application

A new Eco-Action application was submitted on March 1 which focuses on recycling, composting and an outdoor market. The total project budget is $93,770, with $36,510 requested from Eco-Action. It will probably be at least early June before we hear anything.

5.2 2006 Green Team Application

We have submitted an application for a Green Team for this summer but have not yet heard if it will be approved. Funding for this has been included in our Eco-Action application. Should the latter not be approved, the funds for the Green Team will come out of the TETC’s own budget.

5.3 Environmental Damages Fund

The final project report has been submitted. We have been advised that the report has been accepted and Environment Canada will be forwarding the balance of the monies owed to us, ie $1500. The total project budget was $6500.

5.4 2006 Souvenir Calendars

The calendars are now on sale for $5.00 each.

5.5 Donation

We have received a very generous donation of $300 from our MHA Jack Byrne. A letter of

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thanks will be sent to Mr. Byrne who has been a strong supporter of the Gully Project from the start.

1. Planning for 2006 Open House & Neighbourhood Clean-up

Our 5^th Open House will take place at HTES on Sunday, April 30 from 2-5pm. The event is being billed as a community open house this year. While there will be a lot of the usual nature/environmental displays, the focus this year is on getting to know our community and highlighting our many groups and activities.

No has been set yet for this year’s Great Torbay Pick Me up pending confirmation by the town of the date for this year’s spring clean-up.

1. Other Business

7.1 Tidy Towns Competition

Ralph tabled this year’s invitation to participate in the Tidy Towns competition. It was decided that, again this year, we would not participate, primarily because (1) there is a lot of work involved in this competition and we have few members who have time for this right now; and (2) there is not much point competing until and unless we have something new to offer in our town in terms of infrastructure (such as a new trail system or Gully infrastructure) or other attractions.

7.2 SAM

Ralph advised that EHJV representatives Jason Foster and Barbara Campbell would be in town on April 10-15 and had requested an opportunity to meet with Torbay Council to update members on the program.

The next SAM meeting will take place in June in Gander. The fall meeting will take place in Carmanville.

The new EHJV signs are ready and should be delivered in the next couple of months. We will be getting two signs this time, one for each end of the town.

7.3 National Wildlife Week at the Rooms

We have been invited by the Salmonier Nature Park to host a display on the Gully Project during National Wildlife Week at the Rooms. The event will be officially launched on April 9 and schools will be visiting the exhibits on the following Tuesday and Wednesday.

7.4 Portable Signs

The increasing number of portable signs appearing along the main road is beginning to cause some concern. There are too many for them to be very effective, they are ugly and there is some question as to whether all of them are put up in accordance with provincial regulations. This needs to be looked into.

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7.5 South Pond

Further water quality testing of South Pond is required before a decision to connect it to North Pond can be taken.

7.6 Torbay By-pass Road

All indications are that construction of the new road may possibly begin this year. The question was raised as to whether an environmental impact study had been carried out of the proposed route. Madeleine will check.