Eastern Charlotte Council Deliberates on Key Issues Amid Active Public Engagement

Eastern Charlotte Council convened at Magaguadavic Place in St. George for its 19th official meeting, tackling a range of issues from bylaw readings to community development and public works. 

Old Business: Controversial Bylaw EC-12 and Rural Plan Amendments

The meeting opened with the third and final reading of building bylaw EC-12, which aimed to regulate building and construction in Eastern Charlotte. The bylaw was ultimately defeated with six votes against and only two in favour. Councillor Lisa McKay expressed strong opposition, arguing, "There is way too much governmental overreach on all levels. We are a rural community, and people in a rural community should be able to change the front step on their home and make it bigger or whatever, put up a building. I get that there are rules and laws for safety... However, people need to live as well."

Following the defeat of bylaw EC-12, council set a new date for the public hearing of objections to bylaws Z.2.4 and Z.2.5, which propose amendments to the rural plan for the Village of Blacks Harbour. After some scheduling conflicts, council agreed to hold the hearings on August 15th at 6:30pm and 7:00 PM, respectively, at Stella Maris Hall in Blacks Harbour.

New Business: Building Permit Refund Policy and Hospitality Levy

Among the new business items, council discussed the Building Permit Refund Policy 07-2024. However, the policy could not be voted on due to the defeat of bylaw EC-12. Additionally, a hospitality levy was approved for the Granite Town Hotel to fund the repair and replacement of signage, utilizing $30,000 from the St. George Tourism Accommodation Levy. "This is not tax revenue. This is a levy that's collected specifically by the Granite Town Hotel," clarified CEO Jason Gaudet.

Public Roads and Fire Truck Sale

Another major decision was the conversion of three roads—Birch Lane in St. George, Mill Street, and Mountain Court in Blacks Harbour—into public roads. Council unanimously accepted ownership and responsibility for these roads, ensuring winter road maintenance and setting speed limits at 30 km/h.

Council also approved the sale of a surplus fire truck to the Department of Local Government and Environmental for $8,500. Councillor Michael Thompson emphasized the importance of using the proceeds for community safety, proposing to allocate the funds towards installing drafting stations in various locations. Despite initial support, the motion faced procedural challenges, but ultimately still was passed.

Community Reports and Public Participation

Council members presented various departmental reports, highlighting ongoing projects and community events. Councillor Adam Hatt detailed the preparations for the Summerfest, starting on July 22nd, and other recreational activities. "The summer concert series has kicked off for 2024... There's something for everyone," he noted.