Duane Hicks
The town may have postponed its annual appreciation dinner until next June, but it will be honouring “Citizen of the Year” Ken Christiansen at the Dec. 17 council meeting.
Council received a report from the Administration and Finance executive committee last night recommending that “Kenno” be formally honoured at next week’s meeting.
Christiansen will be honoured with a plaque at that time, and there will be speeches delivered by representatives of the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee as well as Terry Ogden, a long-time coaching associate of “Kenno” with the Muskie boys’ hockey team.
Christiansen also will be asked to ride in the Canada Day parade next July 1.
Furthermore, the committee recommended that in future, the “Citizen of the Year” be named in early October so that the honouree can continue the tradition of riding in the Christmas parade, and be formally presented and recognized at a council meeting.
Meanwhile, the town’s annual appreciation dinner, which originally was slated for
Nov. 30, now will be held in June at Sunny Cove Camp.
More details will be worked out prior to the event, including the exact date.
The hosting of future town dinners will be evaluated immediately following the June one.
In other news, council voted 6-1 last night in favour of re-zoning the former Huffman School property on Williams Avenue into a residential subdivision.
Coun. Ken Perry voted against the re-zoning, saying he felt the site-specific provision for a minimum ground floor area of 1,500 sq. ft. for a single-storey dwelling, and 1,250 sq. ft. for a two- or more storey dwelling, was too restrictive and would dissuade some people from purchasing lots to build on.
Council amended Zoning By-Law 8/98, effectively changing the zoning and permitted uses on the property from institutional to residential (R2).
The town is aiming to create a 16-lot residential subdivision, with six fronting Williams Avenue and an additional 10 on a proposed cul-de-sac.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard presentations by the two winners of its Local Government Week essay contest, Jenna Mose and Destiny Morrisseau, both Grade 5 students at Robert Moore School;
•appointed Coun. Sharon Tibbs as deputy mayor, and councillors to various boards and committees;
•received an strategic plan activities update;
•passed a bylaw to authorize interim borrowing in 2013, as required, until tax revenues are collected (just like last year, the agreement is with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to borrow sums not to exceed $4 million); and
•agreed to authorize a loan in the amount of $1 million, with a five-year term and 15-year amortization, for the Honeywell Energy Savings project completed to Dec. 31, 2012, and authorize the necessary water, sanitary sewer, and corporate project reserve funds to fully finance the balance of the 2012 completed portion of the project.
The Honeywell project retrofits local municipal buildings, including the Memorial Sports Centre, recreational facilities, Civic Centre, and water and sewage treatment plants.
The aim is to save the town money, energy, curb unexpected equipment failures, and revitalize facilities.
