Joint Mayors' Committee meets in St. Alban's WESLEY HARRIS The Coaster

Wesley Harris photo

To discuss and take action on matters of common concern the Joint Mayor's Committee of the Coast of Bays region met at St. Alban's on November 2.

Chairperson Max Taylor welcomed the five mayors who were able to attend and welcomed new mayors Georgina Brushett of Milltown-Head Baie D'Espoir and Eric Skinner of Harbour Breton. A number of items were discussed.

AQUACULTURE PROCESSING

Because of the amount of salmon leaving the province with only Head on/Gutted processing done locally, the committee had written to the Honorable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, inquiring about the minimum processing requirements.

The minister's response indicated that the companies are meeting the minimum requirements to export the product; therefore the mayors decided to arrange a meeting with the companies to explore the possibility of increasing the amount of processing in the region, thereby increasing the economic benefits to the region.

DAILYSIS

The mayors in attendance reported that only five people from the Coast of Bays have to go to Grand Falls-Windsor for dialysis, this number not meeting the minimum required before the Department of Health and Community Services will set up a dialysis unit in the area.

OCEAN CHOICE

INTERNATIONAL - HERMITAGE

Ross Butler from OCI will be coming to the region soon, and according to Mayor Doug Rose, Mr. Butler will be meeting with the Town Council and the Plant Workers' Committee.

Mr. Rose added, "Mr. Butler said that even though 2009 was a bad year, OCI still has plans to operate in Hermitage next year and to install the bloodwater treatment system.

The mayors agree that there has to be a concerted effort among all parties- harvesters and processors - to sell and process fish in the area instead of much of it being trucked out as it was in 2009.

UPDATE ON SEAL COVE

ABITIBI WORKERS

Mayor Junior Abbott of Seal Cove was out of the area for work but sent along an update on the Abitibi workers in his town. One took an early retirement, thirteen have found work in the province and out west while the remaining two have applied to their respective towns to work on the Community Economic Enhancement Programs.

MANDATORY FIREFIGHTER TRAINING

Since the province announced that voluntary firefighters will be required to get their level 1 training, the mayors have expressed concerned about the costs, and about the time off work required to go to Stephenville for a week.

The mayors agreed that arrangements should be made to have the training available within the region; therefore, the chairperson will draft a letter for presentation at the meeting of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador in Gander on the weekend of November 6 and 7 (Since the meeting in Gander the mayors have been informed that there are qualified people in the Coast of Bays area who can do the training locally.)

H1N1 Vaccinations

In order to avoid long lines and excessive delays, the mayors urged some type of scheduling for all the people who will have to travel to Harbour Breton and St. Alban's when the high-risk groups have been done.

The chairperson will contact Ms. Rhonda MacDonald, the infectious disease co-coordinator with Community Health in the Coast of Bays to reiterate the need for scheduling.

After the MNL convention in Gander the mayors will meet once more before Christmas. Max Taylor agreed to hold the position of chairperson until next June.