Although he is taking up employment with the financial institution the town of Kippens does business with, Deputy Mayor Paul Noseworthy has been given the green light to continue having the signing authority on the town’s cheques.

The matter was discussed at a recent Kippens council meeting with Noseworthy asking council to make a decision as to whether he was in a conflict of interest as a signing officer for the town.

It was reported the Department of Municipal Affairs had been contacted on the issue and had deemed there was no conflict. However, Noseworthy wanted the blessing of council on the issue and received it with a unanimous favourable vote.

Finance items

Requests from the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce for Bay Expo for financial donations were denied, as was a request from the Stephenville Theatre Festival for an increase in the financial donation Kippens provides to them, as it wasn’t budgeted for.

The Royal Canadian Legion Newfoundland and Labrador Command was approved a financial donation of $200, and the Hershey track and field group was given $100 as it was noted the team is made up largely of boys and girls from Kippens. Coun. Cator Best voted against the latter motion.

Approval was given for Debbie Pruner, acting town clerk, and any or all members of council to attend the Integrated Community Sustainability Planning (ICSP) workshop being held in Stephenville on May 27.

As well, Pruner and Josie-Cuff-Noseworthy were given approval to attend elections training in Corner Brook and Stephenville on June 15 and 16.

Approval was as well given for an increase in the town’s fire hall and garage insurance by $569.

New business

Council accepted a letter of resignation by the town’s chief administrative officer Ted Gracie.

Council agreed to write a letter of support as per a request from Mayor Don Drew of Bay Bulls who is looking to have additional search and rescue located in his town and closer to offshore rigs.

While appreciated, council denied a request from a resident to plant spruce trees along 108 Kippens Road as they have other plans in the works for the property.

A request from a resident to dump grubbings at the old Kippens dumpsite was deferred until an investigation of the site is carried out.

Permits

Permits to build sheds were approved to Brenda Butler and Joseph Legge at 15 Millbrook Lane; Charles Olsen at 33 Juniper Avenue; Martin Simon at 1 McCarthy’s Lane; and Rian O’Gorman at 34 Oake Drive.

Martin and Jean Alexander at 220 Kippens Road; Don Hynes at 31 Kippens Road; and Troy Aucoin at 2 O’Quinn’s Drive were each approved a permit to build a fence.

Ben Alexander at 119 Kippens Road and Derrick O’Reilly at 13 Fir Avenue were OK’d permits to each build a patio while Mike Brennan was approved a permit to replace and extend a patio at 428 Kippens Road.

Maurice Woodfine at 11 Marine Drive and Rian O’Gorman at 34 Oake Drive were each approved a permit to build a house while a request by Wade Oake to build a house at 9 McCarthy’s Lane was deferred until further information could be obtained.

Paul Toews was OK’d a permit to build a detached garage at 40 Lakeview Drive while Ivan Gallant was approved a permit to renovate his house at 126 Kippens Road.

Franz Zenz was approved a permit to build a storage shed/pump house at 432 Kippens Road while Jennifer and Doug Evans were given a permit to operate a wedding cake and tuxedo rental business from their residence at 173 Kippens Road.

A request from Joan and Norbert Alexander for the town’s approval in regards to a crown land use application was deferred pending further information.

Additional business

Council approved rezoning of land from 12 to 60 Orchard Lane from comprehensive development area to residential to accommodate a subdivision consisting of 14 building blocks.

Coun. Wayne Simon, liaison for Kippens Recreation Committee, said May 19-23 has been declared as clean-up week in the town at which time they will have an extra truck on. He said the town’s new loader should be arriving in the town on June 14.

Noseworthy, in a buildings and maintenance report, said people reported hearing noise around the playground and recreation area and upon inspection found some damage to the siding on the Community Centre. He said the police would be asked to step up their patrols in the area.