ST. GEORGE'S, N.L. — FRANK GALE
THE WESTERN STAR
ST. GEORGE’S, N.L. — Danny Conway admits he has big shoes. Conway, who is mayor of St. George's, has accepted the challenge of chairing the Southwest Coast Joint Council, replacing outgoing chair Peter Fenwick.
Conway says Fenwick, as well as vice-chair Barbara Barter and secretary-treasurer John Dawson, were very active in their positions during the four years since he became a member of the joint council.
Dawson’s position is being filled by Stephenville councillor Mike Tobin, and Barter’s position is filled by Lloyd Harnum, a member of the Bay St. George South Local Service District.
This is the first time a member of a local service district has served on the executive of the Southwest Coast Joint Council.
Conway said he is currently waiting to meet with Fenwick to discuss his position. After that, he said, he will set the date for the next meeting, in late November or early December, at a location to be determined.
Meanwhile, the joint council will be writing the appropriate provincial government ministers, the members of the House of Assembly and the Member of Parliament regarding the situation at Stephenville airport since PAL Airlines announced it will be discontinuing its schedule in January.
“Our joint council will be asking each town in the region to . . . put their support behind the airport,” Conway told The Western Star.
He plans to attend the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Conference and Trade Show in St. John’s Nov. 14-16 and expects most member municipalities of the joint council to have representation there.
Conway said another item he expects the joint council to continue is the Mid-Island Route, which runs from a section of the Burgeo Highway to Buchans.
He said the joint council has already invested in signage for the route and different departments of the provincial government have invested in improvements to the road.
Conway said it's very convenient for people who want to take that route as it cuts off a lot of travel.
He added that since he recently retired from his job with the Department of Transportation and Works, he feels he has the time to contribute to the joint council in addition to his mayoral duties.
