What Odds at City Hall 13 March 2023

It was a very short meeting – with the agenda being covered in eight minutes – so let’s get into it.

Council approved Prakash Properties Inc.’s – which lists its sole director as psychiatrist Dr. Archana Vidyasankar – application for a clinic at 24 Airport Road.

Its hours of operation will be Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This application is for consideration of the Use only. Future development of the lot will need to conform to the Industrial Commercial Zone Standards and parking will be provided. On top of that, site layout and design will be subject to all City specifications, said Cllr Jamie Korab,

Fees Waived for Innovation Centre

Council then waived an estimated $22,000 in permit fees in support of techNL’s Innovation Centre, which is setting up at 710 Torbay Road in the former Rona building.

“This centre will support the innovation, diversification, and collaboration of a myriad of growing technologies in energy, healthcare, mining, oceans, and related areas. The centre will foster and accelerate the development of innovation-driven economic activity in the city and province,” said Cllr Ian Froude.

“The centre will help facilitate collaboration in innovative technology and generate joint industry projects and be an important piece of infrastructure in attracting companies and investment to the city and province.”

Cllr Ron Ellsworth said he was glad to support this initiative, pointing to Council’s history of partnerships with the business community, the tech sector and startups.

And longtime Shea Heights resident Linda Scanlon was appointed to the Shea Heights Community Centre Board of Directors. She is filling a vacant At Large position.

There are currently 20 board members.

Cllr Ellsworth said he’s a volunteer member and is in conflict, so he would abstain from voting on this appointment.

The Go Round

Deputy mayor Sheilagh O’Leary brought up tomorrow morning’s Cultural Resilience Training workshop for arts organizations taking place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. at City Hall. It’s free.

She then touted the Benevolent Irish Society’s Irish week, and the events it’s hosting throughout the week, including a dinner and dance on March 18. You can check out more details at the BIS’ website.

Cllr Sandy Hickman said he attended the funding announcements last week towards the replacement and enhancement of the Green Belt facility, as well as the Riverdale tennis court. He said they appreciate the government’s support and that the CIty is participating as well, doing work on the underground storm sewer and replacing the parking lot.

Cllr Ravencroft also noted the brevity of today’s council meeting, noting many progressive rock songs are longer than the eight minutes it took them to get through the three agenda items.

She sent out a congrats to the artists in the recently debuted arts exhibit Reviving Mi’kmaw Art at The Rooms and encouraged people to check it out.

Cllr Ravencroft then gave a shout out to the team putting off the musical Kinky Boots at the Arts and Culture Centre, saying it’s “A historic piece of queer art that I think is of historic size… Really proud to see members of our community taking over that stage and showing exactly how much we belong there.”

Cllr Korab congratulated Team Gushue for their fifth win at the Brier, and they will now be heading to Ottawa in April for the World Men’s Curling Championship.

Cllr Carl Ridgeley said last night he attended volunteer appreciation night at the Goulds Lions Club, and wanted to thank the volunteers in the city and province for the work they do.

Cllr Maggie Burton also touted that applications for Heritage Maintenance and Conservation Grants are now open.

So ends what was probably the shortest agenda I’ve ever covered, coming in just under 14 minutes and 30 seconds.