The calendar of events for the year included: Provincial Men’s Curling Championships (February 3 – 8); Winter Carnival (February 19 – 23); Rotary Club 35th Music Festival (March 2 – 7); Bay Expo (May 30 – 31); Canada Day (July 1); and Stephenville Day (August 3). The Stephenville Theatre Festival 30th Season (July 8 – August 16) drew local and visitor theatre patrons, who were, as usual, delighted with the quality and genre of the performances.

A very special event this year was our participation in the Olympic Torch Relay. On November 15, Day 17 of the Relay’s 45,000 km journey, we were proud to have the Flame in our Community; hundreds of individuals attended this out of the ordinary, historic event.

Stephenville, along with the City of St. John’s and the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, was selected to participate in a Federal/Provincial/Municipal initiative, BizPal. BizPal is an innovative online business permit and licence service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to information on permits and licences they need to establish and run their business. The service was launched on February 27, 2009.

The Disaster Financial Assistance projects continued to replace infrastructure lost in the 2005 flood; under that funding, the following projects were completed: Kin Court soil remediation; Ballfield Reinstatement; and Carolina Avenue Bridge Approach.

Under the Municipal Capital Works program, the Main Street upgrades to asphalt and sidewalks was carried out; ACOA and the Business Improvement Area Committee were partners in the sidewalk portion of the project. The funding for upgrades to Hillview Avenue and Ocean Drive has been approved by the Provincial Government; these projects will be tendered early in 2010.

The Town of Stephenville contracted the materials and suppliers to carry out repairs which were required to keep the Stephenville Airport operating through the winter. In addition, the Town engaged the accounting firm of Grant Thornton to prepare a Business Plan to propose a go-forward plan for the Airport operation and to facilitate access to Federal and Provincial Government funding.

The 19% average increase in residential Municipal Assessments indicate that real estate values have not been adversely affected by the closure of the area’s largest employer. A significant amount of rental unit construction has been carried out and/or is planned for 2010.

The Municipal Elections were held on September 29, 2009. I would like to congratulate all the candidates; the Town is fortunate to have many individuals who are willing to serve on Council. My Council colleagues and I look forward to working in the best interests of our community for the next four years.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Tom O’Brien
MAYOR

December 11, 2009