Municipal Plan public forum

The City is circulating notice of another public forum in their Municipal Plan Review process, Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Foran/Greene Room, Fourth Floor, St. John's City Hall. This is regarding the whole municipal plan, not specifically the Battery.

Municipal plan public consultations

As part of the St. John's Municipal Plan Review process, a series of public consultations are being held to hear what your vision is for the City of St. John's.  On Monday, June 4, 2012 at 7 p.m., 4th floor, St. John's City Hall, there will be a Public Meeting with a special guest speaker, Ken Greenberg. 

New non-residential guidelines

The Telegram carries a story today that City Council last night approved new building guidelines for non-residential properties on Outer Battery. It looks like this is an update of the PHB report presented at the City's public meeting back in February, apparently incorporating the public input from that meeting.
The City didn't give OBNA any notice of this, but today we asked for -and got- a copy of what they approved last night.  It is now available on our DOCUMENTS tab, also here.
Also, the City's website is advertising a public meeting about The Narrows (Outer Battery & Fort Amherst) this Thursday night.  Information here

"Council does not do anything for us."

Although the City has not had a very positive relationship with Outer Battery in the last couple of  years, the vibes apparently go back much longer than that.  Elaine Wychreschuk found this document in the archives where residents petitioned the Nfld government to be removed from the City's jurisdiction because "Council does not do anything for us."  It must date from before 1949, and perhaps the 1920s.  Signed by about 60 people.  Anyone remember anything about this?

OBNA executive positions

OBNA board for 2012 is:
Chair & Treasurer: Angela Drake
Vice-chair: Chris Brookes
Secretary:  Michel Savard
Board members:  Fabien Basset, Keith Sparkes.
Minutes of board meetings posted under the blog tab above.

3rd AGM report

Thanks to everyone who came to the AGM last night.   There was more than an adequate quorum, and thanks to Joanne's prepared script and materials, things went smoothly.

•  Outgoing board members Joanne Butler and Judy Adler expressed regret they decline to stand for reelection.  Many thanks to them both for all their valuable work in the past year.

• The new board elected for 2012 is:  Michel Savard, Fabien Basset, Keith Sparkes, Angela Drake, Chris Brookes.

• The meeting formally passed the constitutional amendment to include "to preserve and promote our community's heritage" in OBNA's aims - this was approved last year but needed formal AGM passage.  

• There was discussion about OBNA's aim "to preserve the physical fabric of the neighbourhood" and it was generally agreed this should include careful monitoring of any inappropriate neighbourhood developments  (monster houses, etc.)

• Outgoing Treasurer Ange Drake presented OBNA's financial statement.  We have a tiny surplus in the bank account, which will be supplemented during the year by donations, barbeque fund-raiser and book sales.

• Outgoing Chair Chris Brookes gave a rundown of the past year's activity, ongoing parking lot issues, the Narrows Group participation, and OBNA's application for summer student funding 2012 similar to last year. Also that we just received CEDP(provincial govt) funding to cover cost of reprinting 300 copies of Out to the Battery which can be sold to supplement OBNA's income.

The new Board expects to meet within a week to sort out roles for Chair, Treasurer, etc. and we'll post their contacts on this blog when that's settled.

Thanks to Elias for bringing choc-chip cookies, and as always to Charlie Pearcey for the use of his store, warm and cosy despite the pack ice in the harbour.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY APRIL 3, 7pm Pearcey's twinestore

All members please make a special effort to be present - we need a quorum!