HIGHLAND GAMES MAKES TOP 100 EVENTS LIST AGAIN (published in the Daily Gleaner, October 05/10)

The annual New Brunswick Highland Games Festival has been named as one of the Top 100 Events in North America in 2011 by the American Bus Association.

The association describes the games as excellent entertainment for tour groups and individual travellers.

"This designation provides the New Brunswick Highland Games Festival and the city of Fredericton visibility among professional tour planners," said games spokeswoman Karen Freeman in a news release.

She said the festival's mission is to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture by bringing together hundreds of musicians, dancers, athletes, performers and enthusiasts.

"We look forward to hosting more tours as a result of this designation," said Freeman.

Peter Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association, said in a release that the games are a don't-miss entertainment value.

The association launched its top 100 in 1982. It distributes 10,000 copies every year of its Top 100 Events in North America magazine featuring the winners.

Among the events named in 2010 were: the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the Quebec Winter Carnival and the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Vandalia, Ohio.

Studies show that one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave up to US$13,000 in a local economy.

HOME ALMOST READY FOR FAMILY
(as published by the Daily Gleaner, October 02/10, by Heather McLaughlin)

The clock is ticking toward move-in day for a Taymouth family that will soon be the proud owners of its first home.

(Stephen MacGillivray Photo)
Mike Ross, director of operations for Habitat for Humanity Fredericton Area Inc., leans out of a window of the new home volunteers built.

Mike Ross, Habitat for Humanity's Fredericton-area director of operations, said supporters of the affordable-housing project rallied after a mid-August break-in caused some damage to the house, which is being built in the Delta Fredericton Hotel's parking lot.

A Fredericton company donated a new door for the home within two days of the incident and a law firm stepped up with further assistance. Habitat doesn't store tools or valuables at its work sites.

"We are almost ready to move it. We've got some crack filling and painting that we want to do, because it's easier to get volunteers here than it is to have them go to Taymouth," Ross said. "The foundation process in Taymouth is beginning."

New to the helm at Habitat, Ross said he's had a steep learning curve to get used to the stages and steps in the building process and to master scheduling. "Next time around it will be a lot easier, because I'll have a better idea of what is likely going to get accomplished," he said.
But he said he's been impressed by the productivity and commitment of volunteers and their upbeat attitude. "They work so darn hard, but they're having a good time," Ross said.

He said he's got lots of ideas for fresh projects and he'd love to do another off-site build at a public location, perhaps a shopping mall parking lot.
The non-profit group helps people of modest means own a home. The home is constructed with donated materials and volunteer labour, and the homeowners are assisted by receiving an interest-free mortgage through Habitat. Mortgage payments are fixed at 30 per cent of the family's gross income to keep the home's cost affordable.

The City of Fredericton and a private property owner have donated the land needed to allow for another Habitat home to be built in 2011. City councillors recently passed a resolution to donate a small strip of land at 60 Eatman Ave. to Habitat. A neighbouring property owner at 58 Eatman Ave. will donate land to be added to the city's public right-of-way as part of the land trade agreement. The end result of the property transfers is an building lot to be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Property owners who make land donations to the group are entitled to receive a tax receipt for the value of the donation. "That is great news," Ross said of council's approval of the transaction. "Partnering with the city and a generous citizen to see this go forward is terrific, it's great.
"What we need to have happen is that this just be the beginning of many such transactions."

The city has two other properties that would suit the organization's home-building requirements, but unlike Moncton and Saint John, Fredericton has taken the position it won't donate the land.

Ross said he'd like to see the municipality rethink that policy because the end result is that the city will get a new taxable property. He said he understands that the city wants to make money off surplus land, but the cause is worthy.

"If the city can be giving big bucks to the university and organizations like the Y, then giving a parcel of land that is lying fallow and that Habitat can turn into a parcel of land that is going to be creating tax revenue for the city forever that should be a good thing," Ross said.

Coun. Mike O'Brien, who sits on the city's affordable housing committee, said he's been asked to join the Habitat board and he's accepted the invitation. Council discussed its land donation policy awhile back, but unlike Moncton and Saint John, Fredericton doesn't have the same availability of vacant land. "They have a lot more land ... in the proper location," O'Brien said.

Land in Fredericton close to a bus route, shopping and a medical centre is more scarce and more valuable, he said. O'Brien said the city has identified a couple of properties that it could sell for about $30,000.
He said if Habitat could raise money through public and business donations to purchase the sites, the city will work hard to keep the land value in a reasonable range.

The city councillor said Exit Realty and corporate sponsors stepped up to the plate and purchased a piece of private property to aid the organization.
The city also created a developer's land discount provided the builder agrees to incorporate affordable housing in a new development

City Pensions

Following is the October 04/10 podcast of CBC NB Radio 99.5 host Terry Sequin's interview with Fredericton Councilor Mike O'Brien on the employee pension deifcit issue

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningfredericton/2010/10/city-pensions.html

CITY MAKES MOVE TO HANDLE ITS DEBT
(as published by the Daily Gleaner, Saturday, October 2/10)

The next batch of city debt will be sold via the New Brunswick Municipal Finance Corp.The city applied Friday to the provincial government agency, which helps municipalities in the province market their debt in the financial markets, to sell debentures to lenders willing to back the city's debt.

"There's probably one small borrowing left after that," O'Brien said. "That includes all the funding for the $42-million office complex which we do recover through the rent."

The city is financing a new downtown office building for the provincial government, but the province's lease payments will see the city reimbursed for the total cost of the project, O'Brien said.

Once the city collects the construction cost of the office complex through the 20-year lease deal with the province, it will have recovered its $42 million investment, O'Brien said.

That will bring the city's overall debt for major capital projects down to $78 million. The city has already received approval from the Municipal Finance Corp. to borrow nearly $34.8 million. That includes $18,825,000 for its downtown east-end convention centre project, another $8,675,000 for its new parking garage alongside the convention centre and $7.3 million for the north side fire station.

The next lump of debt to be financed is: $7,992,984 for the convention centre; $2,507,016 for the parking garage; and $500,000 for the north side fire station, for a total borrowing of $11 million.

O'Brien said there will be a slight delay in receiving the tenders for the construction of the Grant * Harvey Centre. Bidders have asked for an extra week to prepare and submit prices. "The prices will still be coming in and assuming that somebody comes in within budget, that will be coming to the last council meeting in October," the finance committee chairman said.
The city is continuing to work on its 2011 operating and general fund budget.

A new expense that will have to be worked into the budget plan is operating funds for the downtown convention centre. O'Brien said the city is expecting the convention centre will run deficit budgets during its early years. "The ideal situation is for it to almost break even," O'Brien said. "Like any other business, it takes a time for it to ramp up."

O'Brien said the city takes a loss on the operation of some facilities because of the community economic or cultural benefits that are derived.
The city-owned The Playhouse, for instance, isn't a money-making venture for the city, but benefits the city.

"If we do it right and market it right, the way I look at it, if you had a choice to have a convention somewhere in New Brunswick, why wouldn't you want to come to Fredericton?" O'Brien said. "If it breaks even that would be beautiful because the economic spinoffs to the community will be phenomenal."

Government will face pressure to change rules
(Published in the Daily Gleaner, Monday October 4th, 2010)

Markets Cities say more time is needed for pension funds to rebuild
The ink will barely be dry on premier-elect David Alward's list of cabinet choices before Fredericton and Saint John municipal leaders start clamouring for meetings on pension issues.
Fredericton's finance and administration committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien said the idea of Fredericton officials and city workers creating a common front arose during discussions with city employees, who have been meeting with councillors individually to talk about the proposed de-indexing of their pension fund.
"They're obviously trying to clarify their position a bit better and vice versa," O'Brien said.
The city's superannuation board had recommended increases to employer-employee contributions to start offsetting the deficit, but council decided on its own to consider de-indexing the fund.
Dozens upon dozens of emails opposing de-indexation started flowing immediately to elected officials. City workers swamped council chambers and some were turned aside for lack of room Sept. 12, when first and second reading was slated for the de-indexation amendment.
At that meeting, Coun. Marilyn Kerton put forward a notice of motion that she'll introduce a new motion in two weeks not to de-index the pension fund. Kerton has signalled that she doesn't want to see pensions de-indexed starting Jan. 1. She wants council and city workers to thrash out possible ways to start eliminating a $39.4-million pension deficit without removing annual cost of living adjustments. City workers get two-thirds of the annual rise in inflation.
Union and non-union workers have said they would sooner pay higher pension premiums than forfeit the pension provision, but the city is worried about paying its share of the annual cost hikes.
O'Brien has said it would cost the city $335,000 in 2011 to match the employee contributions. To balance the pension fund over 15 years instead of a longer period would mean escalating contributions year over year up to $905,000 each from city coffers and from workers between years three and 15.
O'Brien said he has agreed that workers and city representatives should approach the provincial government jointly to make a pitch to alter pension funding rules. "We're setting that in gear," he said. "I'm contacting some of the MLAs and the staff are as well."
O'Brien said Fredericton isn't the only municipality to face a pension deficit due to the Pension Act's timelines for balancing the fund. Saint John's pension fund is $129-million in debt and O'Brien said councillors in the port city are facing the prospect of a nearly 15 cent tax rate hike just to deal with it.
He said Saint John is going to ask that it be allowed to rebalance its fund over 25 years, instead of the legislated 15, and get an extra year's grace to do its actuarial filing.
"That's all we've asked," O'Brien said. "If they gave us 25 years instead of 15, and if they gave us one more year to do a filing - which lets us have an up-to-date valuation because markets have recovered slightly - that changes the water on the beans completely.
"So what I would like to do is to meet with some council reps and the employee reps, with our MLAs and meet with the brand new Justice minister whomever is sworn in," O'Brien said. "It's affecting all municipalities."
Unlike a private enterprise, municipal governments aren't going to fold up or close their doors, so there's no risk to the province. The city has tried to convince past governments to amend pension rules, but with a new Conservative government taking power, O'Brien said it's time to make a fresh appeal.
In Saint John, city manager Patrick Woods has said that the shortfall in the pension account is largely the result of the financial market collapse in 2007-08, longer life spans among retirees, and the need for more conservative investment earning assumptions.
Saint John, like Fredericton, has to start making payments retroactive to the beginning of 2010, but it wants to defer payments until 2011. Saint John wants the province to allow it to repair its pension fund with payments over 25 years rather than 15. As with O'Brien, Woods has said a municipality can take more time to pay its deficit because there is no threat the city won't be around in the future to make payments.
With files from Canadaeast News Service

O'Brien seeks pension solution
(Published by the Daily Gleaner, September 30/10; Heather McLaughlin)
(Fund down/Workers want to pay extra money instead of losing indexing option in their pension funds"

Finance and administration committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien says he's putting on his thinking cap to figure out how to follow up with city workers as they seek to retain indexing of their pension plan.

City hall was jammed with workers - who spilled out into Phoenix Square because there wasn't room in the public gallery of the council chamber at Tuesday's meeting - in a show of opposition to a council resolution to remove the benefit. They received a minimum two-week reprieve on a proposal to de-index all contributions to their pension fund after Jan. 1.

"They did a good job," O'Brien said of the presentation made by city employees, who also brought in their actuarial professional to offer ideas.
The city wants to de-index their pensions - which are adjusted annually to two-thirds of the increase in the cost of living - because of revenue shortfalls in the $175-million pension fund.

In mid-2007, financial markets suffered their worst downturn since the stock market crash of 1929. That's left the pension fund in a $39.4-million deficit position.

O'Brien said in order to restore the pension account to balance over the next 15 years, the city and its employees would have to substantially increase the level of their payments into the fund.

Each party would have to contribute $335,000 in year one, then $680,000 each in year two and $905,000 each in years three through to 15. O'Brien said the total is approximately $13 million each for the employees and the taxpayers. That's a lot of cash for both parties and O'Brien said it would leave city workers paying the highest pension contribution rates in Eastern Canada.

But employees say they want to contribute the money to keep the indexing. Kathy Edwards said the workers feel strongly that without indexing, their pensions will erode over 20 years and the majority of the 753 contributors to the fund aren't in the top earning percentile.

The bulk of city workers are earning $47,500 annually. After 25 years of service, that results in a pension of $22,875, according to figures generated by the employees.

O'Brien said the motion that council approved Tuesday night is a notice of motion. In two weeks time, Coun. Marilyn Kerton will have to introduce a new motion that won't go to first and second reading for another two weeks.

That allows about a month for the city and its workers to talk. Kerton has already stated that she concurs with the recommendation of the city's superannuation board, which suggested that the city and workers each contribute an additional 1.5 per cent of salary in the 2011 budget year.

The performance of the pension fund could be reassessed at that time.
O'Brien said he's talking to city hall staff to clarify the process and timelines, but it's his feeling, since he's also the chairman of the city's superannuation board, that the board should weigh more options.

The finance chairman said he has asked staff to prepare a report for him on the information provided by the employees and render some opinions on the information submitted.

"There was nothing agreed to last night on a process, but obviously the super board is the group that represents the employees and the employer, so obviously we should go back through the super board and look for some more direction on how to proceed," O'Brien said.

"We were pleased that our voices were heard and we hope that we can come up with some acceptable solution that will satisfy both parties in the coming weeks," O'Brien said.

"A long-term solution within a month is likely impossible, but if we can address the current budget situation to the mutual satisfaction of both sides, then we can focus on long-term solutions in 2011.''

O'Brien wasn't surprised at the employee response given how most people view their pensions. "I wasn't surprised by the turn out," he said. "I was very impressed with the calmness and professionalism with which they presented ... I'd like to compliment them on that."

O'Brien had suggested that employees could set aside extra funds toward retirement through RRSP contributions, but Edwards said not all employees have room to do that because they have maxed out their retirement contributions through their group plan.

Some employees are paying between $400 and $500 a month toward their pensions. "We pay a lot for that pension; it's not a gift," Edwards said. "We're not asking for any additional taxpayer money to be drawn out in blood."

Move to change Queen Street shelved ... for now

(excerpts from article by Heather McLaughlin, Daily Gleaner, September 29, 20100

Queen Street won't be changing directions any time soon.

City councillors have decided to heed the fears of the downtown business community and hold off converting the section between Regent and St. John streets from one way to two way.

The city planned to remove parking on both sides of Queen and make it four lanes: a dedicated turning lane onto St. Anne Point Boulevard for traffic heading to the Westmorland Street Bridge; two through lanes meeting up with the two one-way lanes westbound on Queen; and a turning lane onto Regent Street.

Downtown Fredericton Inc. and business owners pleaded with council to temporarily shelve the traffic plan, arguing it puts vehicles ahead of promoting the ambiance of the downtown and encouraging people to slow down, park and shop.

The business owners said removing parking from the lower end of Regent Street between King and Queen streets has increased traffic speed.

The city's traffic consultant, Don Good of ADI Ltd., and its own traffic engineering staff countered that the reconfiguration of the street system is essential in making the traffic flows around the new downtown east-end convention centre complex move properly.

Councillors voted 10 to two in favour of keeping the traffic status quo, at least for the short term.

"I do think the business community has done a good job of representing some of the reasons why we should maybe take a second to consider what the implications are," said Coun. Jordan Graham. "Traffic is an important consideration, but we have to look at more than that, particularly the implications of downtown parking."

Coun. Mike O'Brien said he doesn't doubt that traffic issues may develop, but there's no harm in a delay.

"The worst case in a delay is that the need for changes are identified and we have to put some paint and signs up in a year or two," he said.

Marysville Coun. Steven Hicks and Coun. Scott McConaghy said that given the city's financial investment in the downtown convention centre, they should heed the advice of traffic experts and make the project as successful as possible.

Mayor Brad Woodside said the motion to reconsider the resolution to make the traffic change and table it isn't a guarantee that the street changes won't happen. Woodside made it clear that if the traffic situation becomes unworkable, the city will have to intervene.

Councillors didn't specify a time frame for leaving Queen Street as is. Downtown Fredericton Inc. had suggested a two-year moratorium.

To read the entire article, click on the following link: dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1239678

Pension tension | Workers jam city hall meeting

(Excerpts of article written by Heather McLaughlin; Daily Gleaner; September 29, 2010

Dozens upon dozens of workers filled the public gallery, lined the stairwell leading up to the second floor council chamber and spilled out into Phoenix Square in front of city hall Tuesday night.City hall employees, unionized and non-unionized, stood shoulder to shoulder in their opposition to de-indexing their pension plan and they got a temporary reprieve as council stalled the decision for two weeks.

"This is affecting all city staff across the board and their families long term," employee spokeswoman Kathy Edwards, sergeant-at-arms for CUPE Union 3864, told city councillors. "It's very important to us."

The union's president, Wade Kierstead, and an actuarial consultant, Paul Duxbury, also made presentations, suggesting a sober second look at how to preserve indexation in the pension fund for the 753 current contributors.

The pension fund is facing a $39.4-million paper loss due to the market downturn in mid-2007. Due to provincial legislation, the city has to account annually for the unfunded liability and create a plan to rebalance the fund's assets within 15 years.

But Duxbury said financial markets are rebounding. The pension fund had a gain of nine per cent over the first year and he urged council to wait for the newest valuation of its fund due to be provided by the end of 2010.

After the employees made a detailed presentation to council, Council introduced a notice of motion for Oct. 12 to reconsider the Sept. 13 resolution of council removing the indexation of pensions.

The employee representatives said they want to work to find solutions without de-indexing.

"We would absolutely be willing to sit down with our superannuation board representatives and anyone from council that's interested in trying to find other alternatives," Edwards said.

Kierstead said the average city employee will have a pension of just under $23,000 after 25 years of service.

But the city's finance and administration committee chairman, Coun. Mike O'Brien, said it would be too costly to keep increasing employee and employer contributions to the pension fund.

City council is balking at paying $167,500 in its 2011 budget with employees matching that same contribution level to retain the indexing provision.

O'Brien has said as much as $905,000 per year each - by employees and the city - might be required to eliminate the pension deficit over 15 years..

But Edwards said that's not taking into account how and when the financial markets will rebound and that it's unlikely that it will cost $905,000 annually.

"Don't overreact to a bump in the road," Edwards said.

With the average city employee earning $47,500 annually, unless the pension remains indexed, workers will lose buying power.

The city's pension fund is indexed to two-thirds of the increase in the annual cost of living. The spouse of a deceased pensioner is entitled to 60 per cent of the pension.

Rank-and-file workers are suggesting that council rescind the last amendment made to the fund which raised the maximum pensions for 35 employees earning more than $86,000 and reintroduce that as the markets continue to improve.

To read the entire article, lick on http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1239687

16 locations | Chance to see different side of famous local landmarks

(published in the Daily Gleaner, September 27, 2010; written by Adam Bowie)

Some of Fredericton's most interesting buildings threw open their doors Sunday and invited local residents and visitors to peek behind the curtains at places such as The Playhouse or the city's new water treatment plant.

ENLARGE PHOTO

James West Photo

Nick Cole, the head electronics specialist for The Playhouse, gestures to Evan Greenfield, 4, while explaining the blueprints that go with set designs.

The effort was part of the city's fourth annual Doors Open event.

Tours were held between 1-4 p.m. in the following locations: city hall, the Lighthouse on the Green, the Northside Fire Station and Training Complex, the York Street Fire Station, the E. John Bliss Water Treatment Plant, The Playhouse, and at an Astral Media radio station.

Visitors were also given the chance to visit the following sites on the University of New Brunswick campus: Sir Howard Douglas Hall, the William Brydone Jack Observatory, McCord Hall/Ice House, Memorial Hall and the Provincial Archives.

Others visited some of the city's historic churches, such as the Brunswick Street Baptist Church, St. Paul's United Church, the Wilmot United Church and St. Dunstan's Church.

Participants strolled down city sidewalks with family and friends, cameras slung around their necks.

Janet LeBlanc, who was in town visiting friends, said she's been to The Playhouse many times, but it's always fun to see what's going on backstage.

"We usually only see what's happening on the stage, but it was nice to check out the rehearsal room and to learn a bit more about this place," she said.

"We enjoy this sort of thing, walking around and checking out what's going on downtown."

Jill Scaplen, marketing director for The Playhouse, said it was a chance for visitors to see behind the curtain.

"We're giving them some history on The Playhouse, taking them on a tour of the facility - at least as much as we can, since (Theatre New Brunswick) is loading in their first show of the main-stage season," she said.

"We're very excited about that and it gives these visitors a wonderful opportunity to see how a professional show is assembled before the curtains part."

Lauren Arnold, a counsellor at city hall's visitor information centre, said lots of interested people toured the council chambers and viewed the city's historic tapestries.

"It's been a lot busier than an average day at this time of the year," she said.

"We've done quite a few tapestry tours. They take about half an hour and every time one of us finishes a tour, the other (information officer) is ready to go back up with a new group of people."

She said people from around the world have been taking advantage of the Doors Open event.

"We've had some locals coming through, but there have been a lot of tourists around," she said.

"We've had tourists visiting from different parts of the world - like people from Europe, Australia and so many other places."

Mayor Brad Woodside said it was a chance for people to see the public building in a different way, and to learn about the significance of the city's tapestries - woven by Dr. Ivan Crowell as part of Fredericton's bicentennial celebrations in 1985.

City Begins Multi-Year Project to Restore City Hall Exterior and Grounds

Fredericton (September 13, 2010) – City Hall, a 134-year old brick and stone, iconic Fredericton landmark is starting to show its age and will be getting a facelift.

City Council today awarded an $86,252 contract to begin restoration work to Jones Masonry Ltd. The Harvey, N.B. company was the lowest bidder on the first phase of an expected three or four year project that will begin with work on the northern side or rear of City Hall.

Inspections of the exterior of City Hall by Halifax, N.S. company Masontech Inc., and PJ Materials Consultants Ltd, from Guelph, Ontario confirmed the building’s brick and sandstone masonry is deteriorating and in need of repair.

“The experts said the repairs should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent further accelerated deterioration,” said Mayor Brad Woodside. “This will be a three or four-year project that will be done in phases and the first phase will be completed this year.”

Jones Masonry specializes in restoring historic buildings and will be using complementary historic techniques in its repair work to maintain the historic nature of the building. The company is currently renovating the Provincial Legislative Building and voluntarily repaired broken granite cross on the New Brunswick Provincial Cenotaph in Fredericton last year. Future phases of work will be tendered separately.

Work in the first phase includes:

• cutting out selected joints and installing stainless steel reinforcing rods; cutting out sandstone building trim joints and sealing them with a special joint sealant
• cutting out and replacing mortar previously used with a heritage repair mortar
• cutting out and repointing cracked and deteriorated mortared joints of the primary brick masonry and the ashlar coursed sandstone masonry units within the foundation wall using a heritage repointing mortar
• chasing cracked brick and building trim units and repairing them using a heritage repair mortar; installing stainless steel masonry ties across cracked sections of brick and/or stone masonry
• tooling damaged building trim units to remove loosely attached fragments and restore a uniform appearance to blend with the adjacent material, and
• cutting out the caulking within all window frame perimeter joints at their junctions with the masonry, repairing deteriorated woodwork, re-glazing cracked or broken glass, preparing and repainting window woodwork and caulking window frame perimeter joints using an elastomeric joint sealant.

The City will be applying for federal government funding through Parks Canada’s National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program to help defray some of the cost of the estimated $1-million restoration project. Fredericton City Hall, the Maritime’s oldest City Hall still in continuous use, was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984.

Work Progressing on Fredericton’s First Roundabout; Public Education Campaign Planned

Fredericton (September 16, 2010) – Members of the City’s Transportation Committee received a construction update about Fredericton’s first roundabout at their regular monthly meeting. They were also shown the signage that will be used to identify roundabouts and got an overview of the public education campaign being planned for the motoring public.

“Roundabouts are an excellent traffic management tool,” said Coun. Bruce Grandy, Chair of the City’s Transportation Committee. “It is important that we take the time to educate the public about their use and value.”

It is expected the City’s new roundabout, to be located at the intersection of Brookside Drive / Reynolds Street / West Hill Crossing will be open by the first week of October. Roadwork on the intersection and a stretch of Brookside Drive to Summerhill Row continues.

There are three types of signs that motorists will see when approaching roundabouts. The first is a roundabout ahead warning sign. This yellow, diamond shaped sign features a circle of three arrows. At the entry to the roundabout, motorists will find a typical yield sign, with a roundabout symbol in the centre. The final sign is yellow rectangular sign with directional black arrows.

As part of the introduction of roundabouts, a public education campaign is planned around the theme “Fredericton is taking a turn in the right direction.” Efforts will include a public information session about roundabouts at the Brookside Mall on Thursday, September 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., where staff be available to talk about using roundabouts. An information display will remain in place at the mall until the Brookside roundabout opens.

Information has also been posted to the City of Fredericton web site. Find out more about roundabouts, see videos on using roundabouts, and read the frequently asked questions about roundabouts, by visiting www.fredericton.ca and looking for the roundabout link. In addition, the City will use radio, newspaper, and bus advertising to make motorists aware of roundabouts.

Roundabouts are circular intersections. They are a safe, efficient and greener way of moving traffic. Motorists simply yield on entry into a roundabout. Traffic in the roundabout has the right of way. With less points of conflict, accidents in roundabouts are greatly reduced, and since there are less delays and traffic line-ups, fuel consumption and air pollution are reduced.

Urban Art Event To Be Held During the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival

Urban artists from all over the Maritimes are coming to Fredericton to participate in a unique demonstration of their work for two days during the upcoming Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival.

Temporary walls will be set up along Queen Street on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18 where these artists will demonstrate their art for thousands of Festival goers.

“The goal of this project is the promotion of more appropriate forums for the expression of urban art,” said Fredericton Police Cst. Dennis Van Ember who chairs the Urban Art Demonstration organizing committee. “A free urban art wall will also be set up where local youth will be encouraged to work alongside these artists,”

The urban art event is the work of a committee that includes business owners, the art community, social services agencies, and the Fredericton Police Force. Supplies for this event are being provided by sponsors Kent Building Supplies and Endeavors Art Supplies.

“We are really excited about giving youth in our community an inclusive opportunity to express themselves in this way,” said Cst. Van Ember. “By providing this fun and unique outlet for creativity, we hope to discourage future acts of vandalism throughout the city.”

The panels, when completed, will be placed at venues throughout the city for public viewing.

No Charge to Ride Any City Bus on Free Transit Day

Saturday, September 18, is Free Transit Day in the City of Fredericton when you can ride any comfortable, convenient Fredericton Transit bus all day without paying a cent.
“City Council has made a commitment to sustainability by encouraging alternative forms of transportation, said Mayor Brad Woodside. “There’s no better time to take advantage of this safe and environmentally friendly way to travel than Free Transit Day.”
This is the third straight year the City has offered a Free Transit Day. Once again this year it has been scheduled to work in tandem with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival’s green plan, which includes its own Park and Ride program. The festival is expected to attract thousands of music fans to the downtown core and taking the bus is a safe, smart option, said Mayor Woodside.
“Try out our transit system and see how easy it can be to travel anywhere in the City,” he said. “Leave your vehicle home and we’ll get you to the festival, to work, to school or anywhere else in the City.”
Fredericton Transit operates 28 buses on nine routes, Monday to Saturday, 6:15 a.m. until 11 p.m., providing safe, affordable transportation.
The City's transit system, like others in the country, is designed to transport people from area to area, not door to door. The goal is to have buses travel along interconnected routes, moving passengers between residential and commercial areas of the city. In an effort to maintain a balance between municipal subsidy and transit fees, the goal is a 35-45 per cent cost recovery from users of the service.

The Main Street "Stone Bridge"

Everyone living in Fredericton North knows of the "stone bridge" which spans the Nashwaaksis Stream at the intersection of Main Street, Sunset Drive and the Royal Road. But, most do not know its history.

The existence of a small wooden bridge in the mid 1800's is noted in the history books. At the time, there was a large gristmill owned by the Thompson gamily, and that "Y" junction of the aforementioned three roads was known as "Thompson's Mill". In 1895, the original wooden bridge was pronounced inadequate for the traffic that went over it. In the spring of 1895, tenders were called for a new bridge. The structure was to be two spans in length one of which would be covered, a great improvement over the existing bridge which like the one today was wide open to the weather. Why these bridges were covered is hard to tell, but it seems logical to assume that the covering served as a shelter against the weather, which could cause the wooden bridge to deteriorate.

The Nashwaaksis Bridge was opened in the summer of 1895. But something was missing, and that was a sidewalk for people on foot. It would be hard for anyone to walk, especially ladies in long trailing skirts, in the wake of the horse drawn carts and their trail of dung. It was 35 years later that the Province finally listened to the petitions of Nashwaaksis people and they got their sidewalk. On May 21, 1930, it was finally built on the "downstream" side of the bridge. There is an interesting fact about the bridge and the sidewalk. In 1895 it cost the Province $1,600 to build the bridge. In 1930 it cost $550 just to build the sidewalk. Inflation was rearing its ugly head even in those days!

The Nashwaaksis Bridge withstood many freshets and ice jams in the following years, but the year 1936 saw its demise. In the great floods and heavy ice that took out the railway bridge at Fredericton, the swollen Nashwaaksis overwhelmed the little bridge and swept it away. This was a real disaster, for the Nashwaaksis Covered Bridge was a very important link between the people upriver and the City of Fredericton. In those days, there were no bridges crossing the St. John River until one reached Woodstock. As soon as the floods subsided, immediate steps were taken by the province to replace it. A temporary bridge was put in place, somewhat lower than the original, to allow traffic to continue on its way. The next year, 1937, saw the building of the present lovely Stone Bridge, fortunately with an allowance for a sidewalk on the "down stream" side.

The sidewalk may have been adequate at the time, but not for long. It was very narrow, and pedestrians found themselves literally inches from the nearby passing motor vehicles. The present day "arched' sidewalk on the "upstream" side was constructed in the early 1990's.

This structure served as a hangout for my age group in the early 1970's. It was the height of "coolness" to sit on the side of bridge facing towards all of the nearby passing cars. This however soon became passé as we moved on to other locales, and the younger teenagers abandoned the bridge to hang out in the nearby Royal Road Park.

So there you have it, the history of our charming bridge. It may not be as storied as the Brooklyn or Golden Gate Bridges, but it's ours!

City Invites Bids for Construction of Grant • Harvey Centre

Fredericton (NB) – The City of Fredericton has issued a call for bids to build the Grant • Harvey Centre, a two-ice surface, multi-purpose sports and leisure complex at 600 Knowledge Park Drive.

“We are getting ready to start construction of this highly anticipated community facility,” said Councillor Steven Hicks, Chair of the City’s Community Services Committee. “This is a major investment in the health and wellness of the Greater Fredericton area for generations to come.”

The proposed work includes, but is not limited to, construction of the multi-purpose complex with an 8,000-square-metre ground floor footprint.

Named after two former National Hockey League players, Fredericton natives Danny Grant and the late Buster Harvey, the complex will be the cornerstone of a new recreational hub in Fredericton South. It will house an NHL-size ice surface and an Olympic-size ice surface, changing rooms, referee rooms, community rooms, a walking track and spectator seating for 1,500 and 500 respectively for the two ice surfaces. The building will feature steel and concrete frame construction.

The Grant • Harvey Centre will become home to the St. Thomas University and Fredericton High School ice hockey teams. It will also accommodate other ice sports, including figure skating and speed skating, as well as offer an ideal location for trade shows and home shows.

The 45-acre site is located on Knowledge Park Drive close to the intersection of Allison Boulevard and Kimble Drive. The grounds will include an artificial turf soccer pitch, which is scheduled for completion later this year; a six-court indoor tennis facility; a two-acre, fenced dog-walking park; and parking for more than 600 vehicles.

The City of Fredericton has approved a deal with Ice Kube Systems Technology that will see geothermal energy used to heat and cool the complex. The system will also have the capability to store extra thermal energy to serve other buildings on the site or in the vicinity.

Repairing and upgrading infrastructure
(Editorial published by The Daily Gleaner, September 01/10)

Repairing and upgrading existing city infrastructure makes sense.

To echo the words of Coun. Scott McConaghy, we're ensuring that the house isn't going to fall down.

That should be the primary concern of the municipality as it moves ahead with a policy on how to start dealing with the repair and regular replacement of capital infrastructure between now and 2030.

At their first budget planning session earlier this week, councillors voted to continue with a 20-year plan to repair and upgrade 90 per cent of the city's facilities and services and spend 10 per cent on new projects based on an annual five per cent increase in the capital budget.

It's an approach that doesn't exactly grab the imagination of everyone but we think it's a sound move. This is particularly true, considering Canada's 4,000 municipal governments are realizing they can't continue to spend only on new roads, streets and services, without setting aside adequate funds to do capital repairs to existing systems.

Finance and administration committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien said he is comfortable with the city striking a reasonably aggressive approach to ensuring that the investment of taxpayers in existing infrastructure is maintained.

The finance committee chairman said rather than tax hikes, part of the budget process is going to look at efficiencies, reduced service levels in some areas, and trimming budgets in order to hold the tax levels.
Twenty years ago, council opted to eliminate the city's long-term debt and incorporate capital spending into the general fund budget, which was known as the pay-as-you-go program.

Coun. O'Brien said by focusing so much on eliminating debt, the trade-off was that councils over the past 10 years weren't as focused on renewing and repairing the inventory of pipes in the ground, streets, curbs and sidewalks.

We agree with Coun. O'Brien that it's up to the city to take a tough policy stand to complete capital projects it's in the midst of because of the essential role they play in the growth of our city.

But the decision to continue with the 20-year plan does dredge up some concerns and we believe they deserve to be looked at. In 2010, the city decided to increase its capital spending by four per cent to start renewing existing services.

At issue is flexibility and how that may translate into the ability or inability to make future decisions. Deputy mayor Keenan said he doesn't want to be locked into spending 90 per cent on existing infrastructure. "There may be certain years when we want to invest more of our capital dollars in new infrastructure and less in existing and another year when we make it up," Deputy mayor Keenan said. "I'm just a little concerned that this will bind councils going forward to staying within an established percentage, which reduces flexibility."

Deputy mayor Keenan has a point and it's certainly something to keep in mind as the years unfold. We are hopeful that, as this policy moves forward and is further defined, there will be room for flexibility so that such concerns can be addressed and adjustments made, should the situation warrant further examination.

But, we still believe the 20-year plan is the way to move forward. We agree with Coun. Steven Hicks that residents will reap the rewards of having reinvested in infrastructure renewal in 20 years. It's better to fix, repair and upgrade each year than be faced with having to replace the entire house once it has fallen to the ground.

The City of Fredericton's 2011 Open Budget Process Begins
Councillor Mike O'Brien's Interview on CBC Radio 99.5, August 31/10

Following is the link to the CBC Radio 99.5 podcast of my interview with host Terry Sequin

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningfredericton/2010/08/open-budget-meetings.html

'A turning point in my life'
(excerpts from an article published by The Daily Gleaner, September 01/10)


Twenty new Canadians, 11 from South Korea, took their oath of citizenship in both official languages at a ceremony at the Wu Conference Centre on Tuesday.

A citizenship swearing-in ceremony, involving 20 new Canadians from eight countries, took place in Fredericton on Tuesday at the Wu Conference Centre at UNB. Above Kiae Kwon, from South Korea, right, smiles as she recites the oath of citizenship with her husband Kwichul Ryoo, at left.

A beaming Kiae Kwon was excited to receive her citizenship certificate along with her husband, Kwichel Ryoo, and their sons Kwan, 18 and Jin, 14. "I feel great and trembling inside. I think I have 10 butterflies in my belly," said Kiae Kwon.

The family looked forward to this day since arriving here from Seoul seven years ago. "So it's a very special day," said Kwan Ryoo, a Concordia University student who drove from Montreal to be with his family for the ceremony. His father, Kwichel Ryoo, called the day "a turning point in my life."

"We got a lot of things from the new country and we will try to pay back," he said.

The 20 new Canadians come from eight countries: China, Cuba, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Zimbabwe and South Korea. Many of them are already well integrated into the community. The Ryoos and Kwons run a downtown coffee shop and Kwichel Ryoo works in real estate.

Anna Kim runs a convenience store/gas bar in Oromocto. The new Canadians from Zimbabwe, Richard and Vivienne Linette, recently opened a seniors' retirement home in Woodstock.

Infrastructure renewal planning starts
(excerpts from article published by The Daily Gleaner, August 31/10)

Money to be put toward facility upgrades

Fredericton city councillors have struck a policy on how to start grappling with repair and regular replacement of capital infrastructure between now and 2030.

At their first budget planning session Monday night, councillors voted to continue with their 20-year plan to repair and upgrade 90 per cent of the city's facilities and services and spend 10 per cent on new projects based on an annual five per cent increase in the capital budget.

In 2010, the city decided to increase its capital spending by four per cent to start renewing existing services. Deputy mayor Dan Keenan and Coun. Jordan Graham voted against committing to a fixed annual increase and a fixed division of how the capital dollars will be spent.

Finance and administration committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien wasn't surprised at the early dissent on the policy statement, saying the topic is likely going to resurface between now and the final 2011 budget document in mid-December.
Across Canada, the nation's 4,000 municipal governments are realizing that they can't continue to spend only on new roads, streets and services, without setting aside adequate funds to do capital repairs to existing systems.

Acting city treasurer Tina Tapley showed councillors how the figures change based on a lower contribution. If the city sets aside four per cent in extra capital spending over and above increases in the consumer price index, instead of five per cent annually, the city will still have about $50 million in infrastructure upgrades to be done in 2030. At five per cent, the infrastructure deficit would be $12.5 million.

O'Brien is comfortable with the city striking a reasonably aggressive approach to ensuring that the investment of taxpayers in existing infrastructure is maintained. The finance committee chairman said rather than tax hikes, part of the budget process is going to look at efficiencies, reduced service levels in some areas, and trimming budgets in order to hold the tax levels.

"You just don't cut willy-nilly. If you're going to try to find savings, you have to reduce a service and an expenditure that's sustainable. A one-time cut of $1 million doesn't do you any good," he said. "When the mayor and I have talked about a tough budget process, this is what we're talking about.''

Twenty years ago, council opted to eliminate the city's long-term debt and incorporate capital spending into the general fund budget, which has been dubbed pay-as-you-go. But O'Brien said by focusing so much on eliminating debt, the trade-off was that councils over the past 10 years weren't as focused on renewing and repairing the inventory of pipes in the ground, streets, curbs and sidewalks.

"It's up to us to take a tough policy stand to complete the capital projects that we're in the midst of because we're of the unanimous opinion that it was essential to grow the city," O'Brien said. "We have to make that same tough policy decision that council did 20 year ago to make our infrastructure sustainable."

Building record may be smashed
Hot year $80.7 million in building so far this year
(excerpts from article posted in the Daily Gleaner on August 25/10)

Fredericton is having another scorching construction year with $80.7 million in building racked up to the midway point of the year. If the pace continues, the city could be looking at shattering its 2006 record when total building for the year hit $132.4 million.

Construction is balanced across all sectors - residential, commercial, government and institutional. Development is very much in accordance with the municipal plan and that reflects a high degree of certainty.

A mild winter that allowed developers a good jump on the 2010 construction season has helped to get a lot of the building permits into the hopper early. Projects on the books now will also keep the city humming through the end of the year and into 2011,.

The value of residential construction in the capital city between January and June is short of the $30-million mark by $200,000. That again outpaced the 2006 numbers.

Commercial construction in Fredericton was worth $25.8 million, again a peak figure when measured against the same time period for prior years.
Multiple-unit starts were down from 2009 when 171 units were built. So far this year, 141 multiple units have been built.
Seventy-five single family homes have been constructed during the first half of the year, on par with 2009. The average permit value of a new single detached home is hovering at $172,000.

Some of the major construction projects anticipated into the latter half of this year and into 2011 include:
* 46 single detached homes in Phase 5 of Brookside West.
* 43 residential units, eight townhouses and one apartment development in the second and third phase of North Brook Subdivision off Brookside Drive.
* A 40-unit apartment building, 30 townhouses and four semi-detached units in Rainsford Gardens off Sarah's Lane.
* 80 townhouse units at 850 Kimble Dr.
* 48 residential lots in the first phase of The Meadows at Neill Farm.

Major projects planned in the commercial sector include continued expansion of Corbett Centre retail development atop Regent Street and another building at Knowledge Park.

The construction of a downtown hotel has also been approved. Other major projects that are ongoing include the Currie Center at UNB, the Shannex Senior Living Complex, the second phase of the YMCA, continued expansion and renovation of York Manor and the Grant * Harvey sports centre.

Padres' Stairs sets record for most pinch-hit homers
(as posted by CBC News, August 22/10)

San Diego's Matt Stairs, of Fredericton, holds the most pinch-hit home runs in big league baseball history. Matt Stairs hit his 21st homer as a pinch-hitter Saturday, the most in the history of Major League Baseball.
The Fredericton native connected on a two-run shot in the eighth inning of the San Diego Padres' 6-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, passing Cliff Johnson for most career pinch-hit homers.

Padres manager Bud Black said the record is very special. He called the pinch-hitter role one of the most difficult in baseball.

Stairs has 262 home runs in a career that began with the Montreal Expos in 1992. His most famous homer as a pinch-hitter came with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2008 National League championship series. His two-run drive lifted the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the Dodgers.

Councillor Mike O'Brien Explains Open Budget Process on CBC Radio

This is the CBC Radio Fredericton Information Morning 99.5 podcast from August 16, 2010

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/infomornfred_20100816_36800.mp3

N.S. man so impressed by trail, he says he wants to move to city
(excerpts from article published in The Daily Gleaner, August 17/10)

Roddy Wall of Dartmouth is so impressed with Fredericton's walking trail system, he and his wife Marilyn are prepared to put the for sale sign on their Nova Scotia home and move to the capital city.

"I've never seen anything like this. It's fantastic. We have nothing like this in Nova Scotia," Wall said after spending the past three weeks running the paths on a scooter. Even the trails in the city that aren't paved are in great shape, he said.

Wall and his wife are visiting relatives Scott and Wendy Clair in Marysville and what was supposed to be a short weekend reunion has turned into an extended stay. Wall had a massive heart attack in 1994 after undergoing a major bypass operation that was complicated by a stroke. That affected his equilibrium, walking and vision. "It just left me literally in bed; I was housebound," he said.

"The trail gives the disabled accessibility to the city. These trails got me up, got me out, got me going. If I want to go shopping by myself in my scooter anywhere in the city, that's far beyond my imagination back in Nova Scotia."

The trail isn't the only thing that impressed Wall. "The people I've met are just out of this world," he said. "I'm looking for a place up here in Fredericton. We are planning on moving up here ... I want to get up here and enjoy these trails while I can."

To read the entire article, click on http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1179032

NB Day Merit Award Presented to Louis & Roberta George

Fredericton, NB (August 9, 2010) – Long time Downtown Fredericton merchants, Louis and Roberta George have been recognized with a 2010 NB Day Merit Award in the Business category for their years of service to the business community.

“The GE George store has been in Downtown Fredericton since 1916. Louis has run the store for almost 60 years and Roberta has helped since 1973,” said City of Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside. “That kind of commitment and dedication to business deserves recognition, especially as the Georges retire.”

“Quality service and support to others is exactly what the NB Day Merit Awards are intended to recognize,” said Hon. Rick Miles, Minister of Environment and MLA for Fredericton-Silverwood. “Over the years, Louis and Roberta have definitely contributed to the growth and development of Fredericton.”

Louis George was born on Oct. 17, 1930 in the apartment above his father’s dry goods store on Queen Street. He was the oldest son of George E. and Isabel George's seven children. His father, a Lebanese immigrant, opened the store in 1916 on the north side, moving it to its present location in 1926.

Louis learned how to run the store and buy inventory at his father’s side. He was 13 when he first sat down to negotiate a contract with a supplier. He took over the store in 1951 when he was 20 years old, after the death of his father.

Louis met Roberta Tims when he was 42. They married on September 1, 1973 and Roberta George started working at the store, helping with the books and other responsibilities. Louis credits her support with helping him keep the store running so long. Roberta is a long time supporter of the SPCA.

Louis often vouched for people hunting for jobs, lent a hand to local struggling merchants and helped less fortunate families. Donating food, clothing, footwear and even providing people with a place to live were things he did willingly without any expectations of something in return.

The George's Clothing and Footwear store closed for good on June 26, 2010. About $20,000 worth of unsold merchandise went to charity, with 1,800 pairs of shoes going to Haiti. Shoes also went to the Fredericton Anti-Poverty Organization and Salvation Army.

Pugh Appointed General Manager for Fredericton Convention Centre (August 13/10)

Fredericton-native, Cathy Pugh has been appointed as the first General Manager of the new Fredericton Convention Centre. She comes to the position with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian hospitality industry. Pugh has been Director of Sales at the facility since May 2009 and has already assumed her new role.

“Cathy has a strong record of success with hotels, tourism marketing organizations and convention centres,” said Chris MacPherson, chair of the Fredericton Convention Centre board of directors. “The board believes her experience will be invaluable to the future success of the facility and is excited about her new role at the centre.”

“City Council is very pleased with the progress being made on the convention centre,” said Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside. “Cathy has done a great job booking business for the facility and we are pleased that she will now be taking on a greater role in its operation. This moves us one step closer to the official opening of the building.”

Pugh’s experience includes an extensive background in meetings and conventions sales as well as team management. She has a proven track record of success and is well known to both the industry and meeting professionals across the region, Canada and the U.S.

The Fredericton Convention Centre will feature a 12,500-square-foot ballroom that will accommodate up to 1,500 people. It will also have 7,400 square feet of flexible meeting space designed to accommodate breakout sessions, executive board meetings, and special events. The facility features state-of-the-art technology and complimentary wireless internet.

The convention centre will connect with the 700-seat Playhouse and is part of a major downtown development that includes a 150,000-square-foot office tower for Provincial Government offices and a parking garage. Planning is currently under way to construct a hotel next door. For information about booking an event at the Fredericton Convention Centre, contact Cathy Pugh, 506-999-0150 or visit www.frederictonconventions.ca.

Budget process to be open
(as published by the Daily Gleaner August 13/10)

No closed doors City says it's time for public to know what's behind decisions

Fredericton city council is planning to hold the majority of its budget preparation meetings in the public eye for the first time. "Our budget process is entirely open this year," said finance committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien. He said the only exceptions may be on legal issues.

"We just sat down collectively and said it's time to put it all out,'' he said.
"If the public sees all the debate and the issues that we have and the media has a chance to report on it and challenge us, I think people will come to the realization that there's a lot of consideration goes into the budget.''

The first council budget session will be Aug. 30. Acting city treasurer Tina Tapley will spend about an hour briefing council on the overview of the city's current financial status. "Then we'll discuss the upcoming budget schedule and set some dates and talk about the grant process and how we're going to go about it and then after that, we'll launch into the budget process a few weeks after that," O'Brien said.

Mayor Brad Woodside has already set the tone for this year's budget talks.
This week, when the city's public safety and environment committee recommended that consideration be given at budget time to expanding curbside recycling to apartment dwellers and condominium owners, Woodside endorsed the concept but with an important proviso - no extra spending. The mayor made it clear that if councillors want new programs or services, something will have to go or be reduced.

O'Brien is on the same page. "We've had a very aggressive capital campaign here in the past few years. We're going to complete those projects. "We have the means to do that and the ability to pay the deficit that's been incurred.''

He said costs have to be found within the funding structure. Everyone wants the streets swept clean in the spring, the snow removed promptly and other essential services maintained. "We want to be able to provide those as best we can, but it's all within the existing envelope," he said.

Brookside Drive Condos get green light
(Excerpts from article published by the Daily Gleaner, August 10/10)

Brookside Drive-area residents lost out in their bid to block a 36-unit condominium development at 195 Brookside Dr. Despite a lengthy petition and 10 letters of concern to DRC Developments Ltd.'s application by the neighbourhood, the project was approved seven to two at Monday's night's regular city council meeting.

Coun. Bruce Grandy and Coun. Eric Megarity opposed developer Robert Colter's request to change R-2 single family residential to a higher density R-6 zone to permit the condominium development to be located in two three-storey buildings.

Grandy said Colter's plan was good because he was trying to offer a mix of housing types, but he added the transition between single-family homes on Rose Court and Brookside Drive is just too dramatic. "I think Mr. Colter's proposal is a sound and good one, but unfortunately because of where the R-6 units are, it doesn't transition well for me." Colter plans to develop 12 single-family housing lots on one corner of the vacant parcel of land he purchased at 195 Brookside Dr.

Megarity said when residents purchase property that's zoned for single family - and surrounded by other lands zoned for single family - council should respect that.

Coun. Mike O'Brien said the developer addressed concerns raised by residents. He's agreed to add more trees to the site and to consult a professional forester on protecting the tree buffer during construction.
O'Brien said Brookside Drive, which carries 8,000 cars daily, can easily handle another 340 cars from the condo units and 12 houses proposed by the builder.

"Our city is growing and we're running out of space for new development," O'Brien said. "We need this additional mix of housing type and affordable housing." O'Brien said if the city doesn't provide suitable housing for people, they'll move to outside the city. "The development meets the spirit and intent of the municipal plan," O'Brien said.

Coun. Tony Whalen said he has examples in his Skyline Acres ward of residential houses next door to apartment buildings with a smaller tree buffer than is being proposed for the Brookside Drive project. "With the buffer, it will fit very nicely in the neighbourhood," Whalen said.

People from as far away as Toronto came to Fredericton on Sunday to participate in the city's first pride parade.
(excerpt's from article published by the Daily Gleaner, August 09/10)

Maurine Doherty, who was celebrating her birthday, flew in just to march alongside the hundreds of other rainbow-clad participants from across the Maritimes. "I had to come when I heard Fredericton was finally getting to have their first march," she said. Doherty, who teaches human rights and diversity classes at Centennial College in Toronto, said the parade is a great way to celebrate politics and pride. "It's what I believe in," she said. "It's about being accepted as full participants in society, having acceptance, having rights and marching for those people who do not feel safe in their communities, whether it be in Canada or other parts of the world where you can still be put to death for being gay."

Leading the pack with a rainbow umbrella and sash was Allison Brewer, a founding member of Fredericton Lesbians and Gays, and a former leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party. "It's been a long time coming," she said as her wide-brimmed pink feather hat flapped in the wind. "Pride is finally here in a very open and public way."

About 250 people walked in the parade that followed the river from the Victoria Health Centre to Officers Square, and about another 100 were waiting to meet the proud marchers. As the group approached the square, people lining the pedway showed their support with cheers.

Debi Stidmore, an organizer with the Fredericton Pride Committee, said that was the moment that brought tears to her eyes. "I had no idea how good it was going to feel to see all those people standing there cheering us on," she said. "It means there are so many more people willing to stand out and say yes to love and diversity. It's beautiful."

She said the parade is about visibility. "There's a lot of diversity in Fredericton, but sometimes you don't see it and we assume that everybody is just like we are. This is a moment to come out and say we're all people, we're all valuable, we're all different and different is beautiful," Stidmore said.

Sarah McAdam, the pride liaison for the Fredericton Pride Committee, said she was in tears the entire march. "Having so many people coming out to support us, having so many contingencies in the parade, means the community is finally coming together and recognizing that people are people. "We weren't pushing for a parade as hard in previous years because the city wasn't ready, but this year the city was ready.

The parade and festival kicked off Pride Week events, which will resume today with the reading of the Proclamation of Pride at city hall.

Traffic roundabouts proposed for Fredericton
(as posted by CBC News, August 07/10)

Motorists in the capital city have already had some practice in circular driving because the city has three traffic circles. But the circles are meant to slow vehicles down rather than control their flow. To do that, the city should install the circles' larger cousins, roundabouts, Coun. Mike O'Brien said Friday.

He gained some experience with them during a recent vacation in Europe.
"I was a little timid the first time going through them, but after a couple of days they worked great," O'Brien said. "Traffic flowed smoothly."

Darren Charters, Fredericton's traffic engineer, is also a fan of roundabouts. He said they would improve the flow of traffic at major intersections in the city.

But, as O'Brien learned in Europe, drivers do need to be educated about how they work. Charters said educating drivers about how to properly use roundabouts would be part of the project.

"I've seen other cities, they have massive campaigns. They have information on their websites," he said. "It's just that people — especially in New Brunswick — aren't used to them." But Charters said roundabouts are fairly easy to use: "Yield on entry, and then proceed to the right around the intersection."

Charters said he will present some roundabout proposals to city council later this month.

Wayne Brown Named to Order of New Brunswick

(Posted August 2é10 by Communication NB)

Wayne Brown is a well known and widely respected leader who has worked diligently to improve the social and economic condition of his community, St. Mary’s First Nation.

In his role as the City of Fredericton’s Director of Sports, Recreation and Cultural Resources for St. Mary’s, Brown spearheaded efforts to develop the first-class sports facilities that assisted the community in securing the role as host of the 1994 Canadian Senior Women’s Softball Championships. It was the first time that a national softball tournament had ever been hosted in a Canadian First Nations community. He also chaired the 1983 and 1987 New Brunswick Indian Summer Games.

Brown shares his passion for sport with the youth of his community. With the benefit of his coaching many of those young people competed successfully on local, national and international levels.

As economic development officer for the St. Mary’s band, Brown’s efforts have supported his vision for a self-sufficient community. He successfully negotiated a tripartite tax agreement with the Province of New Brunswick that paved the way for the community to develop the St. Mary’s Entertainment Centre. Brown went on to manage the planning and construction of the facility and it now employs 134 people.

Brown is a member of the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame, the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, the Softball New Brunswick Hall of Fame, and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.

Wayne Brown is receiving the Order of New Brunswick for his efforts to strengthen the social fabric and economic position of his community through sport, infrastructure development and the mentorship of up and coming leaders