Newcastle Bond Head Ratepayers Association

Lots of Newcastle residents, particularly in the outlying areas, do not have great internet options. It’s an issue for many Durham residents and the Region is now conducting an online survey. This is your opportunity to let the Region know what you think! Survey deadline is April 30, 2020.

Participate in Survey

The long-promised extension of the GO train to Bowmanville is perhaps a little closer to reality, with Metrolinx identifying the preferred “northern” route, using the existing CP tracks, which reduces the cost of extending the service. The business case for the route will go before the Metrolinx board on February 20, 2020.

Bowmanville on track for GO Transit to come to the region

President David Saunders called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were 24 members present. Executive member Bob Malone was unable to attend due to a health problem at home.

George Rickard welcomed our speaker, Clarington Fire Chief Mr. Gordon Weir.

Mr. Weir presented a wealth of information to the audience. He explained one example how fire was created after a youth placed his sweater over a hot computer with the lid closed. Some fires are caused by cheap electrical cables that heat and flare into flames. Barn fires from wet hay spontaneous combustion are common and grass fires from railway sparks keep them busy in the fall. Blocked couches are hard to extinguish because of the type of construction. Larger more dangerous events like the propane yard conflagration north of the 401 present challenges that strain their resources. Fire trucks can now change stop lights to green on the #2 as they approach intersections and $25,000.00 E Tools are available to open crushed cars without hydraulic hook up. Mr. Weir distributed books with pictures of fires and car accidents that he had collected over the years. Two service dogs are used to assist members that have been exposed to unsettling events. With the responsibility of five fire stations and sixty members, Mr. Weir is a very busy man indeed!

Rod McArthur thanked Mr. Weir for his excellent presentation.

Previous Minutes:

Secretary Warren Tait read the minutes from May 21, 2019. Rod McArthur moved that they be accepted and Carl Good seconded. This was carried.

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer George Rickard reported that as of October 31st the bank balance was $1,177.94. George made a motion to accept the report and Joyce Kufta seconded. It was carried.

New Business:

Tuesday 2020 general meeting dates: March 3, May 12, September 22 and the Annual November 24.

Tuesday 2020 executive meeting dates: February 11, May 5, September 15 and November 17.

The following executive was presented for the year 2020:

President: David Saunders, Past President: Robert Malone, Secretary: Warren Tait, Treasurer: George Rickard, Directors: Marion Saunders, Rod McArthur and Terry Angiers.

After three requests for nominations from the floor, a vote was taken and Rod and Terry were accepted.

Announcements:

North Village Secondary Plan discussion will be held at the Newcastle Pentecostal Church on Nov. 21.

Palliative care calendars are now available for sale to help the Hospice.

Date of Next General Meeting:

The next General Meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The speaker in March: Mayor Adrian Foster.

Adjournment:

Moved by Noel Gordon at 8:50 p.m.

Durham Region Transit (DRT) will be hosting eight drop-in events throughout Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge Townships, and the Municipality of Clarington, as part of its Rural Transit Review.

Residents are invited to provide comments and suggestions online by completing the survey at durhamregiontransit.com/ruraltransit, or in person at an upcoming drop-in. The Clarington drop-in event is on November 26, at the Diane Hamre Recreation Centre, Newcastle, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Newcastle Santa Parade is a wonderful event starting with a fantastic fireworks display at 5:30 p.m. followed by 70 entries that range from marching bands, to clowns and beautifully light up floats that children of all ages enjoy.

We are all in great anticipation for Santa’s next magical visit to Newcastle with sounds, lights and marching bands of a night time parade. This year the theme for the Parade is ‘Christmas Lights’. Mark the date on your calendar and wear a Santa button on Sunday, November 17th, 2019.

https://www.newcastlesantaparade.com

We welcome everyone to our annual general meeting on Tuesday, November 19 in the Newcastle Lions Room, Newcastle Community Hall, 20 King Ave. W., starting at 7 p.m.

We are very fortunate to have as our speaker, Clarington Fire Chief and Director of Emergency and Fire Services, Gordon Weir. He has five fire stations under his jurisdictions and is responsible for protecting and educating the community about safety. He will also  explain the many services firefighters offer and perform, (eg: EMS rescue, crash response and water rescue).

With winter approaching, this is a great opportunity for us to learn about fire hazards in our homes.

President David Saunders called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were 31 Members present including Mayor Foster and Federal MP Kim Rudd. One executive member Bob Malone, was unable to attend due to other commitments. Mrs. Marion Saunders welcomed our speaker Mr. John Henry, CEO and Chair of the Region of Durham.

Mr. Henry opened by expressing an enthusiastic optimism for the Region. He described new business ventures such as a new Kubota Tractor Manufacturing plant, the Bowmanville Toyota parts distribution centre and on Church Street Pickering south of the 401, a casino, hotel, and movie complex with the potential of over 2000 jobs. The Region is presently negotiating with the Province to change their plans to have a Go train station at the 5^thWheel site in Bowmanville instead of the previous plans via the CPR line. They are also negotiating to make the 407 feeder highways (412, 418) toll free to allow local commuters easy access to the 401. Our Tech expertise was executed by Oshawa’s OTU students competing in an international Tech competition. They won over the top competitor, Saudi Arabia. The Region’s AAA credit rating will be under pressure by the Province’s proposed new rationalization plan to share services to struggling neighbouring communities outside the Region. The Province also asked for a 4% budget reduction. This is difficult to accomplish when a large percentage of the budget is wages. In Durham Region 10,000 Health workers and 6000 teachers will not be looking for a wage reduction! Mr. Henry finished with a Q&A.

George Rickard thanked Mr. Henry for his excellent presentation.

Previous Minutes:                                                                                            

Secretary Warren Tait read the minutes from May 21, 2019. Masood Vatandoust moved that they be accepted and John Pierrepont seconded. This was carried.

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer George Rickard reported that as of April 30^ththe bank balance was $927.94. George made a motion to accept the report and Rod McArthur seconded. It was carried.

New Business:

Announcements:

Padre Saunders announced that we were still seeking volunteer directors.

Date of Next General Meeting:

The next General Meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.                                   The speaker in November: TBA.

Adjournment:

Moved by Linda McGregor at 9:00 p.m.

We welcome everyone to our next general meeting on Tuesday, September 17 in the Newcastle Lions room starting at 7 p.m. We are very fortunate to have as our speaker, Mr. John Henry. Mr. Henry is the Chair of the Region of Durham, an area of approximately 2500 square kilometers and a population of 645,862 (2016).

This is an opportunity for us to get a clear picture for the future development of the Municipality of Clarington.

Over the past several weeks, a parade of heavy, fully loaded dump trucks has entered Newcastle at the Mill Street exit from the eastbound 401. They travelled north on Mill Street to King Avenue East (Highway 2 in the Village), thence eastward to their destination close to Stapleton Road where their loads of soil were dumped. They returned to the westbound 401 by the very same route. The noise, vibration, emissions and wear and tear on our roads do not belong in the residential and business sectors of Newcastle; nor does the potential for accidents!

Your Association immediately took action by notifying Ward 4 Councillor, Marg Zwart. She then alerted those concerned at Municipal Hall and sought answers. Marg was reminded that several years ago, the same situation developed using the same unfortunate routing of loaded dump trucks rolling through downtown Newcastle and along Mill Street. At that time, our Regional Councillor (Wards 3 and 4), Willie Woo sprang into action, along with your Association, resulting a rerouting of the offensive traffic along the 401 East to Newtonville and thence to its destination.

Municipal officials have now confirmed they had approved the route through the Village and that the traffic would soon end as the project was winding down. Your Association requested that, in future, serious consideration be given to choosing available, alternative routings so that the residents of Newcastle be spared the burden of this offensive use of the roads in our community.

Your Association is grateful to our Ward Councillor for her prompt attention to the matter. As well, as a local citizen, Willie Woo advised authorities that this routing of heavy truck traffic through the Village was unacceptable, along with photos of the situation!

Bob Malone,
Immediate Past President

July 5, 2019