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Friday, April 13, 2012

Driver Gets Huge Fine in Rothesay

A driver has a big bill to pay after speeding through a construction zone on Highway 1 near Rothesay at 150 kilometres an hour--80 kilometres above the posted limit.

RCMP, Rothesay Regional Police and the Province's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers snagging the leadfoot in a blitz on Highway 1 near Rothesay on Thursday.

67 speeding tickets and 15 tickets for not wearing a seatbelt were handed out over the two day blitz.

Former Councillor Felt "Handcuffed" Once Defamation Lawsuit Began

Common Councilor John Ferguson says once the city's pension board started initiated a defamation lawsuit against him, he found it extremely difficult tackle his issues with pension plan.

He said he felt handcuffed as a councillor once legal proceedings began and any questions he had about the pension plan got tied up in legal issues.

He says he was shocked that the board was suing him for defamation.

Ferguson also told the court that his criticisms towards the pension plan and early retirement packages were aimed at council and not the pension board as it is council that approves policy.

It's A Race For Mayor Here Too

Interesting races are shaping up in the outskirts this year where the Mayors of Quispamsis, Rothesay and Hampton could change and the Mayor of Sussex will definitely be a new face.

Kathyrn Hanson is challenging Bill Bishop for mayor in Rothesay and Beth Fitzpatrick is going up against incumbant Murray Driscoll in Quispamsis.

Current Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr is running as a councillor so Shelley Bradley or Marc Thorne will be the new face of Dairytown.

It's a two man race of Mayor in Hampton between Hugh Baird and Ken Chorley.
For more info, click here for Sussex. 

Click here for Hampton.

Click here for Rothesay.

Click here  for Quispamsis.

Investigators Look Into Inteplast Blaze

A fire in the ventilation system at the Inteplast Bag and Film Corporation had crews busy over the lunch hour.
 
District Fire Chief Joe Armstrong tells CHSJ News the call came in as a fire alarm activation but was upgraded to a structure fire.

The fire was attacked from the roof and knocked down.
He says investigators are on scene and it appears the fire began in a peice of machinery which caused plastic and other debris to catch on fire.

Armstrong says the building was evacuated when they arrived the company has a fire marshall on site and a good fire plan.

A Large & Diverse Group Aims To Lead Saint John

It's a diverse and full field of candidates in the Port City hoping to take part in Monday night council meetings.

Four men hope to be the Mayor including incumbant Ivan Court, Mel Norton, Matt Thompson and Joe Callaghan.

6 people are vying for the Councillors at Large positions:  Shelley Rinehart, John Campbell, Shirley McAlary, Mary Ellen Carpenter, Mike Sheppard and Jason Robertson.

Ward 3 incumbant Donnie Snook will be on the ballot after all and be campaigning against Chris Belyea, Allen Leslie, Patrick McCaffrey, Donna Reardon and a familliar name-Albert Vincent.  Graeme Stewart-Robertson has switched from the Mayor's race to Ward 3.

Ward 1 incumbants Bill Farren and Peter McGuire are re-offering and battling Blake Armstrong, Ed Hoyt, Greg Norton and Al Vienneau.

Ward 2 has Susan Fullerton, Morgan Lanigan, John MacKenzie along with incumbants Patty Higgins and Gary Sullivan.
Four new faces hope to represent Ward 4, Mark Leblanc, David Merrithew, Ray Strowbridge and Scott Wadell.

To see the list, click here

Weston Confirms Closure Of SJ Immigration Office

By June 1st, the Federal immigration office in Saint John will be closed.     Saint John and Moncton's offices are being consolidated into one office in Fredericton due to cuts coming down from Ottawa.
 
Saint John MP Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News he disagrees with Councillor at Large candidate John Campbell's assessment that this move will hinder development in Saint John.

He suggests the candidate should contact his office directly to talk about the situation because the immigration centre here did not see clients.

Weston says the June closure of the Saint John office will impact four employees.

Candidates Come For Forward As Deadline Nears

Are you in or are you out?  That's the question as the deadline passes for candidates hoping to run in the municipal election.

Here in Saint John, it's a four way race for Mayor with Ivan Court, Mel Norton, Matt Thompson and Joe Callaghan.

6 people are vying for the Councillors at Large positions:  Shelley Rinehart, John Campbell, Shirley McAlary, Mary Ellen Carpenter, Mike Sheppard and Jason Robertson.

Ward 3 incumbant Donnie Snook will be on the ballot after all and be campaigning against Christie Belyea, Allen Leslie, Patrick McCaffrey, Donna Reardon and a familliar name from years gone by, Albert Vincent. 
As he promised, Graeme Stewart-Robertson has switched from the Mayor's race to seeking a seat in Ward 3.

Ward 1 incumbants Bill Farren and Peter McGuire would like their seats back, they will be battling Blake Armstrong, Ed Hoyt, Greg Norton and Al Vienneau.

Ward 2 has Susan Fullerton, Morgan Lanigan, John MacKenzie along with incumbants Patty Higgins and Gary Sullivan.

In East Saint John, four new faces hope to represent Ward 4: Mark Leblanc, David Merrithew, Ray Strowbridge and Scott Wadell.

For more info, click here

Q-Plex To Host One Of Its Largest Events

Its a first for the Q-Plex with Valley Expo this weekend and it's being described as one of the largest events to be staged there.

Denise Miller of Master Promotions tells CHSJ News there will be nearly 100 exhibitors displaying everything from home building and renovation products, landscaping and gardening to sports and recreation including motorcycles and marine Products.

Miller also says the "y" will be on hand to keep your children busy while you have a look around.

The hours are from 10 to 6 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday.

Superintendent Not Sure If Major Budget Cuts Are Coming

The Superintendent for School District 8 is unsure how the upcoming school budget will take shape.

Michael Butler tells CHSJ News there should be some savings from the planned amalgamation of districts but the province was also planning to cut another 2 percent from the budget.

He says that has yet to be made official.

He adds there is some good news -- he expects to be receiving more resources for early literacy and inclusion.

The budget will be revealed in a few weeks.

Fire Knocked Down In East Saint John


Some equipment is being released at the scene of a noon hour fire in an East Saint John industrial park.

Crews responding to a fire in the roof at Inteplast Bags and Film Corporation on Industrial Drive.

The fire has been knocked down.

City Fire Crews Battling Blaze at Industrial Park

Crews are on the scene at a fire in the Grandview Industrial Park at Inteplast Bags and Film Corporation on Industrial Drive.

The fire is in the roof area.

City police are doing traffic control in the area.

Snook Reoffers As Filing Deadline Aproaches

The field of candidates for Saint John is becoming clear as the deadline to file is at 2 o'clock today.

So far it's a four way race for Mayor with Ivan Court, Mel Norton, Matt Thompson and Joe Callaghan.
 
6 people are vying for the Councillors at Large positions:  Shelley Rinehart, John Campbell, Shirley McAlary, Mary Ellen Carpenter and Mike Sheppard.

Ward 3 incumbant Donnie Snook will be on the ballot after all and be campaigning against Christie Belyea, Allen Leslie, Patrick McCaffrey, Donna Reardon and a familliar name from years gone by-Albert Vincent.

Ward 1 incumbants Bill Farren and Peter McGuire would like their seats back, they will be battling Blake Armstrong, Ed Hoyt, Greg Norton and Al Vienneau.

Ward 2 has Susan Fullerton, Morgan Lanigan, John MacKenzie along with incumbants Patty Higgins and Gary Sullivan.

In East Saint John, four new faces hope to represent Ward 4: Mark Leblanc, David Merrithew, Ray Strowbridge and Scott Wadell.

Defamation Trial Told Pension Deficit Is Nearly Catastrophic

Former Common Councillor John Ferguson defends his comparison of Saint John's pension woes with those of San Diego which the Pension Board claims is defamatory.

Ferguson told the defamation trial the pension plan in San Diego was not properly funded and neither was Saint John's with the city not making its contributions in 2004 and 2005.
 
In San Diego there was a lawsuit launched by some of the pension plan members which resulted in a 178 million dollar settlement.
 
As for his reference to a desperate gambler, Ferguson says he was talking about Common Council transferring the financial burden of early retirements to the city's pension plan when it was tanking.
 
Ferguson also testified about a nasty meeting of Vision 2015 that was held.

Ferguson told the court then Pension Board member and Common Councillor Glen Tait didn't call him a scumbag at that meeting......That happened later during a Council meeting, but did tell him to bite his "arse".

Ferguson found out, just before that meeting, the Pension Board was told it would have to lower its rate of return assumption which would result in a significant increase in the pension's plan's deficit.
 
Ferguson also denies grandstanding, telling the jury he was concerned about the rising deficit with the pension plan which he says is now to the point of being catastrophic.

Harbour Bridge Work Facing Delay


The final phase of the 35-million dollar upgrade of the Harbour Bridge has hit a financial pothole -- and -- that may mean a delay in the start of work.
The main contractor U-S-L Concrete went into receivership last month - but - Transportation Minister Claude Williams says his department has a performance bond in place and his people are talking with the receiver to ensure either U-S-L or another contractor finishes the work.
Williams admits those talks may delay Monday's scheduled closure of the east bound lanes and start of work - however - he maintains the work will be completed this year.
U-S-L Concrete is also working on the One Mile Interchange project and the Transportation Minister says it will be completed as scheduled later this year.

John Ferguson Defamation Trial

Saint John Street Said To Be Among Worst In Region

Rothesay Avenue has made the top ten in the Canadian Automobile Association's list of the worst roads in Atlantic Canada. 

The campaign runs until April 24th and Rothesay Avenue is currently ranked as the 7th worst road according to those drivers who have responded to the survey.

www.atlantic.caa.ca/worstroads 




Coast Guard Rescue Off Grand Manan

The Coast Guard Rescue Centre in Halifax tells CHSJ News of a rescue in the waters northeast of Grand Manan early yesterday morning. 

Two crew members were found in a life raft after their boat the "Lady Murtle" caught on fire. 

The two were then picked up by the 'Ocean Provider" and taken to Blacks Harbour where they're in good shape all things considered. 

The fishing boat that caught fire was also brought there.