CAMPBELLTON -
Last year was a busy one for Campbellton Mayor and Lewisporte and Area Chamber of Commerce president Maisie Clark.
Not only did Ms. Clark become the second woman since Anne Picco in 1981 to be appointed president of the Chamber, but she is also the first president from outside the town of Lewisporte.
"I was kind of surprised, in a way, when I was asked because I am a female and I am out of town as well, but I was very pleased," said Ms. Clark. "I'll put as much time as possible into it."
Ms. Clark said as the newly appointed president she is committed to fighting for the regions businesses and other services that are important to the area.
"The objective of the Chambers is to support and lobby for businesses in the area, as well as encourage new businesses," she said. "After all, businesses are the backbone of rural Newfoundland."
Ms. Clark said the Chamber has had a good look at its focus and have set-up committees to review its constitution and objectives.
"It's been about 10 years since that has been done and of course things have changed in the course of 10 years," she said. "At that time, there wasn't a Lewisporte and Area Economic Development committee, so the Chamber had to set-up committees back then like the Transportation committee and Tourism committee, and really that should be part of the Economic Development committee. There's no need of us having full-time committees."
Instead, Ms. Clark said the Chamber will focus on having strong representation on each of the Economic Development and Lewisporte Area Development Association committees.
"Then we can also lobby for worthwhile causes and that's what it's all about," she said. "The other thing is, we do have some committees set-up like the Membership committee because we don't have all the businesses in the area as members.
"Therefore, the businesses aren't well represented at the various luncheon's and other functions we hold throughout the year and the Chamber is a very important organization."
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Along with hopes to increase membership throughout the Chamber region, Ms. Clark said they also hope to hold more luncheons with more special guest speakers and more towns and businesses extending the entire electoral district becoming members of the Chamber in 2010.
"I think what people don't realize is that Lewisporte is the hub of the area, so of course we are lobbying for the marina and other things, but if Lewisporte succeeds so does all the other outlining communities," she said. "And Lewisporte wouldn't succeed without the rural communities either, but anything we do in Lewisporte benefits the whole area. If we are going to get employment and big businesses, well it's going to be in Lewisporte."
Ms. Clark said the Chamber is only as strong as its membership.
"We are very self-sufficient in this area, but the key to sustaining that is that we have to support each other," she said. "Right now our office is open Monday to Friday and I will be there every Wednesday, so if anyone wants to come in looking for advice or with advice to give, then we welcome that. We need to know what members want and what they are expecting from the Chamber."
As Mayor of the Town of Campbellton, Ms. Clark said 2009 was a busy, but good year, with plenty of projects to look forward to in 2010.
"Of course, the fact that we fought and got our Lab and X-ray services to remain, that was very good and a very good fight for those involved," she said. "That was certainly a highlight of 2009." In 2009, Campbellton received the go-ahead for an $800,000 infrastructure for several roads throughout the town. Ms. Clark said the project wasn't completed in 2009, but will resume once the weather allows contractors to finish the work.
"We also bought new equipment last year like a new salt and sander, trailer, new fire van and new pumps for the fire department," said Ms. Clark. "Our fire department is doing really well. They have all had their basic training right now and along with their support group they are doing really well."
Additionally, Ms. Clark said she looks forward to working with the new Campbellton Recreation Committee, with six members currently volunteering their time.
"We were without for a recreation committee for a year, so we are really pleased to have these enthusiastic people on board to host activities in the town for our residents," she said. "The main focus is to get activities for all ages, at low cost, to take part in."
The Town's PSAB report, including tangible capital assets, has been completed, along with the draft of the Town's sustainability report.
"It's been a very busy year because everything has taken a very long time to complete," said Ms. Clark. "Right now we have gone in for more infrastructure for next year. We are hoping to at least get some of it. If not, we will have to go ahead and do some major work anyway. It cost us about $15,000 this year to do patch work to our pipes going across the bridge so that they would last the winter.
"And right now every time we turn on a fire hydrant or every time the power goes we lose water up the hill because we need a water tower. We only have half of the town on water because we can't put anymore on our system without a water tower and you can't put a water tower in until we upgrade our pump house, so it's one thing after another."
Ms. Clark went on to give praise for the residents who have been recycling faithfully over the last year.
"Our dump closed in August and we have been taking our garbage to Lewisporte; however, over the past few years we have been encouraging everyone to recycle and this year we had students who went around door-to-door educating people on waste management and recycling," she said. "We have been getting prepared for central dumping near Norris Arm and as a result it's been really showing because our garbage has been cut in half.
"We collect garbage once a week here now because since we have been recycling, we only have one trip a week. When we started out we were getting five or six loads a day, we were taking garbage twice a week then, and it was taking the garbage men from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to pick up the garbage. Now we are taking two loads to Lewisporte, once a week, and finished by 3 p.m. The residents have been absolutely wonderful and I hope it continues in 2010."
In 2010, Ms. Clark also mentioned the work will begin on a local walking trail, starting across from Seaview Lane and heading towards Campbellton River.
"For over two years now we have been lobbying for private and Crown Land in order to make a walking trail and we were hoping that if we get the trail then hopefully we could name it in honour of former General Rick Hillier," she said. "In December 2009, we finally acquired our last piece of private land we were looking forward. Now we are in the process of going to Crown Lands and getting the rest of that land needed."
Along with beginning the walking trail, Ms. Clark said council is excited to finish off the 2009 infrastructure construction and are hoping to get started on the Town's water system.
"We have excellent staff and people have been really good the last couple of years in paying their taxes," said Ms. Clark. "In the last eight years, taxes haven't went up and we have put in over $2 million in infrastructure.
"As a council, we have to focus and do what is best for the town as a whole. As long as everyone is out for the good of the Town - that's what's important. I love what I do, I'm willing to put the work into it and I look forward to 2010."
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