Fort Simpson (Dec 01/06) - Mayor Duncan Canvin raised his doubts about the proposed Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act at the village council meeting held on Nov. 20.

"I don't think this law will ever stand the test of time," Canvin said.

The legislation is designed to help reduce drug dealing and bootlegging in communities. A public consultation on the act is scheduled for Nov. 29 in the village.

The act is addressing an important issue but is approaching it in the wrong way, said Canvin. He compared the possible results of the act to the Salem witch trials.

"We are backtracking on this thing," he said.

Coun. Candy Brown said the act is creating a good dialogue.

In some communities people are afraid to live in certain neighbourhoods. It's good to talk about this or we won't know how to deal with it, said Brown.

Invest and save

Village council has decided to purchase a GIC from ING Direct with its $1.5 million from the Community Capacity Building Fund.

The money will gain interest until we are ready to use it for the projects, said Mayor Canvin.

Treasures or garbage

Council is looking at options following a letter from Const. Colin Allooloo about unsightly properties around the village.

Allooloo said some of these properties, including the closed down gas station on the main street and a property behind the hospital, are unsafe for both the community and the environment.

In the past, there has been a hesitation to do anything because one person's garbage is another's treasure, said Canvin.

"I agree something has to be done here," he said.

Coun. Tom Wilson agreed that the closed gas station is a safety hazard.

Coun. Carl Lafferty suggested that the village contact other communities to see how they deal with similar problems.

Canvin said the matter will be looked at by the bylaw committee, who will examine the unsightly property bylaw.

Save the library

The village needs to start looking for alternative places to house the library, said Coun. Candy Brown.

"We're responsible to figure out where they're going to go," she said.

Although the village needs to find the location, Brown suggested that the government should be responsible for any needed renovations under the library services agreement.

Coun. Tom Wilson suggested the library board should be contacted for their opinion.

"The more people we have looking the better off we'll be," Wilson said.

A second road

Serious consideration needs to be given to an alternate access to the island, said Mayor Canvin.

Having an alternate access was discussed through the negotiations and consultations with the pipeline group so residents could be assured they wouldn't be stranded if a transport of chemicals flips over on the causeway, he said.

Coun. Bob Hanna pointed out that plans for the access have already been engineered and a test road was put through.

The access would create a whole slew of potential opportunities such as a marina because the plan includes gates to regulate the water level in the snye, said Canvin.

The alternate access will be examined by the Lands and planning committee.

Committee appointments

Council has decided on the appointments for its various committees:

Recreation and playgrounds- Coun. Brown and Olinto Beaulieu.

Emergency services- Coun. Brown and Lafferty.

Personnel- Tom Matus, the senior administrative officer, and Coun. Wilson and DieterCazon.

Public works/contracts- Coun. Hanna, Bruce Thomas and Beaulieu.

Lands and planning- Coun. Thomas, Wilson, Cazon and Lynn Wharton.

Bylaw- Coun. Brown, Wharton, Lafferty and Cazon.

Finance- Tom Matus and Coun. Wharton.