During the past two years Council has received funding under the program Stages & Stores. Up to now, six buildings have been restored and Council has now received additional funding for repairs & renovations under the heritage program. To see if your stage or store qualifies for funding please contact the town office. Deadline for applying to Council for funding is May 2^nd, 2008.

The Town Council is receiving numerous complaints about roaming dogs. Owners of dogs are hereby advised that once a complaint is received every effort will be made to notify the owner(s). If the dog is seen after the notification the information will be passed to the RCMP and the owner will be charged.

Council is in the process of reviewing the town streetlights. Over the next few weeks, Council will be rearranging some of the streetlights in the town. This means, that some streetlights will be moved, others will be removed and any area that has no streetlights new streetlights will be installed. Any streetlights that are on private properties, not lighting our town streets, the owner of the property will have the option to take over the payment of the streetlights or they will be removed from that property. Council would like to remind residents that we are just trying to get the best lighting for the best price. In no way are we trying to take away lights that are needed to light our streets.

Council are reminding residents that to get your water turned on or turned off, please give the town office as much notice as possible. Also, curb stop keys can no longer be picked up by residents, a town employee must turn the water on or off and the home owner or designate must be present when the water is being turned on or off. Again, Council do not want to cause any inconvenience but we must have control of the curb stop keys and the opening and closing of all curb stops. Council is in the process of setting new guidelines concerning the town water and residents will be notified of any changes. If an emergency after hours or weekends, please call Gordon @ 266-7352.

Residents are reminded that the deadline for current taxes, including poll tax, property tax and business tax is May 31, 2008. Water and Sewer taxes are due at the end of March, June, September & December.

For anyone with tax arrears as of December 31, 2007, please be advised that if these arrears are not paid in full by May 9^th, 2008 water will be shut off without further notice and every effort will be made to collect through a Collection Agency. To avoid such actions please make sure your taxes are up to date.

So far this year the Come Home Year Committee has held two very successful events. There are many more events planned over the next few months with the highlights of Come Home Year taking place the week of August 4^th - 10^th, 2008. For Come Home Year to be a complete success the Town of Fogo needs all residents to participate in some way whether it would be serving or preparing food, directing traffic, doing tours, etc...Right now there is a shortage of accommodations in the town and we are asking all residents if you have any space available to contact the town office @ 266-2237. Remember the success of our Come Home Year will depend on the efforts of our town’s volunteers.

This winter Council snowclearing is encountering the problem of too many people pushing snow out onto town roads. During snow clearing this snow is then pushed along into the driveways of other people. In some cases, individuals are pushing snow across town roads onto the properties of neighbours. These practices are illegal as well as unsafe. If snow falls on your property it should remain there, it should not be dumped on the road to be pushed on someone else. If this practice continues Council will be sending out individual letters and laying charges.

Between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. vehicles left on roadways interfering with snowclearing will be ticketed. This policy has been in place during past years and will again be enforced this winter.

Citizens are also reminded that when there are heavy snow accumulations, Council has to have a place to push snow. In this regard, Council has a 50ft. right-of-way on either side of the main road and a 35ft. right-of-way on by-roads. In this zone, Council can and will often have to place snow on properties. Of course Council will do all that is reasonable to minimize damage to people’s properties, however, should damage occur to such things as fences, trees etc.. it is at the owners expense. Again, Council will be as careful as possible not to do damage but remember in a big storm with a large amount of snow already down some damage may be unavoidable.

WATER CURB STOP KEYS

It has come to Council’s attention that some individuals have made private curb stop keys and are using them to turn on and off water. This practice is illegal. No individual is permitted to turn on or off water except with the knowledge and permission of the town using the town key. This key must be obtained from Council staff only, signed out and promptly returned. Council requests that individuals arrange to have water turned on or off during regular Council hours except of course in emergencies.

On January 7, 2008 Mr. Gordon Hewitt began employment as Fogo’s new Town Clerk. Mr. Hewitt brings a lengthy and varied work background to this position and is looking forward to this new challenge. By hiring a Town Clerk instead of maintaining the former Town Manager position Council realizes a saving of approximately $15,000.00 from the administration area of the town’s budget. In light of current Council finances other cost cutting measures can also be expected.

During the past few years some residents living near fire hydrants kept them free of snow during the winter. This is a very valuable form of community spirit and volunteerism. We urge people to continue shoveling fire hydrants out. The Fire Department and Council really appreciates your effort.

Starting January 1, 2008 people who occupy a dwelling in Fogo for a period of 1 day or longer during a calendar year will be required to pay the full water and sewer rate of $420.00 per year. If a dwelling is unoccupied for a full calendar year the water and sewer rate is $210.00.

Businesses are reminded that all cardboard boxes must be broken down and tied up or compacted. Loose cardboard, paper, and cardboard boxes will no longer be accepted. If this problem continues to occur business owners will have to transport garbage to the dump site themselves.

Lately too many dogs have been roaming around the community. These dogs tear open garbage and become a nuisance to other people. If you own a dog please care for it properly and see that it is under your control at all times. In future,Council will involve the RCMP and SPCA in an effort to solve this problem.