HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011-01_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressed
municipal insight
A quarterly newsletter from
the Municipality of the District of Chester
LOOK INSIDE FOR…LOOK INSIDE FOR…LOOK INSIDE FOR…
Can you get a tax exemption? (pg. 2)
Find out if you qualify for a property tax exemption.
“Age-friendly Communities” (pg. 4)
Learn what this means and how the Municipality is
becoming involved.
Take the Roof off Winter (pg. 5)
What are you doing to stay active this winter? We
have a few ideas...
False alarms are increasing (pg. 6)
A serious look at a serious problem.
www.chester.ca “keeping informed about your municipal government” Winter 2011
also inside...
WAY TO GO CLEAR BAGGERS!
STREETSCAPE UPDATE
WINTER PARKING NEWS
CONTACT US:
Municipality of the District of Chester
151 King Street
P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0
(902) 275-3554 phone
(902) 275-4771 fax
administration@chester.ca
www.chester.ca
Chester Bandstand on a winter’s morning overlooking the Front Harbour
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tax information
Access your up-to-the-minute tax
information online, 24 hours a day in real-
time! Visit www.chester.ca and click on
the green button located on the right of
our homepage labelled “Tax Info Online”.
FIRST TIME USER or NOT QUITE SURE? Please call the Tax Office at (902) 275-3554
to set up your account or with any questions you may have.
(902) 275-3554 phone
(902) 275-4771 fax
administration@chester.ca
Stay informed: sign up for “Municipal Alerts” at www.chester.ca or follow us on Twitter.
Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may if ALL of the
following applies to you:
The total income from all persons who have an interest in your
property (who are listed as owners or co-owners) was less than
$17,000.00 in the 2009 calendar year.
Exemptions are only for residential property tax on the principal
residence. Although all owners do not have to live in the residence, it
must be a principal dwelling of one of the owners.
Proof of income is required. Please bring your 2009 Notice of
Assessment from Revenue Canada with you.
Call the Recreation & Parks Department at
275-3490 to register for Winter programs or
go to www.chester.ca to register online
AFTER JANUARY 11, 2011
MUNICIPAL
TAX
EXEMPTIONS
Do you
qualify?
The exemption for the current fiscal year (April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011) will expire on March
31, 2011. The amount of the exemption is based on total income and will be
determined at the Administration Office. Please contact the Administration Office at
275-3554 to see if you qualify.
3
by -law enforcement (902) 277-1589 phone
(902) 275-2598 fax
dbrettell@chester.ca
We have all seen them. Those in-
nocuous looking leaflets that are
stapled to utility poles all over the
Village, advertising all sorts of good-
ies we never knew we could not live
without.
And then there are the utility poles
themselves. The signs are long gone
but the staples remain, making the
poles look like an urban cactus, cov-
ered in thousands of tiny steel spikes,
just waiting to ensnare the next un-
suspecting passerby.
There must be something that can be
done about this, right? Well, there is.
Quite often the business owners in
the Village have gone through the
process of applying for the relevant
permits, and paid the applicable fee,
that allows them to erect signs that
advertise their establishment or ser-
vice. Also, they have often invested
considerable sums of money in the
signs themselves.
So why should Joe Blow be allowed
to hammer his laminated bit of
paper to every utility pole he sees,
free of charge, not a care in the
world? The good news is, he cannot!
Every sign erected in the Village
must comply with regulations relat-
ing to its location, its purpose, its
design and its size. Fortunately,
there are restrictions on fixing most
any kind of sign to the utility poles
within the Village area. These re-
strictions are found in our Land Use
By-law. Contact the Planning Depart-
ment or myself for details.
I will be taking time over the coming
weeks to remove any signs in the Vil-
lage that have been erected without
a permit, especially those stuck to the
utility poles. I will also try and
hammer down some of the staples
and spikes to make the poles a little
safer for us all.
So wish me luck. And if you see me
wrapped round a utility pole like a
piece of human Velcro please feel
free to take the time to stop, have a
chat, and maybe peel me off!
- Dave Brettell,
By-law Enforcement Officer
UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BOOK! If you are still using “@district.chester.ns.ca” for your municipal email ad-
dresses, please switch to “@chester.ca”. For example, jveinotte@district.chester.ns.ca is now jveinotte@chester.ca.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Is it just me, or have old autos be-
come a bit of a hot topic these
past few years? With schemes like
‘Recycle Your Ride’ and ‘Cash For
Clunkers’ it seems like the Govern-
ment and every car dealership
there ever was is trying to get us
to trade in our older cars for shiny
new ones that have all the latest
gadgets, engines that run on June
Bug droppings and technology
that allows them to park them-
selves.
But not all of us can afford the
latest fashions from Detroit. What
about us, what can we do?
Fortunately there are a number of
auto salvage businesses in and around
the Municipality that will take your
old auto away for its scrap value. I
know it can be a little painful watching
your favourite old jalopy, or Dad’s old
Caddy, get dragged away to the big
old crusher in the sky, but all of us
have a duty to protect the environ-
ment, and some of those old street
rods can be full of all kinds of nasty
stuff. Also, Grandma’s old Chevy may
be worth more in scrap value than
you could ever imagine.
But what about that rusting pile of
Japanese tin that’s parked in the back
yard? You know, the one you bought
20 years ago that has an engine the
size of a sewing machine and body
panels the thickness of aluminum foil.
The scrap guys won’t touch that.
Don’t worry, all is not lost.
Did you know that the Municipality
has a derelict vehicle program? We
can, under most circumstances, ar-
range for derelict or scrap vehicles to
be removed from your property, free
of charge.
So, if you have a vehicle that you need
to get rid of and the auto salvage guys
won’t take it, give me a call and I will
swing by with the forms.
IS YOUR AUTO NO LONGER MOBILE?
by Dave Brettell,
By-law Enforcement Officer
4
recreation & parks (902) 275-3490 phone
(902) 275-3630 fax
recreation@chester.ca
The Municipality of Chester recently
received funding from the Nova Scotia
Department of Seniors to work on an
Age-Friendly Communities project. Age-
Friendly Communities is a program that
promotes supportive environments
where seniors can lead healthy, active,
and engaged lives.
The Municipality will embark on this
project by identifying barriers within the
community and then recommending ways
to remove or alleviate them.
“The Municipality of the District of
Chester recognizes the value of seniors in
maintaining an active and flourishing
community,” says Warden Allen Webber.
“Fostering an ‘Age-Friendly Community’
will support the needs of our seniors and
provide benefits that will be realized for
many years.”
Over the next year, you will hear more
about our Age-Friendly Communities
initiative. The community will be
encouraged to provide input and possibly
become a member of our Age-Friendly
Advisory Team.
If you have any questions or want to get
involved, please contact the Recreation &
Parks Department at 275-3490.
Want the latest municipal news? Check www.chester.ca often
Age-Friendly Communities
Chester 5K run & walk/10K run
We’re in the process of planning for a 5K run/walk and
10K run event, tentatively scheduled for
Saturday, June 4th in and around the Village
of Chester. Avid runners and casual walkers
are welcome to volunteer for an organizing
committee. If you have any questions or
would like to assist, contact the Recreation
& Parks Department at 275-3490.
Outdoor Activity Sampling
The Chester Recreation and Parks Department, in partnership
with our Lunenburg/Queens counterparts, are organizing an
outdoor recreation activity sampling event for May. The event
will be held in conjunction with the Lahave River Salmon Asso-
ciation’s Annual Children’s Fishing Derby. After catching your
limit at the Fishing Derby, stay at the MARC to try a variety of
outdoor recreation activities, such as nature photography,
geocaching, hiking, and many others. Watch or call for more
details. Saturday, May 28, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the
MARC in Dayspring. It’s FREE!
The Subway in Chester collected $684
for P.R.O. Kids on Friday, December 17
during a fundraiser at their location!
We want to give the staff at Subway a
special thank you for their support as
well as a big thank you to their patrons
who participated in
this event.
Front - Steve Costie, Subway Owner, and Cosette Howlett, P.R.O. Kids Coordinator
Back (left to right) - Subway Staff Cody Boutilier, Lisa Rafuse and Norma Hiltz
5
Need space to cross country ski, toboggan or
snowshoe? Come to Ross Farm! There are some
snowshoes at the Farm you can use if you don't
have any of your own.
If you are interested in a planned activity, Ross
Farm is hosting a Snowshoe Making Demonstra-
tion on Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, Janu-
ary 23. After the demonstration, participants will
receive instruction on how to use the snow-
shoes. Ross Farm supplies the snowshoes or
bring your own. Participants can then enjoy the
experience of snowshoeing on the Farm. It is a
good time to learn all about the making of snow-
shoes and an opportunity to learn how to use
them and have a great day outdoors.
There is also a Toboggan Making Demonstration
on Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30
at Ross Farm.
Ice Safety Course - January 29, 9:00-11:30am at
Forest Heights Community School. $20.
This course provides life-saving knowledge and res-
cue training for those engaged in ice-based winter
activities, such as ice fishing, skating, snowmobi-
ling , ATVing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Re-
member that response from your fire department
may be 10 to 20 minutes away. This course may
also be of interest to parents whose children skate
or play hockey on or near frozen ponds, lakes or
rivers. Training emphasizes self-rescue techniques
and techniques used in rescuing others in distress.
Card Lake Snowshoe Trek - February 6, 10am-12
noon at Card Lake Provincial Park. FREE!
Join Hike Nova Scotia for a gentle snowshoe under
the whispering hemlocks along the shores of beau-
tiful Card Lake. At our furthest point out, we will
stop for a brief workshop on wilderness survival
(what to do if you now had to spend the night at
Card Lake). Learn other tidbits along the way re-
garding local history and flora and fauna…you may
even win a prize! This hike is part of Hike Nova Sco-
tia’s Guided Snowshoe series. To learn more, visit
www.hikenovascotia.ca. Registration required.
Free lunch-time skates - Every Thursday in Febru-
ary at the Chester Rink, 12:30-1:30pm.
Introduction to Astronomy - March 31, 6:30-
9:00pm at Forest Heights Community School. $15.
An introduction to the night sky and a primer on
constellation identification is given by Grant Dixon,
the evening demonstrator at the McCallion Plane-
tarium of McMaster University for over 22 years.
This is primarily a lecture format, but if the sky is
right, some time may be spent outside observing.
Bring binoculars or a telescope if you have them.
When ice conditions permit, the outdoor rinks at
Croft Road and Lordly Park will be open all hours to
the public and are free to use.
Take the Roof off Winter with one or
more of these activities! Call the
Recreation and Parks Department at
275-3490 to register.
Did you know that many of the Municipality’s publications are online? If there’s one you don’t see, call us.
6
fire services (902) 275-1312 phone
(902) 275-3673 fax
bblackwood@chester.ca
FALSE ALARM RATES ARE HIGH
From January until the end of October 2010 we have
responded to 27 false fire alarms representing nearly 6%
of the district’s total emergency calls. In some
communities, the rate of false fire alarms was as high as
15% of their Fire Department’s emergency calls.
For the same period, the RCMP received nearly 300 false
security alarms. This is an average of 28 false calls per
month and represents an increase of nearly 19% in the
calls from 2009.
FALSE ALARMS CAN BE PREVENTED.
THEY ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Although weather and other occurrences out of your
control can cause false alarms, most of the time they
can be prevented. There are several things you can do:
Purchase systems from reputable companies.
Ask for detailed training on the system and train
those that you permit access.
Use proper opening/closing procedures.
Be sure to address open, unlocked or loose fitting
doors and windows, drafts from heaters or air
conditioning systems, and wandering household
pets that will cause security systems to activate.
Particulate matter whether smoke, dust, or steam
will activate a smoke detector. Avoid placing them
in locations that will cause nuisance alarms, e.g.
too close to kitchens, baths, fireplaces.
Always pay close attention to your surroundings.
What you are doing, i.e. cooking could impact on
the alarm system.
During home renovations, cover smoke detectors
that may be affected by construction activities.
Always restore all detectors daily to proper
functionality after construction or renovation
activities.
After construction is completed, your alarm
company should be called to service your system.
Fire and security systems should be maintained
annually by competent and authorized service
companies.
Have all phone numbers available to call or cancel
accidental alarms.
YOUR SECURITY IS IMPORTANT
Your building security system is a valuable tool to
prevent home or business break-ins, personal injury and
the loss of property due to fire or theft. The Municipality,
your local Fire Department and the RCMP support the
proper installation and maintenance of these important
safety systems.
FALSE ALARMS ARE VERY SERIOUS
False alarms are a waste of time, funds and effort in
responding to non-existing fire or other alarm situations.
They cause unnecessary risks to emergency responders,
other road users and the general public. False alarms
disrupt community services and your business. Possible
delays in responding to real emergencies put peoples’
lives at stake. There is a risk of complacency to actual
incidents of crime and fire with possible deadly
consequences.
A MAJOR CONCERN
We remind all citizens of their responsibility to comply
with the Alarm By–Law 141. Copies of this By-law are
available at the Municipal Offices or online at
www.chester.ca. Please follow the link to our Fire and
Emergency Services web site for even more information
on the prevention of false alarms.
Each false alarm is investigated, and we request
corrective actions to deter repeat incidents.
The primary reasons for the false alarms in 2010 YTD
continue to be improper usage by the owner,
(carelessness, passwords, notification, call lists) and
general system maintenance (low batteries, defective
equipment).
WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
We recognize the preventative and corrective actions
taken by many alarm system owners in our
communities.
We continue to investigate how we can best work with
our communities to reduce the number of false alarms.
Thank you for your assistance and
we ask that you continue to be
diligent in maintaining and using
your alarm systems in the
proper manner.
7
An impressive 92% of households
visited by the Municipal Curbside
Inspector are participating in the
clear bag for garbage program.
A study was conducted over three
months that recorded the specific
number of households and busi-
nesses participating in the new
program. A baseline was estab-
lished prior to the enforcement
date of October 1 and comparison
data was collected for the two
months following the enforcement
date. The result...SUCCESS!
The plan is to continue inspections
and provide information to anyone
who needs it.
If you haven’t started yet, a few
key points about the program are:
Bag limits are 6 garbage bags (5
clear and 1 black), 10 recycling
bags (including cardboard) and 1
green cart.
Recycling is the same as always.
If you used a blue bag before,
you can still use one. Sort the
same as you always have.
Pet waste can be bagged in
opaque bags. All pet waste can
be put in an opaque bag (like a
grocery bag) and then put in
your garbage - whether it’s clear
or not.
Sorting guides can be found in the
2011 Waste Collection Calendar or
online at www.chester.ca Or, you
can call the Kaizer Meadow Envi-
ronmental Management Centre at
275-2330 or the Public Works
Department at 275-1312 for any
information that you need.
solid waste (902) 275-2330 phone
(902) 275-1468 fax
info@KaizerMeadow.ca
Congratulations are
in order!
REMINDER: All contractors and residents delivering waste to the Kaizer Meadow Environmental
Management Centre MUST have secured loads. Blowing debris causes safety issues on our highways
and creates litter. Nets are available for temporary loan by calling 275-1312.
building
Building Permit Renewals Q & A
Q: After I receive my Building Permit, how long until it expires?
A: Your Building Permit is valid for 18 months.
Q: Once it expires, if my project is not complete, do I need to take out another Permit?
A: No you do not; you are only required to renew your Permit.
Q: How do I renew my Permit?
A: Once your Permit expires, our department will send you a renewal form in the mail. Just sign, date, and
return the form, and your Permit will be valid for an additional 18 months! It is very important you provide
us with a current mailing address if your permanent address changes, to ensure you receive the renewal
form to keep your Permit valid.
Q: Is there a fee to renew my Permit?
A: There is no fee to renew your Permit.
Q: What if no work has been undertaken to my project?
A: If no work has been undertaken nor any inspections been conducted, then after 18 months the Building
Inspector may close your file and return your funds.
Q: What if I start the project at a later date, after my file has been closed?
A: If you start the project after your file is closed, you must make application at our office for a new Permit.
(902) 275-3080 phone
(902) 275-2598 fax
building@chester.ca
8
public works (902) 275-1312 phone
(902) 275-3673 fax
publicworks@chester.ca
WINTER PARKING - are you ready?
From December 15th to March 31st, there is a
winter parking ban in parts of Chester Village and
Western Shore (look for the signs). The Provin-
cial Winter Parking Regulations reads as follows:
“no owner, driver or person having control or
custody of any vehicle shall during the period
from one hour after any snow storm has com-
menced to two hours after such snow storm
has stopped, park the vehicle if it is unat-
tended by a person authorized to move and
capable of operating the same, upon any
highway or street of the communities listed
on Schedule “A” (Chester and Western Shore
are included within Schedule “A”).
Also, the Municipal Government Act says,
“snow cannot be plowed across any streets or
onto public sidewalks. Snow shall be stored
on the property being cleared or hauled away
and dumped in an approved location.”
In addition, we want to remind motorists that in
accordance with the Motor Vehicle Act,
“no person shall willfully park or leave standing
a vehicle, attended or unattended, on a street
or part thereof which interferes or obstructs
snow removal during or after a snow storm, or
in any way obstructs winter maintenance, i.e.
salting. Such vehicles will be towed away at the
owners’ expense.”
In other words, your vehicle will be towed if, at
any time, you block any part of the street that is
getting plowed or salted.
planning (902) 275-2599 phone
(902) 275-2598 fax
planning@chester.ca
For information on any of
these regulations, please call
the Department of
Transportation at 275-3221.
Planning Vision and
Streetscape Design
for Highway 3 at
Chester Village
After much collaboration with the
Municipality of Chester as well as the
Streetscape Steering Committee and the
public, Ekistics Planning & Design, in
association with ABLE Engineering, came
up with a plan that represents how the
main access into Chester might look in
the future. This plan is meant to be an elaborate strategy that will
enhance the Village esthetically, economically, and environmen-
tally. After some unexpected and gravely unfortunate delays,
work on the final draft report will soon be complete. Then, it will
be presented to Council for approval.
This document is an important piece of Chester’s future and we
want to take the time to perfect it. After approval, changes to the
Zoning and Land-use By-laws will be made, which will allow the
Municipality to move forward with the Streetscape Vision.
Read about the exciting, proposed changes to Chester’s main
thoroughfare by accessing the Streetscape documents either
online at www.chester.ca or at the Planning Department. Look
for more information to come.