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Home My Public Portal About2012-06_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedEXPLORE LIFE this summer with the Municipality of Chester. discover... • upcoming events • special family activities • programs & registration info • local items of interest If you haven’t received your copy of EXPLORE LIFE, Summer edition, please visit our website at www.chester.ca or call the Recreation & Parks Department at (902) 275-3490. municipal insight “Keeping informed about June 2012 your municipal government” The Municipality’s newest land acquisition promises to be a par- adise for nature-lovers. It started out as a letter addressed to Council requesting that they lend support to preserve a piece of land in East River...it ended as a “picture perfect” investment. On January 12 of this year, a resident asked Council to write a letter to the Province of Nova Scotia, encouraging them to purchase a piece of property that was for sale in East River. The hope was that the land would escape potential development and remain the natural haven that it’s become to so many residents. The property borders the Chester Connection Trail on the most northern tip, follows the East River on the eastern border, and touches High- way 3 on the south side. Because of the water access, activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are traditional. There is also plenty of terrain for a good hike. Concerns were understandable: if this property was sold, public access may be lost. Two decisions were made on January 12. First, Council made a motion to write a letter asking Premier Dexter to consider purchasing the prop- erty to protect it and to preserve recreational usage. Second, Council asked that the Recre- ation Department take a look at the property and assess prospective recreational uses. The Recreation Department reported back to Council indicating that the potential for recre- ational use was immense. They discovered the area was appropriate for outdoor activities for all seasons, on water and land; was easily acces- sible by road and trail; and provided the public an opportunity to appreciate nature, open and undeveloped. Picture On March 8, Council approved the purchase of the land. On the heels of assuming owner- ship of Wild Rose Park and ensuring Western Shore Wharf remains operational, Council has cemented their position on the importance of recreational land use and public accessibility. By acquiring this property, the Municipality is ensuring the indefinite and continued use of this location where many people already fish, canoe and hike. The next step for the Municipality is to post signs at designated access points. If you are an avid hiker, fisher, or nature enthusiast, be sure to take in the sights and sounds - enjoy! For information, please contact us at the Mu- nicipal Office by calling (902) 275-3554 or email us at administration@chester.ca In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... Municipal Election Day WOW! Talk about a facelift! What is “unsightly ”? Voting is just as important Western Shore wharf is The By-Law Officer as you think it is. Exercise again open to the public explains on pg. 6 your right as a citizen (pg. 2) More info on pg. 3 Shown is the East River. The Municipality’s most recent land acquisition is on the left and extends from just past the bridge on Highway 3 to the Chester Connection Trail, nestled between Highway 103 and Highway 3. Also in this issue: THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THIS UPCOMING YEAR find out on pgs. 4 & 5 A LITTLE Q & A NEVER HURT ANYONE Everything you needed to know about dropping your waste off at Kaizer Mead- ow Landfill. (pg. 7) Perfect MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden The 2012-2013 Municipal Budget has been approved and, as I am sure you are aware, we were able to hold not only the General Tax Rate, but also all area rates under Council’s control. This edition of municipal insight will highlight most of the Operating and Capital expendi- tures that we believe best reflect the direction in which the Municipality is moving; not only this year, but also setting the stage for the next Council term. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT: community involvement... There are many ways to become involved in your municipal government: 1. VOTE! By voting, you are choosing who you want to represent you and the needs of your dis- trict. If you receive a visit from your local candi- date, please take this opportunity to discuss your priorities. Election Day is October 20. You may consider running in the next municipal election yourself. Attend one of the information sessions being held throughout the province in June. Information is listed on www.chester.ca, or you can call us at (902) 275-3554. 2. JOIN A COMMITTEE. If you don’t want to commit to being a Councillor, you could sit on one of our committees. Our goal is to make life better for residents, so we need your input. Through- out the year, we advertise available positions on these community-based committees: • Landfill Citizen’s Monitoring Committee; • Planning Advisory Committees for the Mu- nicipality and Chester Village; • Recreation and Parks Committee; and • Spectacle Lake Watershed Advisory Committee. On occasion, we also form other groups, such as steering committees for a specific project or working groups that partner with other organi- zations. There is a need for your involvement on these committees as well. 3. VOLUNTEER. There are many volunteer op- portunities with the Municipality. You could help at one of our events, such as the Cut ‘n’ Run, or teach a program at one of the community schools. 4. COME TO A MEETING. All Council meetings are open to the public. The only time they are closed is during “in camera” sessions where they discuss legal or personnel issues and negotia- tions. Meetings are usually held the second and last Thursdays of the month at 8:45 a.m. in Cham- bers (151 King Street, Chester). Agendas are on- line at chester.ca or you can call us for a copy. If you would like to address Council on a par- ticular issue, please make an appointment with the Municipal Clerk by calling (902) 275-3554 or emailing pmyra@chester.ca. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE FOR EVERYONE. Public hearings are meant to engage the public in a particular topic. If an issue affects you, either in a positive or negative way, a public hearing is your chance to express your opinion. Here, Coun- cil can hear all points of view and determine how to best proceed, based on community feedback. 6. JUST CALL. We are still the easiest level of government to contact...call your Councillor or the Administration Office. All of the contacts you need are on 6 of the newsletter. In an effort to increase voter participation, we will partner with the Province in a Munici- pal Awareness Week initiative. Council will visit schools, providing general information about the role and function of local government through a variety of media sources and, you guessed it - knocking on doors this fall. The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Province are working toward establishing the Office of a Municipal Auditor General. It will not replace the current financial audit func- tion that is performed each year by the Audi- tor General. But, it will enhance it to include such things as stewardship of public funds in a broad sense; achievement of value for service; and establish whether policies and governance structures are sufficient to ensure accountabil- ity and provide adequate protection of public funds and assets, among other things. A Municipal Auditor General Advisory Com- mittee has been formed to oversee the estab- lishment of the office and its ongoing function as well as recommend a suitable candidate. I’m fortunate enough to be appointed to this Com- mittee and look forward to the work that needs to be done on behalf of all Nova Scotians. I hope you find this edition of municipal in- sight useful to your needs and, as always, if you want more information, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Councillor or myself. Have a safe and memorable summer. Warden Allen Webber 2The Warden is on Facebook! Look him up at at www.facebook.com/allen.webber.10 YOUR COUNCILLOR...EXPOSED! District #2: Floyd Shatford District #7: Sharon Church-Cornelius Floyd has been Councillor of District #2 since 1997 and currently holds the position of Deputy Warden. He represents the areas of Fox Point, Simms Settle- ment, Mill Lake, The Lodge and Birchy Head. Floyd has been employed with Canexel at the East River plant since 1970 and also held the position of Vice President of the Union for 12 years. In his com- munity, Floyd has volunteered with Aspotogan Heri- tage Trust, St. James Cemetery Committee, coaching softball, and Chester Minor Hockey. Floyd and his wife Elaine have been married 42 years and have two children and three grandchildren. You can contact Floyd by calling (902) 857-9817, writing him at RR2 Hubbards, NS B0J 1T0 or email ing fshatford@chester.ca. In 1999, Sharon Church-Cornelius was elected as Councillor for District #7, which covers the areas of Windsor Road, Canaan, Sherwood, Robinsons Cor- ner, Marriotts Cove, Middle River Road, and part of Haddon Hill. As a life-long resident of Windsor Road, Sharon is an active member of her community and supports many local organizations and events. She is a found- ing member of Card Lake Park Conservation Com- mittee. She graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a BBA and is currently employed at Bonny Lea Farm. Feel free to call Sharon at home, (902) 275-2281, sennd a letter to 821 Highway #14, RR 2, Chester, NS B0J 1J0, or email scornelius@chester.ca. Municipal Council is made of up seven Councillors; one repre- sentative from each district. In this edition of municipal insight, we are going to highlight two districts - #2 and #7. Councillors are elected in municipal elections (every four years) to represent the residents of their areas. Individually, they bring forward concerns, issues and ideas from their communi- ties. Together, they develop policies and make decisions for the betterment of the Municipality as a whole. If you have a municipal concern or question, we encourage you to contact your elected representative. Contact information for all Councillors is listed on page 6. On October 20... count. Municipal Election Day is October 20. If you can’t vote on this day, you can vote by phone or online in the Advance Poll (October 10 to 18) using a secure PIN. An enumerator will visit you to verify your contact information. Then, you will receive your PIN in the mail along with your designated Polling Station location. For info on municipal elections, visit https://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/election/ COMMUNITY EVENTS 3Submit your community group’s events to us at recreation@chester.ca Friday, June 15 Paul Lucas and Hog the Covers Chester Legion from 9pm to 1am. Members/guests 19 and older. Friday, June 15 to Saturday, June 16 Relay for Life Chester Area Middle School from 7pm (Friday) to 7am (Saturday). Call 275- 5720 or 275-3263. Survivors wishing to attend the reception, call 275-3817. Saturday, June 16 Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, Bland- ford from 9-11:00am. Viva Fox Vegas Casino Night The Barn, Hubbards, from 7-10 pm. Live entertainment. $20. Proceeds for the Fox Point Community Centre. 19 yrs+ Sunday, June 17 Crib Tournament Chester Legion starting 1:00pm. Father’s Day Supper Forties Community Centre, New Ross, 4:30-6:00pm. 689-2612. Father’s Day Supper Hubbards Area Lions Club, 4-6 pm. $20. Gospel Concert Chester United Baptist Church, 7pm. Annual Father’s Day Walk, Drive or Bike Meet at the Hubbards Barn at 12:00 noon and finish at Bayswater Beach for a reception at 2:00 pm. Prizes! Advance registration $10 by calling 275-3490 or $15 the day of the event. Helmets man- datory. Call 857-3600 for bike rentals. Saturday, June 23 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Official Opening of the Oak Island Display “Explore Oak Island” opens at the Old Chester Train Station, 10am. Entertain- ment and refreshments. 275-3718. Mixed Softball Tour- nament Hosted by Chester Clippers Jr C. Call 279-1055 to register. Canteen. Country Jamboree Little Red School House, Canaan, 7-10 pm. Local musicians and lunch provided. Supper Forties Community Centre, New Ross, 4-6pm. Adults $10, ages 5-12 yrs $5 and under 5 yrs $2.50. Sunday, June 24 Chinese Auction Western Shore & Area Improvement As- soc. Hall. Opens 9am. Auction at 2pm. Fish Fry Hubbards Area Lions Club, 4-6 pm. $12 per person. Call 857-9501. Monday, June 25 Basin Gardeners Association Meeting Forest Heights Community School at 7pm. Guest speaker, Debbie Hart, will present “Vermiculture”. Call 273-2000. Thursday, June 28 Meryl Streep Film Series - The Iron Lady Chester Playhouse at 7:30pm. For info call 275-3933. Sunday, July 1 Canada Day Breakfast Chester Legion from 7:30-10:30am 15th Annual Canada Day Chicken BBQ Western Shore & Area Improvement Assoc Hall, 11 am-2 pm. $12. Family Afternoon Chester Legion, 1-4 pm Sunday, July 1 Family Afternoon Canada Day Chester Legion from 1-4pm. Cake, games, face painting, BBQ. Monday, July 2 Sailing Instruction Chester Yacht Club. Juniors (7-17 yrs) until August 31 and Women’s from June 24-29. Keelboat sessions on July 14, 21, 28 and August 11. 275-4793. Saturday, July 7 Roast Beef Supper St. Mark’s Church, Martins Point, 4-6pm. 627-6248. Sunday, July 8 Strawberry Supper Forties Community Centre, New Ross, 4:30-6:00pm. 689-2612. Strawberry Tea and Garden Tour Tour four gardens on Borgels Point Road at 4pm. Call 275-5635 or 275-4641. Friday, July 13 to Sunday, July 15 Family Camping Weekend District #1 Community Centre, Bland- ford. Call 228-2606. Saturday, July 14 Mackerel Snappers Picnic Graves Island Provincial Park, 12-6pm. $9 per person. Call 275-4070. Saturday, July 21 Little Red School House Day Canaan & District Hall, 11am to dusk. Entertainment, supper, games. Teddy Bears Picnic Lordly Park, Chester, 11:00-1:30pm $2. July 25-August 18 Summer Theatre School Chester Playhouse, 9:00am-4:30pm. Ages 8-16. 275-3933. Thursday, July 26 Flower Show & Tea - “Music is in the Air!” Chester Legion from 1:30 - 5:00 pm. Hosted by the Chester Garden Club. Sunday, August 5 August Sizzler Bayswater Beach, 1-4pm. Call 275-3490. Annual Lobster Supper Bonny Lea Far, 4-7 pm. Live entertain- ment and raffle. $30 per person. Saturday, August 11 Outdoor Movie Night “The Lorax” at Lordly Park, Chester, 8:30 pm. Free will for Chester PRO Kids. Monday, August 13 Rise of the Phoenix Fore Children Golf Tournament Chester Golf Club at 1:30pm. To reserve your place or to volunteer or contribute, please contact Mary at 275-3466. Tuesday, August 14 Seniors’ Old Fashioned Picnic The Barn, Hubbards, 11 am-2 pm July & August Swimming Lessons Hutt Lake, Chester Basin. Call 273-2309. Daily until Sept. 28 Community Art Gallery Chester Visitor Information Centre (Old Train Station), 10am-4pm. Every Friday until October Seaside Farmer & Artisan Market Parade Square, Chester Village (across from Lido Pool), 2:00-5:30pm. 273-3552 Every Saturday - all summer Hubbards Farmer’s Market Hubbards Barn (#57 Hwy 3) from 8am- 12 noon until October 27. 277-1697. Every Saturday - all summer New Ross Country Farmer’s Market Lions Club Park, Route 12, from 9am-12 noon until October. Call 689-2020. Every Sunday Summer Concert Series Chester Bandstand, featuring Chester Brass Band, 7pm. Please send your event to recreation@chester.ca or call (902) 275-3490 to have it included in the Progress Bulletin and this newsletter. Western Shore boaters get new digs If you’ve driven by the government wharf in Western Shore lately, you may have noticed a change - a big change. A few months ago, the company leasing the wharf from the Municipality began a major restoration of a wharf near the end of its “service life”. Extensive repairs were a condi- tion of the lease agreement, which was signed just before Christmas. Starting January 1, 2012, the Western Shore Wharf Cor- poration Ltd. became the new “tenants”, and with that, made plans to reconstruct the damaged portions of the wharf at their expense. Construction was completed a few weeks ago and the results are impressive. The photo to the right shows to what extent the wharf was repaired, and the insets show where the posts were strengthened with reinforcements. Curbing was replaced and the concrete slipway was repaired, among other things. Overall, residents seem happy with the work as well. As before, vehicles are not permitted to park on the wharf. Prior to the Wharf Corporation’s interest in the wharf, the Municipality was looking at approximately one million dollars to repair the badly damaged structure. The five- SPECIAL FEATURE year lease permitted the company to fix the wharf for their use with the option to purchase it at any time for $1. Although the wharf would be owned privately, the lease guarantees that the public still has access. According to the agreement, the public is permitted to use the wharf as they have done in the past with only one stipulation. If the company purchases the wharf and then opts to sell, the Municipality has the first opportunity to buy it. The company can, if they need to, use the wharf exclusively for up to ten days at a time; but, they must reopen it to the public for at least the same amount of days. On the whole, this agreement not only secures the public’s access to the water, but it also provides a safe way to do it. Go on over...you’ll be pleasantly surprised. MUNICIPAL BUDGET 2012/13 4for all of the budget documents, visit www.chester.ca Municipal BUDGET 2012-2013 We take a comprehensive look at what this year’s budget has in store: Council’s priorities, upcoming projects, and where the cash goes. The Municipality receives almost half of its revenue (almost 44%) from property tax- es. Property taxes are calculated by divid- ing your total assessment by 100 and then multiplying the remainder by the rate. The remaining 56% of revenue is from area rates along with other sources. Area Rates are charged for certain services and infrastructure that are specific to an area. For example, if you have access to central sewer or some streetlights, you are charged a certain amount on your prop- erty taxes. Some area rates are flat fees (same charge whether your assessment increases or decreases) and some are tied to your assessment (so much per $100 of your assessment). Tax Based on Business Revenue applies to certain businesses where their revenue is used as a base for taxes rather than prop- erty assessment. Usually, these businesses provide a service and have different kinds of infrastructure rather than buildings and parcels of land. For example, Aliant is one of the businesses that pays their taxes ac- cording to their sales. In addition to several small buildings, they have poles and wires that stretch across the Municipality. Deed Transfers are 1% of the sale pur- chase price of a property once the deed is registered. A Grant in Lieu of Taxes is money received from other levels of government instead of property taxes. Solid Waste and Disposal Fees are charged to commercial users of the Landfill as well as fees from our partners (ex. Valley Waste Management) and residents whose waste exceeds the free limit. Planning Fees is the amount we charge Mahone Bay for our planning services. Revenue from Own Sources is made up of fees we receive for applications, recreation programs, sewer connection deposits, etc. Transfers from Provincial and Federal Governments are essentially grants. For example, summer student employment, Gas Tax, and recycling program grants. Transfers from Own Funds is kind of like transferring money from our savings ac- count to our chequing account. If we have extra money leftover at the end of the year, we put it into “reserves”, or our savings ac- count. If we have a deficit at the end of the year or a capital project that costs a sub- stantial amount of money, we sometimes use reserves to pay for it. Other Revenue is Insurance Premiums from Fire Commissions. We pay one lump sum for insurance for all fire departments in the Municipality and they reimburse us. The graphs on these pages attempt to condense the actual bud- get. They are meant to compliment the budget, not replace it. Property Taxes from Assessable Property, $9,643,099.00 Area Rates (sewer, fire, waste, etc), $3,799,074.00 Tax based on Business Revenue, $136,784.00 Deed Transfers and Change in Use Taxes, $456,500.00 Government Grants in Lieu of Taxes, $141,627.00 Solid Waste & Disposal Fees, $2,587,760.00 Planning Fees, $39,788.00 Revenue from Own Sources (fees, etc.), $806,263.00 Transfers from Prov/Fed Governments, $1,095,864.00 Transfers from Own Funds, $3,326,713.00 Other Revenue, $57,232.00 Revenue 5Questions??? Call (902) 275-3554 MUNICIPAL BUDGET 2012/13 Council passed the Municipality’s 146th Budget last month. Short-term priorities include projects related to public safety, such as constructing several sidewalks, repairing the Chester Basin Wharf, and installing a crossing for the visually impaired in Hubbards. Also, we will upgrade systems at the Landfill site as well as at all sewer plants to ensure continuity of service. Long-term, we have identified several key projects that focus on economic and environmental sustain- ability and promote growth within the Municipal- ity. The biggest project, of course, is the large-scale wind-to-energy development scheduled to get un- derway this fall at the Kaizer Meadow site. Emphasis will also be on actively marketing the Eco-Park, which will promote employment and bring ecologically sound industry to the area, as well as develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The budget also demonstrates our commitment to the sustainability, health, and well-being of com- munities as it provides opportunities for alternate transportation. Upgrades to the Chester Connection Trail, installing bike racks around the Municipality, and establishing “Park Once” lots all contribute to this philosophy. The Municipality’s mandated contribution to the Province rose slightly over last year and consumes 66.6% of general tax revenues. Of that total, educa- tion costs make up almost half; the rest supports costs associated with protective services, roads, as- sessment services, library and regional housing. For more budget highlights and to view the budget in its entirety, please visit www.chester.ca or call us at (902) 275-3554. Highlights • The residential tax rate stays at 64₵/$100 of assessment • The commercial tax rate is the same as last year at $1.54/$100 of assessment • Area rates remain the same • CPI increases by 3.8% • The operating budget is $22,164,191.00, including capital expenditures • An increase in assessment value will cre- ate an additional $450,000 in revenue • An increase in the amount we owe to the Province will use 76% of our additional revenue where the cash goes...So you’ve seen where the money comes from, now we’ll show you where it goes. Below are several graphs that show the larger categories of expenditures, including how the operating revenue is spent. At the very bottom is a list of this year’s expected capital projects. Money for capital projects comes from a variety of sources: grants from provincial or federal governments (eg. Gas Tax); Reserves (savings account); or Operating (if the project is not overly expensive). Mandated Contributions is, by far, the largest operating ex- pense we have. These are payments to the Province for educa- tion, policing and corrective services, regional housing, librar- ies, and assessments. Every Municipality must pay these. Departmental Services includes Building/Fire Inspection, Planning, Recreation, Financial, Public Works, and Corporate. These services include salaries, administrative costs (phones, fax, copiers, printing, computers, stationery, power, etc.), the Town Crier, professional services required (auditing, surveying, engineering, etc.), and taxation services (bills, processing pay- ments, tax certificates, etc.). Services Partners, such as the Regional Development Agency and Bluenose Coast, are partly funded by the Municipality. The money we give them is used to strengthen our communities. Grants to Organization include all grants that we provide to non-profit community groups, barring special circumstances. Council and Committees expenses include salaries, administra- tive expenses (phone, fax, copies, stationery, computers, etc.), remuneration to community representatives for attending meetings, election costs, etc. Public Properties expenses include money spent for maintain- ing wharves, boat launches, sidewalks, municipal roads, and all other properties owned by the Municipality. Protective Services include expenses incurred with legal fees, by-law enforcement, animal control, and emergency measures. Area Rates are used for services or infrastructure costs related to specific areas. Area rate money is only used for a specific service/infrastructure cost and cannot be used for anything else. Area rates for Fire Services is given directly to the “Commission” representing your district. They, in turn, use that money to fund the respective fire departments among other things. Other area rates (as listed on the left) include waste collection and disposal, streetlights, main- taining private roads, the operation of central sewer systems (there are six altogether), and the fire hydrants in Mill Cove. Because of partnerships and the ability to operate efficiently, Kaizer Meadow Environmental Man- agement Centre covers almost 100% of their own expenses - and still manages to be a landfill with some of the lowest tipping fees in Nova Scotia. The expenses to the left are the operating costs for the Municipality of Chester only. We have ad- ditional costs, but they are incurred by and paid for by our partners; who are Valley Waste, the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre, and the Town of Lunenburg. PLANNED CAPITAL PROJECTS Considering Council has approved a balanced budget, maintained the current tax rate, and kept area rates the same, there are some pretty im- pressive projects in the works. • Upgrading Chester Connection Trail, including some surfacing and replacing a culvert; • Installing more bike racks; • Establish “Park Once” lots in the Village, en- couraging pedestrian traffic in the area; • Developing a Climate Change Action Plan; • Improving the road at Kaizer Meadow; • Building a new pad for construction waste; • Building an additional tower for expelling treated water at Kaizer Meadow; • Constructing our COMFIT wind turbine site; • Repairing and replacing sewer manholes; • Upgrades to all sewer plants; • Decommissioning the Mill Cove Water Plant; • Repairing the Chester Basin Wharf; • Installing a crossing for the visually-impaired in Hubbards; • Sidewalks in Chester (plan for a Walker Cut- Victoria Street connector and extending the existing sidewalk on Duke Street), Chester Ba- sin and Mill Cove; and • Equipment and vehicle upgrades. Fire Services, $1,589,900.00 Private Road Maintenance, $72,369.00 Streetlights, $139,038.00 Sewer Services, $644,157.00 Solid Waste Disposal/Collection, $1,312,596.00 Expenditures from Area Rate Revenue Council and Committees, $213,510.00 Corporate Services (Administration), $603,305.00 Financial Services, $343,827.00 Public Properties (wharves, sidewalks, roads), $452,805.00 Public Works Services, $207,830.00 Protective Services - Municipal, $255,981.00 Mandated Contributions to Provincial Services, $6,067,114.00 Building/Fire Inspection, $271,125.00 Planning Services, $417,109.00 Other Service Partners, $138,228.00 Recreation Services, $521,581.00 Grants to Organizations, $150,000.00 General Expenses from Operating Revenue Solid Waste Collection, $1,255,922.00 Recycling, $86,458.00 Landfill Operations, $41,927.00 Eco-Park, $27,500.00 Landfill Operating Expenses PROPERTY SERVICES 6The Municipality is a great resource for information. Call us if you don’t know who else to call...we might have an answer for you. AND THE AWARD GOES TO... Our own Dave Brettell was named the “Don Shea Of- ficer of the Year” by ABOA (Atlantic ByLaw Officers As- sociation) last month. At their annual conference, Dave was pleasantly surprised by the honour, which was given for his work in designing the Association’s certifi- cation program. The certification program is for Atlantic Canada, and af- ter a Private Member’s Bill passes in Legislature, it will be law to have municipal officials certified. One thing has become apparent over the years: cer- tain types of complaints follow the seasons very closely. During the fall and winter, there seems to be a steady trickle of complaints about noise, animal control issues and illegal dumps. The melting snows of spring uncover a multitude of sins, so complaints about illegal dumps in- crease dramatically. However, it’s in late spring and into the summer, when the grass once again turns from a dry brown to a lustrous green, when the flowers and blos- soms begin to bloom and when we all like to get out and enjoy the all too brief summer weather that certain types of complaints skyrocket and I am at my busiest. Obviously, summer weather brings an increase in the number of complaints about noise and animal control is- sues, but it’s complaints about the contentious topic of unsightly premises that skyrocket. So what exactly are unsightly premises? Let me start by saying that this type of complaint can be a minefield. We all have our own standards and values, and we all differ from one another in this respect. One person may think that Grandpa’s rusting 1950’s International truck is a thing of beauty, whilst the next may think it’s just a pile of junk. Old Aunt Matilda loves that shade of pink she painted her window frames, but to her new neighbours it’s a vile abomination! Also, can you just imagine having a Municipal official drop by to tell you that your home does not meet someone else’s perceived standards? When I do receive a complaint, how do I judge what is and what is not unsightly? The first thing I do is look at the property in context with others in the area to see how it compares with its neighbours. Next, I determine if the unsightly condition is visible from the public highway. Finally, I look at what it is that constitutes ‘unsightly’. Let me give you some examples. If you store junk, garbage, scrap metal, construction and demolition waste or old electronics or appliances in your yard, in full view of your neighbours, there is a good chance that it will be considered unsightly. If, on the other hand, you have a couple of rusting classics in your back- yard, away from prying eyes, then that may not be con- sidered unsightly. A derelict building on an overgrown lot in the middle of a picture perfect subdivision may very well be classed as unsightly. The same property located out there in the boonies may not be. Your family has occupied the same house for genera- tions. It’s possibly a dilapidated, rambling old place, but you love it, and most of all, it’s home. And right now you just cannot afford to fix it up. There have never been any issues until that new house was constructed on the neighbouring lot, and now, your new neighbour has com- plained. They seem to think your ancestral castle is a shack! As you can see, beauty really is in the eye of the be- holder when it comes to determining if a property is classed as unsightly. To compound the issue, legislation is no real help either. The definition of unsightly gives a few examples, but it is very broad and mainly relies on the interpretation of the administrator when deciding if a property is unsightly or not. While this places a burden on the Municipality in this respect, it can sometimes be an advantage. It may surprise you to hear that some people choose to use an unsightly complaint as a way of continu- ing a neighbour dispute or feud. More often than not, as I am impartial, I can usually bring a level head to such situations, see them for what they really are, and prevent them escalating further. So how do I handle unsightly complaints? Once a prop- erty has been determined to be unsightly, a process that sometimes involves input from more than one person, I will visit with the property owner to discuss the issue and work on a plan of action to remedy the situation. This can often be as simple as moving items out of view or clearing away some junk. In more complex cases this may involve a major cleanup or disposing of derelict vehicles, something that the Municipality can do for you free of charge as part of our Derelict Vehicle Program. I usually re-inspect the property after 30 days and as long as I see progress, I will give a further 30-day extension. If the problem is resolved I will take no further action. It is only in the very rare cases where the unsightly conditions persist that I may have no alternative other than to consider other courses of action. In the very worst cases this can result in the Municipality employing a con- tractor to carry out a cleanup, the cost of which will be recovered from the property owner. The issue may also result in a fine, or even court proceedings. However, I am happy to say that this almost never happens. If you would like to find out more about what is, or is not, unsightly premises or about the Municipality’s Der- elict Vehicle Program, please get in touch with me. If you have questions about…call this Department at...this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 277-0017 Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection Dept 275-3080 By-Laws By-Law Enforcement Officer 277-1589 Composting Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330 Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 275-3554 Derelict Vehicle Program Public Works Department 275-1312 Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection Dept 275-3080 Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312 After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490 Planning Areas Planning Department 275-2599 Public Works (Municipal)Public Works Department 275-1312 Recycling Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330 Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554 Waste Collection Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330 Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312 Zoning Planning Department 275-2599 Other ways to contact us: fax mail email 902-275-4771 151 King Street administration@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreation@chester.ca Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca Municipal Councillors and Contact Information District Councillor/Address Phone # #1 Marshal Hector 228-2881 R R 1, Hubbards NS B0J 1T0 #2 Floyd Shatford 857-9817 R R 2, Hubbards NS B0J 1T0 #3 Brad Armstrong 275-3121 P O Box 196, Chester NS B0J 1J0 #4 Allen Webber 275-2536 P O Box 54, Chester Basin NS B0J 1K0 #5 Robert Myra 627-2470 P O Box 126, Western Shore NS B0J 3M0 #6 Cheryl Scott 689-2535 P O Box 1, New Ross NS B0J 2M0 #7 Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281 R R 2, Chester NS B0J 1J0 Provincial Contacts Department of Environment.........................................................543-4685 Labour ..................................................................543-0665 Natural Resources ................................................634-7555 Public Health ........................................................543-0850 Transportation (Bridgewater) ...............................543-8169 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)..........................275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ................................1-877-740-3378 ...............................................................................857-3378 MP Gerald Keddy ...................................................1-888-816-4446 ...............................................................................527-5655 Beauty is inthe Eye of theBeholder Dave Brettell, By-Law Enforcement Officer The honour is awarded to outstanding By-Law Officers whose contributions to ABOA are invaluable. It was named after Don Shea, past municipal employee with the former City of Dartmouth and HRM. Don passed away in 2005. Dave was also voted in as the Director in charge of cer- tificatin with ABOA for the next two years. CONGRATULATIONS, DAVE! The Municipality is now on twitter. Follow us @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks. Or, “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ ChesterMunicipality PROPERTY SERVICES 7the 2012 Waste Collection Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop into the Municipal Office to pick one up When I arrive, do I need to go to the Scale House? Yes. The Scale House Operator will weigh your ve- hicle on the way in and on the way out. This is so we know how much waste you have. You will be asked for a name and mailing address, and the civic address from where the waste was generated, if different than the mailing address, and what kind of waste you are dropping off. Will I be charged for dropping waste off at the site? All residents of the Municipality of Chester dispos- ing of waste from their own residence are allowed the first 1500 lbs (680 kg) for free each trip. For ex- ample, if you make three trips to the site in one day, and you do not exceed 1500 lbs each time, it’s free. Will I be charged if I am a contractor? Yes. All contractors pay disposal fees depending on the type of waste. My garbage was rejected at the curb. Can I bring it to the Landfill? Not right away; first, read your sticker to find out why your waste was rejected. If it was because you had your garbage in black bags, you need to put it in clear bags. The same clear bag rules that apply at the curb also apply at the Landfill. If your waste was re- jected because it was not properly sorted, you must re-sort the waste and then put it in clear bags. Then you can bring your waste to the Landfill. I have some old motor oil, paint and cleaners that I have to dispose of. Can I bring those to the Landfill? Yes. These types of products are known as House- hold Hazardous Waste (HHW). We have a designat- ed drop-off site for this type of waste. The site is for residential use only. Please notify the Scale House Operator that you have HHW and you will be direct- ed to the right location. Please be sure to have your waste in containers that are clearly labeled. I have a truckload of garbage, wood and shingles. Can I empty this into one bin? No. There are bins for metal, wood, garbage and shingles. You will be asked to sort your waste at the Public Drop Off Area. I have extra bags of recyclables, cardboard and pa- per. Can I bring them to the site? Yes. We take recyclables, paper and cardboard. Please be sure that your recyclables and recyclable paper is bagged and clean. The next special collection is July 16 to 27 on your regular collection day. Your special collection items cannot exceed 50 lbs in weight, 4’ in length (except for furni-ture) and 46 cubic feet in vol-ume, which is the equivalent of 12 full bags of garbage. If you exceed these limits, your items will be rejected. Special collection items can be placed at the curb 24 hours pri-or to your collection day. We will not collect tires, hazard-ous waste, electronics, or leaves in non-biodegradable bags. Call 275-2330 if you would like clari-fication on waste items. Dropping Waste off at Kaizer Meadow To apply for a Demolition Permit, con- tact the Community Development Department (Building Office) at (902) 275-3080. Drop in or download an ap- plication at www.chester.ca. They will be happy to help you complete it. If you know or suspect the structure is connected to the central sewer sys- tem, you need a Sewer Disconnection Permit. Call the Public Works Depart- ment at (902) 275-1312 or drop in to our office. We also need to inspect after the demolition to make sure the sewer is capped off properly. DEMOLITION when you need a permit and what to do 1. 2. 3.Demolition waste goes to Kaizer Meadow Environmental Manage- ment Centre. It needs to be sorted into these categories: • shingles • clean wood • dirty wood (painted, varnished, coated) • everything else (windows, wiring, insula- tion, ty-vec) • drywall Let the Scale House Operator know what you have brought, and he will direct you. Call (902) 275-2330 for more information. If you have to demolish an old house or tear down a garage, make sure you have the proper pa- perwork and know the procedure. Depending on the circumstances, you might need to contact more than one municipal department. Below is a step-by-step you can follow. OUR BAD... Last issue, we highlighted Councillor Robert Myra, District #5. In the short biographical section, we reported that he has two grandchildren. What we should have said is he has FOUR grandchildren. We apologize for the mistake. This month, Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Depart- ment (CBVFD) proudly celebrates 30 years of pro- tecting the citizens and visitors of Chester Basin (Dis- trict #4) and its neighbouring communities. With over 30 professional volunteers, they provide emergency services for fire, medical first response, motor vehicle collisions, ice/water rescue, and many other calls for assistance. They have a very broad re- sponsibility for the overall safety of the community. In the 1960’s, fire and emergency response in Ches- ter Basin was originally provided by trucks and equipment on loan from the Department of Civil De- fense. Later in the 1970’s, the community contracted response services from other neighbouring depart- ments, including Western Shore and Chester. There was a need, however, to improve the overall services to the local community. In 1981, a group of volunteers began training as a new emergency response team. After a lot of hard work, it was time to expand the group and create a formal organization. Following a local community election to raise a fire tax, on June 1, 1982, the Ches- ter Basin Volunteer Fire Department was formed and started serving and protecting their community. There were 27 original charter members of the De- partment: Dean Fitch, Chris Mader, Bill Falkenham, Richard Eldridge, Len Stevens, Peter Fitch, Jim Eisnor, Garnet Rafuse, Don Rafuse, Craig Rafuse, Vaughn Russell, Art Backman, Cliff McKinnon, Bill Morrow, Mervin Webber, Art Stevens, Russell Walker, Richard Countway, R. David Stevens, Gordon DeLong, Carl Clinton, Roy Zwicker, John Hatt Sr., Randy Hatt, Gib Russell, Tom Hatt and Robert Hatt. The Department purchased their first tanker in 1982 from Nictaux Fire Department for the grand sum of $10,000. The truck was used for much of the re- quired training of the department’s original mem- bers and enabled the local emergency response crew to respond quickly. The same year, the CBVFD also purchased an emergency response van to assist Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department30 YEARSof SERVICE firefighters in their response to local emergencies. Their first fire call was on June 9th, 1982. With new apparatus and a working crew of volun- teer firefighters, the young Department needed a place from which to operate. Very quickly, on Sep- tember 18, 1982, the Department hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new station which was at- tached to the back of Chester Basin Legion. Some of the current firefighters jokingly say they “took up squatters rights”. However, this first station soon ran out of operating space and the Department started construction in 1984 on a new hall located on High- way 3 where, in fact, they are still situated today. The Department’s first major response was in 1983: a major fire at the Petro Canada Service Station. In the 1990’s the volunteer firefight- ers worked to control major fires at Corkum’s Bucket Factory and Robert Hatt’s mill. Later in the ear- ly 2000’s, the Department fought a large fire at Wayne Millett‘s log mill. The volunteer crews worked very hard, with the aid of the neighboring departments via mu- tual aid, to control these emergency incidents. As the community and its needs continued to grow, the CBVFD needed to replace their equipment and add updated technology to address new community risks. Today, it has a very capable fleet of modern fire fighting apparatus consisting of three pumper/tank- ers and a fully equipped rescue unit. Volunteers work very hard to provide these services to District 4. They are proud of the community, its citizens and the important role they play in protect- ing and preserving a safe way of life. The department membership, in liaison with the Fire Protection Com- mission for District #4, is fully dedicated to protect- ing and preserving the quality of life, property and environment through education, leadership, and effective emergency response. This volunteer ser- vice is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the community. Currently, the Department has 33 active members, including five original charter members: Richard El- dridge, Gordon DeLong, Jim Eisnor, Bill Falkenham and Craig Rafuse. As well, Wendy Rafuse was a char- ter member of the Firettes, the department auxil- iary, which held its first meeting in May 1982. She started responding to medical calls and MVA’s with the department in 1988 and became a regular mem- ber in January 1995, at which time she became the department secretary and remains so today. Safety comes first to members, and ongoing training helps the Department ensure that its firefighters are well prepared and in a constant state of readiness to deal with any emergency in the community. Over the next few years, the Department and Com- mission recognize they will face new and challenging issues. The technology for responding to these new risks continues to advance, and through active train- ing programs, they are committed to upholding the most recent standards in emergency response. The Department members would be proud to show you the apparatus and equipment required to respond to these emergencies. Perhaps you may even be interested in providing some of your valuable time in helping out these dedicated vol- unteers. They always welcome the assistance. Information on the Chester Basin Vol- unteer Fire Department is found on the fire services web site at www.chesterfire.ca It is with great pleasure that the Municipality of the District of Chester recognizes and extends congratu- lations to all members of the Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department. Your commitment and long stand- ing service to the community is commendable and much appreciated. The Municipality showed their appreciation at the Fire Department’s Annual Ban- quet at the end of May as seen in the photograph below showing Warden Allen Webber (left), Chief Doug Rines (centre), and Bruce Blackwood, Fire Ser- vices Coordinator for the Municipality of Chester. To contact us about this newsletter... call: 902-275-3554 ext. 1202 email: communications@chester.ca by letter: Municipality of Chester c/o municipal insight 151 King Street P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 We are always looking for input for the website and this newsletter. If you have pho- tographs, suggestions, or comments on an article you saw, please write, call, or email. Please follow us or message us on Twitter @ chestermun or like us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/chestermunicipality. This photo was taken on the shores of one of the beau- tiful islands off of the Municipality. If you have a photo to share, please email it to us at communications@ chester.ca Claim your Turf! Saturday, August 18 CHESTER SKATE PARK Warm up at noon Competition starts at 2 pm Prizes, Music, BBQ All ages welcome Rain date Sunday, August 19 Funds raised support P.R.O. Kids Hosted by Homegrown Skateboards PROPRO