HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012-08_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedLand Donation
Recognized by
Municipality
On July 16, a ceremony was held commemorating a tremendous contribution made by the three sisters
seen above. The Municipality is currently purchasing the parcels of land that make up Wild Rose Park in
Western Shore so the Park will remain available for public use. Instead of selling, Joan De Lorey, Frances
Sawler, and Joy Van Norden (left to right) donated their land to the Municipality.
The generous act of kindness was honoured with a plaque that will be mounted at Wild Rose Park later
this month. The ceremony was held at the ladies’ residence, Drumlin Hills in Bridgewater. Presenting the
plaque was Councillor Robert Myra (on the left) and Warden Allen Webber (on the right).
municipal insight
“Keeping informed about August 2012
your municipal government”
If you’re driving along Highway 329, you can’t
help but notice the Hubbards Sailing Club. Other
than being one of the most recent additions to
the shoreline, it’s also one of the most unique
structures in our Municipality.
Early last year, the Hubbards Sailing Club ap-
proached Chester Municipal Council with a grant
request for $25,000 to build their new club-
house and develop a lineup of youth programs.
Their total expected cost was $1.2 million. They
kicked off their fundraising campaign on January
1, 2011 and had already secured close to one
quarter of their funding by January 20.
Council approved the $25,000 grant at the
end of March in 2011. The funds were used for
capital expenses, including furniture and new
boats for the Junior Sailing program.
To celebrate their success and kick off the sea-
son, the Club held their Official Opening on July
7. And, despite the sometimes rainy weather,
there was an impressive turnout. Deputy War-
den Shatford, Councillor for the District, said a
few words expressing both his personal support
and the support of Council.
Seven programs are offered for youth ranging
from ages 5 to 18 years, and dinghy races are
held every Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00
p.m. Friday nights are social nights and the facil-
ity is available for private functions as well.
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this summer...
Municipal Grant Recipients Diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend! Come one, come all...
Who received grants this Three local “gems” were We are consulting the public
year and what are their recognized for their selflessness about the wind-to-energy
plans for the money? (pg. 7) More info on pg. 4. project at Kaizer Meadow (pg. 2)
Sami Whidden (left) and James Marchand (right) obviously enjoy the Opti Program (top). The bottom left photo is the outside of
the Hubbards Sailing Club, and the bottom right photo is Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford speaking at the Club’s Official Opening.
Also in this issue:
HAVE THEY GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!
A Valley-based company is looking
to lease land to grow and harvest
biofuel. (pg. 5)
MUNICIPAL ELECTION ANYONE?
Where are we on the timeline?
Find out on page 3.
CLAIM YOUR TURF AT THE SK8 PARK
Up for a little competition? Get
the deets on page 8.
Hey,
sailor...
The Hubbards Sailing Club is
open for business!
To contact someone at the Hubbards Sailing
Club, you can call 857-9771. To see pictures
from the Official Opening as well as the 8 years
and over Opti Team Program, visit our website
at www.chester.ca and look in the Photo Gallery
(found under the Resources tab).
If you want more information about the other
community organizations that received Council
Grants, go to page 7. We will feature these re-
cipients in future editions of the newsletter to
share their stories. If you would like to share,
please email communications@chester.ca.
Photo by Adam Jacobs, Lighthouse Media Group
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Someone said that the only constant in life is
change. Looking back to my message in the Winter
edition of municipal insight, it seems to ring true.
Then, I spoke about the Bowater situation, the Re-
gional Development Authority (RDA), the shipbuild-
ing contract, and our economic outlook in a positive
sense. Well, we all know what happened to Bowater,
and the future role of the RDA, and a variety of oth-
er federally-funded initiatives are unclear. At least
“Ships Here” seems to be on track.
So, where is the positive in all this? Well, we are
affected - like all of Nova Scotia - by these events;
however, locally, we can have a positive impact on
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT:
behind every good legislation
is a good municipality...
It really isn’t any wonder why the line between pro-
vincial and municipal government is so blurry. We fre-
quently work together on certain programs, over half
of the taxes we collect are used for provincial services,
and we uphold a number of provincial regulations.
Municipalities are also required to follow the Mu-
nicipal Government Act (MGA), which is a set of rules
legislated by the Province that we must operate under.
Like any other law, it’s extensive and outlines what we
are responsible for. Essentially, the provincial govern-
ment is our “boss”.
Joint Initiatives between the Province and the Mu-
nicipality of the District of Chester include,
• Regional Development Authority;
• Active living;
• Community schools; and
• Many smaller, less formal interactions.
Over 60% of the property taxes we collect help pay
for provincial programs, including
• Education;
• Policing and Corrective Services;
• Regional Housing;
• Libraries; and
• Assessment Services.
In addtion, the Municipality also contributes to the
cost of plowing some provincial roads; although, we
do not have control over the actual operations.
Besides the MGA, other Provincial legislation is a
reason for many of the services we offer to residents.
For example...
The Environment Act prohibits the disposal of cer-
tain materals in the landfill. Since landfills are munici-
pal jurisdiction (according to the Act), we are respon-
sible for developing programs to keep those materials
out. We developed (and enforce) a recycling program,
a composting program, and a construction materials
reclamation program.
We must also make sure that our residents achieve
the solid waste goals under the Environmental Goals
& Sustainable Prosperity Act.
One of our responsibilities under the MGA is to en-
force the Dangerous & Unsightly Premises Act, which
is provincial legislation.
Other pieces of legislation that municipalities are
obliged to support include:
• Fire Safety Act
• Freedom of Information & Protection of Pri-
vacy Act
• Heritage Property Act
• Trails Act
• Wharves and Public Landings Act
• all regulations associated with the above Acts.
There are also a number of Acts specifically related
to how municipalities operate. We are required to
adhere to them.
It isn’t easy remembering which government does
what...call us anyway and we’ll steer you in the right
direction.
our own community if we remain resourceful, open
to investment by others and in ourselves, maintain
the ability to take advantage of opportunity, and
continue to work together.
The Municipality has a number of capital projects
this fiscal period, which will aid in creating economic
activity. The South Canoe Wind Farm has passed
two significant hurdles: environmental approval and
winning the contract to provide Nova Scotians with
102 megawatts of renewable energy. The last hurdle
is that they must apply for - and be granted - a de-
velopment agreement with the Municipality to pro-
ceed with the $250 million investment (plus related
benefits) in our community.
There are a number of public and private sector
projects that I hope to share with you over the next
month or so, and I believe they will help give you the
confidence that we are up to the challenge.
Our tax rate remains the second lowest in Nova
Scotia, and residential and commercial building ac-
tivity is consistent with other years. Sustainable de-
velopment is a challenge, no doubt, but we are in it
together.
On another front, By-Law and Policy development
continue to be of significant public interest, and we
hope the changes to our review process are meeting
your needs. To further enhance public confidence,
we have engaged an independent third party to
review the procedures staff use to implement the
Land-Use By-Law. The intent is to identify and ad-
dress concerns and improve the information flow
both internally and to the public where necessary.
municipal insight attempts to keep you well in-
formed about your local government. If there are
any topics you would like to address, just let us
know and we’ll do our best. Enjoy the summer.
Warden Allen Webber
2The Warden is on Facebook! Look him up at at www.facebook.com/allen.webber.10
YOUR
COUNCILLOR...
Brad Armstrong has lived in Chester his entire life, and has been em-
ployed at Interhabs Limited in Hubbards since 1980.
In 2001, Brad formed the Kaizer Meadow Brook Preservation Group
in an effort to protect the forest around Kaizer Meadow and Bog Lake
area. Since 2003, Brad and a group of citizens have managed Card
Lake Park. In 2004, Brad was asked to become Conservation Director
for the Friends of Nature Conservation Society.
Brad is also an original member of the Chester Municipal Heritage So-
ciety, and has spent many hours restoring the wetland at Lordly Park,
which is adjacent to the Lordly House, a heritage property in Chester.
You can reach Brad by calling him at home at (902) 275-3121 or writ-
ing him at P O Box 196, Chester, NS B0J 1J0. His email address is
barmstrong@chester.ca
Allen Webber, lifelong resident of the South Shore, was first elected
as Councillor in 1982, making him the Municipality of the District of
Chester’s youngest Councillor. During his thirty-year career in munici-
pal government so far, Allen has served as Warden for the Municipal-
ity for the last 18.
Allen has lived in Chester Basin his whole life and has been involved
in many community organizations over the years. He is a member of
the Grey Grant Society and Royal Canadian Legion, Everett Branch
#88, Chester Basin.
Please feel free to contact Allen by calling 275-2536 or writing him at
P O Box 54, Chester Basin, NS B0J 1K0. He is often in the office or,
send him an email at awebber@chester.ca
EXPOSED!
Public Consultation
and Open House
The Municipality is preparing for
the installation of the wind turbine
at the Kaizer Meadow site and in-
vites the public to join them for an
informal Open House at the Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Manage-
ment Centre on Tuesday, August
21 at 1:00 p.m. Ask questions, view
the site, and chat one-on-one with
representatives from Council and
Minas Basin Pulp and Power.
Then, on the following Thursday (August 23), Council will host a spe-
cial session at 9:00 a.m. when Minas Basin Pulp and Power will give
a formal presentation about the wind-to-energy project followed by
a question and answer period. If you want to learn more about this
project, but cannot attend either of these dates, please contact your
Councillor or the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554.
July 2012
MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2012
3Everything we have online is at the Municipal Office. Call or drop in for paper copies.
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September
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The Municipality receives the voter list from Elec-
tions Nova Scota.
End of July 2012
We send letters to voters confirming names and
addresses.
August 13 to 24, 2012
If the information on your letter from us is incor-
rect, you have between August 13 and 24 to correct
it. This is called the “revision period”. Contact the
Municipality with your correct information. You can
call us at (902) 275-3631, fax us at (902) 275-4771,
email us at election@chester.ca, or drop into our
office at 151 King Street in Chester.Late August 2012
After the “revision period”, corrections are made
and the final voters list is prepared.September 11, 2012
September 11, 2012 is “nomination day”. This
means that all election nominations must be sub-
mitted by 5:00 p.m. You can bring in a submission as
early as 9:00 a.m. Or, make an appointment to file
your nomination form between September 4 and
10 during business hours.
October 10 to 18, 2012
Advanced Polling begins October 10 at 8:00 a.m.
and ends October 18 at 7:00 p.m.
You can vote via internet or special, toll-free tele-
phone number. You will need the PIN you received
in the letter we sent you at the end of July.
October 20, 2012
If you prefer voting by paper ballot, go to your
designated Polling Station on October 20 because...
It’s Election Day!!
Municipal units across Canada are turning to
electronic voting in an effort to increase voter
turnout as well as engage the “next generation”
of constituents. The Municipality of the District
of Chester is now joining those ranks as well.
After a historical trend in declining voter par-
ticipation, Council has been discussing strate-
gies to raise awareness and improve numbers.
Electronic, or “e-voting”, was the result.
Electronic voting is when you have the option
to vote online through a secure internet site or
telephone. Both methods require a Personal
Identification Number (PIN) provided to you
prior to the Advanced Poll.
If you are eligible to vote in the Municipal
Election, but did not receive your secure PIN in
the mail in September, please call the Municipal
Office. Or, if you receive your PIN, but the other
information is incorrect, you need to contact us
ELECTRONIC VOTING
Voting couldn’t be easier.
using any of these methods:
phone (902) 275-3631
fax (902) 275-4771
email election@chester.ca
mail P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0
visit 151 King Street, Chester
Voting Options
1. Vote online or by telephone
during Advanced Polling days.
Using your PIN, cast your vote
at our secure Internet site or
by calling our toll-free number.
Look for our letter in your mail-
box in September.
2. Cast your paper ballot at a
Polling Station on Election Day.
Visit your Polling Station on Oc-
tober 20 and vote using paper
ballot. There will be NO elec-
tronic voting on October 20.Residents can use the Internet or telephone to
cast their vote this Fall in the Advanced Poll.
Catch the Municipality online...
Scan the QR code on the left to get up-to-date Municipal infor-
mation at at www.chester.ca. Or, you can follow us on Twitter
@chestermun or @ChesterRecParks.
Or, “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.
com/ChesterMunicipality.
August 27, 2012
Information Session will be held today for people
who may be interested in becoming a Councillor.
Learn about meetings, responsibilities, salary, etc.
Please register by calling 275-3631 by August 22.
Latter part of September 2012
Prior to the Advanced Poll, you will receive anoth-
er voter letter confirming your Polling Station, how
you can vote (including PIN) and list of candidates.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
4Email communications@chester.ca to submit comments or questions related to the newsletter
If you’re in the Village, take a look at Adam Connolly’s
latest work in progress: the tree outside the Chester Post
Office. Sadly, the old elm tree was cut down, and an in-
teresting-shaped stump remained.
Adam didn’t see just an interesting stump though; he
saw a magestic whale, breaching the surface of a boun-
tiful sea, and a sleek dophin cutting through the water.
The remainder of his vision will unfold over the coming
weeks, and the result will be a beatiful “eco-sculpture”,
permanently rooted for our enjoyment.
In 2006, Adam began the “Second Life for Trees” pro-
gram. It’s his vision for giving historical trees another
purpose, and you can find samples of his work on his
website. He is renowned for creating beautiful art from
trees just like this one, and his art can be found in private
collections around the world.
Although he is donating his time and talent for this
project, he encourages people to contribute to the Mu-
nicipality of Chester PRO Kids Program. You can contact
Cosette Howlett, PRO Kids Coordinator, at (902) 275-
3490 to donate or for information.
In the photo on the left, Adam and Cosette stand in
front of the tree before work begins. On the top right, a
dolphin emerges at the base and Adam assesses the oth-
er side before continuing. On the bottom right, a whale
is beginning to take shape.
Watch our website over the coming weeks to see Ad-
am’s progress, or stop by the Post Office and see it in
person - Adam will likely be there.
Tuesday, Aug. 7 to
Saturday, Aug. 11
“Hockey Mom,
Hockey Dad”Chester Playhouse. Call 275-3933.
Saturday, Aug. 11
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30 am.
The Life of Riley Will play at Chester Legion, 9 pm. $8.
Member & guests 19yrs and over.
Outdoor Movie
Night
“The Lorax” at Lordly Park, Chester, 8:30
pm. Free will for Chester PRO Kids.
Sunday, Aug. 12
and Sept. 30 Humans vs Zombies Aug. 12 in Hubbards and Sept. 30 in
New Ross. Call Recreation at 275-3490.
Sunday, Aug. 12 Summer Concert
Series
The Mahone Bay Swing Band will play
at Chester Bandstand at 7:00 pm. Call
634-4435 for info.
Tuesday, Aug. 14
Seniors’ Old Fash-
ioned Picnic
Hubbards Barn, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Reservations: 275-3490 or 857-1133.
Summer Concert
Series
Chester Brass Band will play at Chester
Bandstand, 7:00 pm. Call 634-4435.
Tues., Aug. 21 to
Saturday, Aug. 25 “The Bookshop”Chester Playhouse. Call 275-3933.
Saturday, Aug. 25 Annual House &
Harbour Tour Chester VIC (Old Train Station), 10 am.
Saturday, Aug. 25 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30 am
Sunday, Aug. 26 Summer Concert
Series
Tuesday Night Show Band will play at
Chester Bandstand, 7:00 pm. 634-4435.
Friday, Aug. 31 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00 pm to 1:00 am.
Members & guests 19yrs and over.
Saturday, Sept. 8 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30 am
Tuesday, Sept. 18 Taoist Tai Chi Begin-
ner Class
FREE intro at St. Stephen’s Church,
Chester. 12-week class begins Sept. 25.
Call 275-3249.
Saturday, Oct. 13 Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, Bland-
ford, 9:00-11:00 am.
Every Wednesday Gospel Jam Aenon United Baptist Church, Chester
Basin until August 22, 7-9 pm.
Daily until
September 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.
Please send your event to recreation@chester.ca or call (902) 275-3490 to
have it included in the Progress Bulletin and this newsletter.
Three of the Municipality’s own “diamonds”
had an opportunity to shine when they were re-
cently honoured by Premier Darrell Dexter with
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals.
Agnes Clinton of Chester Basin, Geri Allen of
Chester, and Janice Rafuse of East Chester all
received recognition for their outstanding work
for the community. Agnes was given her med-
Deserving Residents
Receive Medals
al for her continued ministry work and music.
Recipient Geri Allen was acknowledged for her
fundraising efforts and her work at Shoreham
Village (Chester). Janice Rafuse’s volunteering
with crime prevention and the East Chester Rec-
reation Association as well as being a foster par-
ent earned her a medal.
Only 60,000 medals are awarded throughout
the year in Canada in a variety of categories.
Congratulations Agnes, Geri and Janice!
OLD TREE,
NEW LIFE
Staff developments at the
Municipality of Chester
Lyle Russell, our Junior Engineer since 2010,
is now a full-fledged Professional Engineer,
achieving this status on June 20. Congratula-
tions, Lyle.
Rose Holden is our new Administrative Assistant
in the Community Development Department.
She replaced Dianne Cook, who retired in June.
Also in Community Development, long-time Di-
rector Geoff MacDonald will take on a different
role at the Landfill later this month. His replace-
ment is Tara Maguire, currently the Senior Plan-
ner. A new Senior Planner will begin soon.
Dan Pittman began his two-year term position in
July. He is the Records Management and Qual-
ity Control Coordinator. More of what Dan does
will be featured soon.
5Check the last page for a list of municipal contacts as well as some common provincial ones.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
If you feel like you should call the RCMP to re-
port an incident or observation, then do it. They
always welcome information. A few suggestions:
When an offence is reported, a file is gener-
ated. You may not be the only caller, but you
might have different information, and the more
information the police have, the better chance
Leasing Opportunity
for Property Owners in
the Municipality of the
District of Chester
Pro Farm Energy Inc. in conjunction with
Minas Basin Pulp and Power is developing a
power plant in Hantsport to deliver electricity
to Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Pro Farm is seeking to lease underutilized ag-
riculture land (eg. hay ground) to grow a bio-
mass fuel called Miscanthus Giganteus to fuel
the power plant in Hantsport located near the
paper mill. The power plant will be fueled with
both wood and Miscanthus energy crops grown
on underutilized farm land.
Miscanthus is a perennial grass that grows
12 feet tall and is established once and is then
harvested annually in the spring. The crop uses
very little nutrient and does not require pesti-
cide use. Pro Farm will apply the required nu-
trient and lime to the land and then return the
lands, to land owners, in an equal or better state
then received. Pro Farm is offering land own-
ers three years advance lease payment this Fall
along with Nova Scotia Consumer Price Index
premiums annually beginning in Year Four.
The power plant is scheduled to go into ser-
vice in the fourth quarter of 2014. Miscanthus
energy crops will be planted starting in the
spring of 2013 and planting will continue in the
spring of 2014.
PFE is seeking to lease underutilized agricul-
ture lands within a 200km distance to Hantsport.
Land currently being utilized for hay or row
cropping and heavier in nature is preferred. PFE
is now offering lease pricing to land owners in-
terested in applying.
Lines are Open at the RCMP Station
The RCMP give a few tips so you get the most out of your call
CEO Pro Farm Energy Inc., Mike Appelton in a
Miscanthus crop in the spring 2012.
Interested land owners are invited to
one of three meetings for more
information.
August 7 from 7 to 9 pm at the Hants
Exhibition Arena in the O'Brien Build-
ing, 239 Wentworth Road, Windsor.
August 8 from 7 to 9 pm at St. Andrew's
United Church, 46 Main Street East,
Stewiacke.
August 9 from 7 to 9 pm. at the Fire De-
partment, 2931 Lawrencetown Road,
Lawrencetown.
Contact: (888) 252-9679 or
www.profarmenergy.com
for more details.
* All or a portion of this amount will added to the lease rate per acre after PFE conducts soil samples
** Early Offer bonus will be paid upon lease execution for applying to the RFP Application of the RFP
by August 31, 2012
they have to respond.
Try to be specific. For example, if you notice
that a certain vehicle (blue Mazda) speeds by at
a particular time (6:00 pm on Fridays), include
that in your report. And, call as soon as possible.
The more time that passes between the event
and the call, the harder it is to take action.
Violators will be contacted. Once the RCMP
know who is breaking the law, they will contact
them. In the case of driving violations, they may
also call the Registry of Motor Vehicles to have
offenders re-examined.
Calls are anonymous. The RCMP will not dis-
close your identity when approaching an of-
fender. You can also call anonymously, but by
leaving your name, you can be updated.
The Police will not visit your house if you
don’t want them to. The RCMP respect people’s
privacy and their concern over the potential of
becoming the target of the violators they are
reporting. If you prefer to NOT have the RCMP
visit, please let them know during your call.
Appearing in court is not entirely out of the
question. If criminal charges are laid, the infor-
mation you give is used as evidence in court and
you may be required to appear. For complaints
such as speeding or reckless driving, it’s not like-
ly a charge will be laid as a result of your call.
Call 911 for an offence in progress. Call the
RCMP Detachment in Chester at 275-3583 to
provide information about an offence that has
already happened and is not urgent.
Constable George Wootten of the RCMP,
Chester Detachment, answers a call.
OBJECT: This By-Law is in addition to, and is developed to support, the Build-
ing Code Act.
The Building By-Law outlines the application requirements needed for a
Building Permit, Demolition Permit, and an Occupancy Permit. Requirement
include: site and construction plans, copies of related permits (sewer, devel-
opment, etc.), description of work, estimated value, and contact information.
Building Permits are valid for 18 months and can be renewed in writing.
Permits for temporary buildings expire depending on the project, but can be
extended in writing.
A Permit for a portion of a project can be issued as well if there are time con-
straints. Obviously, only that part of the construction can be carried out until
the rest of the Permit is issued though.
The By-Law also describes the fee structure for permit applications and the
Building Inspector’s authority to inspect construction covered by the Permit.
BY-LAWS & POLICIES
6All of the Municipality’s By-Laws are online at www.chester.ca under the Resources/Document Library tab.
Building By-Law
PROPOSED CHANGES: The Province updated the Building Code, so the
By-Law will be updated accordingly. Also, the fee structure will be removed
from the By-Law and outlined in the Policy instead.
Council is reviewing the Municipality’s By-
Laws and Policies. Most of them only need a
little “refreshing” to bring them up to date, and
the changes are pretty routine. In other cases,
they are affected by amendments to Provincial
regulations (see the “Purchasing Policy” below),
and the changes are non-negotiable.
When we change or introduce by-laws, there is
a process that Council has to follow: First Read-
ing, Second Reading, and Adoption. Essentially,
“readings” are Council’s way of saying “going
once...going twice...sold!”. Each “reading” is an
opportunity for the public to make objections,
suggestions, or recommendations to Council
about the proposed by-law.
We are obligated to advertise “readings” in
the newspaper so that the public is “informed”.
However, the wording of the newspaper ad (if
it’s noticed) is almost as formal as the by-law
itself. And, once the by-law is amended, it’s
sometimes difficult to determine exactly what
was updated.
When Council amends policies, they give First
Notice, Second Notice, and then Approval. This
follows the same premise as by-laws but public
advertisement is not required.
Despite what advertising is and is not required,
Council agreed that the public needs more than
a token advertisement to be fully informed.
So, below are two policies and one by-law that
Council reviewed and is amending. They are all
minor updates and changes, but are outlined in
a way that hopefully makes sense.
If you have any comments, please contact the
Municipal Clerk, Pam Myra. You can reach her
on the phone at (902) 275-3554, by email at
pmyra@chester.ca or in person at the Municipal
Office, 151 King Street, Chester.
To view the Municipality’s by-laws and poli-
cies, visit our website at www.chester.ca
By-Law Basics
What’s coming up for by-law and policy changes for
the Municipality of Chester?
OBJECT: The Procurement Policy is designed to guide municipal staff when
purchasing services, materials, equipment, etc.
Much like the current policy, the proposed policy describes,
• accountability practices - (making sure opportunities are equal);
• who has purchasing authority;
• margin of preference given to local businesses;
• requirements for bid processes (requests for quotations, tenders, etc.);
• options for unsuccessful bidders;
• cooperative purchasing; and
• advertising requirements.
The proposed policy is completely based on the Province’s Public Procure-
ment Act, which all municipalities are required to follow. In fact, the Province
sent us a template to ensure that our policy is compliant under their Act.
Visit http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/pubprocm.htm to view the Act.
Procurement Policy
PROPOSED CHANGES: The existing Policy is completely reworded to match
the Provincial Public Procurement Act.
OBJECT: This policy outlines the criteria in which someone can apply for funding to attend a competition.
The criteria for an individual to receive funding is that they:
• must live in the Municipality of Chester;
• must be attending school;
• must have been selected to attend or have won their way to the competition for which they are applying (which must be sanctioned); and
• complete an application.
In addition to the criteria list, the Policy goes on to say that individuals with disabilities of any age are eligible and that funds will be distributed as widely as
possible.
School related trips/activities aren’t eligible.
Youth Sponsorship Policy
PROPOSED CHANGES: The only changes to the existing Policy is that a) the word “selected” will be defined to clarify eligibility, and b) the recipient should
be in school OR 21 years of age or under to qualify.
SAFETY NOTICE
WATER SAFETY
This summer has been hot and dry and being at the pool or the beach is a great way to beat the heat. We normally don’t think too much about
water safety — but really we should. For people between the ages of 5 and 24, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. Most
water-related accidents can be avoided by knowing how to stay safe and following a few simple guidelines.
• Learn to swim or wear an approved life jacket when near the water;
• Always swim with a partner, and swim in places that are supervised by a lifeguard;
• If swimming in open water, be prepared to handle these hazards: changing ocean currents, rip currents, storms, or other hidden dangers;
• Protect yourself by diving in known, safe areas. Diving injuries can cause permanent spinal cord damage, paralysis, and even death;
• Always watch children actively around water—even if they can swim;
• Backyard pools are dangerous for small children; ensure adequate barriers are in place;
• Sun reflecting off the water or sand can intensify the burning rays. Remember to reapply sunscreen frequently and cover up much of the time;
• Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, to prevent dehydration. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea can be signs of dehydration;
• If feel your body start to shiver or your muscles cramp up, get out of the water quickly;
• Alcohol and water never mix. Alcohol is involved in numerous water-related injuries and up to half of all water-related deaths;
• Learn more about water safety, such as how to prepare for an emergency and what to do if one should occur. The Red Cross and other agen-
cies offer courses in swimming skills and water safety.
PROPERTY SERVICES
7The 2012 Waste Collection Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop into the Municipal Office to pick one up
PAPER AND RECYCLABLES
ARE LIKE FLIP FLOPS
AND SNOW...
THEY DO NOT GO TOGETHER
PLEASE PUT YOUR PAPER
AND BOX BOARD IN A
SEPARATE BAG FROM YOUR
RECYCLABLES
(bottles, cans, plastic, etc.)
Your tax bill should arrive shortly in the mail.
A few things that you might not know that
could be useful to you are:
PAYMENT OPTIONS are listed on the reverse
side of your tax bill.
MUNICIPAL TAX EXEMPTIONS EXIST. If you
qualify, you better call us right away.
UPDATE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS with us if
it’s incorrect. Notify us of your complete mail-
ing address or of a change. Otherwise, your
bill will be returned to us.
MUNICIPAL GRANTS
Coming soon
to a mailbox
near you...
Call us at the
Tax Office
(902) 275-3554
As usual, the requests for grant money far ex-
ceeded the grant money available this budget
year. Council looked at several factors when
weighing the request this year:
a) how often a group applied for grants as op-
posed to the number of new applicants;
b) the financial status of the applicant;
c) the fair disbursement of funds between ar-
eas; and
d) the merits of the project.
After considering all of these variables, Council
approved the grants listed below. They with-
held a portion of the Grants Budget to disperse
throughout the year. So, if you missed this round
Grant Results 2012
of funding, please continue to apply. Application
forms and criteria are available at www.chester.
ca or by calling the Municipal Office at 275-3554.
In addition to Council’s Grant Program, the Rec-
reation & Parks Department also funds non-
profit, volunteer community groups in the Mu-
nicipality of Chester.
If you have a recreation program, activity or fa-
cility in the Municipality of Chester, if you are
looking for some grant funding and if your group
meets the grant criteria, complete our applica-
tion form and return to the Recreation Depart-
ment by Friday, October 5, 2012.
The Recreation Grant Program is designed to
help create and expand recreation programs,
activities and facilities within our Municipality.
Late applications will not be considered. Nor
will applicants who received funding from Coun-
cil Grants this fiscal year (April to March 31).
Groups must also guarantee community access
to their facilities, programs, and activities.
If your group does not fit the criteria, but you are
the only group in the area providing recreation-
related services, your application will be consid-
ered. Also, if your group isn’t incorporated, you
are eligible for a maximum of only $50.00.
A final report on how the money was spent is
required, along with copies of receipts, must be
submitted by March 31st.
For an application and criteria list, contact the
Recreation & Parks Department at 275-3490 or
visit our website.
Summary of Council grants disbursed so far this year:
Chester & Area Family Resource Centre $8,000.00
Construction debt repayment.
Chester Brass Band $500.00
Operational costs related to performances.
Chester Municipal Heritage Society $5,000.00
Repairs and upgrades to The Chester Train Station.
Chester Municipal Relay for Life $1,500.00
Cancer research.
Chester Playhouse $2,500.00
Summer Theatre Festival events/programs.
Chester Studio Singers $500.00
Three-day public concert.
Christmas Daddies $100.00
Annual donation used for local families.
District 1 Community Centre $5,000.00
Electrical upgrades to facility.
Gray Grant Society $1,400.00
Forestry study for preservation purposes.
HHELLPS $2,500.00
Children’s programming, building upgrades, staff
Hubbards Area Recreation Association $1,500.00
Facility maintenance.
Mun of Chester Transportation Society $6,000.00
Operational costs for Community Wheels.
New Ross Family Resource Centre $4,000.00
Operational costs (furnace oil).
Nova Scotia Nature Trust $200.00
Land preservation.
Lunenburg/Queens Volunteer Partnership $2,000.00
Regional programs to help volunteers.
Shoreham Village $600.00
Golf tournament sponsorship
South Shore cbdc (Climate Change Study) $1,500.00
Year Two of a three-year investment.
South Shore Community Justice $400.00
Lunenburg County Youth training programs.
South Shore Transition House $200.00
Update staff with current training.
Through the Years Community Daycare $5,000.00
Communication equipment for disabled children.
United Way of Lunenburg County $600.00
Council matches employee contributions.
Victorian Order of Nurses $1,500.00
Operating expenses for support programs.
TOURISM GRANTS:
Acadia First Nation $1,000.00
Blandford Heritage Days $500.00
Bluenose Coast $56,000.00
Chester Gingerbread Festival $1,000.00
Chester Merchants Association $500.00
Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce $21,500.00
Chester Yacht Club $2,000.00
Forties Community Centre $500.00
Hubbards Area Business Association $1,000.00
New Ross Regional Development Society $1,000.00
NS Int. Ferry Partnership $1,000.00
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.
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
The PAST, PRESENT
and FUTURE of
Freda’s Beach
Freda’s Beach is at the beginning of
the Peninsula in Chester. It’s a relax-
ing little corner with a great view of
the Front Harbour.
Because of its popularity, the Munici-
pality has invested some time into
maintenance and access to the well-
loved (and well-used) beach.
Last year, the ramp was replaced
thanks to a grant. This year, we im-
proved the landscape by cutting the
overgrown bushes and repaired the
steps at the first entrance.
In the future, we are hoping for a rock
wall, handrails, and asphalt pad.
For comments or questions, call the
Public Works Dept. at (902) 275-1312.
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 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 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 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 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
36 Beachview Lane, 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
This painted turtle was photographed at
Henry Lake, Chester Grant.