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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-02_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping you informed about February 2013 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... WHY IS THIS DOG SO HAPPY? CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS IS? WHAT IS THAT SOUND?! Our guess is because her Here’s a hint: It’s FUN, it’s Why it’s HERITAGE! What you owner cares about her FREE, and it’s in FEBRUARY! can do to keep heritage alive so much! (pg. 3) Confi rm your guess on pg. 4 in your community (pg. 5) Shown from left to right is a porti on of a sidewalk (Corn Hill, Chester Basin), Wild Rose Park (Western Shore), Western Shore Wharf, and Anvil Park (Chester Basin); all municipal assets for public use. MORE THAN TAXES AND MEETINGS From Hubbards to Marti ns River, many outdoor municipal faciliti es are accessed by residents and visitors every season. On Tuesday, January 15, the Atlanti c Can- ada Opportuniti es Agency (ACOA) an- nounced that the Municipality would receive $51,000 to upgrade parts of the Chester Con- necti on Trail and Aspotogan Trail. This money comes from the federal Com- munity Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) and will be put towards purchasing and applying crusher dust to the trail surface. In additi on to the federal support, the Mu- nicipality will also receive $16,000 from the Off - Highway Infrastructure Fund, which consists of provincial registrati on fees for off -road vehicles. The total of $67,000 will be combined with the Municipality’s investment of $65,000 for a total of $132,000 spent on resurfacing the parts of the trails that need it the most urgently. The federal fund is available to non-profi t organizati ons who want to repair existi ng or construct new infrastructure, such as centres, parks, arenas, etc. The provincial fund is meant to increase accessibility of trails to off -highway vehicles and is available to certain non-profi t groups and landowners. The Municipality has been fortunate enough to have accessed funding sources for many proj- ects, such as the Green Gym and the Croft Road playground in Chester Basin. Outdoor spaces are a great investment for taxpayers for so many reasons. The obvious, of course, is health promoti on and access to clean recreati onal areas. Public-owned areas ensure accessibility to natural setti ngs, provide a venue for outdoor acti vity, and someti mes unique op- portunti es to try new things. Imagine if the Municipality didn’t have a Bandstand to get married in, or a playground for children to play, or a level trail to cross-country ski, or an island beach to have a picnic. Sure, we’d survive; it’s not like these things are a necessity...or are they? Now imagine no recre- ati onal spaces anywhere. Luckily, the Municipality has acquired and de- veloped a good number of outdoor resources; some with the help of federal or provincial grants and some without. Overall, the list of available public assets is impressive and includes: • Croft Road Playground (Chester Basin) • Green Gym (Chester Basin) • Two trail systems, totalling 46 km • Parade Square (Chester) • Freda’s Beach (Chester) • Public gazebo (Chester Basin) • Anvil Park (Chester Basin) • Wild Rose Park (Western Shore) • Wharves in Aspotogan, Western Shore, Chester Basin and Chester • Boat launches in Deep Cove, Blandford, Borgald’s Point, and two in Chester • Four islands (Clay, Marrs, Big Fish, and Round Island Nubble) • Potenti al development on land in East Riv- er, Spectacle Lake and on Victoria Street. • Zoe Valle Library • Chester Skate Park • Sidewalks in Chester, Chester Basin, West- ern Shore and Hubbards Please contact the Municipality of the District of Chester at (902) 275-3554 with any questi ons or comments about development, projects or acquisiti ons. In brief:In brief:In brief: • • • Do you know the re-Do you know the re-Do you know the re- sponsibilities of your sponsibilities of your sponsibilities of your Fire Commission? You Fire Commission? You Fire Commission? You will after reading the will after reading the will after reading the article on page 2.article on page 2.article on page 2. • • • Changes are proposed Changes are proposed Changes are proposed for the Waste Collec-for the Waste Collec-for the Waste Collec- tion By-Law. Do you tion By-Law. Do you tion By-Law. Do you agree? Read more on agree? Read more on agree? Read more on page 3 and give us page 3 and give us page 3 and give us your thoughts.your thoughts.your thoughts. Mail US Community Development Department PO Box 369 186 Central Street Chester, NS B0J 1J0 pHONE US (902) 275-2599 E-Mail US planning@chester.ca A development agreement application has been submitted for a proposed 102 megawatt wind energy facility consisting of 34 wind turbines. The project is a partnership between three developers, working together as operating partners, to build and operate a wind energy facility on land leased from private property owners in the South Canoe Lake area, near New Russell and New Ross. Council will be holding a Public Hearing to receive written and verbal presentations from the public. Prior to the Public Hearing there will be a Public Information Open House held by staff. PublIC HearI ng Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:00 p.m. Forest Heights Community School 847 route 12, Chester grant WE WaN t tO HEar frOM yOU! WHaT IS THe PrO jeCT? SOu TH C anOe WIn D energ Y PrO jeCT P ublIC HearI ng n OTICe H OW C an I be H earD? PublIC InFOrmaTIOn OP en HOuSe monday, February 11, 2013 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Chester municipal Council Chambers 151 King Street, Chester H OW C an I geT mO re In FOrmaTIOn? MUNICIPAL COUNCIL The relati onship between FIRE COMMISSIONS and MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT According to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), a municipality may provide and maintain fi re and emergency services by providing them directly, assist- ing others, and/or working with others. Currently, our Municipality has chosen to work closely with others to ensure appropriate emergency response systems are in place. We do that by: • Registering all emergency service providers within our boundaries; • Evaluati ng services required and provided; • Determining that the service provider has the ongoing ability to provide the emergency ser- vice at an acceptable level; Our Municipality is divided into several “fi re dis- tricts”; each having a fi re commission incorporated by way of the Rural Fire District Act (RFDA). In addi- ti on, the Village of Chester Commission under Sec- ti on 423(1)(g) MGA, is authorized to provide fi re and emergency services to Village of Chester, and is under contract with the Municipality to provide services to District #7 and parts of District #3 and District #1. In all cases, Commissions are authorized and responsible to provide fi re protecti on for their district and to levy, through the Municipality, an area fi re tax to pay for it. Fire Commissions and Village of Chester Commis- sion are responsible for: • Overall governance of the fi re and emergency services in their fi re district; • Ensuring that the fi re service is properly fund- ed; and • Ensuring that appropriate policy is in eff ect to make service safe, suffi cient and eff ecti ve. Direct fi re and emergency response in each district is provided by volunteer Fire Departments established by each Commission, as their operati onal arm. Commissions decide the required level of fi re and emergency response. This service level is usually de- termined in consultati on with the residents and the Fire Department and aft er a thorough assessment of the fi re risks and other hazards in the area. The level of service dictates membership, apparatus, equipment and training. In close consultati on with the Fire De- partment, the Commission sets a fi re tax rate to pro- vide suffi cient funding to support these operati ons. There is no clear “operators manual” defi ned for the Municipality, Commissions or Fire Departments. The MGA advises Commissions to reference best practi ces set by the Nati onal Fire Protecti on Associati on (NFPA). Each Fire Department is responsible for actual de- livery of fi re and emergency services consistent with the policy determined by the Commission, be it the NFPA or other best practi ce. The Fire Department has the technical experti se and experience to advise the Commission of their ongoing needs. The people involved with the fi re and emergency services, Municipal Council and Staff , Commissioners, and Fire Department membership are committ ed to providing the best possible emergency response. Contact your local Fire Commission/Fire Depart- ment or, the Fire Services Coordinator at (902) 275- 2599 or bblackwood@chester.ca with questi ons. 2 Hope everyone had a great holiday season and is able to make the best of what’s shaping up to be an old-fashioned winter. Your 44th Council has now sett led in and is fully engaged in the many challenges and op- portuniti es our community and region now face. Our fi rst evening meeti ng in some ti me was very well att ended with an agenda that gave You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal Offi ce at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at (902) 275-2536, or emailing him awebber@chester.ca a snapshot of what this term of offi ce has in store: • Does South Canoe wind project meet the requirements of the Land Use By- Law and Planning Strategy? • How best do we address the concerns of residents in relati on to the outside area Fire Service Contract? • How do we support the initi ati ve of the Our Health Centre project? and • What is our role – both locally and re- gionally – in economic development as well as overall community sustainability? There is no magic in how a community ap- proaches issues such as these. It’s a thought- ful process on the part of all Councillors and if we become engaged, informed and involved, we will be successful. On behalf of Council, we look forward to working for you and with you. Message from the Warden If you want to address Council regarding an issue, make an appointment with the Municipal Clerk at (902) 275-3554 or email pmyra@chester.ca SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The Municipality of Chester Recreati on & Parks Department is seeking appli- cati ons from students who would like to be part of our summer staff team. We need students to organize special events and plan summer recreati on programs. If you are creati ve, outgoing, energeti c and enjoy working with youth and the public, submit your resume to: Municipality of the District of Chester, Recreati on & Parks Department ATTN: Jody Conrad 151 King Street PO Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0 Email: jconrad@chester.ca Phone: (902) 275-2712 Fax: (902) 275-3630 Deadline to apply for University Positi ons is March 15. Deadline to apply for High School positi ons is April 26. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. “Budget season” at the Municipality of Chester is a year round process but kicks into high gear in January with approval date expected in June. It seems like a long ti me, but planning needs to be precise. This is be- cause, according to the Municipal Government Act, municipaliti es aren’t permitt ed to budget a defi cit and any defi cit from one year must be re- covered through the budget process in the fol- lowing year. Therefore, it’s imperati ve that ev- erything is prioriti zed and doublechecked. Our fi scal year offi cially begins on April 1 and ends on March 31, but long before April, Council and staff are planning future projects and deter- mining which ones are urgent and which ones can wait. Council and Senior Staff draft two budgets: Capital and Operati onal. The Capital Budget is basically for large expenditures, such as infra- structure (buildings and equipment) projects, that can be amorti zed (cost spread out over a few or more years). Capital expenditures are based on public need and where Council focus- es their prioriti es. Someti mes, costs associated with Capital projects can be recovered through Provincial or Federal funds, like Gas Tax or the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund. The Operati onal Budget covers day-to-day revenues and expenditures, such as salaries, supplies, and funding to other agencies (usually Provincial). The Municipality has a Five Year Capital Invest- ment Plan that is updated annually. This is when the Municipality looks ahead to each of the next fi ve years to determine what is expected for large capital expenditures. MUNICIPAL BUDGET PREPARATIONS How the Municipality is preparing for the upcoming fi scal year There are also several tools that we use to de- termine next year’s budget in additi on to what Council identi fi es as prioriti es. • The current year’s budget. “Forecasti ng” is calculati ng the amount of money spent to date and then esti mati ng what we will spend the rest of the year. This helps for both the future capital and operati onal budgets. • Projects already identi fi ed in the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan as well as other plans, such as the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. • The Province’s Budget. When the Provin- cial budget is approved, they inform mu- nicipaliti es of any fi nancial downloads or funding cuts that we should consider dur- ing our budget planning. • Historical revenue from user fees, grants and property taxes off sets expenditures. Watch future issues of municipal insight for complete details and status updates about the municipal budget. Also, fi nancial documents are posted on our website (www.chester.ca) or available by calling us at (902) 275-3554. You can also drop in to the Municipal Offi ce to dis- cuss the budget with the Director of Finance. BUDGET TIMELINE AT A GLANCE January Capital budget preparati on February Operati onal budget preparati on mid-April Provincial budget approved May Committ ee of the Whole reviews budgets June Council approves budget and fi nalizes tax rate BY-LAWS & POLICIES 3 Contrary to what some people would have had you believe, the world did not end on December 21st when the long count Mayan calendar expired. Instead, 2012 passed by with barely a bump. In early January asteroid Apophis hurtled past the earth with room to spare, and so far at least, there are no other earth shattering events on the horizon. Phew! So what does all this mean? That’s right, there is no excuse, it’s time to make sure your dog tag is current, and if you run a kennel or dog day care, it’s time to renew your kennel license! If you own a dog and live within the boundar- ies of the Municipality you must register your dog, and it must wear a tag. This is nothing sinister. The primary reason for your dog wearing a tag is so it can be easily identified and returned to you should it ever go missing. The Animal Control Officer can simply cross-reference the tag number on the database, and return your pooch to you without having to take it to the pound. I am sure you will agree, this is less stressful for everyone concerned. New to the area? Stop by the Municipal Building and get a "Welcome Kit". A dog tag costs $15 and is good for five years. You can purchase a dog tag at the Municipal Of- fice, located at 151 King Street in Chester. If you run a boarding or breeding kennel, or if you provide a daycare service for dogs, then you must have a kennel license. The purpose of a kennel license is to ensure your establishment meets the minimum standards adopted by the Municipality, and that it is suitable for the ser- vice you are providing. As part of the license ap- plication process, your kennel will be inspected and the Municipality will provide guidance to help you meet the standards. Kennel licenses are $150 and are good for twelve months. You can pick up an application form at the Municipal Office, or you can contact me directly if you want to discuss the applica- tion, or need any more information. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2013. Dave Brettell, By-Law Enforcement Officer for the Municipality of the District of Chester (902) 275-2599 office (902) 277-1589 cell It’s not the end of the world... OBJECT: This By-Law describes the regulations governing how we manage solid waste in our Municipality. Collection: The By-Law states how often waste is collected and from where it will be collected; how waste should be left for collection; how early waste can be put out for collection; and how to handle special waste and construction waste. Disposal (Landfill): The By-Law indicates site regulations, such as availability of the landfill and to whom it’s available; acceptable and non-acceptable wastes; illegal dumping at the landfill site; removing waste from the Municipality to another municipality; waste separation; criteria for the Landfill Operator refusing waste; salvaging and scavenging; and illegally storing waste. Waste Collection & Disposal By-Law PROPOSED CHANGES: Added or significantly modified definitions for “clear bag garbage”, “black bag garbage”, “Curbside Inspector”, “municipal solid waste”, and “owner”. Various “housekeeping” changes, such as updating the By-Law to include wording such as “clear bag” and revisions to incorporate Provincial regulations. Also, responsibilities of the Curbside Inspector are added. The biggest change is to increase the time between when residents are allowed to put their waste out for collection and when the waste is collected. Cur- rently, we are only permitted to put regular collection out at 6:00 a.m. on the same day it’s scheduled to be picked up. Proposed changes will allow waste to be put out as early as 6:00 p.m. the night before. Similarly, special collection items (bulky waste) could be put out for collection 48 hours in advance of pick- up day as opposed to 24 hours. This change is found in Section 4 under “Collections” and comes with the condition that property owners are responsible for waste until it’s collected. Also, Kaizer Meadow is the primary location for waste disposal for all municipal residential and commercial customers. Although this remains in effect, a proposed amendment would allow more flexibility. This change is found in Section 12 under “Landfill”. BY-LAW REVIEW Amendments proposed to the Waste Collection By-Law Council is considering amending the Waste Col- lection & Disposal By-Law. Many of the changes are minor “housekeeping” and consist of updates and additions to the list of definitions. The proposed amendments will go for First Read- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ing at the February 28th Council meeting, which means the public has until February 21 to submit input (either in writing or by appointment). If you miss this deadline, it’s not too late to comment be- cause the Second Reading usually follows a couple of weeks later (the ad will be in the newspaper). Input will be received up until then. Please submit your comments to the Municipal Clerk one of the following ways: • IN WRITING to the Municipality of the District of Chester, 151 King Street, P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0; • VIA EMAIL to the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@ chester.ca; or • IN PERSON at the February 28 Council meet- ing. Please contact the Municipal Clerk for an appointment time by February 21. You can call (902) 275-3554 or email pmyra@chester.ca. Just a reminder that the Council meeting on Feb- ruary 28 will start at 6:00 p.m. Also, all Council meet- ings are open to the public and the press. CENTRAL SEWER 101 If you visit our website, www.chester.ca, and look on our FAQ page (which means “Frequently Asked Ques- tions”), you will find an assortment of topics. Under each topic, you will find some of the more common questions asked of staff and Councillors by residents. For those who don’t own a computer (or care to), we will share a few universal answers with you in this, and upcoming, newsletters. Some of them you may already know, and some of them you may find instructive. Or, you may have a few questions of your own. Contact us for the answers and request that we put it in our FAQs list for others. This month, we highlight central sewer problems. Central sewer is located in Western Shore, the Village of Chester, Mill Cove, Chester Acres, and New Ross. Q: How do I connect to central sewer? A: The Municipality has a Sewers By-Law (#34) which outlines the criteria for connections to Municipal sew- ers. If you are in a serviced area, you must complete an application, which you can get online or at the Public Works Department. Applications must be completed by the property owner and returned for review and ap- proval. The property owner is responsible for all costs associated with the connection to the sewer main lines, and an area rate will be charged to the owner when the connection is complete. Q: I have noticed a strong sewer smell in my home or on my property, who do I call? A: If your property is connected to the central sew- er system, contact a plumber first to determine if the problem is within your plumbing system. If the plumb- er determines that the problem is in the connection line but beyond your property line, call Public Works at (902) 275-1312 to report the problem. We will send someone to assess the problem. Q: What do I do if I notice a slow-draining sewer line or sewage is backing up into my home? A: If your property is connected to central sewer, contact a plumber first to determine if the problem is within your plumbing system. If the plumber deter- mines that the problem is in the connection line but beyond your property line, call Public Works Office at (902) 275-1312 to report the problem. We will send someone to assess the problem. Q: What do I do if I see a flashing red light on a pumping station? A: Please contact the Public Works Office at (902) 275-1312. If it is after hours, call 1-888-664-6998 to re- port the problem. We will have a technician dispatched. What does P.R.O. Kids pay for and what activi- ties are kids taking part in? We assist with registra- tion fees and equipment costs for : • Boxing • Hockey • Tae Kwon Do • Theatre classes • Music • Dance • Cheerleading • And more - name it and we may be able to help. How much money does P.R.O. Kids spend in a year? From April to December 2012, we have spent ap- RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 4 Upcoming events in the Municipality • Snowshoeing at Ross Farm on Saturday, February 16. Cost is $8 per person and for ages 16 years and over. • East River Exploration is free for those over 8 years old. Saturday, February 23. Call the Recreation & Parks Department at (902) 275-3490 for more information or to register. Where does the money come from to support the Municipality of Chester P.R.O. Kids Program? • Municipal Council • United Way of Lunenburg County • Canadian Tire Jump Start • Donations from Individuals • Donations from local Businesses • Memorial Donations • Sale of Municipal License Plates • Community Fundraisers How much actually goes to the kids? 100% of all money raised for P.R.O. Kids goes directly to benefit the children in our Municipality, which also benefits the community groups in the area. Note: Nothing is taken out of monies raised for P.R.O. Kids for Administration fees or the Coordinator’s salary. These items are all covered in the regular Municipal Budget. Every April, events are held to raise awareness of the importance of volunteerism in our communities. We are asking community groups to nominate one volunteer whom they feel contributes extensively to their organi- zation. All nominees will be recognized at our local cer- emony and one individual will be selected to represent the Municipality at the Provincial Volunteer Awards. The deadline to submit your nomination to the Munici- pality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department is Fri- day, February 8, 2013. All volunteer forms are available on the municipal website (www.chester.ca) or call us at 275-3490 to make arrangements to have the forms mailed or picked up. Get outdoors and be active this winter! Discover cool tips and ideas for having fun in the outdoors this win- ter by checking out our Winter Edition of Ex- plore Life. You’ll find information on our Snowshoeing at Ross Farm, Croft Road Outdoor Rink, and East River Exploration. For more great ideas on how to Take the Roof Off Winter, visit www.taketheroofoffwinter.ca You can register online for Recreation programming at www.chester.ca FREE Lunch time Skate at the Chester Rink Thursdays February 7, 14, 21, 28 12:30 to 1:30 pm proximately $42,000 in registration fees and equip- ment costs. For more information on the Municipality of Ches- ter P.R.O. Kids Program, please call Cosette Howlett, P.R.O. Kids Coordinator at 275-3490 or email chowlett@chester.ca. “It takes a community to raise a child, and you can help by donating today.” Come for an evening of discussion around best practices for volunteer screening and orientation, share ideas, and discover some resources available to help your organization protect itself and its volunteers. What you need to know about Volunteer Screening & Orientation! To register call the Chester Recreation & Parks Department at 275-3490. Follow us on twitter @ChesterRecParks Wednesday, February 13 6:30 to 8:30 pm Aspotogan Heritage Trust 10 Pte. Richard Green Lane, Hubbards Instructor: Leslie Taylor FREE Register by: Wednesday, February 6 5 COMMUNITY INTEREST February 8 to 11 Snowball Bonspiel Visit www.chestercurlingclub.ca Saturday, Feb. 9 Coldest Day of the Year Fundraiser Fo’c’sle Tavern from 3:00pm-closing. Proceeds for Chester Drama Society. Washer Toss New Ross Fire Hall. Register at 9am, play at 10 am. 689-2220 or 689-2867. Country Jamboree Litt le Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. Sunday, Feb. 10 Variety Show Forti es Community Centre, 1:30- 4:30pm. Call 689-2612 or 689-2000. Valenti ne Luncheon Hubbards Fire Hall, 10:30am-2:30pm. Call 857-3043. Tuesday, Feb. 12 Annual Pancake Supper Ocean Swells Community Centre, 4-6pm. Call 228-2373 or 228-2059. Pancake Supper Chester Bapti st Church Hall, 4-7pm. Call 275-5720 or 275-5966. Thursday, Feb. 14 Luncheon & Aucti on Forti es Community Centre, 11:30am. Call 689-2577. The Cemetery Club Chester Playhouse, 7:30pm. www.chesterplayhouse.ca Saturday, Feb. 16 Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, 9-11am. Storm date is Feb. 17, 11:30am-1:30pm. Saturday, Feb. 16 Meat Dart Shoot Chester Basin Legion, starti ng at noon. Call 275-4767 or 275-2577. Sunday, Feb. 17 Roast Beef Supper Forti es Community Centre, 4:30- 6:00pm. Call 689-2000 or 689-2612. Thursday, Feb. 21 to Monday, Feb. 25 NS Under-18 Curling Championship Visit www.chestercurlingclub.ca Saturday, Feb. 23 Newfi e Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Monday, Feb. 25 Basin Gardeners Assoc. Meeti ng Aenon Bapti st Church, 2pm. 273-2000. Tuesday, Feb. 26 Toronto NHL Legends Hockey game at Chester Rink, 7pm. Sunday, March 3 Crib Tournament Forti es Community Centre, 1pm. Friday, March 8 to Monday, March 11 NS Mixed Curling Championship Visit www.chestercurlingclub.ca Saturday, March 9 Country Jamboree Litt le Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. Thursday, March 21 to Saturday, March 23 NS High School Curl- ing Championship Visit www.chestercurlingclub.ca Saturday, March 23 Sing for a Cause, Dance for a Cure Chester Legion, 7pm. Proceeds for Breast Cancer and P.R.O. Kids. Feb.16, March 2 & 16 Crib Tournament Litt le Red School, Canaan, 11am It may be that we take for granted our rural, pristi ne communiti es, but have you ever taken a good look at what lies within the makeup of our neighbourhood? Do you remember where the local corner store used to be? Or the local hall where everyone gathered for a dance or social? Do you remember going to a parti cu- lar house on a summer night, sitti ng on the verandah watching fi reworks or a parade? It’s not just about mortar and wood; it’s the stories, folklore and the local gathering places that have mean- ing and helped shape our communiti es. It’s about heri- tage. In recent years, funding has decreased dramati cally due to declining budgets. There has also been a de- cline in the interest to stand behind our communiti es and maintain the ti e between our history and our fu- ture. The communiti es of our Municipality would not be what they are today if not for the cultural, social, economic, and built heritage that provided the original building blocks. I recently att ended the Nati onal Heritage Summit in Montreal where the primary focus was “responding to new pressures on existi ng heritage policies and pro- grams and an increasing urgency to assess and clari- fy our vision and strengthen our resolve.” Their main questi ons were: what’s working, what’s not and what needs to change? These questi ons are for everyone to answer. We know of museums and tourist desti nati ons that show off our local history and that funding will always be a stumbling block for local communiti es and organiza- ti ons, but we need to think about the who, what, when, where and why of our area and celebrate it. These are the things that lend substance to our surroundings. It’s worth preserving. Some of the towns and villages in Vermont and New Hampshire build their identi ti es on history and the beauty of their heritage. Like us, their communiti es are rich in pastoral traditi on. We have so many wonderful buildings and places of interest in the Municipality as well as the stories that enhance our area. Let’s nurture our past and grow it into our future. One of the discussions at the Summit stressed that heritage needs to be taught to the younger generati ons so that the informati on is passed on and not forgot- ten. It’s relevant to maintain our community identi ti es, build character and help build a place where our chil- dren want to stay. Let’s give them some of the great ex- periences we had as children, like skati ng on the pond. Every year a provincial heritage conference is held in our Province. It is organized for those already in the in- dustry as well as municipal offi cials, registered heritage property owners and for anyone who wants to learn more. This year, it is in Liverpool. Consider att ending for a day, a session or for the enti re conference. It’s worth your ti me to give a voice to heritage. Or, become involved with a local heritage group. Lend experti se to a local heritage group or the Planning Advisory Committ ee (Municipal or Village of Chester). To get informati on on the Planning Advisory Com- mitt ee, please contact the Community Development Department at 275-2599. Local heritage groups are: • Blandford Historical Society (www.blandfordarea- histsoc.org); • Chester Municipal Heritage Society (www.chester- bound.com/heritage); • Hubbards Heritage Society (www.hubbardsher- itage.ca); and • New Ross Historical Society (www.nrhs.ednet. ns.ca) Karen Coldwell-Newton, Development Offi cer February 18 is HERITAGE DAY Heritage Canada Foundati on (HCF) encourages Canadians to celebrate “Heritage Homes and Neighbour- hoods” and their importance to our communites. For more informati on on how to celebrate Heritage Day, visit www.heritagecanada.org One Municipality, one mailing address. All mail is now directed to P O Box 369, 151 King Street, Chester NS B0J 1J0 GREEN space. Communiti es in Bloom is a great program for communiti es who want to beauti fy their surroundings, create welcome green spaces, and increase civic pride. It’s designed to be a conti nuous improvement program and has three phases: provincial, nati onal, and internati onal. For criteria, please visit www.novascoti acommuniti esinbloom.org Examples of projects: • Plant-a-row, Grow-a-row (providing food for a local food bank) • Home Hardware Charity Calendar initi ati ve (raising money for Sick Kids Foundati on through the sale of the calendar) • Tree planti ng programs • School gardens • Youth in Bloom program (training youth in landscaping and horti culture) • Cemetery beauti fi cati on If you or your group is interested in parti cipati ng in Communiti es in Bloom, please contact Karen Coldwell-Newton at (902) 275-2599. Rosebank Cott age at Ross Farm Museum was constructed in 1817 and designated a heritage site in 1992. GIVE A VOICE TO HERITAGE SPECIAL FEATURE 6 Department of Transportati on and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) public roads are usually 66 feet wide (although some older roads widths do vary). During the winter months TIR snow plows will someti mes hit a mailbox, road sign or even a civic number post by accident. If a snow plow hits a TIR (public) street sign, they will replace it because it is their sign posted on their property. If a snow plow hits a mailbox, private road sign or civic number post that you have posted on TIR’s property, it will NOT be replaced. They will not take responsibility. Their job is to clear the roads of snow. When posti ng a mailbox, private road sign or civic number, please keep this in mind. In most cases you can measure 33 feet from the centre line of the highway to fi nd out where the property boundary lines of the road are. If you have any questi on about the widths of roads or road signs, please contact the Community Development Department at (902) 275-2599 or the Nova Scoti a Department of Transportati on and Infrastructure Renewal at 1-888-432-3233. Our Emergency Services website has plenty of resources. Visit www.chesterfi re.ca today. We are very proud to announce that our volunteer fi re services in Blandford, Hubbards, Chester, Chester Basin, Western Shore, New Ross and Marti ns River, have now all received their “Superior Tanker Shutt le Service Accreditati on.” “Tanker Shutt le Service” essenti ally means the ability of a fi re service to eff ecti vely supply water to a fi re scene in the absence of pressur- ized fi re hydrants. The “accreditati on” comes from Fire Underwriters SurveyTM (FUS), and “su- perior” is the highest level of service bestowed by FUS. Specialists who work for FUS, a nati onal or- ganizati on administered by SCM Risk Manage- ment Services Inc., survey fi re risks and fi re defenses in communiti es across Canada. The results of these surveys establish a Public Fire Protecti on Classifi cati onTM (PFPC) and Dwelling Protecti on Grade (DPG) for each community. PFPC and DPG classi- fi cati ons are key factors when insurance compa- nies calculate fi re insur- ance rates. When a com- munity improves its PFPC or DPG classifi cati on, insurance rates could be reduced. To prepare for “Superior Tanker Shutt le Ser- vice Accreditati on”, the seven volunteer fi re de- partments and the Municipality spent a lot of ti me planning water supplies and methods of delivery to a potenti al fi re scene. Last October, all of the preparati on paid off . The Departments got together in a mutual aid exercise and dem- onstrated their water supply capability to an FUS Specialist. To maintain the accreditati on - and to renew aft er 5 years - fi re departments must maintain accurate records of their ability to deliver the service. Your fi re services are committ ed to maintaining this high standard through conti n- ued training, practi ce and documentati on. Residents and businesses in the Municipal- ity may benefi t from this accreditati on. If your property meets the criteria below, you may be enti tled to an insurance rate reducti on. • Commercial Lines (PFPC) – located within 5 km of a fi re stati on AND 2.5 km of an ap- proved water supply point. • Personal Lines (DPG) – located within 8 km of a fi re stati on AND 5 km of an approved water supply point. With the Municipality’s civic mapping and fi re district fi les, we can assist you in determin- ing if your property meets these criteria. Our volunteer fi refi ghters have put in a great eff ort to achieve this accreditati on to ensure us excellence in fi re protecti on. In additi on, they provide us with an opportunity to possibly re- duce our annual insurance rates. Please conti n- ue to support their eff orts and dedicati on to the community. If you have any other questi ons, please con- tact your local fi re department or the Fire Ser- vices Coordinator by calling (902) 275-2599 or emailing bblackwood@chester.ca Complete details on FUS and commercial and residenti al insurance gradings are available on our Fire Services website at www.chesterfi re.ca Bruce Blackwood, Fire Services Coordinator Fire Departments Receive Accreditation Seven FDs in the Municipality prove superior in water supply capabilities If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scoti a, there are a few things you need to know this winter. • The Winter Parking Ban Regulati ons have been in eff ect since December 15 and conti nue unti l March 31, 2013. • Unti l the parking ban ends, you cannot park on any street in the Village of Chester or Western Shore between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. • ALSO, you cannot park on the street an hour aft er a storm starts unti l two hours aft er it ends. • Your vehicle can be towed (at your expense of course!) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salti ng, sanding, etc.). Incidentally, if you plow driveways, it’s illegal to plow snow across a street or onto a sidewalk. Call the Province to receive - or report - informati on on local roads. 1-888-432-3233 (Department of Transportati on and Infrastructure Renewal). You can also access all of this informati on (plus more) online at their website: htt p://novascoti a.ca/tran/winter PROVINCIAL SNOW REMOVAL The Nova Scoti a Department of Transportati on and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) applies sand to 33km of public road in the Municipality of Chester in- stead of salt because of proximity of drinking water wells. Most of those areas are in the Village of Chester. You might recall that TIR performed an inventory of wells last summer to determine locati on, type and level of suscepti bility to contaminati on. They found that within the 33km area where they apply sand, 501 wells were located; 409 of them were dug and the rest were drilled. In the areas where dug wells were replaced with drilled wells over the years, TIR will switch from a sand applicati on to a salt or salt/sand mix. In the meanti me, they have switched from sand to salt in these locati ons: East and West Wind Drive Peninsula Road Nauss Point Road (up to #51) Graves Island Road Victoria Street (waterfront area) Snow Removal and Civic Addressing Salt vs. Sand in the Municipality Snow Removal and Civic Addressing Salt vs. Sand in the Municipality PROPERTY SERVICES 7Email communicati ons@chester.ca to submit comments or questi ons related to the newslett er MUNICIPAL TAX EXEMPTIONS Do you qualify? Do you qualify for a property tax exempti on? 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 list- ed as owners or co-owners) was less than $19,000.00 in the 2011 calendar year. • Exempti ons are only for residenti al 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 2011 Noti ce of Assessment from Rev- enue Canada with you. The exempti on for the current fi scal year (April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013) will expire on March 28, 2013. The amount of the exemp- ti on is based on total income and will be de- termined at the Administrati on Offi ce. Please contact the Administrati on Offi ce at 275-3554 to see if you qualify. Oft en when building or renovati ng, the task of obtaining a building permit can be rather over- whelming. We want to help. Follow these four steps, and a Permit can be issued in no ti me… 1. Contact the Community Development Department (Building and Fire Inspecti on Services) at (902) 275-3080 or visit us at 186 Central Street, Chester. 2. Request an applicati on form, which we are happy to fax, email, mail or help you fi ll out. 3. Ensure you provide these two important details with your applicati on: a drawing showing constructi on details, such as cross secti onal, and a plot plan. 4. Once you have completed your applicati on, staff will determine if any additi onal approvals are required, such as: a) Department of Transportati on - For work carried out within 100 meters of a serviced road; b) Department of Environment - For any additi on of bedrooms, connecti ng buildings (i.e. ga- rages or workshops) to existi ng septi c system, or new residenti al or commercial constructi on; c) Planning - For work conducted in a zoned area of the Municipality; d) Municipal Sewer - For additi ons of bedrooms or connecti ng buildings (eg. garage) to existi ng central sewer system, or new residenti al or commercial constructi on in a serviced area; and e) In some situati ons, depending on the type of applicati on, additi onal approvals from other agencies may be required. To limit waiti ng ti me for approval to begin constructi on, it is important you provide as much infor- mati on as possible when making your applicati on. Please contact us if you have any questi ons. We are happy to help. Sample Cross Secti onal Drawing Tax Payments via Online Banking Online banking has evolved into a very robust vehicle that allows us to monitor and manage our cash, investments and debt. For example, you can pay your phone bill, electricity bill and even your oil bills online. The same is true for your property tax bill. All the major banks off er this service. All you need to do is add “Municipality of the District of Chester” as a bill payee (search using “Chester”), and enter your eight digit municipal account number exactly as displayed in the box on the top right side of your tax bill (even if it starts with zeros). Once you have us set up as a payee, you can then decide on the amount of the payment and the frequency. This is a great opportunity to budget your payments for the year. Aft er you have made a payment, we are noti fi ed within 3 business days and your payment is then applied to your tax account. All from the convenience of home. If you need some help getti ng started, please contact the Tax Offi ce at (902)275-3554. Online banking has evolved into a very robust vehicle that allows us to monitor and manage our cash, investments and debt. For example, All the major banks off er this service. All you need to do is add “Municipality of the District of Chester” as a bill payee (search using “Chester”), and enter your eight digit municipal account number exactly as displayed in the box on the top right side of your tax bill (even if it starts with zeros). Once you have us set up as a payee, you can then decide on the amount of the payment and the frequency. This is a great opportunity to budget your payments for the year. Aft er you have made a payment, we are noti fi ed within 3 business days and your If there is a snow storm, listen to CKBW or call the Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre at 275-2330 in case collecti on is cancelled. If it is, waste will be collected on the Saturday immediately following. Remember to take your waste back in to avoid the snow plow. Waste is collected bi-weekly. On your scheduled collecti on day, we collect garbage, blue bag recyclables, recyclable paper and cardboard and a green cart. Please have your waste at the curb for 8 a.m. or you may be missed. If you live on a pri- vate road, plow and salt/sand it BEFORE waste collecti on. If it is not plowed, the trucks may not col- lect your material. Empty, dry paint cans with the lids off can be put in a clear garbage bag. They are not hazard- ous material unless there is paint in the can. 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.) FOUR STEPS TO A POSITIVE BUILDING PERMIT EXPERIENCE Occasionally, winter takes over and we need to cancel a few things, like Recreation programs and activi- ties, meetings, or other municipal events. Check our website anytime after 3:00 pm for evening events or first thing in the morning for Council meetings. Click on the Storm Cancellations button on the right side of the screen to view the status of our events. The Recreation & Parks Department also updates their voice messaging system. You can reach their office by calling (902) 275-3490. This sunrise was taken in De- cember from Parade Square in Chester. Thanks Robin Kaizer! If you have a great photo to share of a person, place or thing in the Municipal- ity of the District of Chester, please forward it to commu- nications@chester.ca and we might post it online or in our next newsletter. Or, if you have a great photo idea, call the Communications Officer at (902) 275-3554. Everyone who likes our Facebook page or follows us on Twitter between December 1 and February 28 will have their name put in a draw for a prize package. Find us on Twitter @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality 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 Community Development Department Building/Fire Inspection Services 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 Community Development Department Building/Fire Inspection Services 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 Community Development Department Planning Services 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 Community Development Department Planning Services 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 Andre Veinotte 277-1409 147 Chester Downs Road, R R 1, Chester NS B0J 1J0 #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 Tina Connors 679-4461 7139 Hwy 12, R R 4, 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 We are in the process of getting the outdoor rink on Croft Road in Chester Basin up and running, however, we need Mother Nature on our side to make this happen. To check the status of the Outdoor Rink, call the Recreation & Parks Department at 275-3490 or visit our website and click on the Outdoor Rink status button on the right side of the page. If you are interested in helping out with the rink, please email the Community School Coordinator at jconrad@chester.ca or call 275-2712. Two more reasons to visitwww.chester.ca By now, you should have re- ceived your 2013 Waste Collection Calendar. If you haven’t, please call Kai- zer Meadow Environmental Management Centre at 275-2330, and we can mail one to you. Or, pick up a copy at the Municipal Office at 151 King Street in Chester.