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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-04_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about April 2013 your municipal government” Aft er only having met Mary Schnare a few minutes, it was easy to become completely comfortable in her pres- ence. She is a warm, spirited, and de- termined woman. And, the sparkle in her eyes reveals her humourous (and maybe a litt le mischievous) side. As Mary recounted her years of vol- unteerism in her sunny kitchen, one thing became increasingly clear. She didn’t view volunteering as work or as a burden bestowed upon her by her community. She liked to volunteer because it gave her a chance to make friends, share laughs and create mem- ories. The work itself wasn’t a chore, it was helping when someone needed her - and that makes her happy. Mary modestly showed us her doz- ens of dedicati on plaques represent- ing a com- bined total of 230+ years of service (photo on right) since she moved to the area with her husband in August of 1946. Aft er arriving, she founded the Catholic Wom- en’s League at St. Augusti ne’s and became involved in the Altar Society and Guild as well as was given the reponsibility of Mass cards. For all of this, the Archdiocese of Halifax awarded Mary with the Archdiocese Medal of Merit in 2003. Municipal Residents Honoured for Their Volunteerism In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... Money, money, money MONEY! Hi Hoe! South Canoe: The Update Conti nues Where are we in the whole Community Garden Is the Municipality of Chester budgeti ng process? Get anyone? home to a new wind energy your fi nance fi x on Page 2. Page 5 facility? (Page 4) Mary Schnare, Village of Chester, is the Municipality of the District of Chester’s Volunteer of the Year! You deserve it Mary! Mary reminisces about her and her family’s years with the Chester Fire Dept; one of many organizati ons that have benefi tt ed from Mary’s goodwill and generosity. • Richard Armstrong • Calvin Awalt • Pam Bedard • Jackie Benoit • Morley & Jeannie Bezanson • Bonita Church • Mary Jane Dorey • Mary Eldridge • Nancy Fitch • Sharon Gates • Kelly Matti nson • Aubrey Myra • Barbara Naugler • Linda Nauss-Saltzman • Wayne Rafuse • Mary Schnare • Diane Webber • Jane Wilkins • Fred & Mabel Witherall Thank you, volunteers! Later, she joined the Chester Legion Auxiliary and the Chester Fire Auxiliary as well as volunteered for Canadian Blood Services, the Heart & Stroke Foundati on, Old Bones Skati ng Club, and helped found the Garden Club 45s Marathon. She chaired, organized, ironed, starched, baked, cooked, fund- raised, planned, supervised, contrib- uted, cared and laughed - while being a mother with a full-ti me job! Earlier this year, the Municipal Rec- reati on & Parks Department recog- nized Mary’s dedicati on by awarding her with Volunteer of the Year status. Later this month, she will represent the Municipality in the “Individual” category at the 39th Annual Provin- cial Volunteer Awards Ceremony at the Westi n Nova Scoti an in Halifax on April 15. And she won’t be alone... Also recognized are Mabel and Fred Wither- all (seen in photo below). They are recipients of the 2013 Volunteer Family Award; and it’s no wonder. Mabel and Fred are syn- onymous with the District No. 1 Community Centre in Blandford. Just last year, together Fred and Mabel contributed 621 volunteer hours. It would be an understatement to say the community is not indebted to this couple. The Community Centre hosts suppers, meeti ngs, cards, sales, birthday parti es, exhibits, fundraisers, breakfasts, and more if it’s not already booked. It is also the home of the Dis- trict No. 1 Fire Department. This build- ing and the events that take place in it are vital to the community, and Fred and Mabel are central to its functi on. For the last twenty years, Fred and Mabel have been involved in one as- pect or another. Since 1998, Fred has been Chair of the District No. 1 Com- munity Centre Society Board of Direc- tors and volunteer Community Centre Manager. Mabel has volunteered at the Centre for just as many years, es- pecially in the kitchen and catering. Between the two of them, Fred and Mabel have led or supported Society Board of Directors governance, fund- raising, building maintenance, event planning and logisti cs, catering, bar- tending, volunteer coordinati on and so much more. In a lett er submitt ed along with their nominati on form, Society Board of Di- rectors wrote, “at one level or another, very litt le of what goes on at the Cen- tre is not graced by the hand and dedi- cati on of Fred and Mabel.” The lett er further goes on to say, “This couple conti nue to the present to work as a team and we greatly benefi t from their volunteer spirit”. Hear, hear! Mary, Fred and Mabel along with all of volunteer nominees from the Municipality will be honoured at our very own Volunteer Recepti on on April 24 at Forest Heights Com- munity School. The Recepti on is District No. 1 Community Centre in Blandford Fred (on the left ) and Mabel (right) Witherall, Blandford, are the Municipality of the District of Chester’s Volunteer Family of the Year! Thanks for all of the hard work, Witheralls! hosted every year by Council and the Recreati on & Parks Committ ee and pays tribute to those in our communi- ti es who work ti relessly to provide us with enjoyable experiences. A volunteer’s kindness and willing- ness to give is a signifi cant part of our rural culture. We depend on them like we do our neighbour. So, join us for a moment in recognizing this year’s de- serving nominees. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Want an update on Council proceedings without reading pages of minutes? Check out the summaries instead at www.chester.ca Well, spring has fi nally arrived and with it, renewed expectati ons of growth and pros- perity. The challenge, of course, is have we properly prepared the conditi ons for suc- cess, and have we planned what is best-suit- ed to our local community to ensure that the results meet expecti ons? This editi on of municipal insight referenc- es some of those fundamentals: a strategic 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 vision - including an economic development strategy that is ti ed into the Integrated Com- munity Sustainability Plan, consistently ref- erenced and supported in our By-Laws and Policies, and refl ected in our Acti on Plan - the Municipal Budget. Council believes that the recent decisions to embrace wind energy are a good fi t for our Municipality - from an economic devel- opment and fi scal stability perspecti ve - and will provide benefi ts both short- and long- term. Over the coming months, we will conti nue to build on our success and develop acti on plans for future prosperity. This is a commu- nity eff ort where we share the burdens and challenges and also share in the benefi ts. Like I said in the last editi on, there is no magic, just hard work on behalf of all. Thanks. SO THE MUNICIPALITY HAS A “PLAN”... WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Directi onal growth. Strategic planning. Blueprint for the future. Acti on- able change. Sounds suspiciously “corporate” and probably doesn’t mean much to people in their day-to-day lives. They would be accurate in think- ing that too. BUT, Council has more to think about than just the day-to-day. They are obligated to improve the quality of life in the Municipality, and that includes telling us how they plan on doing that. So far, the overall directi on has been consistent: forward. Council, regard- less of representati on, has always chosen to be progressive. For example, opti ng to construct our own landfi ll instead of paying extra for transport and process fees. As a result, the landfi ll is the Municipality’s biggest revenue generator. Up unti l now, Council has mainly set prioriti es through the annual budget. For example, approving money to build sidewalks gives priority to acti ve liv- ing and safety. At the end of February however, Council decided to formalize our long-term goals and prioriti es by adopti ng a “Strategic Plan”, which is sort of like a guidebook that points us in the right directi on, and then shows us how to get there. The Strategic Plan reinforces the Municipality’s long-standing goals. What it also gives us is focus as to where we want to be as an organizati on that provides public services and that has the ability to steer growth on a munici- pal level (local economics, community development, recreati onal opportu- nites, etc.) In a nutshell, the Municipality’s vision is for our district to be a self-suffi - cient, resilient, and unique area that provides economic opportuniti es and a balanced lifestyle for our residents. How we get there is based on six goals: 1. Fiscal responsibility 2. Public sati sfacti on with our services 3. Suffi cient infrastructure to serve our residents and businesses 4. Strengthen and support environmental, cultural and social resources 5. Provide leadership in public engagement and communicati ons 6. Foster economic prosperity Each goal has a separate plan that instructs staff on how to work within the goals everyday to help us reach the vision. The individual plans are sti ll in draft form, but will be discussed by Council at upcoming meeti ngs. Look for them on Council Agendas (found on our website at www.chester.ca). 2013/14MunicipalBUDGET We are approaching another fi scal year, which means staff and Council are busily preparing the budget. So far, we have put together a draft capital budget and most of an operati ng budget. The capital budget is based on projects that MUST be done (ex. repairs, upgrades, safe- ty issues) and projects that we would LIKE TO DO (ex. sidewalks, beauti fi cati on) depending on the prioriti es of residents and Council. The operati ng budget is based on day-to-day expenses (ex. uti liti es, salaries, equipment) and is usually approved the same ti me as the capital budget. Even though our fi s- cal year runs from April 1 to March 31, Council doesn’t ordinarily approve an operati ng budget unti l the pro- vincial government approves their budget. This is so we know how much our contributi on will be towards pro- vincial services in case we need to make adjustments. Aft er the provincial budget is approved and we have ad- justed our operati ng budget (if necessary), a couple of meeti ngs will be set to review both budgets. This is usu- ally done during Committ ee of the Whole (all Councillors att end). Once fi nalized, Council will rati fy the budget at their next formal meeti ng, and only then can any proj- ects be carried out. Budgets are usually approved any- where between the end of May and middle of June. If you have any questi ons about the process or the bud- get itself, please contact Steve Graham, Director of Fi- nance, at (902) 275-3554 or sgraham@chester.ca COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE Usually, Council meets on the second and last Thursday of each month at 8:45 a.m., but access for residents who can’t att end during dayti me hours is limited. For convenience, Council’s last meeti ng of the month is now in the evening on a six-month trial basis, depending on the public’s interest level. Go to our website (www.chester.ca) and sign up under “Municipal Alerts” to re- ceive meeti ng agendas via email. As usual, the deadline to have an item put on the agenda is noon, one week prior to the meeti ng. Contact Pam Myra, Municipal Clerk, with any questi ons or to schedule an appointment to address a municipal matt er with Council. You can call (902) 275-3554; write to: 151 King Street, PO Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0; fax (902) 275-4771; or email pmyra@chester.ca Remaining meeti ngs • Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. • Thursday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m. (instead of May 30) • Thursday, June 13 at 8:45 a.m. • Thursday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m. 2 BY-LAWS & POLICIES 3Copies of by-laws and policies are available at the Municipal Office or online at www.chester.ca Regardless of how you may feel, the Munici- pal by-laws are not just an excuse for another layer of bureaucracy to mess with your personal freedoms. They are actually an essential part of the multi-layered legal system that we have in Canada. Allow me to elaborate. Laws are integral to a well ordered and suc- cessful modern society. Imagine what it would be like if no property laws existed. Anyone could come and take possession of your home or property without your consent and there would be nothing that you could do about it. What about the chaos that would ensue if we had no law that said you must drive on the right hand side of the highway? As you can see, most laws are based upon good old common sense. So how are laws created? Without oversimplifying, it is the various lev- els of government that are responsible for en- acting and administering the laws in Canada. The Federal Government is responsible for things such as criminal law and, of course, The Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Federal laws are applicable to the country as a whole. Provincial governments look after things like liquor control, property law, education and such like. They also have the power to raise their own taxes. Obviously, provincial legislation is only applicable to the province in which it is enacted. Provincial governments also create an admin- istrative framework that allows municipalities to enact laws, called by-laws. In Nova Scotia, the legislation that allows this is called the Municipal Government Act. This is a rather long-winded and complicated piece of legislation, but it outlines just what by-laws can be enacted and contains safeguards to prevent a municipality from overstepping the mark. Municipal by-laws are generally concerned with things like development, land use and oth- er local issues. Obviously they are only enforce- able within the boundaries of the municipality. The by-laws we have in the Municipality of the District of Chester can be divided into three dis- tinct groups; those that govern the administra- tive processes, those that control land use and developments, and those that are designed to protect the health and safety of our residents. Administrative by-laws are concerned with the workings of the Municipality and Council and are focused on areas such as how votes may be cast, Council proceedings, and other similar topics. They generally don’t have much impact upon the day to day lives of residents. Land use and development by-laws basically do exactly what it sounds like they do. They en- sure that developments within the Municipality are carried out in accordance with the wishes of residents, and that they are suitable in the ap- plicable area. The Municipality is divided into various zones where the permitted developments can differ significantly, and the list of types of develop- ments must be quite extensive for all kinds of eventualities. There are also some general by- laws in this group that relate to things like heri- tage properties and signage. This group of by- laws often has a direct impact upon residents, from homeowners through to developers, as they outline procedures that must be followed and criteria that must be met for developments to take place. It is the last group of by-laws, those con- cerned with the health and safety of Municipal residents, which often have the most significant impact on day to day activities. This group of by- laws contain legislation relating to things like civ- ic addressing, the use of public properties such as the wharves, as well as environmental issues such as noise and smoke associated with fires and outdoor furnaces, and the correct disposal of household waste. They also regulate such things as dog ownership, kennel operations and street traders. Although it is not really a by-law, the Municipality has also adopted some legisla- tion from the Municipal Government Act that is specifically concerned with dangerous and un- sightly premises. In total, the Municipality has approximately 25 by-laws spread over three categories; four are associated with administrative topics, twelve with land use and development, and nine with health and safety related issues. Municipal staff work to ensure that the all by- laws remain current, applicable and accurately reflect the wishes of residents. As a result of this, our by-laws are reviewed regularly and when necessary, amendments are made or a new by-law proposed. If it is determined that a by-law would ben- efit from a change, or a new by-law should be drafted, it begins a long journey through a com- plex period of review that involves both Munici- pal staff and the legal team. But that’s not the end of it. Any proposed changes to an existing by-law, or proposals for a new by-law, must be made public. The by-law is then publicized and goes through two readings at Council meetings. It is here that members of the public are en- couraged to make their feelings known. If there is enough public concern, the by-law can be re- turned for change, or may even be shelved. It is only when a by-law has passed two readings that it becomes effective. So, as you can see, by-laws are not just thrown together. There is a complex legislative frame- work in place that allows the Municipality to enact them. Our by-laws are created with the best interests of the residents of the Municipal- ity at heart, and residents are invited to voice concerns or support with regard to new by-laws or changes to existing ones. Most of the time we get it right, but sometimes we do get it wrong. Your input is essential in this regard. Municipal by-laws are available online at www. chester.ca, or printed copies are available at the Municipal Office. If you have concerns, or want to speak to someone about the by-laws then feel free to give me a call, or drop by my office. Dave Brettell, By-Law Enforcement Officer (902) 277-1589 Why do we have By-Laws? Our By-Law Enforcement Officer explains the purpose of by-laws and the process of maintaining them OBJECTIVE: This By-law waives property taxes for certain organizations. DESCRIPTION: The title of this By-Law sums up what kinds of organizations are eligible to apply for a tax exemption, which ranges from 100% of commercial property tax to paying residential rates instead. Area rates for services (like fire) still apply. Tax Exemption for Charitable, Non-Profit Organizations, Municipal Water Utilities, and Licensed Day Cares By-Law PROPOSED CHANGES: Remove Simms Settlement Community Association from the exemp- tion list and add Hubbards Yacht Club. If approved, the Yacht Club will be exempt from 100% of commercial tax, but area rates will still be charged. By-Laws 101 From time to time, the Municipality amends or develops by-laws. Typically, it’s because existing by-laws need updating, but occasion- ally circumstances will require that we either scrap a by-law, change it drastically, or create a whole new one. In the latter cases, it’s im- portant to get input from the public. We understand that by-laws aren’t exactly the kind of reading ma- terial that keeps you engrossed for hours on end, and we recognize that “creative options” are limited. BUT, we can summarize them, use language that a person who isn’t a lawyer can actually under- stand, and include them in our newsletter for comment. This way, the public can formulate suggestions and pass them on to Council. We have two by-laws that are being considered for amendment. The summaries and proposed changes are on the right. If you read the summary for the Tax Exemption By-Law and have a suggestion or concern, you can forward it in writing to the Munici- pal Clerk at the Municipality’s address (on the back of this newslet- ter). Or, if you would rather request an appointment with Council, please call the Municipal Clerk at (902) 275-3554. If you have comments or questions about the current proposed changes to the Land Use By-Law, an information session will be held on Monday, April 22 in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. A Public Hear- ing will follow on Thursday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m., also in Chambers. The Community Development Department can provide copies of proposed amendments as well as any reports related to changes to the Land Use By-Law. Contact them at (902) 275-2599. OBJECTIVE: This By-law controls use of land in zoned areas in the Village of Chester. DESCRIPTION: The Village of Chester is a “zoned” area, which means certain areas allow for certain uses. For example industrial activities can not take place in areas zoned for residential use only. Or, areas may be designated for agricultural or commercial use. An area can also be zoned both commercial and residential as well as having different “levels” of uses such as “high-density” or “low-density”. Zoning also addresses certain activities, like transient busi- nesses, clinics, and schools. For the purpose of the proposed amendments, the Municipality is putting forward changes to allow construction and operation of the planned medical clinic near Shoreham Village. Chester Village Area Land Use By-Law PROPOSED CHANGES: There are currently four proposed changes to this by-law: 1. Change zoning for two sections of property from Low Density Residential and Institu- tional to Highway Commercial. The property is the proposed site of the medical clinic. 2. In Section 6.3.1 (a), remove parking lots as a permitted use in the Highway Commercial Zone. 3. Delete Guideline 8 in Schedule D-1 to support the above change. 4. Replace “health care offices” with “medical clinics” on the list in Section 8.2.1. WE OUGHT TO BE COMMITTED. to a high standard, that is...and we are! The Municipality is committ ed to a client-focused environment that is open to feedback and conti nual improvement. If you are dissati sfi ed with the service(s) we provide, we now have a new, eff ecti ve and easy way to register a complaint. Similarly, if you want to report your sati sfacti on, we welcome the compliments! Of course, with complaints, we always recommend that you speak directly to the person responsible for the service in questi on. Most complaints are received this way and can usually be quickly resolved. If you’re not sure who to speak with, contact the Clerk at (902) 275-3554. If you are not sati sfi ed with how your complaint is managed, you can register a formal complaint by going to our website and clicking on the “Report a Complaint or Compliment” butt on on the right side of the front page. We will acknowledge the receipt of your complaint within two business days and will personally contact you within fi ve business days where a follow-up is requested. Regis- tered complaints are assessed by the Municipal Clerk and reviewed by the Director accountable for the service in questi on. Our goal is to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. If you are sti ll not sati sfi ed with the outcome of your complaint, contact the Nova Scoti a Offi ce of the Ombudsman at 1-888-839-6884 for an imparti al external review and resoluti on. COMMUNITY INTEREST 4Check www.chester.ca for informati on on P.R.O. Kids eligiblity or donati ons In a vote of 6-1, Chester Municipal Council ap- proved a moti on to enter into a development agreement that will set the wheels in moti on for a $200 million wind energy project proposed near the New Russell area, just outside of New Ross. The almost unanimous decision came on March 14 during the fi rst of three meeti ngs scheduled for deliberati ons and followed a long public process, in- cluding a Public Informati on Session and a lengthy Public Hearing that spanned two evenings. Subse- quent to the conclusion of the Public Hearing on March 4, Council deliberated individually over infor- mati on provided at the Hearing, researched factual data, and one Councillor even polled residents at a neighbouring wind energy facility. Councillors also visited the wind energy facility in Digby together to ascertain for themselves exactly how windmills sound and feel and look. According to South Canoe Wind Project website (www.southcanoewind.com), the project itself will see 34 wind turbines constructed by December 2014 and will provide power for up to 34,000 homes. Partners Minas Basin Pulp & Power, Oxford Frozen Foods, and Nova Scoti a Power have conceptualized the facility for the last number of years. Council’s approval marks a giant step towards their commitment to the strategic plan they adopted earlier this year. The basis of the plan provides assur- ances for environmental and economic growth and protecti on in the Municipality; this project promises advancement in both. Environmentally, providing “green power” to ap- proximately 34,000 homes will substanti ally reduce our dependence on greenhouse gas emitti ng coal, which is used to power most of our homes now. Economically, the Municipality will see a boost in general revenue, potenti ally up to $600,000 annu- ally. Because it’s general revenue and not property taxes, we aren’t required to allot over 60% to the Province. It can be spent on capital projects, like our aging sewer systems; newer initi ati ves, like climate change; and programs to improve the self-suffi cien- cy of our district. Since the vote, two appeals have been fi led with the Nova Scoti a Uti lity and Review Board (UARB) to have Council’s approval overturned. The fi rst appeal was fi led by Friends of South Ca- noe Lake. This group consists of thirteen local resi- dents and property owners. The second appeal was fi led by Richburg LP Management Inc, on behalf of Sherwood Golf & Country Club and Homburg Land Bank Corporati on, who is a property owner affi liated with Richburg LLC. The documents are lengthy and available to the public by calling the Community De- velopment Department at (902) 275-2599. Aft er fi ling an appeal with the UARB: • One or more preliminary hearings are set. • A public hearing is scheduled. It is anti cipated that this hearing will begin at the end of May and span several days, if necessary. Ads will be in the newspaper. • During the hearing, witnesses, experts, and representati ves from all sides will testi fy using evidence. Appellants will show how they feel the Municipality did not represent the Munici- pal Planning Strategy in their decision to ap- prove the Development Agreement, and the Municipality will defend their decision. • The Hearing is open to the public, but in order to speak, one must be called as a witness or expert or fi le an appeal. • The UARB makes a decision, which normally takes up to 60 days. This is a basic account of proceedings. The UARB’s website contains much more detailed in- formati on about public hearings than we can in- clude in this newslett er. Please visit the site at htt p://nsuarb.novascoti a.ca/content/user-guide-0 SOUTH CANOE WIND PROJECT With the decision fi nally made, what does this project mean for the Municipality of the District of Chester and its residents? Discover business in Lunenburg Queens WhyHere.ca/Business Business opportunity... A skilled workforce... Access to the world... The lifestyle you desire... It’s all Here! Your business... should be Here! P.R.O. Kids off ers fi nancial assistance to families from the Municipali- ty of the District of Chester whose children can’t parti cipate in sport, recreati on and cultural acti viti es because of the cost. This program gives kids an opportunity to parti cipate instead of watching from the sidelines. P.R.O. Kids builds confi dence and lead- ership skills, promotes physical acti vity, improves health, and devel- ops friendships. Find out more (902) 275-3490. Recently several businesses, individuals, a community group and Municipal Council saw it in their hearts to make several kids’ dreams come true. They provided several deserving P.R.O. Kids families with ti ckets to the NHL Legends Game at the Chester Rink on Tuesday, February 26. The winners of the ti ckets were drawn from a hat. Now it’s our turn to say THANK YOU! YOU’RE WELCOME! YOU DESERVE IT! Earlier this month, Municipal Council crossed all of their T’s and dotted their I’s in prepara- tion to construct the Municipality’s wind tur- bine at the Kaizer Meadow site. Our wind turbine was the first to be ap- proved under the Province of Nova Scotia’s “Community Feed-In Tariff” program (COM- FIT). The program encourages the generation of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydro. The project is 100% owned by the Munici- pality and coordinated by Minas Basin Pulp and Power, whose staff have tremendous ex- perience with wind energy projects. The wind turbine has the capacity to gener- ate two megawatts of electricity at any given time, which will be consumed locally by ap- proximately 550 homes. The total capital cost of the project is $5.66 million. Some of the cost will be funded through reserves as well as the Gas Tax Fund. The Gas Tax Fund is accessible to municipali- ties under the condition that the money only be used to finance capital projects that sup- port sustainability, such as renewable energy. Out of the total cost, $1.3 million is Gas Tax and $500,000 is from the Municipality’s re- serves. The rate of return is 11.4%, estimated to be $290,000 net revenue averaged per year over 20 years at least. The turbine itself will be purchased from En- ercon Canada Inc. It has a two-year warranty that kicks in after a 120-hour trial operation, plus a fifteen year service clause that will pro- tect us from any malfunctions. The height of the tower is expected to be 98 metres. During the construction phase we hope to post pictures online at our website. If you have any questions or comments about this project, please contact the Munici- pal Office or your Councillor. Saturday, April 20 Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, 9-11am. Meat Dart Shoot Chester Basin Legion, noon. Ticket Auction Forties Community Centre, 2pm. Doors open at noon. 689-2612 or 689-2000. Musical Variety Show, Dinner and Auction Presented by Parish of St. Martins and Western Shore at Martins River Fire Hall, 6pm. 275-5434 or 627-2748. Country Jamboree Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. Cover Up Playing at Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. 19 years and over welcome. Spring Fling Dance New Ross Fire Hall, 9pm-1am. 689-2018 Sunday, April 21 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Monday, April 22 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm. Call 1-888-236-6283. Meeting Basin Gardeners at Aenon Baptist Church, 2pm. 273-2000. Friday, April 26 Short Notice Playing at Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. 19 years and over welcome. Saturday, April 27 DEADLINE Book your Mayfest Yard Sale table at the District #1 Community Centre by today. Sale is on May 4, 8am-3pm. Call 228-2738. 3rd Annual Farmers Market Chester Area Middle School, 9am-1pm. Tables $25 each or $20+item for school fundraiser. Flea Market tables $10 each (school groups free). Call 275-5415 or 275-5945. Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am 5Get updates via email...visit www.chester.ca and sign up for alerts COMMUNITY INTEREST Phase 2 has begun and there are plenty of improvements on the way! Such as: • A new entry area, including roadways • A new administration building • A double RV dump station • 52 new or upgraded sites (33 will have water and electrical hookups) • A new group campsite and eight walk-in tent sites • Replacing the water distribution system • Adding a dishwashing station near the washroom Work on the campground is scheduled for completion by the end of July, except for the administration building which will be ready by the 2014 season. Meanwhile, a temporary office will be used this season. Roadwork at the entry loop will be ready by Opening Day on June 14, and the re- maining campsites will open as soon as the grass establishes itself. For public safety, access to the park is restricted to the perimeter walking trail. Please respect posted warning signs, stay well away from the active work area, and watch out for construction vehicles. Saturday, April 27 Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am. Fashion Show Presented by All is New Again Frenchy’s and Penny’s Chic Boutique. New Ross Fire Hall, 1:00-3:30pm. 689-2113. Spring Tea Chester Legion, 1-4pm Turkey Dinner Chester United Baptist Church, 4-6pm. Sunday, April 28 Variety Dinner and Auction Forties Community Centre, 4-6pm. Proceeds for Norwood Lodge. Thursday, May 2 Six-week course by Seniors College As- sociation of NS The Supreme Court of Canada and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms at St. Stephen’s Community Centre, 1:30pm. Register at www.thescans.ca 2nd Annual Family Bingo Night Forest Heights Community School, doors open at 6pm. Guest performanc- es, auction, prizes, and refreshments. Friday, May 3 TGIF (Casual Meal)Chester Basin Legion, 5:30pm. Also, Jam Show at 7pm and May Pole lighting. Saturday, May 4 & Sunday, May 5 May Fest 2013 Yard sales, flea markets and activities across the Municipality. Sunday, May 5 Crib Tournament Forties Community Ctr., noon. 689-2147 Saturday, May 11 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Hubbards Farmers’ Market Opening Hubbards Barn & Community Park, 8am-12pm. Every Saturday til Oct. 26. Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Chester Basin Legion, 12:30-2:30pm. Call 275-4767 or 275-2577. Sunday, May 19 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Saturday, May 25 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Community Garden We are expanding our vegetable gar- den. If you have interest in planning, planting or picking, please call Jen at (902) 275-3555, ext. 1202. Half of the harvest is for Lighthouse Food Bank, and the other half is for helpers! GRAVES ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK Update from the NS Department of Natural Resources Kaizer Meadow Wind Turbine Project Ready to Go PROJECT SCHEDULE • Site clearing April • Civil construction May-June • Foundation construction July-Aug • Turbine delivery Sept/Oct • Completion* Oct-Dec *the substantial part of the project will be completed by this time. The Department of Transportati on and Infra- structure Renewal (TIR) have posted that road restricti ons will be lift ed by May 6, but check with them regularly because the date could change depending on the weather. Their phone number is 1-888-432-3233 and the website is http://novascotia.ca/tran/trucking/spring- weight.asp One more thing... If you order a green cart, please have your civic number posted so we can fi nd your address. Please use clear bags for all garbage over the one black bag limit. 3. Know your limit... Per collecti on, each household can put out SIX bags of garbage (one black, fi ve clear), TEN bags of recyclables (each bundle of cardboard is equal to one bag), and ONE green cart. 4. Keep the compost comin’ Despite limitati ons imposed on our waste col- lecti on because of road closure, we are perse- vering! The collector is collecti ng with a smaller truck to comply with Provincial Spring Weight Restricti ons, BUT the smaller truck doesn’t have the proper lift to empty green carts. To avoid a build up of compost, they will collect organic material in compostable bags ONLY IF THE BAG IS CERTIFIED. Certi fi ed compostable bags will have this logo on the outside of the box. PROPERTY SERVICES 6 Spring Renovation or New Construction Apply for Development Permit (only in zoned areas - call 275-2599 to inquire) Apply for Sewer Permit (if connecti ng to central sewer Call 275-1312 or go online for applicati ons) Apply for Building Permit (call 275-3080 to see if required) If all paperwork is in order, it usually takes up to two days for approval (fee paid with applicati on). STEP ONE Applicati ons are available at the Municipal Offi ces in Chester. STEP TWO Applicati ons are reviewed for approval by Municipality. If all informati on is complete, it’s usually up to two days for approval (fee paid with applicati on). If applicati on is in order, it takes up to seven days for approval, which includes site inspecti on and assessment of system capac- ity and by-laws (a deposit for esti mated cost of labour and materials is paid aft er the site inspecti on and before approval) Depending on locati on and type of project, Sewer and Development Permits must be included. In some cases, a Breaking Soils Applicati on is required from the Department of Transportati on as well. STEP THREE Work and inspecti ons begin. The Chief Building Inspector will make a series of regular inspecti ons before, during and aft er constructi on. The Maintenance Supervisor schedules a sub-contractor and fl aggers to connect to the central system. Then, an inspecti on is conducted to make sure the installati on meets Municipal Specifi - cati ons. If the private porti on cannot be conveniently scheduled at the same ti me, the public porti on is capped. STEP FOUR Completi on If constructed according to the Building Code, the Chief Building Inspector issues an Occupancy Permit Actual costs will be calculated against the deposit and either a refund or an additi onal invoice will be issued. Aft er payment (yours or ours) is made, fi nal approval is sent to the Community Development and Finance Departments. IT’S IN THE MAIL Interim tax bills go out April 2013 and as always, you can call the Tax Department at (902) 275- 3554 if you have any questi ons or comments. Some things you should know about your bill... • The due date is June 14, 2013. • Check your bill closely. If your mailing or civic address is incorrect, noti fy us immediately by calling (902) 275-3554, faxing (902) 275-4771 or emailing propertytax@chester.ca. • Please bring your municipal account numbers with you when paying in person at the tax of- fi ce. It speeds up the process. These numbers are clearly indicated on the remitt ance porti on of your tax bill. • Please ensure that you use all eight digits of your municipal account number (including any zeroes at the front) when paying your account online with your fi nancial insti tuti on. • Please note that if you have appealed your assessment, but the decision for any changes are not received unti l aft er the interim tax bill has been processed, the interim bill will re- main as is and all adjustments will be made on the fi nal tax bill. • Questi ons regarding your property tax assess- ment should be directed to Property Valu- ati on Services Corporati on (PVSC) at 1-800- 380-7775. • Questi ons regarding deeds should be directed to the Registry of Deeds at (902)527-5379. IF YOU OWN PROPERTY IN THE MUNICIPALITY AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INTERIM TAX BILL BY MAY 1, 2013 PLEASE CONTACT THE TAX DE- PARTMENT IMMEDIATELY AT (902) 275-3554. Kaizer Meadow Hours of Operati on Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm Saturday 8am – 12pm Sunday Closed phone (902) 275-2330 fax (902) 275-1468 email info@kaizermeadow.ca url: www.KaizerMeadow.ca WASTECOLLECTIONCAN BE MADEEASY Doing something once is a whole lot easier (and less frustrati ng) than redoing it. It’s the same with solid waste. The key is knowing what to do with it the fi rst ti me around. Try this... 1. Keep recyclables separate from paper Paper goes to a diff erent locati on than plasti cs and metals for processing. People working on the conveyor belt in the recycling plant do not have ti me to re-sort or remove the paper. 2. Only one black bag per collection: the rest are clear We will only take one black garbage bag per collecti on. Anything over that will be rejected. the 2013 Waste Collecti on Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop into the Municipal Offi ce to pick one up PROPERTY SERVICES 7Our Recreati on Map & Guide is also available online under “Recreati on Brochures” in the Document Library Chester MunicipalCIVIC ADDRESSING “Addressing” Municipal By-Law #139 Fire Departments want to remind everyone who lives on a private road that your civic num- ber MUST be posted at the beginning of your driveway to your house or business. An emer- gency vehicle will fi nd the road you live on, turn into that road and then keep driving unti l they see your civic number posted at or near your house. Is it most important (and in the Civic Address By-law!) that you post your civic number at the beginning of your driveway and not at the be- ginning of the private road. Posti ng your civic number on a private road sign is NOT mandatory, and the Municipality does not regulate what is posted on a private road sign. Civic numbers posted on private road signs are considered extra directi onal signs to let everyone know that you live on this road. If you do post a civic number plate on a road sign, make sure it doesn’t interfere with any other signage on this road, especially someone else’s civic number. If there is a problem, we will contact you to resolve the issue. Cott age Owners: Did you know? Cott age owners who have a gated road should make sure that a key to the gate is given to your local fi re department in case of an emergency. Also, any homeowner whose driveway is gated should do the same. Please contact your local One year ago, Council established the “Climate Change Acti on Plan Team” to learn what the Municipality of the District of Chester could potenti ally face because of Climate Change. What has happened since then? What did the Team fi nd out? Who will be aff ected? fi re department and arrange to give them a copy of the gate key. Also, gated roads can’t be accessed by the Civic Addressing Coordinator to verify if a civic number is correct or to confi rm that a building exists for the Emergency 911 System. You can contact the Civic Addressing Coordi- nator by calling (902) 275-2599. Waste not... Enjoy some of our public spaces: • Trail systems and skate park • Municipal gazebos and Library • Parks and playground • Islands and beaches Call 275-3490 for a copy of our Recreati on Map & Guide Hang around...A-boat ti me... Remember to be responsible with your waste while visiti ng public spaces or picnicking. Don’t litt er, use recycling opti ons when available, and don’t illegal- ly dump household garbage. During boati ng season, we off er: • Free pump out services (call 275-1312 for an appointment) • Free access to municipal wharves, fl oats and launches • Sorti ng guides for waste Call 275-1312 for limitati ons Municipal Cli m a t e C h a n g e A c t i o n P l a n Basically the Team - consisti ng of municipal staff - investi gated all of the potenti al hazards, vulnerable areas and municipal infrastructure that may be af- fected by climate change. Hazards identi fi ed: • Flooding, including storm surges • Hurricanes • Extreme sudden weather events, such as tornadoes, hail storms, etc. • Severe winter storms • Heat waves • Drought • Forest fi re • Disease • Agricultural and forest plant adap- tati on may not be as rapid as the change in climate • Change in coastal water temperature may aff ect existi ng species or foster the growth of invasive species The Team also identi fi ed key municipal faciliti es and infrastructure that could be aff ected by the potenti al hazards. Infra- structure, such as central sewer systems, and wharves could be greatly aff ected; whereas, others could remain totally un- aff ected, like sidewalks inland. How infrastructure is aff ected of course depends on the hazard. Staff disti n- guished the expected outcomes, includ- ing washouts and depleti on of resources. Short- and medium-term prioriti es were recommended to protect our infra- structure. Also, suggesti ons were made on how to make residents aware of the potenti al impacts and vulnerable areas. Council reviewed the Acti on Plan and have forwarded it to both of the Planning Advisory Committ ees as well as the Fire Advisory Committ ee for consultati on. The Plan will be posted online once ad- opted. You can sti ll access it though by calling the Offi ce at (902) 275-3554. QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg. iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will open our website directly. Twitt er: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitt er account. Follow us and get regular updates and noti fi ca- ti ons about municipal issues. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the Municipality. If you have something to share, message us! To contact us about this newslett er... call: 902-275-3555 ext. 1202 email: communicati ons@chester.ca mail: Municipality of Chester c/o municipal insight 151 King Street, PO Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0 RESOURCES If you have questi ons about… call this Department at... this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Offi cer 277-0017 Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding) Recreati on & Parks Department 275-3490 Boat Launches Recreati on & Parks Department 275-3490 Building Permits/Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on Dept 275-3080 By-Laws By-Law Enforcement Offi cer 277-1589 Composti ng Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330 Council Meeti ngs Administrati on/Tax Department 275-3554 Derelict Vehicle Program Public Works Department 275-1312 Fire Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on Dept 275-3080 Islands (use of)Recreati on & Parks Department 275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312 Aft er Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreati on & 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 Administrati on/Tax Dept 275-3554 Waste Collecti on Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330 Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312 Zoning Planning Department 275-2599 fax mail email 902-275-4771 151 King Street administrati on@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreati on@chester.ca Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca Municipal Districts and Councillors #1 Blandford to East Chester area Andre Veinott e 277-1409 #2 Hubbards to Mill Cove and Simms Sett lement area Floyd Shatf ord 857-9817 #3 Village of Chester and part of Old Trunk #3 Brad Armstrong 275-3121 #4 Chester Basin to Chester Grant and Lower Grant Allen Webber 275-2536 #5 Marti n’s Point to Gold River area Robert Myra 627-2470 #6 New Ross area Tina Connors 679-4461 #7 Windsor Road to Marriott s Cove and Middle River Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Offi ce at (902) 275-3554 or click on the “Municipality” menu opti on on our website. Provincial Contacts Department of Environment ......................................................... 543-4685 Labour .................................................................. 543-0665 Natural Resources ................................................ 634-7555 Public Health ........................................................ 543-0850 Transportati on (Bridgewater) ............................... 543-8169 Transportati on (Marriott ’s Cove).......................... 275-3221 Property Valuati on 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 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 for University Positi ons has expired. Deadline to apply for High School positi ons is April 26. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. These litt le guys were having an adventure without their mom, and it looks like they found something very interesti ng... photo by Jen Veinott e Whoops! We goofed. In the last newslett er, we published a drawing showing a typical foundati on and wall secti on constructi on detail. Unfortunately, we failed to noti ce the insulati on values were incorrect. The following insulati on values should have been shown: Concrete Foundati on: R-20 Exterior Wall Framing: R-24 Ceiling/Atti c Insulati on: R-40 We strive for accuracy in our presentati ons and apologize for the oversight. This seems like a good opportunity to talk briefl y about “Rain Screen” products. The Building Code requires a 10 mm, (3/8”), air space to separate most siding material from the sheathing paper and wall structure. You may have noti ced on some buildings under construc- ti on the use of verti cal strapping or latti ce work behind the horizontal siding or shingles. This provides the required air space allowing mois- ture to drain to the exterior and the siding to dry aft er a rain. In the past, due to a lack of acceptable man- ufactured products, latti ce has been used and accepted behind shingle siding. New products have recently come on the market to address this defi ciency. Products such as “Vent Grid”, Home Slicker 10”, “Core Vent”, etc. are now readily available and meet the requirements for the 10 mm air space and free draining area. In light of this, the Municipality will no longer approve latti ce work for use as a “rain screen” material aft er June 1, 2013. If you have any questi ons, please contact the Community Development Department, Build- ing Division at (902) 275-3080, or call your local building supplies outlet.