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?
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in Lunenburg Queens
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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.