HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-12_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about December 2013
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
It seems like it has been a long time
in the making, but the Municipality’s
wind tower is days away from being up
and running, thanks to Minas Energy
who were the project managers. They
made sure construction was on time
and, more importantly, within budget.
If you made the trip to Kaizer Mead-
ow any time during the four months of
construction, you quickly sensed the
magnitude of the project. Initially, it was
run-of-the-mill; some clearing, a woods
road, nothing special. Then, construc-
tion began in earnest.
Each week, and then each day, brought
something new at which to marvel.
When the first crane arrived, it was im-
pressive. Then, when you realized that
the crane wasn’t going to assemble the
wind tower itself, but put together an-
other much bigger crane, all at once it
became extraordinary.
Once the foundation was poured, con-
struction of the tower went relatively
quickly. If you are interested in viewing
the progress of construction, we docu-
mented it by posting photos on our
website, www.chester.ca.
Parts started to arrive on October 11
with the blades and hub that holds them
together arriving almost two weeks lat-
er. The sheer size of the blades was in-
credible; 130’ long apiece, and each one
brought separately on a flatbed.
The real show stopper happened on
November 5. In a careful and steady lift,
the crane raised the assembled hub and
blades to the top of the wind tower.
Since then, the electrical system was
installed, final inspections completed,
and no stone left unturned in prepara-
tion for “energization”. Energization is
Happy Holidays to the Municipality!
the final step when the turbine is acti-
vated and wind is harnessed to produce
electricity.
To celebrate, we are hosting an Open
House and Tours for everyone at Kaizer
Meadows. On December 18, come out
to see the wind tower, take a look inside,
and then visit our Maintenance Building
for a few refreshments. Representatives
from Minas Energy and the Municipality
will also say a few words about the proj-
ect. The event is from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
and the invitation is on our website.
A little about the project...
• The Municipality invested $5.2 mil-
lion in this project. $1,325,000 was
funded by the federal government.
• Revenue from the turbine will bene-
fit the Municipality over the 20-year
contract with Nova Scotia Power.
This revenue is not subject to man-
datory provincial payments.
• The wind turbine’s life span is mini-
mum 20 years.
• The wind turbine is 100% municipal-
ly-owned.
• Our project was the first renewable
energy project approved in Nova
Scotia under the Province’s Commu-
nity Feed-In Tariff program.
• Enough electricity will be provided
to power 550 homes locally.
• Our turbine is a 2 MW single turbine.
• Ours is the first concrete tower in
Nova Scotia as well as the tallest in
the Province.
• The base of the tower is 30’ across,
and 16’ across at the top. The tow-
er itself is over 320’ tall, plus each
blade is 130’ long.
Gold River School Update
The Community Development and Recreation
& Parks Departments are moving to the former
Gold River/Western Shore School after the roof
is fixed and some renovations made.
Extra space in the building is available for
community use although who will use it or
how it will be used isn’t determined just yet.
We have a winner! Zoning in the Municipality Now there’s an idea!
Find out what this Unclear on zoning in the The Christmas gift that
woman has to smile Municipality? We give a gives twice! Check it out
about on Page 2. basic picture on Page 6. on Page 8.
Congratulations to Suzzanne Jollimore! She won the
“Gallant Antigua”; a stunning oil painting by local, well-
known artist Malcolm Callaway.
Malcolm painted and then donated the beautiful piece
to raise money for our PRO Kids program. Because of
his most kind and generous donation, PRO Kids received
around $800 to fund youth in our Municipality so they
can take part in sports, and other registered activities.
Thank you, Malcolm! Your contribution to PRO Kids is a
wonderful gift to the youth in our area!
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca
Well, it’s just a few weeks until Christmas,
so let me start by saying I hope you and your
families have a great holiday filled with the
spirit of the season.
In the past few months we have tried to
engage the public in a discussion about the
issue of mayor or warden system moving into
the next election. You will find the results
of the public response so far just below my
message. Draw your own conclusion, but it
seems that we have been unable to generate
a great deal of public response. The issue in
its simplest form is, do you believe you should
have a vote on who provides leadership for
the entire Municipality or not. Your opinion
deals a great matter to us, so I encourage you
to please make it known.
Many of you may have noticed that the wind
tower at Kaizer Meadow is complete, and
energization has taken place with commercial
operation to begin on January 1, 2014. We
will be holding an Open House to celebrate its
completion on December 18 at 1:00 p.m. All
are welcome! It’s your project!
You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal
Office at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at
(902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca
The Municipality has hired an Economic
Development Officer whose task it is to move
our Plan forward. Marianne and I attended the
recent annual general meeting of the Municipal
Chamber of Commerce where she was the
guest speaker. By fostering a close working
relationship with the business community, I
believe we can create an environment that will
increase the opportunity for business growth
in our communities.
You may have heard that the Municipality
has decided to keep the former Gold River/
Western Shore School property. We intend
to move the Recreation and Community
Development Departments next spring.
This facility was an important part of the
community, and we hope to lessen the impact
of the school closure by making this move as
well as alleviate the space constraints at the
Municipal Office in Chester, all at a substantially
reduced cost to other alternatives available to
us.
In our continuing effort to generate new
sources of revenue and to manage waste
with leading edge technologies, we are
developing a “proof of concept” industrial
vermicomposting facility in collaboration
with Dalhousie University’s Engineering
Department, mentored by our own Councillor
Veinotte. The Municipality is also looking at
waste-to-energy projects that may be suitable
for a variety of municipal solid waste streams
with the potential for reducing the per tonne
cost of processing, and create a value-added
end product as a revenue source.
I had the pleasure of kicking off the festive
season in my own community of Chester Basin
on November 29 by helping Santa out at our
Christmas Tree Lighting in singing a few carols
with old and new friends alike. Thanks to all
those who helped out; it was a lot of fun.
In closing, I’d like to thank Council and Staff
for their support over the past year and wish
each and every one of you all the best in 2014.
2
Public Hearing - A Public Hearing is set
for December 23 at 6:30 p.m. in Council
Chambers for a radio-communications
antenna proposed for the Chester Basin
area. Originally, the tower was to be
erected near the Fire Hall, but the location
recently changed. An alternate location
(still in Chester Basin) was selected. Submit
written comments to the Community
Development Department, 186 Central
Street, P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 or
email wdegrace@chester.ca. You can also
fax comments to (902) 275-2598.
South Canoe Wind Project - Warden Allen
Webber and the Municipal Clerk, Pam Myra,
have signed a development agreement
between the Municipality and the partners
constructing South Canoe Wind Project.
The agreement permits the construction of
34 wind turbines in the New Ross area. It’s
estimated that the project will cost around
$200 million dollars.
South Canoe is another project approved
under the Province’s Community Feed-In
Tariff Program that encourages and promotes
renewable energy in Nova Scotia as part of
their Sustainability Plan.
IN BRIEF...Holiday Hours - Municipal Offices at 151
King Street and 186 Central Street will close
on Tuesday, December 24 at 12:00 noon,
and will reopen on Thursday, January 2,
2014 for regular business hours, which
are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Council meeting
on Thursday, December 26 is cancelled.
Waste collection is cancelled on December
25 and January 1. It is rescheduled for the
following Saturdays. Collection is as usual
on December 26 (page 7 has more info).
The Landfill is closed on December 25,
December 26, and January 1.
Maybe you have seen some flyers around the
community, heard people talking, saw it in the
last newsletter. Whichever way you heard, we’re
happy you let us know what you think! So far,
out of forty participants...
35% = mayor
65% = warden
And, if you haven’t heard, Council is still
looking for opinions on whether to switch from
our current warden-based system to a mayoral.
There are a few options to choose from:
1. Keep things as they are, with a Warden
elected by Council;
2. Add a Mayor, plus keep a Councillor for each
of the seven districts in the Municipality;
3. Add a Mayor and decrease the number of
districts by one.
Of course, it’s not as easy as all that. There are
many more details to consider. Please contact
us or visit our website at www.chester.ca.
• Email us at communications@chester.ca
• Talk to your Councillor (contact information is
on the back page)
• Phone us at (902) 275-3555 ext 1202
Upd
a
t
e
Have an opinion? Let’s
hear it...
WARDEN
or
MAYOR
STRATEGIC PLAN
3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca
THECAO
REPORT
Once a month, our Chief Administrative
Officer (CAO) reports our progress
on various projects to Council. Since
Council adopted a Strategic Plan, many
of our actions are now focused on
achieving those goals. Here are a few
of the highlights from Erin’s last report,
and some of what we’re doing as a
Municipality.
Ensure sufficient infrastructure is
available to best serve our residents and
businesses
• A section of trail (3km) between East River
towards Hubbards is resurfaced. Another
2.5km will be done if weather cooperates.
• New trail signage will be installed.
• We “test drove” a bush hog, which is kind
of like a mower that is towed behind a
tractor. It’s a more efficient way to keep
the trail cut back and open.
• Western Shore Wharf will be sold, and as
previously agreed upon, the public can
continue to use the wharf as usual.
• Wind tower at Kaizer Meadow is up!
• We have repaired several manholes in the
Village of Chester to reduce inflow and in-
filtration.
Promote conditions conducive to
fostering economic prosperity
• We applied for funding to the Resource
Recovery Fund Board to research treat-
ment of organics at Kaizer Meadow.
• Warm welcome to Marianne Gates, our
new Economic Development Officer!
• “Management without Borders” is a Dal-
housie program that will study the fea-
sability of integrated forestry, bio-ener-
gy and eco-park development at Kaizer
Meadow. A student group visited the site
recently, and we look forward to their
findings.
Since the last newsletter, we’ve received four compliments and one
complaint. We like to publish everything submitted in case others are
experiencing the same situation.
• Council received a compliment from a local community group for
their continued support, their willingness to listen, and assistance
with projects;
• A compliment was given to the Municipality for their work on the
newsletter; and
• Two compliments were given to the Recreation & Parks Department:
the first was for their work on the trail and the second was directed
towards a staff person.
• The only complaint was with respect to a Council meeting. It was
felt that Council allows members without an appointment to speak
sometimes while not permitting it other times. In general, the policy
is that everyone who makes an appointment to address Council can
present or speak. If there isn’t a previous appointment, Council can
decide at the time to hear a speaker or not. If all of Council agrees,
an address can be made. As a rule, the gallery (where the audience
sits) is for spectating. To make an appointment to address Council,
contact the Municipal Clerk, Pam Myra, at (902) 275-3554 or email
her at pmyra@chester.ca a week before the scheduled meeting.
BOSS or BUST REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT
You can pay us a compliment or register a complaint about our
services in several ways.
FIRST, call us. Our telephone number for general inquiries and
comments is (902) 275-3554. Leaving your name is optional.
SECOND, email us. Send your email to the Municipal Clerk
(pmyra@chester.ca). Pam will reply and contact the right
person for you.
THIRD, fill in our online form. Visit our website at www.chester.
ca. Click the “Register a Compliment or Complaint” button on
the right, fill in the form and submit!
FOURTH, come in and see us. We are at 151 King Street in
Chester and open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to
Friday (except for holidays).
We are always available to accept feedback from residents. In
fact, it is residents who we provide service to, so if you are
either happy or unhappy with how the service is provided,
please let us know.
Continually improve public satisfaction
with municipal services
• We are preparing for an internal audit.
The audit will tell us where we need to
improve as far as quality management
goes. It’s also a precursor to our ISO
Certification coming up this spring.
• We are conducting an operational review
of the Public Works Department to
identify any areas for improvement. The
results should be in shortly.
Maintain a high level of
fiscal responsibility
• Financial reports are available on a quar-
terly basis.
• The Recreation and Community Develop-
ment Departments will move to the for-
mer Gold River/Western Shore School,
which will alleviate space and storage
issues as well as provide space to local
groups for use.
Strengthen and support environmental,
cultural and social resources
• A community meeting was held in New
Ross to brainstorm ideas for programs,
and to let the public know about services
that the Recreation Department offers.
• Council approved the final draft of the
Municipal Climate Change Adaptation
Plan, and it will be available online shortly.
• PRO Kids will receive 20 full sets of hock-
ey gear valued at approximately $20,000
from the NHL Players Association! They
also raised around $3,200 thanks to the
support of local organizations.
Welcome to Marianne Gates, our new Economic Development Officer.
In August 2013, Council approved the Economic Development Strategy. This report was a first step to taking a pro-active approach through
developing an economic plan and laid out the direction to become more investment ready, business friendly and economically diverse. Marianne
will lead and coordinate the Municipality’s efforts and work with community leaders and entrepreneurs to make things happen. This will not be
accomplished alone. A key focus includes continuing good relationships with numerous community and regional partners. As we move forward
with implementation, collaboration is critical every step of the way.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
4Look for “Explore Life” on our website and discover the recreation possibilities! Or, call 275-3490.
Parking has always been an issue at New Ross
Fairgrounds. Even with the kind offer of a private
field across the street.
So, when the Forties Road received a much-
needed paving last spring, Marty Murphy saw
an opportunity. Being the resourceful guy that
he is, he called his MLA, Denise Peterson-Rafuse,
to see if some of the leftover ditching material
could be purchased to enlarge the parking area
at the Fairgrounds. Marty is member of the New
Ross Farmers’ Association; a group that owns,
operates, and maintains the grounds.
Vicki Perry, Denise’s assistant, said sure, but
why not apply for a grant under a facilities
improvement program offered by the Nova
Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and
Heritage.
And so it began...
From there, an application was made and the
facility received an impressive $27,000 from the
province; well over half of the group’s entire
project cost, which was $44,068.00.
To help cover the remaining deficit, the group
applied to the Municipality of the District of
Chester for a $5,000 grant under the Council
Grants program, which they received in full.
They also relied heavily on community support
and $7,500 in volunteer labour and in-kind
donations of materials and equipment.
Improvements are scheduled for completion
by next June. They have a lot to accomplish, but
by the looks of things, they may even be ahead
of schedule! Work includes,
• levelling wooded and rough areas into
gravelled parking spaces;
• improving existing parking;
• realigning some roads;
• improving draining and ditching;
• relocating the light horse 4H ring and
fences to a larger area;
• repurposing the existing horse ring into an
area for camper parking, complete with
possible electrical hookups; and
• adding a power pole and relocating another.
New Ross Fairgrounds is no stranger to
improvements though. In the last five years,
volunteers have installed new flush washrooms,
constructed an “activity canopy” for outdoor
events, put new siding on their concession
stands, raised and levelled the stands, installed
a boardwalk, purchased new furniture for the
activity canopy, improved walkways, put a new
roof on one of the stables, and built bleachers.
It’s been a busy few years...
To help towards the staggering cost of
renovations, the facility has received over
$50,000 in grant money from municipal,
provincial and federal levels of government.
Combine this capital with the resourcefulness
of volunteers, an incredible amount of donated
labour, hours of fundraising efforts, and the
support of a community, and the end result is a
success story worthy of notice.
With all of the upgrades, the Fairgrounds are
being used more than before, which was part of
the plan from the start. In fact, the New Ross
Regional Development Society identified the
Fairgrounds as underutilized in their Strategic
Plan, and sees it as a top priority.
It’s a great facility for gatherings with a large
number of outdoor amenities, including animal
competition rings, a stage, and lots of space.
Activities held at the grounds range from
the Annual New Ross Fair to family events to
motorcycle club rallies.
Yep, pretty soon the Fairgrounds will be busier
than ever. And that’s just fine with New Ross
Farmers’ Association.
Parking Leads to...More Parking
New Ross Fairgrounds gets a major makeover
Schedule of Events (all events take place in New Ross)
Friday, Dec. 6
Hot chocolate & cookies - Credit Union; Community Supper - Legion; Tree Lighting - The Cross (hot
chocolate - Vittles); Holiday Light Exchange - Home Hardware; and Magic with Mike - School gym.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Breakfast - Fire Hall; Craft Fair, Festival Stage, and Photo Exhibit - School; Craft Fair - Legion; German
Christkindlmarkt - by Picnic Park; Kids crafts and fun - Family Resource Centre grounds; Cider with
Cecilia - 4865 Hwy 12; Festival Concert - Anglican Christ Church; and Dance - Legion.
Saturday, Dec. 7 & Sunday Dec. 8
Geo-caching - various locations; Festival specials - Country Delight; Walk - Community Park; Black-
smithing Demos - Scotian Ironworks; U-picks - various; Turkey Dinner & Craft Market - Forties Com-
munity Centre; Christmas in the Country - Ross Farm; and Fashions - All is New Again Frenchy’s.
Sunday, Dec. 8
Ecumenical Church Service - St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church; Miniature Building Display - 618
Mill Road; and Holiday Tea & Tour - various locations.
These magnificent prints, done by local artist Sharon Boyd, are avail-
able for purchase in support of the Chester Junior Golf Program and
PRO Kids. Contact Castle Building Centre in Chester for purchase. Cost
is $100 each print or $500 for a numbered collection of all four.
Winter is coming.
So is Explore Life.
Look in your mailbox for your copy
on January 7.
Shown is an event at a past New Ross Fair
that takes place every year in August. Inset:
Just another day volunteering in New Ross!
Working hard at seeding some of the
improvements at the front.
5Contact us about this newsletter: communications@chester.ca or call (902) 275-3555 ext. 1202 or mail 151 King Street, P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Thursday, Dec. 5 Seniors’ Christmas
Party
Hubbards Area Lions Club, 2-4pm.
Lunch at 2pm. Music, prizes, fun.
Friday, Dec. 6 to
Sunday, Dec. 8
20th Annual New
Ross Christmas
Festival
Look on Page 5 for the full schedule of
events!
Friday, Dec. 6
LED Holiday Light
Exchange
New Ross Home Hardware, 5:00-
7:30pm until quantities last. One
exchange per person.
Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. Members
and guests 19 years and over.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30 am.
Carol Singing Lordly House Museum, 2-4pm. Chil-
dren’s choir will help with singing!
Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am.
Christmas Dance
Chester Basin Legion, 9pm-1am. Tick-
ets on sale now. Members and guests
19 years and over. 275-4767.
St. George’s Church
Lobster Supper &
Variety Show
Union Hall, East River. Choose be-
tween lobster or turkey. Variety Show,
6:30-8:30pm.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Christmas at the
Hubbards Barn 8:00am-noon. www.hubbardsbarn.org
Penny Auction Chester Legion, 8:30am-1:30pm. Call
275-3353.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Christmas Jamboree
and Memory Tree
Lighting
Little Red School, Canaan, 7pm. Local
musicians, draws and lunch provided.
Sunday, Dec. 15
Breakfast with Santa Forties Community Centre, 8-11am.
Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 14th Annual Sing
Choirs
Chester United Baptist Church,
7:30pm. Free will offering for Our
Health Centre. 275-5864.
Friday, Dec. 20 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. Members
and guests 19+.
Saturday, Dec. 21
Christmas at the
Hubbards Barn
8:00am-noon. www.hubbardsbarn.org
Photos with Santa!
Christmas Party with
“Hog the Covers”
Chester Legion, 9pm-1am. Members
and guests 19 years and over.
Sunday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
Aenon Baptist Church, Chester Basin,
6:30pm. Free will offering to Missions.
Saturday, Dec. 28 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Tuesday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Dance
With “Life of Riley” at District #1 Com-
munity Centre, Blandford, 9pm-1am.
Tickets are $20 each and available
from The Deck, Between Friends and
Fred, 228-2606.
Wednesday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Levee Chester Basin Legion, 1pm. Doors
open at noon.
A huge “THANK YOU” to the many
Lighthouse Foodbank supporters over
the past year.
Individuals, families, churches, schools,
local businesses and many community
groups have all contributed food, money,
time and energy to ensure the Foodbank
has been able to provide services within
CHESTER GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 30 to Sunday, December 15
This year’s Gingerbread Festival is off to a great start if the population of “flat guys” is
any indication. Enter the “best flat guy” competition and win a cool 150 bucks, or just
vote on the Festival’s Facebook page. The contest is open to all residents of the Munici-
pality and Tancook Islands until December 14 at 3p.m. Don’t have a “flat guy”? Get one at
Castle Building Supplies on North Street for $20 each.
The Enchanted Forest is home to beautiful gingerbread houses! Visit - and vote for
your favourite - on weekends at the Chester Art Centre.
Indulge your sweet tooth at restaurants featuring gingerbread treats, make gingerbread
tree ornaments at Light My Fire Studio, and find those special gift items at local mer-
chants and at the Craft Fair in Chester District Elementary School on December 7 from
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Swing by Mecklenburgh Inn's magical Christmas Window featuring a toy train dis-
play and tune up at the Lordly House Carol Sing on December 7.
Check out chesterartcentre.ca for times and dates of ongoing events and view
great photos and events at Gingerbread Festival Chester on Facebook.
the Municipality. This includes supplying
basic food and a few household and
personal products. We are also advising
clients about ways to prepare and serve
foods that may be unfamiliar to many,
such as eggplant, plantains, lentils and
chickpeas, items occasionally delivered
by Feed Nova Scotia.
Preparations are now underway to
put together our Christmas Hampers
for distribution on December 20. Two
changes from recent years should be
noted: hampers may be picked up from
the Foodbank at the Annex, not the
Legion, and we are open the Friday
before Christmas so that there is food
on the table for Christmas day. The last
regular Foodbank day is December 18,
2013 and we reopen on January 8, 2014.
To sum up, the Lighthouse Foodbank
sees the Spirit of Christmas is not limited
to a few weeks in December but is very
much alive all year long.
“Because Hunger is in
every community”
~ contributed
Letter of THANKS
MUNICIPAL GRANTS
6Want to check out one of our by-laws? They are all listed on www.chester.ca or drop in to the Municipal Office.
IN THEZONE
A general “guide” to zoning
in the Municipality
“Zoning” means applying controls to land that
limits its use to specific activities. For example,
some property can be used for industrial or
agricultural purposes while others can only be
used for residences.
Zoning helps shape communities and is usually
applied to areas where residents express an
interest in identifying to developers where and
what they can construct.
A “zone” is a specified area of land in which
uses are permitted and development standards
such as height and setback from the property
line are applied.
Many people in the Municipality of the District
of Chester - and in Canada for that matter - burn
wood for heat. It’s up to them to burn safely
and responsibly. Below are a few websites with
various information that might be of assistance.
The Department of Energy offers advice on
how to buy, measure, and store wood for the
winter as well as how to burn efficiently; both
saving you money and reducing pollutants which
GRANTS
GRANTED
As always, requests far exceed the amount of
money available under the Recreation & Parks
Department grant program. This year, out of the
$20,000 budget, $19,600 was donated to local
non-profit organizations (below).
Staff in Recreation expect the overwhelming
response though. They personally contact each
and every community group within the Munici-
pality to let them know about the program well
before the deadline, which is in October.
The Recreation Committee, which is repre-
sented by Council, Municipal Staff and com-
munity members, had some hard decisions to
make. In the end, they were happy with the
list of recommendations they made to Council
on October 30, 2013. There is a mix of groups
from all over the Municipality, and each group
received at least a portion of the funds they re-
quested except for larger grants, which were re-
ferred to Council under their grant program.
The table below lists the organizations that
applied, the amount of financial support they
requested, and the amounts recommended to
and approved by Council.
All of the money budgeted for the Recreation
and Parks grant program was allocated except
for $400 - this is reserved until March 31 for pos-
sible start-up grants.
Start-up grants are only available to newly-
formed organizations. Applicants must repre-
sent a non-profit group within the Municipality
of the District of Chester. Often, there are addi-
tional grants available through Provincial or Fed-
eral funding, so a conversation with the Director
of Recreation is encouraged before a group ap-
plies for funding under the start-up program. If
no one applies for a start-up grant by March 31,
the remaining money is donated to PRO Kids.
Municipal Council also offers a grant program
to non-profit groups, but groups are only eli-
gible to apply and receive funds from one pro-
gram per year.
Requests received under the Council grant
program are reviewed more frequently and al-
low for organizations outside the Municipality
as long as they serve our residents. Many groups
undertaking a large capital project will approach
Council for a monetary request.
To learn about financial support through the
Recreation & Parks Department or through Mu-
nicipal Council, please visit our website at www.
chester.ca and open the applications found in
the Document Library. The criteria is outlined
on the first page of each form.
If you are a community group in the Municipa-
ity, and would like to be included in the Recre-
ation Department’s mailing list, please call (902)
275-3490 or email recreation@chester.ca
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT REQUESTED AMOUNT APPROVED
Aspotogan Arts & Crafts $300.00 $300.00
Aspotogan Recreation Association $1,200.00 $1,000.00
Basin Gardeners Association $1,000.00 $500.00
Blandford Seasiders Seniors Club $1,000.00 $500.00
Charing Cross Garden Club $600.00 $500.00
Chester Art Centre Association $1,400.00 $1,200.00
Chester Basin Over 40 Club $1,000.00 $500.00
Chester Curling Club $400.00 $400.00
Chester District Swimming Program $2,500.00 $2,100.00
Chester Garden Club $3,000.00 $1,500.00
Chester Junior Sailing/Opti-Jam (CYC)$3,000.00 $1,500.00
Chester Minor Hockey $2,500.00 $2,000.00
Chester Seaside Farmer & Artisan Market $500.00 $400.00
Forties Community Centre $3,325.00 $700.00
Forties Garden Club $1,600.00 $500.00
HHELPS $1,500.00 $700.00
New Ross Gold Age Club $500.00 $400.00
New Ross Legion $1,060.00 $800.00
Ocean Swells Community Centre $1,500.00 $1,000.00
Shoreham Village Volunteer Program $1,700.00 $1,000.00
Western Shore Legion Veteran Ball Park $3,373.00 $2,100.00
TOTAL $32,958.00 $19,600.00
COMMUNITY INTEREST
are harmful to people (especially those with an
existing condition like asthma or COPD) and the
environment. Visit http://www.novascotia.ca/
energy/consumer-information/energy-prices/
wood-heating.asp
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment (CCME) collaborated to come up
with a Code of Practice for Residential Wood
Burning Appliances, which offers insights to the
health and environmental effects of wood smoke
as well as provides standards and comparisons
for wood burning appliances. View it at http://
www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/pn_1479_wood_
burning_code_eng.pdf
And just for the heck of it, here is the website
for the Nova Scotia Department of Natural
Resources that provides regulations and
information about burning permits for open
burning: http://www.novascotia.ca/snsmr/
paal/dnr/paal082.asp
Have a burning question? (pun intended...) Maybe these organizations can answer them
There are five general types of zones in the
Municipality of the District of Chester.
Residential: A zone that permits housing. This
zone varies based on desired density – whether
single family dwellings or multi-unit buildings.
Sometimes design standards are required, such
as in the Village of Chester.
Commercial: This zone permits many types of
retail and service use, such as stores, restaurants,
gas stations, motels and banks. The list of
possibilities is quite long. Mostly, commercial
zones are in the Village of Chester, but they also
exist in Mill Cove. These uses usually require
more parking than in other zones.
Institutional: The institutional zone permits
uses that serve the public such as schools,
hospitals, churches, fire halls and community
centres. Normally, these uses are in larger
buildings which require larger lots than other
zones.
Industrial: A zone that permits operations like
boat yards and marinas in the Village of Chester.
It does not exist in elsewhere in the Municipality.
General Basic: This is a kind of rural develop-
ment zone where all uses are permitted –
residential, commercial, institutional, industrial,
including larger manufacturing or processing
facilities. There are no established standards for
development. Some developments, however,
require special approvals because they could
potentially impact the environment.
If you have any questions or comments about
zoning, or lack of it, in your area, contact the
Community Development Department at (902)
275-2599 or email planning@chester.ca.
PROPERTY SERVICES
7
By-law Enforcement UPDATE
The last time we reported, we were without a By-law Enforcement Officer. The Municipality is still sticking
with Commissionaires and hired two part-time Officers. As always, if you want to report a by-law infraction,
contact the Community Development Department at (902) 275-2599 or email bylaw@chester.ca.
2013 Waste Collection Calendar
AVAILABLE MID-DECEMBER
• In your mailbox;
• At the Municipal Office, 151 King Street, Chester; or
• Online at our website: www.chester.ca
If you don’t receive a calendar, call the
Solid Waste Department at (902) 275-2330.
Adams Bottle Exchange in Gold River accepts empty aerosol cans.
Municipality of the District of Chester
Holiday Hours & Waste Collection Information
Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule:
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 CLOSING at noon
Wednesday, December 25, 2013 CLOSED for Christmas Day
Thursday, December 26, 2013 CLOSED for Boxing Day (Council meeting is cancelled)
Friday, December 27, 2013 CLOSED
Monday, December 30, 2013 CLOSED
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 CLOSED
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 CLOSED for New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 9, 2014 First Council meeting of the New Year
The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is:
Wednesday, December 25, 2013 CLOSED for Christmas Day
Thursday, December 26, 2013 CLOSED for Boxing Day
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 CLOSED for New Year’s Day
Waste Collection Information:
Waste collection previously scheduled for Wednesday, December 25 is rescheduled to Saturday, December 28. This affects those on
Wednesday Week A collection: Starting at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Hwy 3, including part of Haddon Hill Road and including
Marina Road, Robinsons Corner and part of Marriotts Cove. AS WELL AS Starting at the intersection of Route 14 and Hwy 3 to the Landfill
including Chester Grant Road to Route 12, Wake Up Hill Road and all of Route 14.
Waste collection scheduled for Thursday, December 26 will be collected as usual.
Waste collection previously scheduled for Wednesday, January 1 is rescheduled to Saturday, January 4. This affects those on Wednesday
Week B collection: Starting at Marina Road and ending at the intersection of Beech Hill Road and Hwy 3 and roads on Route 12 to Forest
Heights Community School including parts of Marriotts Cove, all of Middle River, Chester Basin (excluding Croft Road), and part of Route
12 to Forest Heights Community School.
WISHING ALL A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM COUNCILLORS AND STAFF
The 2013 Waste Collection Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop in to the Municipal Office to pick one up
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.
Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twit-
ter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications 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!
If you have questions about…call this Department...at this number
Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 277-0017
Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 275-3080
By-Laws Community Development Dept 275-2599
Composting Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-1312/275-2330
Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 275-3554
Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 275-3080
Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330
Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312
After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998
Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490
Planning Areas Community Development Dept 275-2599
Public Works (Municipal)Public Works Department 275-1312
Recycling Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-2330/275-1312
Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554
Waste Collection Public Works/Solid Waste Dept 275-2330/275-1312
Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312
Zoning Community Development Dept 275-2599
fax mail email
902-275-4771 151 King Street administration@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca
P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreation@chester.ca
Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca
Municipal Districts and Councillors
#1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove
Andre Veinotte 277-1409
#2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Shatford 857-9817
#3 Chester and part of East Chester
Brad Armstrong 275-3121
#4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 275-2536
#5 Gold River to Martins River
Robert Myra 627-2470
#6 New Ross and area
Tina Connors 679-4461
#7 Marriotts Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood
Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281
For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554
or click on the “Municipality” menu option on our website.
Provincial Contacts
Department of
Environment .........................................................543-4685
Labour ..................................................................543-0665
Natural Resources ................................................634-7555
Public Health ........................................................543-0850
Transportation (Bridgewater) ...............................543-8169
Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)..........................275-3221
Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775
MP Gerald Keddy ...................................................1-888-816-4446
...............................................................................527-5655
PART THREE: Just as there are committees
that engage the public in respect to issues
that will affect them, there are also “internal”
committees that consist of staff, management
and Council. The Municipality has six internal
committees:
• Audit and Budget Committee;
• Building Code & Unsightly Premises
Committee;
• Committee of the Whole;
• Health & Wellness Committee;
• Kaizer Meadow Advisory Committee; and
• Solid Waste Sub-Committee.
When Council is faced with an issue or
must make a decision, many times it is these
committees who do research, discuss the
implications, contact outside resources, or any
other action leading up to discussion at the
Council level. That’s why there is always at least
one Councillor on each committee.
If Council is satisfied with the advice and
options presented by these committees, they
will make a decision. If they are not satisfied,
the committee will go back and come up with
alternative recommendations.
Audit and Budget Committee
All councillors sit on this committee. This
Committee is where the annual budget is
discussed. The budget sets priorities through
capital projects, operating resources, and
programs. For example, if money is allocated
to a program such as recycling, the Committee
is giving priority to solid waste reduction.
This committee also reviews where the
Municipality is in terms of operating within
the budget, where money is spent and why.
Building Code & Unsightly Premises
Three Councillors sit on this Committee as
does the Director of Community Development,
Chief Building Inspector, By-Law Enforcement
Officer and other municipal staff.
This Committee reviews the remediation of
dangerous and unsightly premises; certain
orders from the Chief Building Inspector, such
as orders to demolish; and applications to the
Clean-up Assistance Program for unsightly
premises.
Committee of the Whole
This Committee is almost identical to Council.
All Councillors attend as well as the CAO,
Municipal Clerk, and Municipal Solicitor. This
is where Council can “informally” hash out
matters before them. After discussions, they
too will make a recommendation to Council by
sending a “motion” (or decision) for approval
at an official Council meeting where all
motions are “ratified” (or officially approved).
Health & Wellness Committee
One Councillor sits on this Committee
along with a staff representative from each
department. This Committee only meets a few
times a year, and they discuss ways to improve
the overall wellbeing and health of staff in the
workplace. An example of a program that this
Committee supports is “Lunch and Learn”
where a professional is invited to speak to
staff during their lunch hour (and hopefully for
free) a couple of times per year. Topics range
from work-life balance to energy efficiency
to financial management. By the way, we are
always looking for opportunities...
Kaizer Meadow Advisory Committee
Three Councillors, municipal staff, and
representatives from our landfill partners
(Valley Waste) sit on this Committee.
Discussion revolves around operational issues
at Kaizer Meadow that effect both parties,
including costs and equipment.
Solid Waste Sub-Committee
In the past, two Councillors were appointed to
this Committee. The Committee is not active,
and will be dissolved the next time Council
appoints representatives.
All of these committees are part of our
municipal organization and each play a role in
how we operate. You can either contact us at
the Municipal Office or the Councillor for your
District with questions about any of these
committees. Contact information is below.
FEATURE: Standing and Special
Committees of Council
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MUNICIPALLicense Plates
Municipal license
plates are $20 each
and can be purchased
by calling the
Recreation and Parks
Department at (902)
275-3490. 100% of
the proceeds are for
PRO Kids.