Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014-03_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about March/April 2014 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter/spring... Accountability! Who Now, What Now? CURSES! Find out what we’re Learn what this cool piece Watch anything good on up to through our of equipment is and how TV lately? We have a CAO (Page 3). it changes lives (Page 5). suggestion on Page 5. Budget time is almost here again, and Council is taking the opportunity to prioritize capital proj- ects for the upcoming year. As always, Councillors have to take stock of the Municipality’s needs as a whole, consider their constituents’ requests, and evaluate the overall financial health of the organization. Also as always, there are a few things that must be done, like sewer repairs and making sure infra- structure complies with Provincial regulations. Last year, in line with their Strategic Plan*, Coun- cil prioritized projects that will generate revenue for the Municipality; projects that aren’t tied to property taxes or area rates, such as, Hiring an Economic Development Officer. Marianne Gates is primarily working towards at- tracting businesses to our area. This will strength- en our local economy, have the potential to attract new residents, and foster a healthy community. Developing a COMFIT wind turbine project. A little over a year ago, Council applied for - and received - approval from the Province to have a municipal wind turbine installed. We chose the Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Cen- tre site for two reasons: vicinity and the fact that it’s in the “weather belt” which means more wind! We will sell the power generated to Nova Scotia Power for a profit. The 2MW turbine will provide income every year for the next 20 years at least. As the project debt is paid down (by Year 15), the profit will be greater. On average, the project income will equal two cents of our property tax rate. Investing in the Kaizer Meadow Landfill. Another project Council is moving forward with is constructing an additional landfill cell. Of course, the Landfill always generates significant capital projects, but they are also the biggest gen- erator of revenue outside of property taxes that the Municipality has. Projects outside of the property tax base are im- portant for the Municipality because two-thirds of the property taxes we collect are turned over to the Province of Nova Scotia for “mandatory con- tributions”. These contributions are used towards provincial programs like education, corrections, roads, and regional housing costs, as well as cost sharing for RCMP coverage. In 2013/14, Council initiated a few other proj- ects that won’t generate revenue, but were more feasible to complete than not. *Strategic Plan 2013-16 is the Municipality’s “play- book” for this election term. It’s online at www.chester. ca under the Resources tab in our Document Library; click “Strategic Planning”. Or, you can get a hard copy by calling the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554. Chester Cut n Run 5/10K Walk/Run. Page 3. One of those projects was decommissioning the Mill Cove Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which we inherited when we took over Mill Cove Park. The purpose of our involvement was to assure a location for Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School. The cost of maintaining a WTP for the small number of residents who are connected to the system was just too expensive. The water utility rate would have been unreasonable and the only other option would be to have the rest of the Mu- nicipality absorb the cost. In light of the choices, Council opted for closure and provided customers with wells and individual treatment systems that will be maintained by those residents. A second project we have started is replacing all of the existing mercury streetlight fixtures in the Municipality with LED lights. You can read about all of the details on Page 7 of this newsletter. The total cost of this project is $750,000, and will comply with Provincial regulations. This project will not realize any profit, but the savings in our electricity and rental costs will be noticeable. The Municipality will save $100,000 each year in elec- tricity charges and rental will be $0. The project, if done all at once, is eligible for funding through the Federal Government under their Gas Tax Fund; however, it would be at the expense of other proj- ects as the Municipality is only allocated a certain amount each year. The Gas Tax Fund provides municipalities with money to carry out environmental projects. 2014/15 Budget Year This year, Council will continue to make deci- sions based on their Strategic Plan with the long- term goal of making the Municipality more eco- nomically sustainable. As budget discussions progress, we will post up- dates in the newsletter and online. Upcoming Budget Considerations Council has a few considerations ahead when deliberating over the 2014/15 budget. • Increased Provincial mandatory obligations coupled with capped property assessments means we are paying more, but the amount we bring in is pretty much staying the same; • Infrastructure (sewer and landfill) must be upgraded to comply with Provincial regula- tions; • Budgets must be balanced. Municipalities are not permitted to carry a deficit unless they intend to recoup the loss immediately the following year; • Infrastructure funding through the Federal Government is changing. In 2014/15, $6 million will be allotted for Nova Scotia: one- third for the Province, one-third for HRM, and one-third for the rest of the municipal units in Nova Scotia. The same will happen the following year. In 2016/17, funding is supposed to increase substantially. It’s pos- sible that the Municipality will not get fund- ed until then; • If we do not move forward with any more capital projects, our Debt Service Ratio is forecast to peak at 17.6% in two years. It will steadily lessen by 2019 when it will return to 9.9%. Debt Service Ratio is the comparison between how much it costs the Municipality to borrow (service and interest charges) and how much revenue we bring in per year; and • We have reduced capital and operating re- serves because of large projects carried out in 2013/14. Reserves are kind of like a savings account in case of unforeseen expenses. The current reserves are at $1 million. Usually, the Municipality carries between $2.5 and $2.8 million. We want to strive to have reserves that equal approximately 13-15% of our total revenue. After our 2013/14 projects, we sit at 6%. This is due to the substantial invest- ment made to secure our future fiscal situation, a situation that will start paying off over the next 12 to 18 months. Council has been in a stable and positive finan- cial position for many years, and the plans they are putting in place now are encouraging growth in the areas that are most needed: financial sus- tainability and attracting business. For more information on the Municipality’s capi- tal investment position, please visit our website at www.chester.ca and view the Director of Finance’s Capital Investment Review in our Document Li- brary under Financial Publications/2013-14 Fi- nancial Documents. Or, call our office at (902) 275-3554 and request a copy. For a discussion on the budget process or his report, the Director of Finance is also available with a little notice. THE “B” WORD With budget time coming, Council and staff are taking stock and considering choices. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca The Shift from a Tactical to Strategic Outlook for the Municipality of Chester Municipalities are very good at the tactical deployment of resources against short-term objectives and less experienced with the strategic approach to delivering on long-term sustainable goals and results. Why is that? Individuals and society in general are much the same; they know what they need today and how to get it. We budget for the short term and seldom get overly concerned with how it effects our children, our retirement, or the broad issue of long-term goals. Councils and other governments have been much the same, compounded by the reality of working within their term in office (usually four years) in which there is a public expectation to achieve results that can be seen on the ground. Families and municipalities need to address similar concerns. How do we insure that our basic requirements are met? How do we plan for unknown events that just seem to happen? We need to invest in our children and youth, recognize that we and our community are aging, and insure that our expectations as families and communities have the resources required 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 moving forward. Moving from tactical to strategic planning is uncomfortable to most and requires vision and patience to achieve the desired results. So How do We Make the Shift? We have to come to the realization that it needs to be done and that it’s not only a Municipality of Chester issue, but it’s an approach that must be embraced by the larger community, Provincial Government, Federal Government, industry and neighbourhoods. So Where are We as a Municipality? We completed an extensive public consulta- tion process, resulting in the adoption of a comprehensive Integrated Community Sustain- ability Plan in 2009. We completed an Active Living Strategy, Climate Change Action Plan, Active Transportation Playbook, and are well on the way to achieving ISO Certification so that we can adjust our programs and services based on how well they have achieved the desired outcomes. To tie all of this together, in October 2013, Council adopted an overall Strategic Plan with six primary goals; each with specific actions and timelines for implementation and clear methods for measuring success. Why is it important that we, as a community, do this? This process has survived two Council terms and has required a good deal of patience and commitment from all involved, especially the community. Council believes that it is the foundation on which we build a prosperous and sustainable future. The headline for this edition of Municipal Insights reads, “The ‘B’ Word.” yes, it’s budget time, and the resources that Council commits or does not commit will determine our path forward. Council, as always, have tough choices to make. We are aware that we must be sensitive to the needs of low income families and we need to consider how to best to create an environment for stability and growth in the business sector. Most of all, will the overall budget reflect the needs of the community and does it move us forward in achieving our strategic goals in the near and long term, towards a sustainable and prosperous future. 2 Upd a t e 70% = warden 30% = mayor Thanks to all of the residents who called, emailed, visited and mailed with their opinions! Council decided to stay with the current Warden system instead of switching to a Mayor system. WARDEN or MAYOR By now, property owners should have received their assessments from Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) in the mail. PVSC is responsible for assessing all property in Nova Scotia and placing a worth on it according to market value. PVSC used to be a Crown corporation (owned by the Provincial Government), but they are now a separate organization that is accountable to a board largely made up of municipal representatives. Much like municipalities, PVSC is guided by a provincial act that outlines their responsibilities and obligations. They are responsible for: • Determining the value of property in Nova Scotia (assessment); • Sending assessment notices to property owners telling them what the value is; • Giving the assessment roll (who owns what and where it is) to municipalities; and • Assessment appeals in case a property owner disagrees with the original assessment notice. Once PVSC assesses property values, they record them on an assessment (or tax) roll categorized by municipality. Then, each one is posted on a secure site. This is where we come in. We access the secure site and download our assessment roll. This information, along with the current year’s tax rate, is used to give us an estimate of what our revenue will be for the upcoming fiscal year. PROPERTY TAXES How are they calculated and who is responsible? If there is enough revenue to cover expenses, the tax rate remains the same. If there isn’t, Council determines either a) what projects/services to cut or b) whether a tax increase is needed. Increasing the tax rate in the Municipality of Chester by 1₵ equals approximately $133,000. Also, to put things in perspective, the Municipality’s tax rate is the second lowest in Nova Scotia. According to PVSC, the total assessment for our region (which includes Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby counties) is $12.4 billion. This value is made up of $10.3 billion of residential assessments and $2.1 billion of commercial assessments. PVSC also implements the Capped Assessment Program (CAP). This program places a ‘cap’ on the amount that residential property assessments can increase over the year. The cap amount is determined by the Consumer Price Index, which is 0.9% for 2014. For example, if your assessment was capped at $100,000 last year, the maximum capped assessment for this year is $100,900. This has nothing to do with the market value of your home or property. As well, not everyone is eligible to qualify for capped assessment. Visit www.pvsc.ca for assessment information. Use your Assessment Account Number (AAN) and PIN access number (found on your assessment notice) for information on individual property by accessing “My Property Report”. You can also call PVSC at 1-800-380-7775. STRATEGIC PLAN 3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca THECAO REPORT A monthly report from our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on the progress staff is making on Council’s Strategic Plan. Ensure sufficient infrastructure is available to best serve our residents and businesses • Council is discussing the option of univer- sal sewer rates. They will also review the long-term capital requirements for our sewer systems. • Preparations to move two Municipal De- partments to the former school in Gold River, include a hazmat assessment as as- bestos is present, structural analysis, and office layout. • An RFP for the sale of the Annex Building will be released with a closing date of ear- ly to mid-March. • A dry hydrant was installed in Little Vaughn Lake. In case a fire breaks out, quick ac- cess to water is available. Another will be installed at Oak Island Marina. • Our wind tower at Kaizer Meadow is pro- ducing electricity! An Open House and Tours are scheduled when the weather gets more reliable. Promote conditions conducive to fostering economic prosperity • Marianne Gates, our new Senior Econom- ic Development Officer has started meet- ing with local businesses and groups. She is also looking into developing a Business Retention and Expansion program. • “Management without Borders” is a Dal- housie program that studies the feasabil- ity of integrated forestry, bio-energy and eco-park development at Kaizer Meadow. They delievered their final report and a summary should be available in February. Since the last newsletter, we’ve received three compliments and two complaints. • A resident is happy to see that the Municipality is making an appearance on CTV Morning Live on occasion to talk about events; • Kudos to our Community Development Department staff! A resident took the time to express how pleased they were with the service. • A compliment was also paid to this newsletter. Glad you enjoy it! • An overall compliment was given to the Warden, Council and staff for doing a “great job of runnning the Municipality”. Thank you! • We were reminded that the Mill Lake Waste Drop-off needed a little TLC. A resident lodged a complaint about the state of the compound where Mill Lake residents drop off their waste. This is an ongoing problem, and sometimes more of a struggle than others. We offer extra collection of this site, but like other public drop-offs, abuse is present. • A second complaint was received regarding the use of “Chester” as opposed to “Municipality of Chester” during a discussion. You are right. We wrote a letter to the resident saying that “Chester” was used as a short form for the “Municipality of Chester” as was not meant to exclude any part of our municipality by any means. BOSS or BUST REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY: Calling (902) 275-3554. Leaving your name is optional. Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@chester.ca Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. Continually improve public satisfaction with municipal services • Policies going before Council for review: Unsightly Premises policy, Membership Intake for Fire Departments process, and Records Management policy. • We are close to ISO Certification. We have established Internal Audit and Management Review Committees. We have also documented numerous service processes that will keep staff accountable to the services they are responsible for. Maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility • Capital Budget preparations have begun, including presentations and reports by the Director of Finance on current finan- cial status. Strengthen and support environmental, cultural and social resources • We received funding for two after school programs. The first, “Open Air Society”, takes place at Forest Heights Community School and focuses on outdoor recre- ation. The second, at Chester Area Middle School, provides activities for students. • The 2014 Cut ‘N Run is scheduled for June 1, and Atlantic Chip will do the timing. • Congratulations to Josh Rhodenizer! He won bronze at the National Junior Boxing Championships in Quebec. The Municipal- ity contributed to Josh’s trip. • The Municipality now has access to a new piece of adapted equipment: a “Snow Coach”. More information is on Page 5. Staffing changes - The Community Development Department has undergone several staffing changes in the last little while. First, we hired Marianne Gates as the Senior Economic Development Officer (as you may have read in the last newsletter). Heather Archibald was promoted to Development Officer, and Garth Sturtevant was hired to replace her as Building Development Assistant. Wind Projects in the Municipality - We are trying to schedule an Open House at the Kaizer Meadow site that includes tours of our new wind turbine. So far, we’ve postponed because of weather and cancelled because of an operational issue that includes waiting for a part to come from Germany. So, we have decided not to tempt fate and will schedule the event in the Spring. Stay tuned for a date. In other “wind project news”, South Canoe has begun clearing the area where they plan to construct 34 wind turbines near New Ross. They have until March 31 to complete the prep work as they must accommodate the nesting season of birds in the area. A contractor local to Lunenburg County was hired for the job. They have also established a grant program to fund local, non-profit groups. The total amount of the fund has been decided, but not disclosed yet. We will wait for more info and keep you updated. Chester Cut N Run - This year marks the fourth for the Chester Cut N Run, which is a 5K walk and 5K/10K run. It all happens at the Chester Area Middle School on Sunday, June 1 at 9:00 a.m. If you register by May 9, you will get a free t-shirt! Registration is $20 ($25 after May 9) for adults and $10 for 18 years and under. Proceeds are for Municipality of Chester PRO Kids! Call (902) 275-3490 or visit www. Run.Chester.ca for more information. IN BRIEF... COMMUNITY INTEREST 4Look for “Explore Life” on our website and discover the recreation possibilities! Or, call 275-3490. Congratulations to Mary Fay’s team for winning bronze at the Canadian Junior Women’s Curling Champi- onships. Mary’s teammates were Jennifer Smith, Karlee Burgess and Janique LeBlanc. Well done! Well, anyone who has snowmobiles (like this group in New Ross) is certainly got their money’s worth out of them this year! Congratulations New Ross Regional Development Society for another New Ross Christmas Festival! Happy 25th Anniversary! Shown in the pictures above are three out of four members of a life skills group at Forest Heights Community School who visited the Municipal Office last Fall. They were “on the road” experiencing different skills in their own communities. The four young men were Devon Schnare, James Jewers, Daniel Tufts and Ben Hannaford. THIN ICE Ice is fun to walk on, run and slide across and go snowmobiling on. Unfortunately, the risks are real and often underestimated. With spring on the way, it’s better to be safe than sorry. NEVER go on ice without checking its thickness first. Ice should be anywhere from 15 cm thick (small group to skate/walk) to 25 cm (snowmobiles). If you fall through the ice, don’t panic. Fol- low these steps: 1. Yell for help 2. Break the weak ice in front of you with your arms 3. Grab as far up the ice as you can 4. Kick your feet to become horizontal 5. Pull and kick until you are flat on the ice 6. Roll or crawl to safety If you have to save someone who’s fallen through the ice, follow these steps: 1. Talk them through a self-rescue 2. If that’s not possible, lie down on the ice 3. Extend your reach with anything lying around (branch, hockey stick, PFD) 4. Tell the person to grab on and kick their feet while you do the pulling 5. Roll or crawl to safety HYPOTHERMIA Hypothermia, or low body temperature, can be serious and even life threatening. Warning signs include uncontrolled shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, and appar- ent exhaustion. If you suspect hypothermia, seek medical attention immediately. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. Wear loose-fitting, light-weight, warm cloth- ing in several layers. Trapped air insulates. Lay- ers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a hat; half your body heat loss can be from the head. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. STAY SAFE! ON THIN ICE With warmer (albeit only slightly) temperatures, the seven fire departments in the Municipality have a few safety tips to share. CONTRA DANCEat Forest Heights Community School March 297:00 to 9:00 p.m. Contra Dancing is kind of like square dancing. Dottie Welch will be your caller and instructor. Come and dance with your family, friends and community! Recently, the Municipality has been inspecting blue bags on a weekly basis. We’ve found that most of the material is not clean and bags are contaminated with garbage and paper. The cost per tonne that the Municipality has to pay for processing recyclable material (tins, plastics, glass) increases when the facility has to deal with unrecyclable material (unclean, mixed). If our materials are clean and sorted properly, we pay the best price. So, effective immediately, we will inspect and, if needed, reject recyclable materials (blue bags). If recyclables are not clean, the bag will be rejected. Also, paper DOES NOT belong in the blue bag with other recyclables. Put it in a separate bag. If you have questions, please refer to your 2014 Waste Collection Calendar for information on sorting as well as other recycling information. Or, call Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre at (902) 275-2330 and talk to Tammy. REJECTED 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 This is a Snow Coach. It’s new. It’s one of the pieces of Adapted Recreation Equipment available through a loan program jointly coordinated by recreation departments in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Available equipment includes: • Sledge - allows participants with physical disabilities to go for a sled on the ice, or play a game of hockey! • Hippocampe - an all-terrain wheelchair that can be self-propelled, pushed, or towed. It also has a ski attachment. For those of you who watch the History Chan- nelTM, they aired an interesting series called, “The Curse of Oak Island”. It premiered on Janu- ary 26, and ran each Sunday night at 10 p.m. It is a documentary about the long-standing mystery that has shrouded Oak Island ever since the first rumours of buried treasure in the 1700s. The sporadic hunt for riches, artifacts, or just an answer to the baffling discoveries has been on ever since. On the series, the Lagina Brothers from Michigan, along with support and assistance from Oak Island residents and previous treasure hunters, Dan and Dave Blankenship, apply a scientific approach to unearthing what lies below the Island’s surface. It was quite interesting as a documentary on its own, but the local sights and familiar faces made it all the more so. If you missed it or want to watch the past episodes again, visit the History ChannelTM makingWINTER • Adapted Trikes - is exactly what it sounds like. It is designed to be comfortable, safe and fun! They are also equipped with adjustable trunk support. • Duet Cycle - this tendem bike is a removable wheelchair mounted to the front of a bike. It also comes with an “electric pack”. • Fatwheels - are oversized training wheels that are useful for many users. They make maneuvering a bike easier. You can borrow equipment for up to two weeks with a week’s notice, and the minimal fee ($15) is put towards maintenance costs. Most equipment can accommodate both children (whatever age) and adults. Booking equipment is easy, call our Recreation Department at (902) 275-3490. If it’s your first time, you can access a free assessment to help determine which equipment is most appropriate from the Recreation Therapist at the IWK Health Centre by calling (902) 470-7539. website at www.history.com/shows/the-curse- of-oak-island/episodes The Island, located in the Municipality of the District of Chester, has received a lot of attention over the years from residents and tourists looking for a glimpse of the enigmatic “Money Pit”. It has even held an interest for some celebrities. If you want to get a glimpse yourself, tour dates have been announced for 2014. Visit the Friends of Oak Island Society’s website at www.friendsofoakisland.com. For $10, you can CURSED?The legend of Oak Island is still very much alive after more than 200 years This aerial of Oak Island, Martin’s Point, is taken from the Municipality’s geodatabase. get a first hand look at the Money Pit, other excavation sites and Smith’s Cove. Until then, the Chester Train Station has a comprehensive display and history of the Maritime mystery. A significant collection of artifacts, photos, and even a model of the excavation represent the culture and long history of Oak Island. Visit www.chesterbound. ca/Oak_Island for a history lesson and photos of the different “treasure seekers”. One thing is for certain: the mystery remains. Lighthouse Food Bank March is the month when food banks all across Canada collect data for the annual HungerCount. This data is compiled by Food Banks Canada and the findings are published in an annual report. These reports provide useful information and trends with regard to food bank use. The 2013 report tells us that 833,093 individuals used food banks across Canada. This was 23% higher than five years ago. More than 1/3 of those helped are children - kids who are going to school, trying to learn and going to bed with empty stomachs. This month the Lighthouse Food Bank Society will participate in this nationwide survey and will document the need for food assistance locally. This in turn helps us to plan how we can distribute our limited food supplies in the best way possible. As reported several months ago we were looking for a logo to clearly identify our local Food bank. The successful design was prepared by Deborah Housser at the Sign Guy. Be on the lookout for this distinctive new identity. This Christmas past, the Food Bank was generously supported by many individuals, organizations and businesses. With their help we prepared and distributed more than 75 hampers to local individuals and families who live in the District of the Municipality of Chester. We are looking forward to our Annual General Meeting on Monday April 28th at St. Stephen’s Parish hall, Chester at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information about the Lighthouse Food Bank hours and services, please call us at (902) 275-5304. - contributed 6We also list events on our website and the local newspaper! Call (902) 275-3490 for more information. COMMUNITY INTEREST Last summer, Bayswater Beach was closed twice because of high levels of bacteria found in and around the public swim area. That had many residents and visitors concerned, so the Depart- ment of Health & Wellness (DHW), along with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), set up an information meeting in Blandford in De- cember to let us know exactly what happened and what’s going to happen next. Because Bayswater Beach is lifeguarded, peri- odic testing is done of the ocean water as well as the water from the stream that runs onto the beach from across the highway. DHW contracts the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service (the organiza- tion that provides lifeguarding services to “rec- reational” water areas) to take those samples. DHW has been sampling what they term as “recreational water” since 2009. They test for higher than normal bacteria levels usually caused by fecal matter from warm-blooded ani- mals and people. Exposure to this type of bac- teria is the most common health risk at beaches and lakes, and can cause illness and infection. Samples are taken weekly and follow national water quality guidelines. On two occasions, Bayswater Beach was closed for public use last summer. The stream itself was closed for pretty much the whole sea- son. Given that bacteria counts can be higher depending on rainfall, presence of animals, and warm weather, tests were sometimes done more often than weekly. After the second closure, the Department of Environment investigated potential reasons for the contamination, and they thought the most likely cause was the pond and beaver dam across the street. After the closures, we received concerns from residents about why the beach was closed as well as the uncertainty around the testing pro- gram. Therefore, the information meeting was held and all of those questions were answered. To view the report of that meeting issued by the Department of Health and Wellness as well as some information about the water test- ing program, please visit our website at www. chester.ca. The documents are under Resources and found in the Document Library under Public Notices/Bayswater Beach. All documents will be posted there, and updates will be posted on the front page of our website as we receive them from the Province. NEXT STEPS DHW and DNR will: • Test the water again in the Spring before the swimming season starts • Hold another information session in the spring • Monitor the “pit privies” to ensure that aren’t leaking • Assess options for the beaver dam across the street in the pond • Install new signs for the Beach, including those for when there is a closure • The water sampling procedures will be re- viewed. If you have more questions, you can call Lin- da Passerini from the Department of Health & Wellness at (902) 424-2736 or email her at linda.passerini@gov.ns.ca. You can also contact Donald Sam with the Department of Natural Re- sources at (902) 521-2960 or samdx@gov.ns.ca. CONCERNED ABOUT BAYSWATER BEACH?After a meeting with the Province, we have more information about last summer’s closure 2014 Waste Collection Calendar NOW AVAILABLE • At the Municipal Office, 151 King Street, Chester; or • Online at www.chester.ca If you didn’t get one, call the Solid Waste Department at (902) 275-2330. Spring Renovation or New Construction Apply for Development Permit (only in zoned areas - call 275-2599 to inquire) Apply for Sewer Permit (if connecting to central sewer Call 275-1312 or go online for applications) 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 application). STEP ONE Applications are available at the Municipal Offices in Chester. STEP TWO Applications are reviewed for approval by Municipality. If all information is complete, it’s usually up to two days for approval (fee paid with application). If application is in order, it takes up to seven days for approval, which includes site inspection and assessment of system capac- ity and by-laws (a deposit for estimated cost of labour and materials is paid after the site inspection and before approval) Depending on location and type of project, Sewer and Development Permits must be included. In some cases, a Breaking Soils Application is required from the Department of Transportation as well. STEP THREE Work and inspections begin. The Chief Building Inspector will make a series of regular inspections before, during and after construction. The Maintenance Supervisor schedules a sub-contractor and flaggers to connect to the central system. Then, an inspection is conducted to make sure the installation meets Municipal Specifi- cations. If the private portion cannot be conveniently scheduled at the same time, the public portion is capped. STEP FOUR Completion 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 additional invoice will be issued. After payment (yours or ours) is made, final approval is sent to the Community Development and Finance Departments. PROPERTY SERVICES The Municipality of Chester is celebrating the tremendous efforts of our local volunteers by hosting a Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Reception during Volunteer Week (April 6-12). This year’s reception is at the Forties Community Centre, 1787 Forties Road, near New Ross, on Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 pm. Please join us as we recognize these volunteers: • Darrin Hatt, Canaan Road • Rachel Nauss, Chester (Youth) • Percy Hiltz, Mahone Bay • Mary Reeves, New Ross • Linda Meister, New Ross • Susan Sawler, Western Shore • Hilary McCarron, Windsor Road • Sylvia McNeill, Chester • Vanda Stevens, Chester (Youth) • Barbara Wilson, Chester After the ceremony, everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and to congratulate the award recipients. This is a great opportunity to mingle and talk with the various volunteers from our Municipality. We ask that you please RSVP by Tuesday, April 1 by calling the Recreation & Parks Department at (902) 275-3490. Special congratulations to Linda Meister who will receive the Provincial Volunteer Award. Linda has had a huge impact on New Ross having volunteered since 1980 in various roles. Linda will be representing the Municipality of Chester at the Provincial Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 7 in Halifax. New Requirements for Development Permits As of February 1, 2014, Location Certificates or current Plan of Surveys (certified by a surveyor within the last 12 months) are required to be submitted before a Development Permit can be approved if: 1. The development is within the Chester Village Planning Area and the requested development permit is for a structure larger than 20 square metres (215 square feet approximate); or 2. The development is located within the Municipality of the District of Chester and the requested development permit is for a structure that is located two times (2 times) or less the minimum distance for any yard setback within the zone. Exclusions to this requirement include buildings under 20 square metres (215 square feet approximate), signs, temporary structures and any development permit where the construction or addition does not extend beyond an existing eave. For further explanation, call Community Development at (902) 275-2599. PROPERTY SERVICES 7The 2013 Waste Collection Calendar is available at www.chester.ca or drop in to the Municipal Office to pick one up The Municipality anticipates this Fall that all streetlight bulbs and fixtures will be changed to LEDs instead of the older, high-pressure sodium and mercury vapour lights. This decision wasn’t made overnight. A few years ago, the Province announced that as part of their environmental strategy, all streetlights in Nova Scotia must be switched to LED bulbs by 2022. Good idea in theory. Currently, Nova Scotia Power (NSP) owns and maintains almost all of the streetlights in the Municipality, and we pay a rental fee plus electricity costs. The cost to taxpayers is approximately $124,000 each year, which is paid through a rate charged to residents living in areas lit with streetlights. With LED lights, the cost for electricity is speculated to be lessened by around $100,000. Even better idea, in theory. This left NSP facing a hefty bill. So, they approached the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board with a proposal. NSP proposed that municipalities still owed approximately $30,000,000 in depreciation costs for infrastructure (poles, fixtures and lights). NSP took the cost of depreciation and divided it by all of the streetlights in Nova Scotia and came up with a cost of $178 per streetlight that municipalities still owe. NSP deemed this cost as a “stranded assets costs”. The Utility and Review Board agreed with them. Now, in order to comply with the Province’s regulation to switch streetlights to LEDs, municipalities have to pay NSP $178 per streetlight. Council was given two options: either assume possession of the streetlights and pay to switch them to LEDs ourselves, or continue to pay rent to NSPI and pay them to switch the lights. This is where the good idea started to unravel. For the Municipality of Chester to assume possession of these “stranded assets”, they have to pay NSP a total of $150,000 in depreciation costs. Then pay approximately $600,000 to have them switched to LEDs privately. If the project is done all at once, it is eligible for part-funding under the Gas Tax Fund, which pays for environmental projects. In the end, when the streetlights are paid for, we will be left with electricity costs estimated at $22,000 per year. If the Municipality continues to pay rent for streetlights, we will pay around $120,000 per year for seven years - NSP agreed to freeze rental rates for the next seven years. After seven years, the cost will tentatively be around $93,000 per year thereafter. Despite Council’s efforts at negotiation, they had to bite the bullet. In the end, the Municipality will purchase the older streetlights outright and pay to have them upgraded to LED. All decorative streetlights installed in Chester Basin and Western Shore are already owned by the Municipality and LED bulbs will be installed over the next three years. Bulbs have already been converted in the Village of Chester. Non-Functioning Streetlights Until the upgrade, Council decided that except in cases where safety is a concern and at intersections, we will not ask NSP to replace blown streetlights. The reason is simply cost. The Municipality wants to avoid paying NSP the high cost of replacing a streetlight on top of the “stranded asset” cost since we will have to pay for the replacement of all fixtures in a few months anyway. To discuss streetlights in your area, please contact your Councillor or call the Public Works Office at (902) 275-1312. The Light FANTASTIC A civic address is the number, road name and community name used to identify buildings. This address insures fast response for: 1. AMBULANCE SERVICE 2. FIRE SERVICE 3. POLICE SERVICE It also insures that the person(s) responsible for finding you in an emergency can do so with minimal difficulty. Emergency personnel take their job seriously. Displaying your number means they can do their job more effectively when responding to a 911 call to save your life or someone else’s life. The Chester Municipal Civic Addressing By-Law #139 states that all owners of a building(s) must post the assigned civic number for that building(s). The Municipality will actively enforce the Civic Addressing By-Law in the future. The consequences for contravention of this By-Law is a notice, an invoice from the Municipality for the cost of posting the civic number on your property ourselves, or a fine between $100 and $10,000. * If you are not sure what your civic number is, please contact the Community Development Department Planning Office at (902) 275-2599. * Blue and white reflective civic number plates can be ordered through the Building Office for $14 each. Please call them at (902) 275-3080. * Pick up a copy of the Civic Addressing By-Law #139 at the Planning Office at 186 Central Street in Chester. CIVICDUTY 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 MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ................................1-877-740-3378 PART FOUR: So far, we’ve covered Committees of Council (both external and internal) and the role they play in decision-making. Council also provides representation to many other groups, both local and more widespread. These groups make decisions that affect residents of our Municipality, but the direction doesn’t come exclusively from Council. Most of the groups are “regional”, meaning reps from one or more municipal unit or county work together on a common project or goal. “Appointees” (those appointed by Council to act as a representative on a particular committee or group) are usually Councillors or members of the general public. In most cases, staff also sit on the same committees along with Councillors. The Municipality is involved with many local, regional, and provincial committees, but the ones listed below (along with the Municipality’s representatives) are officially mandated. Bluenose Coast Action Foundation • Councillor Brad Armstrong Church Memorial Park Trustees • Councillor Sharon Church-Cornelius Community Use of Schools (Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School) • Warden Allen Webber • Councillor Andre Veinotte • Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford • Recreation & Parks Director • Community School Coordinator • Administrative Secretary Community Use of Schools (Forest Heights Community School) • Warden Allen Webber • Councillor Sharon Church-Cornelius • Councillor Tina Connors • Recreation & Parks Director • Community School Coordinator • Administrative Secretary Fire Advisory Committee • Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford • Councillor Andre Veinotte • Fire Services Coordinator • Administrative Secretary Harbourview Haven Board • Councillor Tina Connors Highway 103 Committee • Councillor Robert Myra Louisiana Pacific Community Liaison Committee • Councillor Andre Veinotte Regional Emergency Measures (REMO) • Warden Allen Webber • Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford • Councillor Robert Myra (Alternate) • CAO • Fire Inspector • Fire Services Coordinator (?) Senior Safety Program for Lunenburg County • Councillor Tina Connors South Canoe Community Liaison Committee • Councillor Sharon Church-Cornelius • Councillor Tina Connors South Shore Housing Advisory Committee • Warden Allen Webber • Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford South Shore Housing Authority • Eric Hagen (public member) South Shore Regional Library Board • Councillor Robert Myra Southwest Regional Community Advisory Board • Councillor Robert Myra Victorian Order of Nurses • Councillor Tina Connors Zoe Valle Library Municipal Trustees • Councillor Brad Armstrong If you are interested in learning more about what these Committees do and who they represent, please contact the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554 or a representative from one of the Committees. If you are interested in sitting on one of the Committees, please call us for criteria and/or conditions. FEATURE: Standing and Special Committees of Council Par t O n e : W h a t are t h e y ? Par t F i v e : C o u n c i l App o i n t m e n t s Par t F o u r : App o i n t m e n t s t o reg i o n a l b o d i e s Par t T h r e e : I n t e r n a l Com m i t t e e s Par t T w o : P u b l i c Rep r e s e n t a t i o n NEED A JOB THIS SUMMER? The Municipality of the District of Chester Recreation & Parks Department is seeking applications from students who would like to be part of our summer staff team. You will organize special events and plan summer recreation programs. If you are creative, outgoing, energetic and enjoy working with youth and the public, submit your resume to: Municipality of the District of Chester Recreation & Parks Department ATTN: Mr. Jody Conrad 151 King Street P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 email: jconrad@chester.ca phone: (902) 275-2712 fax: (902) 275-3630 Deadline to apply for university positions is Friday, March 14, 2014. The deadline to apply for high school positions is Friday, April 25, 2014. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.