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
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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.