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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014-09_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about September/October 2014 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this fall... SO MANY “REQUESTS”! Recreation & Parks ROCK! There’s nothing as bright as a smile! We explain the subtle The many faces of the Look on Page 8 to see nuances of our tender Recreation & Parks how to make a child as process on Page 3. Department (Page 4-5). HAPPY as this one! reVision update “Universal”. All-inclusive, all-embracing, across-the-board, applicable to all cases. Those are the synonyms listed on Google anyway. To Council, words associated with “universal” also include “sustainable”, “fair”, and “stable”. For those property owners connected to central sewer, and who have followed any or all of Council’s discussions on the issue of a universal sewer charge, some agree with the associated terms and some don’t. So what fueled Council’s decision to apply a universal charge in the first place? There are many variables, but the most urgent was simply that the cost of maintaining and repairing the systems exceeded the money available. The annual budget last year for maintenance and operations ALONE was $991,663. The revenue was $691,756. To avoid using funds from the general tax rate, which is taken from ALL property owners and not only those connected to the sewer, we cut almost $300,000. That meant no capital upgrades or major repairs. The one exception to this is the Chester system. Overall, the money collected over the years covers the costs to date. Having said that, the system is over forty years old and bandaids won’t hold forever. In addition, approximately $355,000 has accumulated over a number of years. These funds were collected from users in excess of that spent. Primarily, this is a result of spending that did not take place on anticipated capital projects. However, these capital projects are still required to improve and maintain the Chester Sewer System and the plan is that all of the surplus will be expended on that specific system within the next year or two. This surplus is accounted for separately in the general operating account, and will be used for the Chester system only. If you have any questions regarding the surplus please contact Steve Graham at (902) 275-3554. Recently, you may have received a letter from the Municipality about these changes. The letter explains our new method of charging for sewer services: a charge that is applied universally to users of all six municipal sewer systems. It’s designed to be fair and more sustainable than in the past. The universal sewer charge is based on “equivalent dwelling units” (EDUs). One EDU is equal to the estimated flow generated by one single-family residence. Properties that generate a higher flow (such as restaurants or homes for special care) are designated a higher number of EDUs. The value of one EDU is currently $529.63, which is calculated by dividing the total amount needed to maintain and operate all six central sewer systems by the number of users and their estimated usage. Property tax bills reflect the number of EDUs for the property multiplied by the EDU rate of $529.63. The EDU chart for the Municipality, is under Schedule A of the Municipal Sewer By-Law. You can find it on our website (www. chester.ca) or call (902) 275-3554 for a copy. If you have any concerns or questions about the assessed EDU for your property that’s listed on your tax bill or concerns about the method itself, we welcome your call at (902) 275-1312. You can also send us an email using the contact information on Page 8. We will review your assessed EDU according to our Sewer Service Review Procedure. A copy of the Procedure is linked in the newsfeed on the front page of our website under “Universal Sewer Rates”. In it, there is a form that property owners can complete and submit if they want a review of their EDU assessment. Only property owners with an EDU value greater than one can apply for a review. Please call the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554 for a copy. The Community Development Department is embarking on a long, but fruitful, endeavour to review and improve municipal planning documents. But, they can’t do it alone. They need and want input from the broader community. To initiate the review, the Municipality recognizes that they need a strong team and efficient action plan. To get the ball rolling, we • CREATED Policy P-84 Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, which establishes a Committee to advise Council during the cre- ation of a new set of official planning documents. • AMENDED Policy P-39 Chester Village Area Advisory Committee and Policy P-63 Chester Municipal Area Advisory Committee to allow for Policy P-84. • HIRED Sean Gillis for a two-year term as Planner primarily to coordinate the “reVision” of our planning documents. • ADVERTISED for Committee members (on the left). Universal Sewer Charge ri’ MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Sign up for Council meeting agendas under Municipal Alerts at www.chester.ca Hope everyone had a great summer and managed to get in a little R & R with family and friends. This edition of Municipal Insight starts the process of highlighting individual departmental activities of the Municipality. We want you to better understand what they do, how they can help, and the resources required to make it all happen. We start with the Recreation & Parks Department. Just a heads up: the Recreation Department and Council are exploring a couple of exciting opportunities to acquire and enhance public open space and opportunities for youth which we hope to be able to announce in the coming months, so stay tuned! On the Community Development front, we are seeking citizen representatives from all across the Municipality to help guide and shape where we want to go. The planning tools we need to put in place will ensure we achieve the goals and vision you choose collectively and as distinct communities. Your participation in this process is critical so please become engaged. 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 Economic development is critical to our long- term sustainability so I will highlight a couple of new developments and update progress on some others. First, we have been successful in establishing a Regional Economic Network agreement with our partners along the South Shore and with the Province of Nova Scotia. Soon, we will be looking for business leaders to serve on the Board of Directors. On the local front, Deputy Warden Shatford and myself had the opportunity to tour the Aspotogan Ridge Golf Course under construction in Mill Cove. It’s been a long time coming, and it was a real eye opener to see how much progress has been made over the summer - it looks like a golf course! There is lots of activity and real potential for the local economy. Council has recently made some changes in our Purchasing Policy for goods under $25,000 and services under $50,000. The intent is to give a competitive advantage to businesses within the Municipality by providing a 20% local preference valuation on bids submitted. Staff will work with the Chamber of Commerce to get the message out and help local companies prepare. South Canoe Wind Farm is well under construction with tower and turbine components expected to be delivered later this fall. This is a massive project. Our own wind turbine at Kaizer Meadow has been operational for several months and has been averaging approximately $47,000 in earned revenue per month. A long overdue policy to recognize the service of our volunteer firefighters has been established, and we look forward to working with them in implementing a suitable time and location to begin the process. A sincere thank you to all of them. I hope you find this edition informative and thanks on behalf of Council for your continued support. 2 A FOND, BUT SADFAREWELL After five dynamic years, our Chief Administrative Officer, is leaving. Her last day is Friday, October 24. Since 2009, when Erin Beaudin was hired, she has tirelessly given us far more than we could ever have expected. Her Fourteen community groups recently received funding from Council as they approved their first round of grants under the Municipal Grant Fund and Tourism Grants. In June, Council approved $329,898 in budget money to distribute in grants to organizations. The breakdown is: • $145,500 for the Municipal Grant Fund; • $20,000 for the Recreation Grant Fund; • $8,000 for Youth Sponsorship and Leader Development Grants; • $10,000 for PRO Kids/Community Schools; • $50,000 for Church Memorial Park; • $43,000 for local tourism development; and • $53,398 for regional economic development. Council received $1,128,471 in requests under the Municipal Grant Fund, not including those requesting undisclosed amounts. To date, they approved $138,825 out of the $145,500 budgeted. The remainder of the budget is reserved for future grant requests. Council received $44,557.20 in tourism grant requests, and approved $39,057.20 out of the $43,000 budgeted. They also dispursed the regional economic development money. Prior to making any decisions, Council made a conscious choice to consider requests from local groups before any regional and provincial organizations. This year, 87.3% of the grants budget went back into local communities; the rest went towards regional/provincial programs that are of direct benefit to our residents. The Recreation and Parks Department is expected to review their grant applications after the Friday, October 10 deadline. Then, the list will go to Council for approval shortly after that. Recreation Grants This annual funding opportunity is for non-profit community groups whose primary purpose is to op- erate, sponsor or encourage recreation programs, activities and facilities within the Municipality of Chester. The deadline for applications for the 2014- 2015 fiscal year is Friday, October 10, 2014. Leadership Development These funds can be requested for training, certifica- tion and workshops that increase the skills, abilities and knowledge of those in coaching and leadership positions. Funding covers 50% of registration fees associated with training. Youth Sponsorship Program This funding program was created to assist youth who have won or have been selected to attend a recognized sanctioned event at the provincial, na- tional or international level. Applications are ac- cepted throughout the year. PRO Kids PRO Kids provides financial assistance to youth for registration fees and equipment costs related to sport and recreation activities. This support is in- tended to help families with limited income so that their children can be involved in programs and ac- tivities. This is a confidential program that supports children and youth 18 years of age and under. Council Grants Council Grants are provided to non-profit organiza- tions that benefit the residents of the Municipality of Chester. They are at the discretion of Council and have quarterly deadlines: June 1, September 1, De- cember 1, and March 1; however, emergency situ- ations may be considered on a case-by-case basis. This year’s grant line-up: Local: Chester & Area Family Resource Centre 5,000.00 Chester Brass Band 1,000.00 Chester Merchants 1,000.00 Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce 25,000.00 Chester Municipal Relay for Life 1,500.00 Chester Playhouse 3,000.00 Chester Race Week 2,000.00 Chester Trust (Zoe Valle Library) 15,000.00 Community Wheels 6,000.00 Deep Cove Fireworks & Weiner Roast 300.00 East River Village Hall 1,000.00 Forties Community Centre 500.00 Friends of Oak Island Society 3,500.00 HHELPS 4,000.00 Hubbards Area Business Association 1,000.00 Hubbards Area Recreation Association 1,800.00 Hubbards Community Waterfront Association 1,000.00 Hubbards Cove Days 500.00 New Ross 200th Anniversary Committee 800.00 New Ross Family Resource Centre 3,500.00 New Ross Farmers Association 2,000.00 New Ross Regional Development Society 1,495.00 Our Health Centre 50,000.00 Shoreham Village 20,650.00 Through the Years Community Daycare 5,000.00 Village Commission (Lido Pool) 3,500.00 Regional/Provincial: South Shore Community Justice 300.00 Christmas Daddies 100.00 Events Lunenburg County 3,157.20 Feed Nova Scotia 100.00 Indian Point Yacht Club 1,000.00 Kids Help Phone 100.00 Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers 1,000.00 Lunenburg/Queens Volunteer Partnership 2,000.00 NS Nature Trust 100.00 South Shore cbdc (climate change) 3,000.00 South Shore Safe Communities 4,330.00 United Way of Lunenburg County (matches employee contribution) 1,150.00 Victorian Order of Nurses 1,500.00 GRANTREPORT accomplishments on our behalf and the behalf of the residents and businesses in the Municipality would fill the pages of this newsletter. She has been a stellar role model in her position as leader. She is professional, intuitive, and highly skilled. Those traits are tempered with humour and a sincerity that instantly endears her. Her departure is not reflective of job dissatisfaction, but of her commitment to her children and family. So, Erin, we bid you farewell with fond memories in our thoughts and good wishes in our hearts. Thank you for your many unclaimed hours of work, your innovation, and your passion. We are grateful, and we will deeply miss you. Good luck in your future career as CAO with the Town of Wolfville. STRATEGIC PLAN 3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca Staffing Changes at the Municipal Office - Welcome to Rick Corkum who recently accepted the position of Casual Building Inspector with the Municipality. Also, after advertising twice for this position, Jeffery Bordon applied for and became our new Wastewater Facilities Supervisor. As a Class 2 Operator, he will manage our wastewater treatment facilities. Sarah MacKelvie accepted a one-year term position as Planning and Research Analyst with the Community Development Department, and will also assume the role of Civic Numbering Coordinator. Sean Gillis also joined us for a two-year Planner position. He will assist with the Municipal Planning Review. More to come on that issue. Holiday Hours and Waste Collection - Municipal Offices at 151 King Street and 186 Central Street, Chester, will close on Monday, October 13 for Thanksgiving and reopen the next day. However, Thanksgiving does NOT affect waste collection, and it will carry on as usual. For information about Special Collection this month, see Page 7. By-Law Enforcement - The Municipality is no longer using the Commissionaires to enforce our By-Laws. We are opting for in- house enforcement. Call (902) 275-3080 to report an infraction. IN BRIEF...BOSS or BUST Since the last newsletter, we received three complaints. • The first complaint was received from a resident who had issues applying for a building permit. We are following up with them. • The second complaint was about an odour coming from one of the Municipality’s sewer treatment plants. The odour occurred because the last hurricane knocked out power to the plant for an extended period of time. Without power, the equipment cannot aerate (inject air into) the collected waste material, and without air, the bacteria that breaks down the waste material dies. This leaves the whole process stagnant...and smelly! • The last complaint was filed about two separate planning concerns: an illegal sign and an area undesignated for parking at a new commercial site. As it turns out, we had already contacted both owners prior to the complaint. A permit was issued for the sign, and the parking issue is in the process of being resolved.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. We are often asked what the difference is between a “tender”, an “RFP”, and an “RFQ”. Actually, when we ask the public to give us prices on goods, services, building leases or construction, the entire process is called a “public tender process”. When the Municipality issues a public tender, we have several options. Issue a, • Request for Proposal (RFP); • Request for Construction (RFC); • Request for Quotation (RFQ); • Request for Standing Offer (RSO); or • Request for Expression of Interest (REI). An RFP is when we ask suppliers to submit detailed proposals (bids) to the Municipality based on criteria we give them. We select or “award” an RFP to the supplier offering the best value, price and effectiveness. An RFC is very similar to an RFQ except it is specifically for construction, demolition, and renovations. RFQs are often used to price goods and services with minimum specifications and ri’kwest are usually awarded based on the lowest price from a minimum of three quotes. An RSO is an agreement with a supplier (usually through contract) to provide certain goods and services as needed during a spe- cific period of time and at a predetermined price or discount. Finally, REIs are when suppliers who sub- mit proposals are shortlisted and from that selection, are asked to submit an RFP for evaluation. Primarily, the Municipality asks for an ei- ther an RFP or RFQ because it usually meets all of our requirements. Once an option is selected (RFP, RFC, etc.), and proposal requirements drawn up, we advertise for submissions using local papers, our website and social media accounts as well as the Provincial Procurement Services website (visit www.novascotia.ca/tenders/). Of course, staff and Council have to follow rules at every stage of the tender process, and they are outlined in our Procurement Policy P-04. Information is generally avail- able to the public with a few exceptions. Call the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554 if you are ever interested in the public opening of tender documents, submissions or results. To view a copy of our Procurement Policy P-04, visit www.chester.ca and look under “Policies” in our Document Library (found under the Resources tab). You can also stop in to the Office at 151 King Street in Chester or call (902) 275-3554 for a paper copy. The rules direct staff on which “request” type they should use, how to evaluate sub- missions, what information must be public, and awarding the tender. There is also a list of situations where the tender process can be altered. For example, if there is an emergency, if no one bids, or if the submission is harmful to human, animal or plant life. There are also 16 other circum- stances outlined in the Policy. The Municipality also has permission to purchase routine goods and services from one organization up to a five-year period. For instance, waste collection services are tendered only once every five years, and courier service contracts are annual. A list is found in the back of the Procurement Policy. Description Successful Bidder Price Over/Under Amount Budgeted Type Date Construction of Cell 3 at Kaizer Meadow Landfill Brycon Construction $2,182,700 UNDER $125,000 (or less...project not complete)RFC 04/2014 Waste Collection Services G.E.’s All Trucking $714,392 Year 1 ON BUDGET RFP 04/2014 Painting Municipal Building C & R Gillis Contracting $12,863 UNDER $1,585.67 RFQ 7/2014 3/4 ton 4WD truck Valley Ford Limited $33,509 UNDER $54.74 RFQ 7/2014 The Municipality is currently viewing submissions for a Sewer Line Cleaning RFQ, which closed on August 15 as well as Winter Road Maintenance and Winter Sidewalk Maintenance RFQs, which are also closed. Results will be posted in the next edition of municipal insight. **UPCOMING is an RFP for Surveying Services. Look for advertisements soon! Tenders Awarded in 2014 The Municipality’s tender process unravelled... physical and mental health. It makes us stronger and more resilient. It brings us together to play, to sing, to laugh, to explore, and to share. It causes us to rally together, solve problems, and grow together. A community with a culture wrapped around recreation is a community where people will want to live, prosper, and innovate for generations. Recreation is foundational to the heart of a community. The Recreation Department considers itself the anchor of community recreation in the Municipality of Chester, tethered to the many people and organizations that provide the heart. We are in the business of providing many opportunities for residents to exercise their personal passions thorough providing both the programs and places; removing barriers; and supporting the community partners who work on a daily basis to share their own passions with others. Staff at the Recreation and Parks Department work hard at providing these opportunties for all ages, abilities, and preferences. Each member “specializes” in various aspects, and as a team, they are unstoppable! Let’s take a closer look... Chad Haughn is the Director for the Recreation and Parks Department. He oversees the operation of the Department and works toward providing quality recreation services for the community. This service includes, but is definitely not limited to, • Acting as a resource and support to community groups, such as grant writing; • Building community leaders by sharing training opportunities and providing financial assistance for training; • Management of municipal trails, parks, and open space; and • Partnering with other municipal and provincial departments on recreation, sport and physical activity work. Chad: OK, two weeks left til the Cut n Run. Let’s make sure we have everything organized. Cosette, how’s registration going? Cosette: Great! We have 32 more people registered than last year! Debbie took another two registrations online this morning, and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing all week. Also, the t-shirts were ordered and should be in by the end of the week. Chad: Excellent! Debbie, did you contact all of the community groups? Debbie: Yes, the Merchants Association is putting up a ‘Welcome to Chester’ sign by the trailhead, and the OHC team will have an information table in the CAMS gym. Gord: The volunteer orientation meeting is set for Thursday night. We have over 40 course marshals and registration assistants confirmed this year, and the RCMP is on board again. Trishe: We also need to send thank you notes to the businesses who donated prizes. Chad: Good idea! Can you take care of that? Trishe: Sure! Jody: The school is ready for us, and I spoke with Jim. He offered to take pictures for us throughout the morning....... Conversations like this happen regularly at the Recreation & Parks Department; each member of the team working independently, using their individual strengths, then combining their efforts resulting in success. In this article, you’ll get a snapshot of each team member, what they do, and how they bring it together to be one of the most productive, and successful, departments in our organization. You will also hear from folks in the community who can give testament to the valuable work that comes out of the Department. The benefits of recreation are innumerous. We need it in our lives to achieve a healthy balance. Recreation relieves stress, and improves Behind every great opportunity isA GREAT TEAM Cosette Howlett is our PRO Kids Coordinator and general font of knowledge in the Department. She grew up in Chester and has worked in the Recreation Department for over 30 years. Her intimate connection to the area and the families make her the perfect person to oversee the PRO Kids program. She has been the coordinator for the past 7 years and in that time has worked hard to build partnerships and position PRO Kids as a vital program that community members look toward for support, and to place their support. Debbie Harnish is the first cheery voice you get when you contact the Recreation Department. Her priority is excellent customer service. She leads program registration, transactions, and answers all manner of questions. Debbie also coordinates community group contact listings and community event listings which we publish monthly. You’ve heard the phrase, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” Gord Tate is our Active Living Coordinator and his job is to make sure the horse knows where the water is; how to drink when they get there; that the water is safe; and that there are other horses there to enjoy the water with. He works primarily on population health policy and planning initiatives as they relate to recreation and the physical, social, and policy environments at the local, regional, and provincial levels. Examples include active transportation planning and policy advocacy, bridging the health and recreation sectors, implementing our active living strategy, and producing Explore Life and other marketing material. His latest passion is bike polo at Mill Cove. “The health of the people of the area is a challenge that our Recreation Department staff clearly considers in its programs and activities. Our “Rec Department” is unusual in its focus on recreation for health (as well as fun) in our area. That does matter to improving the health of our population. It can also matter to each one of us. The programs are inclusive of dif- ferent age groups, often done in partnership with commu- nity groups and instructors where we have shared goals and where their knowledge and many contacts make a positive difference to our health and safety. Whether it is working with Dalhousie University to bring together many resources to enhance the health of those with chronic illnesses or organizing an engaging (and safe) annual run or providing information about walking trails or providing information about individual or group recreation – each program matters to our overall health.” -Joy Calkin Judy Hudson, from Hubbards, has become a regular attendee of our outdoor pro- grams. She joined us last March on our “Owl Prowl” that took place at Card Lake Provincial Park. The night was windy and wet, so our expectations of finding, or even hearing an owl were not high. At the very end of our adventure, we had luck... “Just wanted to say thanks for the most incredible ex- perience last night...The whole evening was worth it when that owl answered your calling. I’ve never heard anything as thrilling. You guys are the best!” Fran DeLong and her husband Earl of East River walk the trail three times a week. In addi- tion, Earl has a side-by-side and uses the trail pretty much every day whether he’s just our for a drive or going to a friend’s house. “We love walking on the trail; we appreciate it so much.” And, about their favourite section from the East Chester Trail Head to Labrador Lake, “that is the prettiest section of the whole trail with the river and streams along the side of the trail.” Jordan Hebb, one of our Youth Leaders this past sum- mer, is entering into the Recreation Leadership program at NSCC and feels he is heading into the program with an advantage. “This job has been good professional develop- ment…it’s helped me develop skills in program planning and communication”. Sarah Buell says that “it just feels good to give kids a chance to try things that they may not otherwise have the chance to do.” This was the 7th year for the Seniors’ Old Fashioned Picnic held at Hubbard Barn. Chester Rec partners with a number of community organizations hosted the event that starts with live music and dancing. We serve a free BBQ/picnic lunch to over one hundred seniors and then round out the day with activities. This year we walked the trail, did a cupcake walk, played washer toss and lawn bowling. Pictured here are Jor- dan Hebb, summer staff, and his grandmother, Muriel Web- ber, a frequent attendee of the Picnic. Behind every great opportunity isA GREAT TEAM Jody Conrad, our Community School Coordinator lives in the woods of Chester Grant and works mainly from Forest Heights Community School. Besides coordinating public use of our two Community Schools (Forest Heights and Aspotogan Consolidated), he organizes most of the recreation programs offered throughout the Municipality. Jody tries to set up a diversity of programs each season and especially loves facilitating connections between people and the natural world. If you have ideas for programs you’d like to see, let him know! Trishe Colman grew up in our Municipality and spent her summers frolicking at Bayswater Beach. Currently, she organizes recreation and educational programming throughout the Municipality and is particularly interested in programs that focus on and benefit seniors. The best part about the Recreation & Parks Department (besides the staff) is that they don’t limit themselves to providing the Municipality with choices for a balanced and healthy lifestyle: they also practice community development by, • Being a financial and administrative partner for community organizations that also provide recreational opportunities within the Municipality, such as after school programming. • Providing infrastructure like the Skate Park and Croft Road Playground; • Working with stakeholders to build awareness around health and wellness in the area as well as regionally and provincially. For example, active transportation, age friendly, and ??; and • Encouraging communication and ideas for an improved lifestyle. Essential services? We think so. Here’s what people say... Recreation is VALUEable • We offer 50+ programs each quarter. Program revenue is approximately $41,000 per year, and have registered 4,353 separate individuals since 2009. • PRO Kids is a $45,000/year program. The Municipality provides only 11%; the rest comes from YOU, grants, and corporate donations. • The Recreation & Parks Department budgeted $88,000 this year for grants to groups, individuals, facilities, and community programs. • $25,000 of our Active Living Coordinator’s annual salary is paid for by the Provin- cial Government. • Recreation received $20,000 in grant money to upgrade sections of the Municipal- ity’s 46-kilometre trail system. • Chad helped secure $60,000 over the last year in Provincial funds to benefit ac- cess to facilities in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. It provides free passes for skating, curling, and more at local facilities (including Church Memorial Park). 6 COMMUNITY INTEREST Look for our new and improved website coming later this Fall. Same address, different experience. Saturday, Sept. 20 4th Annual Dinner Theatre “After Ever After” presented at the Forties Community Centre, 6:30pm. 19 years and over. Doors open 5:30pm and social at 6:00pm. 689-2018. Country Jamboree Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. Sunday, Sept. 21 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Afternoon of Music Hubbards Area Lions Club, 1:30pm. Monday, Sept. 22 Staying Healthy in Midlife & Beyond Free workshop at Aspotogan Heritage Trust, 1:30pm. 857-1133. Benefit Supporting Musical Friends Program at St. Stephen’s, 7pm. Great music! Saturday, Sept. 27 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30pm Fish Fry Chester United Baptist Church, 4:30- 6:30pm. Crib Tournament Little Red School, 11am. Fish Fry & Flea Market Western Shore Fire Hall, 12-6pm. Call 627-2069 to rent a Flea Market table. Monday, Sept. 29 Presentation “The World Association of Flower Arrangers” by Myra Knight at Aenon Baptist Church, 7pm. 273-2000. Saturday, Oct. 4 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30pm. Chester Minor Hockey Annual Golf Tournament In Memory of Al Nunn at Chester Golf Course. Shotgun start at 10am. Regis- ter with satrinaswinemar@eastlink.ca Sunday, Oct. 5 Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Reg- istration at 12:30pm. Call 689-2147. Monday, Oct. 13 Oktoberfest Harvest Sale Forties Community Centre, 9am-4pm. Entertainment. 689-2612 or 689-2000. Turkey Dinner Forties Community Centre, 11:30am- 1:30pm and 2:30-4:30pm. 689-2612. Saturday, Oct. 25 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Sunday, Oct. 26 Oktoberfest Sauer- kraut Supper Forties Community Centre, 4:30pm. 689-2612. Saturday, Nov. 1 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am. Saturday, Nov. 22 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Saturday, Dec. 6 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am. Every Friday until mid-September Artisan and Farmers’ Market Chester Train Station, 10am-2pm. Every Saturday until Thanksgiving Country Market Lion’s Park, New Ross, 9am-noon. 681-3171. Every Saturday until October 25 Hubbards Farmers’ Market Hubbards Barn & Community Park, 8am-noon www.hubbardsbarn.org Every Sunday in November Gold Mines Tour Guided walking tour, 1:30-3:30pm. Proceeds for Chester Municipal Heri- tage Society. Reserve with 275-3718.` If you have an event to share, please forward the full details to Debbie Harnish at recreation@chester.ca Events will be published in the Progress Bulletin, appear in the municipal newsletter, and on our website. All of a sudden, the power goes out... and stays out for four long days and nights. Your cell phone is dead, which is your only means of communication, and you ran out of drinking water because the well can’t pump without power. You’re tired of nachos for supper, and there’s only so many cha- rades you can take. The power isn’t expect- ed to return for another six days... Did you know that many people don’t test their smoke alarms as often as they should? When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. You need working smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Test yours every month! The old saying of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure " is very true when it comes to keeping your family safe. Smoke alarms are inexpensive early warning devices that cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half. Under the best of circumstances you have approximately 1-2 minutes to safely exit your home when you hear the smoke detector alarm. Smoke detectors definitely save lives. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home (including the basement), outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Keep alarms away from doors and windows and do not locate an alarm in front of air reg- isters, fans or vents. Do not place detectors in a kitchen or directly outside a bathroom where they may create false nuisance alarms. Never remove or disable a smoke alarm. Your smoke alarm can't protect you if the batteries have been removed or a plug disconnected. Test smoke alarms at least monthly. For battery-operated smoke alarms make it a habit to change the batteries twice a year. The lifespan of a typical smoke alarm is about 10 years, but some models last as little as 5 years. They should be replaced as necessary according to the manufacturer’s information or immediately if they do not respond properly when tested. * Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2014 NFPA. This Fire Prevention message is from the Municipality of the District of Chester and your local fire departments in Blandford, Chester, Chester Basin, Hubbards, New Ross, Martins River, and Western Shore. Please visit our Fire and Emergency Services link found at www.chester.ca for more important Fire Prevention and Safety information. You’ll find many fire safety and fire prevention tips that can help lessen the potential for a fire in your home, school or workplace. With hurricane season at its highest in September and October, you might want to become reacquainted with where the local comfort centres are. Comfort Centres are facilities that open throughout the day and evening (not usually overnight) where resi- dents can go to get water and use electricity (say for charging cell phones and laptops...). They are opened and maintained by the community group responsible for the facil- ity, in cooperation with the Councillor for that District. They are opened based on the need of residents in the area. If you need a comfort centre, please contact your Council- lor and they will be able to answer questions for you. See the last page of this newsletter for contact information and district areas. The Comfort Centres in the Municipality of the District of Chester are located through- out the area. Here’s a list, • District #1 Community Center (you guessed it...District 1) • Hubbards Fire Hall (District 2) • Chester United Baptist Church (Dis- trict 3) • Western Shore Area Improvement As- sociation Hall (District 5) • Western Shore Fire Hall (District 5) • Martins River Fire Hall (District 5) When a Comfort Centre opens, the Region- al Emergency Measures Organization, usual- ly along with municipal representatives, will use CKBW, social media, and word-of-mouth to notify residents. IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT... or by calling 1-866-810-2882 within North America or 1-905-288-3371 outside North America. ***Fees apply*** If you pay after the due date, our interest rate is 1% per month on the total bill. Make sure your mortgage company has your tax bill. If you get a copy, they may not have... If your address changed, please call (902) 275-3554 or email propertytax@chester.ca Don’t agree with your property assessment? We can’t help you but Property Valuation Services Corporation can. Call them at 1-800-380-7775. You still have to pay us though. If your assessment is lowered, we will refund your overpayment. We included an insert about the Municipal Budget. ENJOY! PROPERTY SERVICES 7Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca Dear Shabby, I have a friend who keeps getting their garbage rejected...what should he do? ~ signed My Friend Stinks, Lower Grant Dear “My Friend Stinks”: You can tell “your friend” (wink wink) that he can avoid rejection by: • using clear bags for regular AND special collection; • Having his waste out by 8:00 a.m.; • Separating his waste properly; and • Separating his CLEAN recyclables from his paper. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, Special collection is coming up October 13 to 24. Last time, some of my waste got rejected because I “exceeded my limit for black bags.” Come on! Give a girl a break! ~ signed Trash Avalanche, Canaan Dear “Trash Avalanche”: Sounds like you’ve already had quite a “break” already...four years! Seems to me, the Municipality implemented their clear bag for garbage program in 2010. Not only do you need to use clear bags for your regular garbage, but for special collection garbage AND garbage you bring to the Landfill. PS.....Don’t forget that Leaf Collection is between November 17 and 28! During Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice this time only, you can “trash” the com- post bags and use clear bags for leaves. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, I recently won the lottery and have de- cided to refurnish my apartment with furniture that doesn’t smell or have holes. What do I do with the old stuff? I can’t even find a charity that will take it. ~ signed Now Rich Bachelor, Martins Point Dear “Now Rich Bachelor”: Congratulations on your win! You can put your old furniture out during special collection (on your regular collection day between October 13 and 24). Also, don’t be afraid to unload some other junk too. Here are the guidelines: • NO electronics, tires, large amounts of asphalt shingles and wood, items with Freon OR hazardous waste. • Waste can go out up to 24 hours in advance of your collection day. • Items cannot exceed 50 lbs, 4 feet in length, or 46 cubic feet except for furniture. • Don’t use bags larger than 31”x42”. • Box or bag small items. *********************************************** By the way, I have it on good author- ity that the Solid Waste Department is ramping up their inspection program. Take my advice...recycle and use clear bags for your garbage. ~Shabby MUNICIPAL TAX EXEMPTIONS Do you qualify? Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may if ALL of the following applies to you: • The total income from all persons who have an interest in your property (who are listed as owners or co-owners) was less than $19,000.00 in the 2013 calen- dar year. • Exemptions are only for residential prop- erty tax on the principal residence. Al- though all owners do not have to live in the residence, it must be a principal dwelling of one of the owners. • Proof of income is required. Please bring your 2013 Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada with you. Council increased exemption amounts this year by $100 in each category up to $500. The amount of the exemption is based on total income and is determined at the Mu- nicipal Office. Please come in to apply. The exemption for the current fiscal year (April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015) will ex- pire on March 31, 2015. Please contact the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554 to see if you qualify. NOTHING CAN BE SAID TO BE CERTAIN, EXCEPT... Well it’s municipal property tax time again! Well as the old saying goes, taxes are a sure thing. So as not to disappoint, the Municipality sent their property tax bills in the mail this week. The deadline for payment is Friday, November 14, but before you pay them, there are a few things that might apply. We are located at 151 King Street in Chester and open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Payment options are listed on the back of your bill. You can pay • in person (BRING YOUR BILL INTO THE OFFICE WITH YOU) • at any Canadian bank, including online or telephone banking • by mail (WRITE ACCOUNT # ON THE CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER). Mail to 151 King St., PO Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0 • with a credit card. We don’t accept credit cards at the Municipal Office, but you can pay online at www.chester.ca 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thank you. The Seed ‘n’ Feed Community Garden was a huge suc- cess again this year...except for the green peppers and beets. Tomatoes and squash ran wild, and the “three sis- ters” plan worked like a charm. We want to thank the volunteers who planted, weeded, harvested and donated seeds and plants. Here’s to the rest of the sea- son and all of the upcoming years! CIVIC NUMBERS in public places? Businesses and service provid- ers, like hotels, restaurants and churches have a responsibility to the public to post civic numbers. Not only should the number be posted, but all staff must be aware of the civic address as well. Also, landlords must let their tenants know the correct civic ad- dress to use in an emergency. A civic number must be posted and on display in a very visible place near a telephone. Everyone who comes through your door should be as safe as possible. Ask your insurance com- pany about liability factors and plan for safety and accessibility! We also have advice for travel- ing and public safety. When driv- ing in your community or even vacationing away from home, take a good look at your sur- roundings. Watch for landmarks such as parks, shops, or exit signs and note their names and civic numbers. If you should have a roadside emergency, you can confidently identify your location when calling 911 for help. Now, enjoy our beaches and parks with peace of mind! With cooperation from the Depart- ments of Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans, and Trans- portation and Infrastructure Re- newal (TIR), we have posted civic numbers at beaches, parks and wharves. TIR also has numbered markers along Highway 103 at every kilometer. This can help in roadside emergencies. Be aware and be safe! • Meet your volunteer firefighters • Show your support • See the fire apparatus and equipment up close • Hands-on fire prevention for kids and adults • Learn about fire prevention in your home • Enjoy a BBQ and refreshments • Win a fire extinguisher or smoke alarm If raining, join us at the Chester Fire Hall, 149 Central Street, Chester QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg. iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will open our website directly. Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications about municipal issues. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the Municipality. If you have something to share, message us! If you have questions about…call this Department...at this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 277-0017 Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding)Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490 Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 275-3490 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 275-3080 By-Laws Community Development Dept 275-3080 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 Brad Armstrong, Councillor for District #3, and Heather MacKinnon, President of the Chester Garden Club, cut the ribbon at the newly renovated Cove Garden in July. Photo by Sandy Dumaresq FIRE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY Sunday, October 5, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Chester Shore Mall, Hwy. 3 This little guy was literally hanging around on Middle River Road MEET AND GREET Fire Prevention Week, October 5 -11, 2014 Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives, Test Yours Monthly United Way of Lunenburg County We need new or gently used “BIKES FOR KIDS” Do you have a tricycle, mountain, BMX, or road bike that your child or teen has outgrown? Please contact the Recreation & Parks Department at (902) 275-3490 between September 22 and November 7, 2014. The bikes will be collected, refurbished by volunteers, and distributed in the spring of 2015 to local kids who would otherwise not have one. This year, 64 bikes were given away. Have questions? Interested in volunteering to help refurbish the bikes? E-mail office@lunenburgcounty. unitedway.ca or leave a message at (902) 530-3072. Special thanks to our many community partners and volunteers.