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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015-11_MunicipalInsight_pdf-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about November/December 2015 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this fall... You are MOST welcome! Christmas is in the Air There is NO ESCAPE A special note from Give shopping local a Oh, make no mistake. the South Shore chance! You'll never know Winter IS coming. And, Wrestling Club (Page 4). what you'll find (Page 5). when it does... (Page 7) In the early 1990s, the Municipality of the District of Chester entered into a very unique partnership with the South Shore Regional School Board. We became stakeholders in a relatively new concept: community schools. Forest Heights Community School (FHCS) replaced Chester Municipal High School as the new high school for Municipality of Chester students during the day, but after school, it became a centerpiece for community use. Over the years, programming has increased and "af- ter hours" use of the school continued to grow. In fact, FHCS became such a model for success, the Municipal- ity entered into a second agreement with the School Board as well as the Ashford Consortium in 2000. From that partnership, Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School (ACES) emerged. Many are surprised at the extent to which the two schools are used. In 2014, FHCS saw over 7,000 users come through the doors. In the same year, more than 1,000 users visited ACES. What are they coming for? A Tale of Two Schools The only junior roller derby east of Montreal hap- pens at Forest Heights Community School. Photo credit: Jody Conrad Recreation & Parks Depart- ment - During the spring, fall and winter, recreational pro- gramming is offered through the Municipality. In the summer, FHCS becomes headquarters for our Summer Staff and youth programs. Our Explore Life Rec- reation Guide comes in your mailbox quarterly with an as- sortment of courses, workshops and activities for you to try, such as hall walking, moccasin mak- ing, and first aid. Rentals - Both schools are avail- able to rent for reasonable rates. Depending on the loca- tion, size and use, rates for a classroom range from $6 to $18 per hour; gym rental is between $15 and $30 per hour; and the cafeteria rents for $10 to $24 per hour. Rentals include, • Non-profit sport groups like men's and youth bas- ketball, soccer, floor hockey, and football; • Community group users include cadets, the Lions Club, scouts, garden clubs, church groups, and St. John Ambulance; • Birthday parties; and • Businesses like En Pointe, Croziers Driver Training, and Oceanmark Kennels. After School Programs - These programs are fund- ed through the Nova Scotia Department of Education Community Use of Schools and Thrive! After the Bell, which is through the Department of Health & Wellness. • The Open Air Society's goal is to connect young people with the natural world. They host two groups per week; • The Learning Centre After School Program is for students accessing services from the FHCS Learning Centre. This program develops leisure and social skills as well as new recreation and physical activity interests; and • Roller Derby (as seen in the photo on the left) is a popular "girls only" program where all of the equipment is provided. Memberships - Anyone can join the fitness centre at FHCS. Cost is $5 drop-in, $40 for ten sessions, or $75 for three months. Equipment, not training, is available after extracurricular activities are through for the day. So how does all of this happen? Jody Conrad, Com- munity School Coordinator for the Municipality of Chester. He, along with two previous Coordinators deserve plenty of credit for developing the two com- munity schools into what they are today. In fact, FHCS and ACES have worked so well in our area that Jody has presented to other areas in the Province to encourage more of them! For information, visit www.chester.ca and look under the "Explore" tab in the main menu. Or, contact Jody by calling his office at 902-275-2712 or sending him an email at jconrad@chester.ca Community Meetings All Locations More Information 902-275-2599 www.chester.ca/revision Open House/Drop-In 10am-12pm and 2-4pm Public Meeting/ Workshop 7pm - 9pm Drop in to meet your neighbours and discuss your community. Blandford Community Centre Wednesday, November 4th Hubbards Fire Hall Wednesday, September 30th Rescheduled: November 10th Make that Three SchoolsCouncil changes direction with Gold River Offices At their meeting on Thursday, October 29, Council discussed the latest financial estimate to renovate the former school in Gold River into a satellite municipal office, housing the Community Development and Recreation Departments. Once again, the fourth time since the project was considered, a rise in costs was presented. Fire sup- pression was found to be inadequate, and upgrades to the system are mandatory before the renovation can continue. The Office of the Fire Marshal also found that even with an upgraded system, the gym- nasium will have to be almost halved in size to fall within standards. Faced with a difficult decision, Council discussed the justification of adding another near $500,000 to the budget while diminishing the value of gymna- sium. After careful consideration and a great deal of thought, Council decided to pull the plug. They said that the increase in costs just isn’t de- fendable. Council still believes that the project was a good one in its intent. However, the extent of the renovations and the uncertainty of even these latest numbers was the determining factor in terminating the project. The decision to not move forward with the Gold River municipal office project was disappointing to many, including some residents in the area who were looking forward to having services a little bit closer. Council and staff were also anticipating the move and the opportunities it presented. It is too soon to say what will happen with the Annex Building, Food Bank, and Gold River school itself. The pre-existing space issues that originally compelled Council to explore the Gold River project in the first place are still a priority. Councillors and staff will be working on solutions in the near future concerning office space. Until then, status quo will be maintained, and services will be uninterrupted. To date, $110,000 was spent in current renova- tions that include asbestos removal and drainage. Engineering and consulting costs from 2013 to pres- ent, including inspections, estimates and recom- mendations, are $153,000. Neither of these costs are seen as a loss by the Municipality. Construction to date is required anyway if the building is not de- molished, and engineering costs allowed the Mu- nicipality to ascertain that the project was not finan- cially prudent and the current inadequacies would still be unknown. This is an example of the challenges municipali- ties face when they are handed abandoned schools and trying to find a way to reuse them. The finan- cial challenges are too great for municipalities, and a resolution to that effect will be made at the upcom- ing Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities Conference. The resolution will be presented to the Province in hopes to come to a mutual solution for the aban- doned and often derelict buildings. Council’s intention is to keep the school’s play- ground equipment that was purchased through community fundraisers; although, it is not known to where it will be moved yet. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Well, it's been an interesting last couple of months. The Toronto Blue Jays made it to the post season for the first time in twen- ty years. I guess I'll just leave it at that and hope for the best next year. We just concluded a very long and chal- lenging Federal Election campaign resulting in a new government with a mandate for change. The Municipality, although non-par- tisan, has a keen interest in what the Parties have to say as it often has significan impact on our own path forward. One of the most obvious policy positions of the new government with the greatest potential to influence our spending priori- ties is the focus on infrastructure. The need to renew ageing infrastructure and build for the future is a constant challenge with sig- 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 nificant cost that is often tied to Federal and Provincial funding programs. We look for- ward to the opportunity to work with other levels of government on this issue. Forest Heights Community School has been prominent in engaging the community over the last month. They hosted a Candi- dates Debate in early October that was well managed by students and staff and open to the public at large. They also had a prominent role in the dedi- cation of a plaque and Act of Remembrance for one of their own, Private Richard Green. This was very well attended by the pub- lic and the absolute silence by the student body during the ceremony was a clear dem- onstration that they understood the gravity of the event. 2 We are continuing to engage communities all across the Municipality in our Planning Review process and will soon be in a posi- tion to put forward some key themes and policy position for your consideration. Get- ting consensus on a path forward is always a challenge, but we must plan our future if we have any hope of achieving our goals. Your input, as always, is critical to this process. This month marks the last year of Council's four-year term. I will, over the next several editions, highlight some of our accomplish- ments as a community, the challenges, and opportunities moving forward. I would like to thank the community on be- half of Council for your support and partici- pation over the last three years. Common Comments Answers for some regularly asked questions Out of all the inquiries, comments and feedback that Councillors and Municipal Staff receive in the run of a year, a few recurring ones rise to the top. Below are a few of them that we would like to concentrate on. Some answers redirect to a different organization or level of government, and some are answers to a couple of the more unfavourable comments our staff and Councillors get either first- or second-hand. "The only thing I get out of my property taxes is waste collection," is not uncommon to hear, usually second-hand. Municipal government is responsible for all waste collection, true, but there are also a host of services that are available. Residents have access to recreation (including maintained public green spaces and trails, low-cost programming and subsidies); property services (like waste collection and disposal, public sewer in some areas and planning); protection through construction standards, development controls, animal control, by- laws, and the RCMP; and environmental supports (like alternative energy and climate change strategies). This isn't even a complete list of services available. Even though a service isn't used or needed every day, it's good to know that it's there when the time comes. "The Municipality has too many staff. None of them do anything as it is." The notion that municipal government workers spend their days doing nothing is so far from the truth, it's not funny. In fact, job descriptions are available online as is the CAO Report (in Agenda packages), which outlines staff activity. We definitely fill our days and even some of our nights too. "Snow on my road hasn't been cleared yet" is the most regular comment, but it is closely followed by complaints of plowed under mailboxes and blocked in driveways/ entrances. The Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR) plows all of the public roads in the Province. The only roads that the Municipality plows are their own (Parkwood, Osprey, Foxwood, Venture, Lake and Logans in Mill Cove). If you have a comment or question about plowing, call NSTIR at 1-888-432-3233. We also field questions for various recreational facilities in the Municipality. The Recreation & Parks Department works with many organizations in the area and may even have a representative on their "board" or head committee. We are there as a resource, not because we can make decisions or influence the group in any way. We can't take bookings or change any program that isn't listed in our own Recreation Guide, Explore Life. We get mistakenly credited for great programs and facilities run by volunteers at, • Chester Rink 902-275-4628 • Lido Pool 902-275-4482 (Village of Chester Commission) • Community Wheels 902-275-5585 Councillors and Municipal Staff are a great resource and usually know the answer to a question. If you're unsure about whether an issue is municipal or not, call and we can tell you where to start looking. Do you know who your Councillor is? Visit www.chester.ca for bio and contact information. Update on Communications Tower located in Chester Some time ago, a telecommunications tower was erected at 149 Central Street on Village of Chester Commission property by the Fire Hall. At the time, the Municipality reached out to surrounding property owners, as is our policy, with minimal response. We also held a Public Meeting and a Public Hear- ing to give opportunity for land owners to provide their input as to whether or not the Municipality should grant a Letter of Concurrence to Eastlink to install the tow- er. Twelve people attended, not including Councillors or municipal staff. There was little opposition, we forwarded our letter to Industry Canada, and they continued with their process. In the end, Eastlink was granted authorization. Since the tower was installed, a number of residents have concerns. In two presenta- tions to Council, several options were sug- gested, with the main focus being on relo- cating the tower. Council also met with the Village of Chester Commission since they are leasing property to Eastlink as well as Eastlink themselves to discuss possiblities. As an additional source of information, Council joined a group called Canadian Ra- diocommunications Information and No- tification Service (CRINS). CRINS is a non- government organization that specifically deals with the construction of radiocom- munications towers in Canada. They will conduct an audit on the process taken in this instance and provide us with some rec- ommendations. Once the Municipality receives the recom- mendations, we will take a position and determine which next steps, if any, are re- quired. Coming soon to a mailbox near you... (www.chester.ca) STRATEGIC PLAN 3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca BOSS or BUST Since the last report, we received three complaints and one compliment. • A suggestion to ban the operation of leaf blowers within earshot of residents was made. This suggestion is still under review. • A resident told us that we weren't clear when wording our criteria for our property tax exemption policy. As the criteria could be interpreted more than one way, we concluded that the resident was right. We reworded it on our website and drafted an amendment to the Policy. It will be presented to Council for approval soon! • Lastly, a complaint was received about an overflowing dumpster. The Solid Waste Inspector is working with the owner and manager of the building to come up with some strategies for the future. • Municipal Staff were complimented on their overall customer relations, with special mention of Angela Schnare, our Revenue Administrator. She did an exceptional job with helping a resident resolve an issue. Nice work Angela, and thanks to the resident for taking the time to write us.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 under "I Want To..." Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. South Shore Represented at Nationals - Council approved sponsorship of $450 each to Colby Kaizer and Joshua Mills to attend the U14 Soccer Nationals in St. John's, NL from October 7 to 12. They placed 7th overall and had a great time! Western Shore Wharf - The company that is leasing the Western Shore Wharf has opted to purchase it, which was a provision in the lease agreement. Public use of the wharf will continue unless it becomes un- safe. At that time, the Municipality has the option to pay for repairs to keep it accessible to the public. Remembrance Day - Municipal Offices are closed on Wednesday, No- vember 11. The Landfill is also closed and waste collection is resched- uled for Saturday, November 14. This affects residents on the Wednes- day Week A route. Workplace Safety - Council recognized health and safety as a priority to be addressed in the next few months. Staff is updating our current Safety Program for all sites, and staff resources are being allocated to this as needed. Our Health Centre Permits - Our health Centre has received their site plan approval, development permit and footing permit for the new building. IN BRIEF... Description Successful Bidder Price(net)Over/Under Budget Type Date Age Friendly Communities Plan David W. Harrison & Teal Architects $19,825.50 budget 20K RFP 07/2015 Supply & Delivery of Four Wheel Drive Truck Carroll South Shore $34,016.07 UNDER $983.93 RSO 08/2015 Phase 3A - Duke Street Sidewalk Tracey's Landscaping Ltd.$57,845.47 UNDER $102,154.53 Tender 08/2015 Wind Energy Project Minas Energy pending project type Agreement on Internal Trade (NS Procurement website)EOI 07/2015 * Prices listed include the portion of HST that the Municipality pays ** For information on the tender process, please contact administration@chester.ca RSO Request for Standing Offer RFP Request for Proposals EOI Expression of Interest Tenders Recently Awarded CORRECTION It seems we made a mistake in the last mun- cipal insight. On Page 4, we featured stu- dents from the L'nu Sipuk Kina'muokuom School from Indian Brook. We mistakenly noted that they were from Indian Brook, Cape Breton. In fact, they are from Indian Brook in Shubenacadie. Annual appointments were made to Special and Standing Committees of Council at the end of July. These Committees provide information and recom- mendations to Council based on their mandate, and vary in membership. Many of the Committees have citizens sitting as representatives of their communi- ty, one or more Councillors and staff. They are, Audit and Budget - deals with annual budget and external financial audit. All Councillors sit on this. Building Code & Unsightly Premises - Councillors Andre Veinotte and Robert Myra attend meetings. Citizens Planning Advisory - is the Committee that is primarily responsible for making recommendations about the Plan Review. They also make recommen- dations for all planning issues in the Municipality. Membership is comprised of representatives from each municipal district John Carroll, Amanda Enright, Nancy Green, Trevor Hume, Mathew Nightingale, Debbie Reeves, Arthur Backman, Mark Narsansky, Carol Nauss, Mary Ellen Clancey, and Allen Webber. Committee of the Whole - All Councillors sit on this Committee. Kaizer Meadow Advisory - Council representation is through Allen Webber, Floyd Shatford, and Sharon Church-Cornelius. Landfill Citizens Monitoring - is a community-based committee that monitors issues related to the Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management site. Mem- bers are Bernice Levy, Jack Shaw, Douglas Sharpham, Ryan Cameron, Brad Armstrong, and Sharon Church- Cornelius. Municipal Area Advisory - reports to the Citizens Planning Advisory Committee and deals with plan- ning issues within the Municipality, not including the Village of Chester. Leslie Taylor, Mary Ellen Clancey, Carol Nauss, Larry Ryan, Roy Conrad, Larry Keddy, Herb Fraser, Allen Webber, Andre Veinotte, and Sha- ron Church-Cornelius sit on this Committee. RCMP Advisory - has representation through Al- len Webber, Floyd Shatford, Robert Myra, Hans Stokkeskog and Blair Armstrong. Recreation & Parks - Members are Suzanne Brown, Kevin Marczak, Barry Baker, Adam Kaizer, Susan Lar- der, Christine Rafuse, Tina Connors, and Brad Arm- strong (alternate). Solid Waste Sub-Committee - addresses issues around facility operations, including partners. Mu- nicipal reps are Allen Webber and Sharon Church- Cornelus Spectacle Lake Watershed Advisory - is a committee Committee of CouncilAppointments 2015-16 whose primary focus is activity within the Spectacle Lake Watershed area. Members are Dave Foley, Al- len Webber, Andre Veinotte, Brad Armstrong, and Sharon Church-Cornelius. Village Area Advisory - reports to the Citizens Plan- ning Advisory Committee and deals with planning issues within the Village of Chester. Membership is Carol Nauss, Karl Hume, Ray Cambria, Kerry Keddy, Dave Foley, Brad Armstrong, and Sharon Church- Cornelius. Water Quality Monitoring (Mill Cove) - is a commit- tee that tracks effects caused by area developments. Members who sit on this Committee are Floyd Shat- ford, Kathy Gamache, Mary Ellen Clancey, John Mc- Neil, Chris Forgnaud, and Darian Ure. For information, please contact a representative or call the Municipal Office at 902-275-3554. The next issue of municipal insight will feature represen- tatives to other bodies as well as Council appoint- ments to positions. Members of the South Shore Wrestling Club gathered at Forest Heights Commu- nity School to say thank you to the Chester Municipal Recreation & Parks Department. The Department provided a $3,500 grant that the Club used towards the purchase of a new wrestling mat from a National Tournament held in New Brunswick last spring. Three of the Club's members actu- ally wrestled on the same mat when they competed at Nationals.4 COMMUNITY INTEREST Friday, Nov. 6 Jamie Junger New Ross Legion, 7:30pm. Darrell's Darn Good Donairs, 5:00-7:30pm. Card Game Western Shore Fire Hall, 7:30pm. Hosted by South Shore Seniors Club. Call 902-275-3677. Silent & Live Auction Social Event Forties Community Centre, 7-10pm. Call 902-299-0588. Kick off the 22nd New Ross Christmas Festival (December 4, 5 & 6). Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am. Saturday, Nov. 7 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire hall, 7:30-10:30am. 4th Annual Legion Leaf Walk Chester Basin Legion, 10am ( registra- tion at 9am). Pledge sheets at bar. Pro- ceeds for Veteran's Memorial Bursary. Pancake Breakfast Hubbards Area Lions Club, 9-11am. Call 902-857-9845. Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am. 3rd Annual Dinner Theatre "One the Air" is sponsored by Shoreham Village at Chester Legion, 6:30pm. 902-235-3817/902-275-3451. Sunday, Nov. 8 Holiday Craft Fair District #1 Community Centre, 10am- 4pm. Tuesday, Nov. 10 Remembrance Day Commemoration Story & Song at Trellis Cafe, 2-4pm. Call St. Luke's Anglican Church at 902-857-3797. Wednesday, Nov 11 Remembrance Day Service Chester Basin Legion, 10:45am. Remembrance Day Reception Hubbards Area Lions Club after ceremony at Hubbards waterfront. Call 902-857-9845. Friday, Nov. 13 Open Mic with Tony & Lenny Barkhouse New Ross Legion, 7:30pm. Darrell's Darn Good Donairs, 5:00-7:30pm. Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm-12:30am. Saturday, Nov. 14 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Country Christmas Craft Fair Forties Community Centre, 10am- 3pm. Call 902-689-2276. Sunday, Nov. 15 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Afternoon of Music Hubbards Area Lions Club, 1:30pm. "The Tuna Fishery of St. Margaret's Bay" presented by Robert Conrad at Ocean Swells Community Centre, 2:30pm. Call 902-826-7210. Friday, Nov. 20 Monthly Meeting South Shore Seniors Club will meet at Western Shore Fire Hall, 7:30pm. Saturday, Nov. 21 Ham & Sauerkraut Supper Ocean Swells Community Centre, 4:00-6:30pm. Country Jamboree Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. Saturday, Nov. 21 Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, 9-11am Annual Christmas Craft Fair Chester Basin Legion, 9am-2pm. To book a $15 table, call 902-275-8391. Craft & Bake Sale Western Shore & Area Improvement Association Hall, 9:30am-2:00pm. Annual Christmas Bazaar St. Stephen Parish Centre, 11am. Email tvjnmyoung@yahoo.ca Short Notice playing at Chester Legion, 9pm. Sunday, Nov. 22 Farmers' & Artisan Christmas Market Chester Legion, 11am-3pm. Wednesday, Nov 25 Seniors Lunch & Social Hubbards Area Lions Club, 12pm. Call 902-857-9845. Friday, Nov. 27 Know When to Hold 'Em Casino Gala Atlantica Oak Island Resort, 7:30pm- 1:00am. 19 years +. Call Big Brothers Big Sisters South Shore, 902-543-4435. Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am. Saturday, Nov. 28 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Craft Fair Chester Baptist Church, 10am-2pm. 3rd Annual Prize Bingo District #1 Community Centre, 7pm. Sunday, Nov. 29 Fish Fry Hubbards Area Lions Club, 4-6pm. Call 902-857-9845. Monday, Nov. 30 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 1-3pm and 5-8pm. Call 1-888-236-6283. Friday, Dec. 4 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9:00pm-12:30am. Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6 22nd Annual New Ross Christmas Festival See notice on this page for events. Visit www.newross.ca or search New Ross Christmas Festival on Facebook. Saturday, Dec. 5 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am. Crib Tournament Little Red School, Canaan, 11am. Merchandise Bingo Hubbards Area Lions Club, 1pm. Call 902-857-9845. 45s Card Game Hubbards Area Lions Club, 7pm. Call 902-857-9845. Sunday, Dec. 6 Annual Fundraising Christmas Concert Chester Brass Band and special guests at Atlantica Hotel, 5:30pm. 275-3453. Saturday, Dec. 12 Fill-A-Car Christmas Hampers Hubbards Area Lions Club, 10am- 12pm in front of Independent Grocer. Country Jamboree & Memory Tree Lighting Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. 275-3496, 275-3777, or 275-3667. Saturday, Nov. 28, Dec. 12 & Dec. 19 Christmas at the Barn Hubbards Barn, 8am-12pm. www.Hubbardsbarn.org Every Sunday in November Gold Mine Tours Gold River, 1:30-3:30pm. Proceeds for Chester Municipal Heritage Society. For reservations, call 902-275-3718 or email flhs@eastlink.ca Events listed on our website have more details than those listed here. Visit us online! Schedule of Events (all events take place in New Ross) Friday, Dec. 4 - Hot chocolate & cookies - Credit Union; Community Supper - Legion; Tree Lighting - bandstand at The Cross; Holiday LED Light Exchange - Home Hardware; Hot chocolate - Vittles; and Razzmatazz for Kids - United Baptist Church. Saturday, Dec. 5 - Breakfast - Fire Hall; Festival Craft/Gift Fair and O' Christmas Tree Photo Exhibit - School; Country Craft Fair - Legion; Cider with Cecilia - 4865 Hwy 12; Festival Concert - Anglican Christ Church; Kids crafts and fun - Family Resource Centre grounds; and Dance - Legion. Saturday, Dec. 5 & Sunday Dec. 6 - Welcome Post - Ross Farm; Festival specials - Peas- ants Pantry; Walk - Lions Picnic Park; Christmas in the Country - Ross Farm; Turkey Dinner & Craft Market - Forties Community Centre; U-picks - Balsam Country Farms, Karl Veinot, Keddy's and Rocky Top; Christmas Tree Decorating Contest - Ross Farm; Fashions - All is New Again Frenchy’s; and Studio Tours - Scotian Ironworks. Sunday, Dec. 7 - Ecumenical Church Service - United Baptist Church; and Studio Tours - Sco- tian Ironworks, Barbara O’Neil at 4420 Hwy 12, and Sylvia Dodge at 25 Forties Road. FULL SCHEDULE AT www.newross.ca Winning Match The Club held fundraisers to pay for the remainder of the mat, which has a value of approximately $12,000. Through PRO Kids, the Recreation De- partment has also helped individual wres- tlers by financially assisting players with registration fees and wrestling gear. For information on the South Shore Wrestling Club, please feel free to contact 902-273-2569.Photo/information credit: Wade Nodding Did you know . . . • PRO Kids funds kids to take part in activi- ties outside the Municipality of Chester? • We fund all types of recreational activities, not just sports? i.e. music, art, drama, etc. • 100% of the money raised for PRO Kids goes 100% back to the kids in our Munici- pality? • If you make a donation to PRO Kids, you can receive an official charitable receipt? Did you know . . .(con't) • We have received 140 PRO Kids applica- tions so far this budget year (since April 1st)? • We raise money for PRO Kids by vari- ous methods: grants, fundraisers, donations, etc.? • In the past month alone we raised over $4,000 for PRO Kids from two golf tourna- ments? Best Year Yet... This year's fundraising initiatives from two golf tournaments have been the highest so far. • We raised $2,241 for PRO Kids at the An- nual Fo’c’sle Benefit Golf Tournament on September 26. Special thanks to all those who helped make this happen – Sylvia Swinimer, Jackie Bremner, Fo’c’sle, the players, hole sponsors and prize sponsors. 2015 was our best yet. • We raised $2,000 for PRO Kids at the An- nual PRO Kids BBQ at the Chester Minor Hockey Al Nunn Memorial Golf Tourna- ment on October 3 (photo on the left at the Tournament from left to right, Debbie Harnish, Glenda Collicutt, Jerry Hynes, Co- sette Howlett, and Tammy Eisnor). Scotia- bank matched funds raised, so a big thank you to them! Also, special thanks to Spidles Independent Grocer, Ampryor Consulting, Jerry Hynes and Leann Edwards. Something to think about this Christmas • How about giving a donation to PRO Kids in lieu of a Christmas present – everyone ben- efits that way. • How about purchasing a Municipal License Plate as a gift – 100% of the proceeds go to PRO Kids. If you have any questions about PRO Kids, please do not hesitate to contact Cosette Howlett, PRO Kids Coordinator at 902-275-3490 or prokids@chester.ca If you accidentally recycle your municipal newsletter, you can access it (and most of our publications) online at www.chester.ca Interested in starting, or growing, a farm or food-related business in Nova Scotia? Have you heard about Farm- Works "Gentle Dragons"? They're helpful Dragons - they ask ques- tions and make suggestions! Join them as they look for food in New Ross on Monday, November 30 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Ross Farm Learning Centre. FarmWorks’ Mission is to pro- mote and provide strategic and re- sponsible community investment in food production and distribu- tion in order to increase access to a sustainable local food supply for all Nova Scotians. Money invested by Nova Scotians in FarmWorks is loaned to businesses that meet FarmWorks criteria. FarmWorks is a Community Eco- nomic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) that lends sharehold- er investments to Nova Scotian food producers. It was established PROfacts in 2011 to promote and provide strategic and responsible commu- nity investment in local food pro- duction and distribution in order to help increase agricultural and relat- ed economic activity and provide access to sustainable local food for all Nova Scotians. Whether or not you want to ap- ply for a loan, we'd still like to hear a 10-minute promotion of your business - there will be potential customers in the audience. Interested in applying? Down- load the online application at www. farmworsk.ca, complete and send to Linda at lbest@ns.sympatico.ca. Please contact Linda Best lbest@ ns.sympatico.ca or phone 902-542- 3442 with any questions. FarmWorks Dragon’s Den in New Ross 5 The Municipality of the District of Chester and Stu- dent Council for Forest Heights Community School recently completed a collaborative venture that takes tenting to a whole new level. Kaizer Meadow Wind Turbine Campsite was offi- cially opened on Friday, October 16 complete with smores, weenies and washer toss. Kathryn Green, Student Council President, presented a time capsule that will be “buried” inside the wind tower to com- memorate the occasion. With thanks to corporate funding given by the de- velopers of South Canoe Windfarm and South Shore Ready Mix, the area can accommodate several tents, has a fire pit with granite seating, picnic table, por- table washroom facilities and an exceptional view of the Municipality’s wind tower. Because of its proxim- ity to Card Lake, trails and wilderness areas, it makes it a prime location for eco-tourism opportunities. To inquire about or book an overnight stay at the Kaizer Meadow wind tower site, contact Recreation and Parks at 902-275-3490 or visit www.chester.ca to download the forms and information. IT'S OFFICIAL! You can get more information about how property taxes are applied at www.chester.ca SAFETY Your first line of defense against injury and death in the event of a fire is a working smoke detec- tor or smoke/fire alarm system. Properly placed and functioning detectors provide occupants with the best chance to escape without injury should a fire occur. The Municipality and our seven district volunteer fire departments namely, Blandford and Area Fire Rescue, Hubbards Fire Department, Chester Fire De- partment, Chester Basin Fire Department, Western Shore Fire Department, New Ross Fire Department and Martins River Fire Department, support the proper installation and maintenance of these impor- tant safety systems. However, false alarms issued by such systems, are very serious and in the majority of case preventable. False Alarms can put the Whole Community at Risk • Fire fighters spend time, funds and effort re- sponding to nonexistent fire situations. • The lives of our volunteers and their families are disrupted due to unnecessary calls. • Emergency responders, other road users and the general public face unnecessary risks due to emergency vehicles being on our streets. • There can be potential delays in response to emergencies where peoples’ lives are at stake. • Services and your business may be temporar- ily disrupted. • Local employers who release our volunteers to respond to emergencies may lose their good will and cooperation. • Complacency may result from repeated false alarms, possibly resulting in deadly conse- quences. In 2014, our seven district fire departments re- sponded to 68 false fire alarms, representing nearly 10% of the total emergency calls. In some areas, the rate of false fire alarms was as high as 28% of the total department call outs. Statistics for September 2015 are unfortunately trending at the same levels. Your Alarm System is Your Responsibility Under By-Law #141, it is the responsibility of the occupant, owner and their alarm company to take all corrective actions necessary to prevent any occur- rence of false alarms. Violations of the By–Law may result in fines of a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $10,000. We recognize the corrective actions that were tak- en by the majority of alarm system owners. It is truly in everyone’s interest to have alarms used for their intended purpose and be maintained at all times in proper working condition. False Alarms can be Prevented Although weather and other occurrences out of your control can cause false alarms, most of the time they can be avoided. The major causes of false alarms include fumes from cooking, steam from showers, dust from building work, insects, poorly trained users, lack of maintenance, and incorrect or poorly designed and installed systems. There are several things you can do: • Make sure your alarm provider and monitoring company is reputable and correctly licensed. • Always ask for detailed information and a complete demonstration of the system. • Fire alarm systems should be maintained an- nually by authorized service companies. • Particulate matter whether smoke, dust, or steam may activate a smoke detector. Avoid placing them in locations that will cause false alarms, for example, too close to kitchens, bathrooms, or fireplaces. • Always pay close attention to your surround- ings and how what you are doing could impact on the alarm system. • During construction or renovations, cover de- tectors that may be affected by construction activities. Always restore all detectors daily to proper functionality after construction or ren- ovation activities. After construction or reno- vations are completed, your alarm company should be called to service your system. • Test your system regularly. Advise the fire de- partment before and after an alarm test. • Should your system be activated, do not reset your system until a thorough investigation de- termines the cause of the activation. • Have phone numbers available to immediately cancel accidental alarms and meet with the fire department at your location. The Municipality of the District of Chester reminds all citizens of their responsibility to comply with the Alarm By–Law 141, available at the Municipal Office at 151 King Street Chester or at www.chester.ca We thank you for your continuing assistance and ask that you be even more diligent in using and maintaining your systems in the proper conditions. HELP US TO PREVENT FALSE FIRE ALARMS False alarms are serious and, in most cases, preventable Safety Year Round In a recent Proclamation concerning Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, 2015, Allen Webber, Warden for the Municipality of the District of Chester, called upon all our citizens to participate in fire prevention activi- ties at home, work and school. He also requested all public information agencies to actively participate in an effort to provide effective fire prevention programs, which will instill in the minds of each citizen, those fire safety practices that will reduce the loss of life and property caused by fire. We all need to participate in fire prevention activities and actively support the efforts of our local volunteer Fire Departments. Everyone must earnestly work to eliminate fire hazards, practice good fire safety and be prepared for an emergency. By working together, the loss of lives and property from fire can be significantly reduced. This year’s Fire Prevention theme is “HEAR THE BEEP WHERE YOU SLEEP. EVERY BEDROOM NEEDS A WORK- ING SMOKE ALARM.” If you wake up to a fire, there is literally only time to escape the area and get outside of the house. Fire spreads quickly and in less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. You need to have an escape plan and prac- tice it with your family on a regular basis. Smoke alarms are inexpensive early warning de- vices. They are your first line of defense against injury and death in the event of a fire. Properly placed and functioning detectors provide occupants with the best chance to escape without injury should a fire occur. 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. Never remove or disable a smoke alarm. Your smoke alarm can't protect you if the batteries have been re- moved or a plug has been 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 man- ufacturer’s information or immediately if they do not respond properly when tested. We urge you to please visit our Fire and Emergen- cy Services website at www.chesterfire.ca to find out more information on fire safety . Our Fire Chiefs and department members are most willing to provide as- sistance and answer any questions you may have. Or, please contact Bruce Blackwood, Fire Services Co- ordinator by calling at 902-275-2599 or by emailing bblackwood@chester.ca 6 The 7th Annual Gingerbread Competition November 20 - December 20 2015 Rules: • Piece must be 100% Gingerbread. Decorations and surround must be entirely edible (base may be materials of individual choice). • No lighting permitted. • Maximum dimensions 20" x 20" x 20". • Entry deadline is November 15th. Forms available at slipcoversetcbyjill@gmail.com or flowerschester@aliantzinc.ca or pick up at Flowers, Flowers,Flowers of Chester Ltd, 34 Pleasant St, Chester, 902-275-5707, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm. • Full contest details are found on the entry forms. • Completed Gingerbread pieces must be delivered to The Mecklenburgh Inn, 78 Pleasant St Chester on November 19th between 4-6pm. The Gingerbread creations will be on display at local Merchants in Chester from November 20 to December 20, 2015. • A panel of Judges appointed by the Gingerbread Competition Committee will oversee the competition, and will judge based on overall appearance, originality, creativity, level of difficulty and precision. Their decisions are final. • Winners will be notified by email or phone. • The Peoples' Choice winner will receive two tickets to the Chester Playhouse and will be notified on December 21. Cash prizes for 1 s t , 2 n d , 3 r d a n d Youth Category Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES Dear Shabby, I really need your help! My puppy has gone missing...sort of. I can hear her; I just can't SEE her. She likes to play in her doghouse in my backyard under some trees. It was windy earlier and now there's a blanket of leaves covering every- thing, even her! Do you have any advice on how to find a "kind of" missing puppy? ~ signed Buried in Martins River Dear “Buried”: All is not lost! All you need to do is rake your yard. People do it all the time. If your not sure how, just peek over the fence at your neighbour. And, as it hap- pens, there is a Leaf Collection in your area very soon (November 16 - 27). This is the only time of year that you can put an unlimited number of bagged leaves and yard waste out for collection in CLEAR, PLASTIC BAGS. Just keep bagging leaves until you find your little precious! *********************************************** Dear Shabby, Is there a way to keep my green cart from turning my compost into a huge, stinky ice cube this winter?~ signed Freezing in Franey Corner Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice Dear “Freezing”: Ah, yes...the ever-popular cart-cicle! There's a variety of things you can try. First, use certified compostable bags to line your cart. Or, sometimes lining the bottom of your cart with cardboard or boxboard is enough to keep things from sticking. Another trick I've heard is to spray the sides of the cart with vegetable oil or alternate layers of compost with sawdust or a little brush. And don't for- get to strain extra liquid BEFORE put- ting things in the green cart so it doesn't pool and freeze. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, How do I know if waste collection is can- celled because of a storm? ~ signed Wondering in Lower Grant Dear “Wondering”: Call Kaizer Meadow at 902-275-2330 or listen to CKBW. If it is cancelled, sit tight and they will pick it up the following Sat- urday. I'd remove your waste from the curb in case the plow comes along, but make sure it's back by 8:00 a.m. on Sat- urday so it doesn't get missed. And, if you're on a private road, plow and sand/ salt. If it isn't passable, the truck is not coming for your waste. Period. You might be eligible for a municipal proper- ty tax break if you qualify under either one of these programs. The Municipality of the District of Chester offers a property tax break under their Low In- come Tax Exemption Policy. You may qualify if: • The total income from all persons, in- cluding spouses, who have an interest in your property, and who contributed to the household income, was less than $19,000.00 in the calendar year. • You (or one of the parties listed previously) are living at that primary residence. • You have your 2014 Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada with you. Exemptions of up to a maximum of $500 are granted on residential portions of property tax- es, and are based on the current property taxa- tion year (April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016). The exemption expires March 31, 2016 for this year. If you have questions about this exemption, please see P-25 Tax Exemption Policy for more details or call 902-275-3554 and ask for the Rev- enue Administrator. The Seniors Rebate is a Provincial program that is designed to help eligible seniors remain in their homes by providing them with an an- nual rebate on their property taxes. The program provides eligible homeowners with up to a 50% rebate on their municipal taxes to a maximum $800 per year. The program ex- pires December 31, 2015 for this year. Eligibility requires that 2014/15 property tax- es (previous year) must be paid in full and the rebate only applies to primary residences that are lived in by the applicant. If you were receiving, or were eligible to re- ceive, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the "Allowance" as of January 2015, you could qualify. To find out if you are eligible for the GIS, call 1-800-277-9914 and to check for the Seniors Rebate eligibility, call Service Canada at 1-800- 670-4357. I WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES ...said no one ever Clear snow away from your waste collection areas or the collector may not be able to get it and you will have to keep it for another two weeks. Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15, 2015 to March 31, 2016. This means that you cannot park on any street maintained by the Department of Transporation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) between 1:00 and 7:00 a.m. until the parking ban ends. ALSO, you cannot park on the street an hour after a storm starts until two hours after it ends. Your vehicle can be towed (at your expense) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salting, sanding, etc) or you can be fined under the Motor Vehicle Act. SNOW PARKING If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scotia, there are a few things you need to know this winter. Incidentally, if you plow driveways, it’s illegal to plow snow across a street or onto a sidewalk. We had an extraordinary winter last year. The extra snow coupled with drivers who ignored the ban sometimes made it difficult for TIR to drive more than a few metres without encountering a vehicle blocking their path. This resulted in streets that were left only partially cleared and sometimes impassable. The parking ban makes it easier for TIR and all drivers using the street. Plus, drivers who ignore the ban risk having their vehicle towed, a fine and possible damage. Call TIR to receive or report information on local roads. Their toll-free phone number is 1-888-432-3233. You can also access "winter" information online at their website: http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter Regulations made by the Provincial Traffic Authority Pursuant to Section 202 of the Motor Vehicle Act R.S.N.S. 1989 Chapter 293 Change to Special Collection 7 After a "test run" of reducing special collection from four times per year to two, Council is mak- ing some changes. Spring collection has changed from April to May so the weather will be more cooperative. Also, an additional collection has been added in July, making the number of special collections three instead of two. Special collection for the upcoming year is scheduled for • May 9 to 27 • July 18 to 29 • October 18 to 28 For inquiries, please call the Solid Waste Depart- ment at 902-275-2330. solidwaste@chester.ca Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitter in October was... And, we all know how it turned out in the end... 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. Here, you will find all of the latest up- dates, minutes, tender information, and more. Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meetings. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the area. If you have some- thing to share, message us! We will post your event or photos! Instagram: Follow us at chestermuni to see photos of municipal events and daily life in the Municipality! Tag us in your pics! If you have questions about…call this Department...at this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 902-277-0017 Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding)Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080 By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080 Civic Numbering Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Composting Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 902-275-3554 Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080 Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 902-275-1312 After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Planning Areas Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Recycling Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Sewer (central system)Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 902-275-3554 Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Wharves Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Zoning Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 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 solidwaste@chester.ca Municipal Districts and Councillors #1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove Andre Veinotte 902-277-1409 #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-857-9817 #3 Chester and part of East Chester Brad Armstrong 902-275-3121 #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-2536 #5 Gold River to Martins River Robert Myra 902-627-2470 #6 New Ross and area Tina Connors 902-679-4461 #7 Marriotts Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church-Cornelius 902-277-1301 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at 902-275-3554 or click on the “Inform” menu option on our website. Provincial Contacts Department of Environment ..........................................................902-543-4685 Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665 Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555 Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850 Transportation (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-8169 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ................................1-877-740-3378 ..................................................................................902-279-3378 Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule: Thursday, December 24, 2015 CLOSING at noon (Committee of the Whole meeting is cancelled) Friday, December 25, 2015 CLOSED for Christmas Day Monday, December 28, 2015 CLOSED in lieu of Boxing Day Tuesday, December 29, 2015 CLOSED Wednesday, December 30, 2015 CLOSED Thursday, December 31, 2015 CLOSED (Council meeting is cancelled) Friday, January 1, 2016 CLOSED for New Year’s Day Thursday, January 7, 2016 First Committee of the Whole meeting of the New Year The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is: Friday, December 25, 2015 CLOSED for Christmas Day Monday, December 28, 2015 CLOSED for Boxing Day Friday, January 1, 2016 CLOSED for New Year’s Day Waste Collection Information: Friday, December 25 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, December 26 (Friday Week A) Friday, December 26 collection is AS USUAL Friday, January 1 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, January 2 (Friday Week B) Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year Municipality of the District of Chester Holiday Hours & Waste Collection Information We want to showcase our wonderful communities on www.chester.ca! If you have a story, comment, spectacular photo, or anything, email communications@chester.ca and we will use it to build our communities page. Once we have enough to cover all districts, we will go live! Each month, we will highlight a district.