HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016-11_MunicipalInsight_pdf_archive-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about November/December 2016
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Official Municipal Election Tally Training Sessions in Safety Joint Fire Advisory for Districts 3 & 7
See Page 2 for the Relevant safetry training Newly formed committee
official vote count, being offered locally provides update on joint
including School Board. Information on Page 5. fire protection on Page 6.
COUNCIL 2016-2020
The 45th Chester Municipal Council settles in
for four years of new challenges and successes
Thursday, October 27, 2016 marked the first
Council meeting since the Municipal Elec-
tion nearly two weeks prior (official results on
Page 2). All seven Councillors, two of them new
to the table, were sworn in at the low-key but
publicly attended meeting. Although the Agen-
da was fairly light, the 45th Chester Municipal
Council is already discussing change and influ-
encing futures.
Allen Webber was nominated and unani-
mously elected Warden for the Municipality
for the seventh time. Councillors Floyd Shat-
ford and Tina Connors were both nominated
for Deputy Warden, suggesting a vote by secret
ballot among all seven. However, the vote was
deferred when a motion to amend the By-Law
governing Council proceedings was made.
The amendment proposed that the position
of Deputy Warden carry a two-year term as op-
posed to the traditional four years (see Page 3
for specific information). Second and Final Read-
ings are scheduled for Thursday, November 24.
Whether it's for two years or four, a Deputy
Warden will be elected on that day.
As always, Council welcomes input from the
public. Please submit written comments - ei-
ther in favour or in opposition - to the Municipal
Clerk via email or letter (see Page 3 for contact
information).
The next order of business: appointing a
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Com-
mittee recommends which Councillors will sit on
which Standing/Special Committees of Council.
Also done annually in the spring, Councillors are
assigned committees as part of the decision-
making process.
The Councillors appointed to this Committee
(Danielle Barkhouse as Chair, Floyd Shatford,
Tina Connors, and Allen Webber) are also tak-
ing the opportunity to review the list of existing
committees to ensure that they are continuing to
add value to the Municipality's mandate as well
as some are known to have dissolved. Councillor
portfolios will also be reviewed to make sure the
workload is evenly distributed. This is extremely
important to operations as many decisions are
made at this level and recommended to Council
for approval. Councillor participation is critical
as they represent constituents' priorities as well
as Council's commitment to the Municipality as
a whole.
Also on the Agenda was one of the most focal
discussions of the year for community groups in
the Municipality: grants. Every year, thousands
of dollars are set aside for recreation-based
community groups to access for their programs,
facility improvements, and operations. With-
out municipal
support, some
wouldn't be able
to offer much-
needed oppor-
tunities. In total,
$19,500 was re-
viewed and ap-
proved by the
new Council;
their decision af-
fecting hundreds
of residents. A list
of recipients is on
Page 6.
At this meet-
ing, approval of
the Recreation
and Parks De-
Municipal Council, starting at the far right and going clockwise: Tina Connors (District 6),
Danielle Barkhouse (District 3), Sharon Church (District 7), Allen Webber (District 4 and Warden),
Abdella Assaff (District 5), Andre Veinotte (District 1), and Floyd Shatford (District 2).
partment's grants sparked a related discussion
around any further improvements that could be
made to the Council Grant process. Last year,
Council-at-the-time modified their own grant
program to recognize two application intake
deadlines.
Discussion turned directly to the Municipal-
ity's future in sustainability and fiscal manage-
ment. Council will contemplate next moves in
the wind energy field that will further relieve
dependency on revenue from tax dollars. A po-
tential project was taken off the table, but new
opportunities will be introduced in the near fu-
ture. Until then, all councillors will prepare by
researching material related to wind energy in
Nova Scotia and looking at options in this area.
This is a sampling of the kinds of decisions that
Council will make over the next four years. They
will discuss and decide based on their district's
needs and the needs of the entire Municipality.
Sometimes agreeing and sometimes disagree-
ing, but always respectful and always with the
interest of citizens in mind because it's certainly
not for the pension (which is ZERO).
Certainly being an elected official takes a cer-
tain talent and thick skin. It also takes a good
amount of orientation. For days, new council-
lors are brought up to speed on operations,
including the purpose of each committee, de-
partment, and staff person; finances, including
budgets, short and long term fiscal planning,
and provincial requirements; strategic priorities,
including where residents want the Municipality
to be and how we are getting there; legislated
requirements, including the Municipal Govern-
ment Act, municipal by-laws and policies; and
inter-municipal relationships, including the
Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, shared ser-
vices, and partnerships.
For information on governance, district bound-
aries, proceedings, or representation, look on-
line at www.chester.ca/engage, call the Mu-
nicipal Office at 902-275-3554 or contact your
Councillor (information is on the back page).
Municipality. We can only hope that this is
not an indication of a trend moving forward.
Our efforts to provide bottled water to
those in need received considerable uptake
and the information you provided to us will
enable us to better prepare if it occurs in the
future.
In closing, I would like to thank my
colleagues on Council for electing me
Warden for this term. It is a privilege to serve
and provide leadership where appropriate
to both them and you, and I will endeavour
to do my best.
With the support of the community and
your continued engagement, I am confident
that we can represent your interests and
continue to build a municipality that leads
by example and one we can all be proud to
call home.
Respectfully,
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
The Municipal Election is behind us, and
now the term of office of the 45th Council
begins.
I would first like to congratulate the new
and returning members of Council and say
how grateful I am to my community for my
own re-election.
I would also like to say, "good on you" to
all those who put their names forward to
represent their communities and recognize
the effort they put into the enormous task
of knocking on doors and representing their
views to the community.
We achieved a slightly higher voter turnout
than four years ago, and this speaks well
of the citizens of our Municipality and the
importance they place in local government.
Your new council must now face the
challenge of building on our success and
developing a strategic path forward for the
next four years. We have a couple of meetings
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
under our belts, and I am confident that all
share in the commitment to work not only
for their respective communities, but for the
Municipality as a whole to achieve success.
The Municipality recently signed a ten-year
extension with the Valley Waste Authority for
the deliver of their waste to Kaizer Meadow.
This was critical to the success of our new
partnership with Sustane Technologies, and
we are grateful to our partners at Valley
Waste for supporting our efforts to change
the way waste is managed in Nova Scotia.
The Municipality is please to be working
cooperatively with the Village Commission
to gather information that will guide us and
the Village in determining the need and best
path forward to resolve the longstanding
issue of water in the Village.
On the broader issue of water, it has been
a long, dry summer with many residents
experiencing dry wells throughout the
Do you know who your Councillor is? Visit www.chester.ca for bio and contact information.
AWARDED TENDERS
Description Successful Bidder Price Over/Under Budget**Type Date
Garden Maintenance Gerhardt Property
Improvement
$15,515.00
plus HST
OVER BUDGET
by $8,015.00 RFQ 6/01/2016
Paving Manholes and
Small Repairs Lenihan's Paving
$79/sq. metre
patching asphalt
$3.85/sq. metre
asphalt removal
WITHIN BUDGET RFQ 6/15/2016
Computer Hardware
Refresh IMP Solutions $86,600.00
net HST WITHIN BUDGET Standing
Offer 6/09/2016
VMWare Server
Replacement Dell Canada $58,780.00
net HST WITHIN BUDGET Standing
Offer 6/09/2016
Supply and Delivery of
4WD Truck Valley Ford Ltd.$43,717.55
incl HST
OVER BUDGET
by $2,500.00 RSO 9/29/2016
**Although we usually budget for contingencies, the over/under budget amounts will not reflect these until the work is complete and potential
unknown costs discovered.
For information on the tender process, please email administration@chester.ca
2
Despite our website woes on Election Night
when we experienced a visitor overload and
subsequent crash on our results page, it ap-
pears that technology slightly edged out
traditional with 55.8% of voters choosing to
cast their ballots online or via telephone.
Overall, 35.6% of eligible voters voted,
which is a slight increase from last Election
when 28.8% voted. In Districts where there
was a Municipal Election (Districts 3, 4, 5 and
7), the total participation rate was 53.8%.
Official results are on on the right.
2016 Municipal ElectionOFFICIALRESULTS
District 1
Andre Veinotte ACCLAIMED
District 2
Floyd Shatford ACCLAIMED
District 3
Danielle Barkhouse 326
Brenda Mulrooney 190
District 4
Paul Burnell 168
Allen Webber 388
District 5
Abdella Assaff 428
Heather Brooker 289
Rhonda Myra-Zwicker 117
District 6
Tina Connors ACCLAIMED
District 7
Sharon Church 436
Doug Sharpham 88
School Board
Teresa Griffin 1,010
Jan Jollymore 679
Max Rafuse 664
Hank Middleton (CSAP) ACCLAIMED
Vernon Simms
(African Nova Scotian
School Boad member) ACCLAIMED
Thank you to residents who voted in this
year's Election. Every vote counts! Well...
unless it's spoiled, but the sentiment is the
same!
OPERATIONS
We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca 3
BOSS or BUST
Since the last report, we received three
compliments, four complaints and a comment-
slash-question.
The Public Works Department was complimented
on the property maintenance they are doing in Wild
Rose Park, Western Shore. Thank you for noticing!
A new property owner in Gold River appreciated
our customer service during his transaction. He
spoke to a number of municipal staff and had a great
experience every single time! We're blushing.
Our last compliment came from a resident who
accessed our "wonderful" water distribution
program. She appreciated the extra help as she had
no clean water for drinking or cooking, and for a
time, no water at all. Her words were, "Thank you
for helping MOC residents at this time of extreme
need." Many of us are in the same situation, and we
were happy to even be able to provide a little relief.
A complaint was filed about the significant
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.
OBJECTIVE: To provide specific rules of conduct to Council during meetings.
DESCRIPTION: This policy addresses the rules of order during a meeting, including election of Warden and Deputy Warden, when and how meet-
ings are held, quorum, presentations, petitions, motions and amendments, voting, debate, minutes and agendas, conduct, and points of order.
Rules Governing Proceedings of Council By-Law
PROPOSED CHANGES: To change the term of the Office of Deputy Warden from four years to two years. After two years, nominations are held
and a new term will start. The previous Deputy Warden can be nominated again.
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO COUNCIL BY-LAW
The Second (and Final) Reading for By-Law No. 79, Rules Governing Proceedings of Council is scheduled at the Thursday, November 24 Council
meeting that begins at 8:45 a.m. in Council Chambers at 151 King Street in Chester. If you wish to provide a submission with regard to the proposed
policy, contact the Municipal Clerk at 902-275-3554. The deadline for submissions is November 17 by 4:30 p.m.
A draft of By-Law No. 79 can be found on our website under Engage/By-Laws and Policies/Proposed Amendments or by calling the Municipal Clerk
at 902-275-3554 for a paper copy.
overgrowth at the corner of
Pleasant and Queen Streets in
Chester. Approximately 2' of foliage
is growing over the sidewalk, making it difficult for
pedestrians to both walk and see oncoming traffic.
Property owners have to maintain their portion of
sidewalk when it comes to overgrowth. In this case,
we contacted them and they are taking care of it.
Thank you!
Two maintenance issues were noted in one
complaint form: a private road sign was knocked
down and a manhole cover was sticking up too far
off the road. Both issues were taken care of; the
manhole right away by packing gravel around it and the sign within seven days
(a new one was ordered).
A sewer-related issue
was reported where the
light was on at a nearby
pump station and sewer
was backing up into a
residential dwelling. We
arrived to investigate the
pump station and fixed what appeared to be the
problem on the surface. After a second call, and
further investigtion, a rag was discovered stuck in the
impellor of the pump unit! After that was removed,
things worked fine.
The last submission was a question around
the serious drought conditions the South Shore
experienced this summer. Prior to the Regional
Emergency Measures Organization news release
and the Municipality's potable water program, a
resident asked if we were considering any aid for
residents. Yes, we were. The Municipality started a
water distribution program and passed out coupons
for over 10,500 4L bottles of water.
This summer was brutal for many households in
terms of dry or near dry wells. With the unusual
weather causing a drought along southwestern Nova
Scotia, many people resorted to using laundromats,
showering and flushing less, and purchasing water.
Even with the recent rain, there are still those with
very little water.
Water levels were the topic of discussion every-
where and our Regional Emergency Measures Or-
ganization issued a mid-September news release
advertising locations where residents could get a
shower or fill their water jugs.
The Municipality asked residents to report dry
wells and mapped affected areas to use as baseline
data. There were 164 dry wells reported in the Mu-
nicipality of Chester with the highest concentration
in the Chester-Chester Basin areas. With the excep-
tion of nine (three unknown), all were reported as
dug wells.
With no considerable rain in sight for weeks, Coun-
cil approved $30,000 for the purchase and distribu-
tion of bottled water to households in need. The
program was a welcome relief for 215 households
(at the peak use) and lasted for seven weeks. Over-
all, over 10,500 water coupons were distributed. The
last day for the program was November 7. We thank
partnering stores as well as the Regional Emergen-
cy Measures Organization, Graves Island Provincial
Park, and the Province of Nova Scotia. We also give
recognition to helpful residents who lent support to
their neighbours.
Despite reports of between 135 and 219 mm of
rainfall in October, some residents are still without
drinkable water - a greater concern the closer we get
to freezing weather.
Another concern is water quality as wells slowly
HECK OR HIGH WATER
South Shore drought causes hardship for many residents
replenish. Nova Scotia Environ-
ment has provided a couple of
documents to help residents;
one is an instruction sheet on
how to disinfect your well and
the other is a tip sheet on how
to restart your well after it has
gone dry. Both are available on
our website or at the Munici-
pal Office. We also have water
testing bottles available and
encourage residents to test
their well water before con-
sumption.
Public Water System
The overly dry weather also
reignited the discussion of
a public water supply in the
Village of Chester. The cul-
mination of media reports,
speculation on future use, and
differing public opinion result-
ed in Council and the Village of
Chester Commission agreeing
to work together to develop a
scope of work for an extensive
and final needs assessment at
Council's September 29 meet-
ing.
The study will provide the Municipality, Commis-
sion, and residents with concrete information on the
extent of the issue, ptions to address the issue and
an estimate of cost.
Municipal staff drafted a scope of work that was
forwarded to the Commission for input. With their
agreement, the work will generally entail a survey,
well sampling, water yield and quality assessment,
public information sessions, and water source re-
view.
The cost of the study will either be taken from
general funds pending a surplus at year-end or taken
from municipal reserves if grant money is unavail-
able from the provincial and/or federal levels of gov-
ernment.
COMMUNITY INTEREST
If you accidentally recycle your municipal newsletter, you can access it (and most of our publications) online at www.chester.ca
To find the community or social services you
need, DIAL 211 or visit ns.211.ca
To learn more about this province-wide,
confidential, 24 hour/day service, join us at
one of the following information sessions:
Western Shore Hall Nov. 22 @11am
New Ross Golden Age Club Nov. 22 @3pm
Blandford Community Centre Nov. 22 @7pm
Hubbards Lions Club Nov. 24 @11am
Our Health Centre - Chester Nov. 24 @2pm
EVERYONE WELCOME
Sponsored by Our Health Centre
in partnership with 211
Thanks to the local ‘My Time Square’ Quilt-
ing Group, we were able to raise a total of $1,322
for PRO Kids from ticket sales on a wonderful quilt
that was handmade and donated by the group. We
would like to thank all the quilters who contributed
to the making of the quilt, everyone who supported
PRO Kids by purchasing tickets, and Scotiabank for
matching what we raised. The winning ticket was
drawn on October 1 and the lucky winner was Lisa
Freda. Congratulations Lisa! See adjacent photo.
Special thanks to several local businesses and in-
dividuals who recently contributed over $1,000 each
to PRO Kids by either donating money or products...
• Scotiabank - Chester Branch: Special thanks for
contributing $5,000 to PRO Kids by matching our
fundraising efforts throughout 2016.
• Spidles Independent Grocer - Chester: Special
thanks for contributing all of the food at two of
our recent fundraising BBQs – the Robert Myra
Memorial Baseball Tournament and Chester Mi-
nor Hockey's Golf Tournament.
• Fo’c’sle Tavern - Chester: Special thanks for
hosting the 7th Annual Fo’c’sle Golf Tournament
which raised approximately $1,600 for PRO Kids.
• United Way of Lunenburg County: Special
thanks for the $7,000 grant this year.
• Canadian Tire Jumpstart – Special thanks for
your continuous support.
Two typical PRO Kids Questions:
1) Who qualifies for PRO Kids?
PRO Kids is a financial assistance program where
families that live in the Municipality of Chester can
apply for assistance if they cannot afford the costs
After countless hours of planning, fundraising, and
construction, Our Health Centre proudly opened their
doors to the public on Saturday, October 29.
OHC Staff are tentatively scheduled to move into the
collaborative health and wellness facility starting early
November, and the event gave interested residents an
opportunity to tour the Centre before the hustle and
bustle begins.
OHC posted their tentative "move-in schedule" for
Nova Scotia Health Authority staff as follows:
• November 7 - Continuing Care
• November 9 - Mental Health & Addictions
• November 14 - Centre St & Public Health
• November 16 - Resource Centre & Blood Clinic
• November 18 - Blood Collection
Currently, patient care is provided at existing medi-
cal facilities (clinics and local hospitals) as well as the
temporary OHC medical clinic. In the very near future,
the temporary clinic will relocate patients to OHC. If
OHC Open House
Our Health Centre opens their doors to welcome community
you need a health care provider, please call 811 Mon-
day to Friday, 11am to 7pm or visit www.needafamily-
practice.ca to be added to a provincial waitlist. If you
have already registered your name to be paired with a
health care provider by calling a toll-free number, don't
worry! Your name is still in the list, it's just been trans-
ferred to the new system. As soon as a spot becomes
available, you will be called.
Also exciting is that OHC is developing a website that
provides information on health related topics as well as
services and support available to citizens. Information
can be accessed using the website (www.ohcforhealth.
com) or through a volunteer navigator stationed at the
OHC's Information for Health Office. Hours of opera-
tion TBA.
For OHC updates, please visit their website at www.
ourhealthcentre.ca and sign up for their electronic
newsletter. Or, call them at 902-279-0500.
UNCOMMON THREADMy Time Square donates one-of-a-kind treasure to PRO Kids
associated with placing their children
into recreation and sport activities. We
ask for the applicant to provide us with
a professional reference who is famil-
iar with the family’s situation and who
is willing to verify if there is a financial
need. The reference cannot be a fam-
ily member or a close friend. Although
we do not ask for official written proof
of income, our program is intended for
those who fall under the Statistics Can-
ada low income cut-off.
Applicants have the choice of provid-
ing us with a reference or a copy of their
Notice of Assessment.
2) What is your budget - do you really
need to fundraise all the time?
For the last three years, our PRO Kids budget has
remained fairly consistent. We received approxi-
mately $50,000 in requests and we have successfully
generated approximately $50,000 in revenue. We
base our planning on previous year’s trends but the
number of applications, the total amount of funds
requested as well as the amount fundraised each
year can change. The challenge is to consistently
meet the financial obligations so that we can contin-
ue to support local families. The result is a continu-
ous need to raise funds throughout the year.
The Municipality covers the PRO Kids Coordina-
tor’s salary as well as all the administration fees to
deliver the program and contributes $5,000 towards
the program. The remaining money (approximately
$45,000) is generated through grants, donations and
fundraising efforts. Any funds remaining at year end
(March 31) are placed in a reserve so that it is avail-
able for the following year.
We always like to remind people that 100% of the
money we raise goes 100% back to the kids in our
Municipality. Anyone giving a donation to PRO Kids,
is eligible to receive an official donation receipt. As
it turns out, we have had an increase of 40 applica-
tions so far this budget year (the value of this is ap-
proximately $8,000) so yes, the need to continue to
fundraise is always there. Please keep PRO Kids in
mind if you are looking to support the youth in our
community.
In recent years, several families have chosen PRO
Kids as their charity for memorial donations, and
this seems to be a growing trend. It’s the feel good
part that can come out of a sad situation. We wish
to thank the families for choosing our charity and to
those who make the memorial donations.
With Christmas just around the corner, consider
giving a donation to PRO Kids in lieu of a Christmas
present, or purchase a Municipal License Plate for
$20 as 100% of the sales goes directly to PRO Kids.
If you have any further questions about PRO Kids,
please feel free to contact Cosette Howlett, PRO
Kids Coordinator, at 902-275-3490 or by email at
prokids@chester.ca
Cosette Howlett, PRO Kids Coordinator is shown on the left
holding a donated quilt with Lisa Freda, winner of the quilt raffle.
LIMIT
E
D
E
D
I
T
I
O
N
!
!
Seniors Christmas Party
Chester Legion (14 Union Street)
Wednesday, December 7, 1-4pm (doors open 12:30pm)
Free to those 50 years +
Sing carols, play games, and bring your camera to take a picture
with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Light refreshments provided. If you need
a ride, call the Community Wheels bus at 902-275-5585. Space
is limited. Seating provided on a first come, first served basis!
In partnership with VON and South Shore Helping Hands
Everyone NeedsHelp Sometimes.
4
Activity on lakes and waterways cannot be
restricted at the municipal level. However, as a
protective measure for residents and surround-
ing environment, the Municipality of Chester
proposed amending the Municipal Land-Use
By-Law to put controls in place for public parks
that provide access to inland waterways. This
not only affects Sherbrooke Lake, but also any
inland waterway in the Municipality of Chester.
A Public Hearing was held on November 3
and Council heard from quite a few people. The
majority were in favour of increased controls.
MODL representatives were also in attendance.
It was acknowledged that the Land-Use By-
Law is not 100% effective in dealing with all of
the concerns raised, including launching motor-
ized boats from the site. However, MODL has
offered to enter into a Memorandum of Under-
standing that may be more effective in dealing
with these issues.
In the interest of maintaining a valuable
working relationship between both municipali-
ties, Council has tentatively agreed to develop
an MOU with MODL. Our intention is to ensure
the terms will address our residents' concerns.
Until it is determined whether this will be effec-
tive, the By-Law amendments are on hold and
will be revisited if required.
To view the proposed amendments, call the
Municipal Office at 902-275-3554 or view them
at http://chester.ca/engage/public-hearings
Friday, Nov. 18 Karaoke Chester Legion. Call 902-275-3315.
Saturday, Nov. 19
Breakfast District #1 Community Centre, 9-11am
Annual Christmas
Craft Fair
Chester Basin Legion, 9am-2pm. Call
902-275-8391 for tables.
Country Christmas
Craft Fair Forties Community Centre, 10am-3pm
Country Jamboree Little Red School, 7-10pm.
Sunday, Nov. 20
Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Country Music
Christmas Variety
Show
District #1 Community Centre,
1:30pm. Proceeds for All Saints
Church. Call 902-228-2961.
Monday, Nov. 21 Chester Garden Club
Annual Meeting St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 7pm.
Thursday, Nov. 24
to Sunday, Nov. 27
Victorian Christmas
Craft Fair
Lordly House Museum, 10am-5pm.
902-273-2176 or vcshow@eastlink.ca
Saturday, Nov. 26
Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30pm.
Craft Fair Chester United Baptist Church, 10am-
2pm.
Christmas Bazaar
District #1 Community Centre, 11am-
1pm. Sponsored by St. Barnabas
Ladies Guild.
Dinner Theatre "The Great Pretenders", Chester
Legion, 6:30pm. 902-275-3817.
Saturdays, Nov. 26,
Dec. 10 & Dec. 17
Annual Christmas
Market
Hubbards Barn, 8am-12pm.
www.hubbardsbarn.org
Friday, Dec. 2 to
Sunday, Dec. 4
New Ross Christmas
Festival Celebrating
200 Years
Look on this page for an itinerary of
events, including tree lighting, u-picks,
suppers, parade, entertainment, more!
Saturday, Dec. 3
Christmas Bazaar St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 10:30am-
1:30pm.
Crib Tournament Little Red School, 11am.
Christmas Carols &
Tower Lighting
Lightfoot Tower, 5pm. Raindate is
December 10, 5pm.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Chester Farmers' &
Artisan Christmas
Market
Chester Legion 10am-2pm.
Saturday, Dec. 10
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am
3rd Annual IWK Toy
Drive
Church Memorial Park Arena,
12-5pm. 902-277-0021 or email
satrinalynneswinemar@hotmail.com
Country Jamboree &
Memory Tree Lighting Little Red School, 7-10pm.
Christmas Dance Original Usual Suspects, Chester Basin
Legion, 9pm-1am. 902-275-4767.
Saturday, Dec. 17 Amanda Riley Chester Legion. Call 902-275-3315.
Sunday, Dec. 18 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Friday, Dec. 23 Karaoke Chester Legion. Call 902-275-3315.
To have your community event posted here, on our website, and in a weekly column
in the local newspaper, please submit it to recreation@chester.ca
Events listed on our website have more details than those listed here. Visit us online!5
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Friday, Dec. 2 - Chocolate milk and cookies, NR Credit Union (9:30am-6pm); Community
Supper, NR Legion (4:30-6:30pm); Tree Lighting/Visit from Santa/Parade of Lights, Bandstand
at the Cross (7pm); Hot chocolate and treats, Vittles (12-7pm); and Family Entertainment,
NR United Baptist Church (8pm).
Saturday, Dec. 3 - Firefighter's Breakfast, NR Fire Hall (7-10am); Craft and Gift Fair, NR
Consolidated School (10am-3pm); Photo Exhibit, Ross Farm (10am-3pm); Craft Fair, NR
Legion (10am-3pm); Family Fun, NR Family Resource Centre (11am-2pm); Concert, NR
Anglican Christ Church (7pm); and Dance, NR Legion (9pm-1am).
Saturday, Dec. 3 & Sunday Dec. 4 - Christmas in the Country, Ross Farm (9:30am-4:30pm);
Christmas Tree Decorating Contest; U-picks at various locations; Turkey Supper (11:30am-
1:30pm & 2:30-4:30pm) and Craft Market (10am), Forties Community Centre; and Festival
Specials at All is New Again Frenchy's and Peasant's Pantry.
Sunday, Dec. 4 - Ecumenical Church Service, Roman Catholic Church at the Cross; Craft
Fair, Ross Farm (10am-3pm); Artisan demonstrations and displays including wood carvings,
paintings and blacksmithing from artists Barbara O'Neill, Scott Hamlin, Sylvia Dodge, Reta
Meister, Robert Rafuse, William McDow (1-4pm).
FULL SCHEDULE ON FACEBOOK. Search New Ross Christmas Festival.
If you have been following the developments
of the Sherbrooke Lake public access issue, you
may remember that the Municipality of the Dis-
trict of Lunenburg (MODL) struck a committee
to explore options followed by a round of public
engagement.
From there, the Committee made several rec-
ommendations to MODL Council, one of which
was to purchase land in the Municipality of
Sherbrooke Lake Update
Chester to develop as a public access point. As
a result, our Council expressed utter disappoint-
ment that MODL had done this without consul-
tation, especially since other options presented
included property within MODL.
What this means for residents in the imme-
diate vicinity of Sherbrooke Lake and the pur-
chased property is the potential for increased
traffic and unrestricted activity.
New Ross Christmas Festival
December 2 - 4, 2016
Schedule of Events(all events take place in New Ross)
MUNICIPAL GRANTS
6
Remembrance Day Closures and Waste
Collection Information - All Municipal Offices,
including the Kaizer Meadow Environmental
Management Centre and Landfill, will be
closed on Friday, November 11. Waste
collection for that day is rescheduled
for Saturday, November 12. This affects
residents whose waste is collected on Friday
Week A. Look on Page 8 for a full holiday
closure schedule for Christmas.
Local Business Directory - Looking for a
local business? Check the business directory
(formerly at the Chamber of Commerce's
website) found at www.chester.ca/directory
for a listing of businesses in our area. If you
are a business and your information needs
updating or you are not in the directory at all,
let us know by emailing our Senior Economic
Development Officer at mgates@chester.ca
Special Leaf Collection - This is the only
time of year that you can put out as many
clear bags of leaves as you want to. Leaf
collection is on your regular collection day
from November 14 to 25. See page 25 of the
2016 Waste Collection Calendar for details.
PVSC Changes - Property Valuation Services
Corporation closed their office and now
have public hours at the Lunenburg County
Lifestyles Centre in Bridgewater. To see
a schedule, go to www.pvsc.ca and click
"contact us" at the bottom of the home
page. Then scroll to "Bridgewater" and view
the schedule until the end of 2016.
IN BRIEF...JOINT FIRE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE FORMED
The Municipality of the District of Chester and
the Village of Chester recently signed an agree-
ment for the provision of fire protection servic-
es in Districts 3 and 7 of the Municipality. The
Village also concluded an agreement with the
Chester Volunteer Fire Department for fire pro-
tection services in the Village and to Districts 3
and 7 (shown on map).
The agreements called for the establishment
of a Joint Fire Advisory Committee with a man-
date to advise the MODC, VOC and CVFD on all
matters regarding fire protection. The commit-
tee consists of 3 appointees from each of the
parties to the agreement, appointed for the
5-year term of the agreements.
Members of the Committee are:
• VOC: Nancy Hatch (Vice chair), Jon
Dimmick and Dennis Connolly
• CVFD: Cody Stevens, Terri Demont
(Secretary), Danny Nauss
• MODC: Debra Bond, Angela Jessome and
Robert Manuel (Chair)
The JFAC has been meeting to establish its
role, guidelines and process as well as to learn
more about the CVFD’s role in fire fighting, pre-
vention and equipment. For example, do you
know that some insurance companies provide
residents of the area with a premium discount
on their home fire insurance as a result of the
level of service the CVFD is able to provide?
There will be a future public meeting where
residents of the VOC and Districts 3 and 7 can
Do you or your group qualify for a Municipal Grant? Find out at http://chester.ca/engage/grants-and-sponsorship
In October, Council approved $19,500 in fund-
ing to twenty-three non-profit community groups
through the Recreation & Parks Grant Fund (listed
on the right). Applications for this specific grant are
required to be from groups within the Municipality
of Chester who will use the money for recreation-
related activities, programs or facilities.
The Municipality has seven other grant programs,
each devoted to specific activities. They are summa-
rized below.
Major Projects grants: Available to non-profit
groups for project amounts of $10,000 or more.
DEADLINE is January 31.
Council grants: For non-profit organizations that
benefit the residents of the Municipality of Chester.
DEADLINE is May 31 and October 31.
Tourism grants: Also for non-profit organizations
that benefit the residents of the Municipality of
Chester, but whose activities and initiatives are tour-
ism-related. DEADLINE is May 31 and October 31.
PRO Kids: This program provides financial assis-
tance to youth for sport and recreational activities.
Applicants must be 18 years and under and live in
the Municipality of Chester. Applications are confi-
dentially received throughout the year.
Youth Sponsorship Grants: This is for youth aged
21 years and under who have won their way or are
selected to attend a recognized event at the provin-
cial, national, or international level. Applications are
received all year round.
Leadership Training: These funds cover up to 50%
FUNDING GRANTEDRecreation & Parks Grants Approved for 2016-17
ORGANIZATION APPROVED GRANT USED TOWARDS...
2 Bays 4H Club $50 Assist with Tug of War competitions
Aspotogan Arts & Crafts $400 Art supplies for seniors outreach program
Aspotogan Recreation Association $1,400 Programs, activities, playground equipment, rent
Athenaeum Society of Nova Scotia $950 Replace donated laptop computer
Basin Gardeners Association $500 Beautification of the local environment
Blandford & Area Historical Society $500 Restoration of "Welcome to Blandford" signs
Blandford Seasiders Seniors Club $1,500 Social, recreational & spiritual events
Charing Cross Garden Club $500 Purchase and maintain hanging baskets
Chester District Soccer Association $2,000 Soccer nets and portable toilet rental
Chester Duplicate Bridge Club $1,250 Purchase of used automatic dealing machine
Chester Garden Club $500 Maintenance of public gardens in Village
East River Village Hall $1,000 Hall upgrades (plumbing, roof, electrical, heating)
Forties Garden Club $500 Purchase and maintain hanging baskets
Friends of Chester Competitive Dancers $750 Competition, costume and training fees
Hubbards Barn Association $250 Purchase & installation of bike repair stand
Lunenburg County Crime Prevention Association $250 Data projector and photocopy materials
Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 79, New Ross $1,000 Canada Day entertainment and refreshments
Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 88, Chester Basin $1,000 Remembrance Day expenses
Shoreham Village Volunteer Program $1,150 Therapeutic drum circle equipment and instruction
South Shore Family Resource Association $500 Playgroup toys/equipment
South Shore Seniors Society $1,000 Recreation activities, bus trips and outings
South Shore Work Activity Program $550 6-week yoga program
South Shore Wrestling Club $2,000 Wrestling dummies and scoreboards
TOTAL $19,500
of registration fees associated with training or certi-
fication in coaching and leadership positions. There
is a catch: the skills and knowledge gained must be
used to teach within the Municipality at least once.
Recreation Start-up grants: Only available to new-
ly-formed organizations. Applicants must represent a
non-profit group within the Municipality of Chester.
Often, there are additional grants available through
Provincial or Federal funding, so a conversation with
the Director of Recreation is encouraged before a
group applies for any funding under this program.
Groups can only apply for and receive one grant
per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). Council, Tour-
ism, Recreation and Major Projects grants are only
available to non-profit organizations. The rest are for
individuals who live in the Municipality of Chester.
To learn more about Municipal funding, please vis-
it our website at www.chester.ca where applications
are found under "Engage". The criteria is outlined on
the first page of each form. If you don't find an ap-
plication form, please call 902-275-3490.
JOINT FIRE ADVISORY
participate in this process and provide their
feedback to the committee. In the interim the
committee has established an email address
JFACCNS9@gmail.com. Residents are encour-
aged to provide their feedback to the JFAC at
this email or speaking with one of the members
personally.
Feedback on what level of service you expect/
want from a fire service, what activities the fire
service should participate in, opinions on the
level of service currently provided, what you
would like to know about the service, issues you
may have with the service, aspects of the ser-
vice you think the committee should be looking
at, and any concerns you have would be appre-
ciated.
Watch for more updates in future issues of
Municipal Insight.
- contributed by JFAC
Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca
Dear Fans and Loyal Readers,
I have decided to take a much-needed vacation and boarded a cruise ship for a two-month excursion!
I will visit mysterious and enthralling ports across the world, each more exciting than the last.
My adventures will be as numerous, as breathtaking and as scandalous as you would expect with
many a late night exploits and early morning rumours. Maybe I'll share some anecdotes upon my
return...or I might just keep them to myself... In any case, have a wonderful holiday and I'll see you in
the New Year with many tidbits of advice!
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
Collection days that fall on
holidays are either rescheduled
to the Saturday BEFORE or the
Saturday AFTER.
Holiday Alternate day
November 11 November 12
December 26 December 24
If a holiday isn't listed, we will
collect as usual.
Solid Waste Department
902-275-2330
PROPERTY SERVICES
Winter can be hard, no doubt about it. Storms,
snow clearing, driving, school cancellations,
power outages, freezing temperatures; the list
goes on. Take waste collection off your "worry
list" with these tips.
Green carts freezing? Try these tricks.
• Use certified paper bags during the winter.
Loose items tend to freeze easier;
• Line the bottom of your cart with cardboard
or boxboard so the compostable material
will not freeze to the grate;
• Spray your cart with vegetable oil;
• Alternate layers by placing sawdust or small
amounts of brush over food that has high
moisture content; and
• Strain excess liquid before placing material
in cart.
BREAKING THE ICE THIS WINTER
Tips and hints for successful winter waste collection
KAIZER MEADOW...serving the
public since 1992!
Now open Monday to Saturday 8:00am to 4:00pm!
In case of a winter storm...
• Listen to CKBW or call Kaizer Meadow in
the event that waste collection is cancelled.
If it is, waste will be collected on the follow-
ing Saturday. Have your waste out by 8am.
• Private roads must be salted/sanded and
plowed before collection. If the road is not
plowed and passable, the truck may not
collect. Neither the Municipality nor the
waste collector plows private roads.
• Remove uncollected waste from the curb in
case the snow plow comes by and breaks
the bags open. That's not really a mess you
want to clean up in freezing temperatures.
• Shovel/plow your collection box/area. The
collector can not collect waste that is not
accessible.
We should all be used to how to manage our everyday
waste. For example, using paper bags in your green cart
and keeping recylable paper separate from other recycla-
bles like plastic and metal. Piece of cake!
Things that we don't deal with everyday might be a lit-
tle harder to remember. To help, we are publishing a few
"frequently asked questions".
What can I take to the Enviro Depot™?
• Paint (but only certain kinds - see Page 18 of the
2016 Waste Collection Calendar)
• Beverage containers
• Electronic waste
• Aerosol cans
• CFL & fluorescent bulbs
• household batteries
...more from Kaizer Meadow
Some less-than-common-knowledge waste guidelines
What is not accepted at the Enviro Depot™?
• REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS or any items containing
Freon®.
• Roof patch, pesticides, oils, varsols, etc.
All of the above items can be taken to Kaizer Meadow for
disposal.
Why does the Municipality inspect recyclables at the
curb?
Recyclables and organics are not processed on site. They
are transported to separate facilities to be processed at
a cost. When recyclables are comingled with paper, not
clean, etc. the facility can impose a penalty, which can re-
sult in higher costs. This is why enforcement is important
at the curb.
www.chester.ca 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, 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.
MUNICIPAL
TAX EXEMPTIONS
Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may
if ALL of the following applies to you:
• The total income from all assessed owners, in-
cluding spouses and common law spouses, resid-
ing at the property, and total income from those
persons who hold an interest in the property and
contribute to the household income together is
less than $19,000.00 in the 2015 calendar year.
• Exemptions are only for residential property tax
on the principal residence. Although 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
2015 Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada
with you.
Exemption amounts in each category are up to $500
based on total income and determined at the Mu-
nicipal Office. Please come in to apply.
The exemption for the current fiscal year (April 1,
2016 to March 31, 2017) will expire on March 31,
2017. 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, tax bills were due on November 15, but
it's never too late to pay your taxes! Before you pay them,
there are a few things that might apply.
We are located at 151 King Street, Chester, and
open Monday to Friday, 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
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Tweet of the Week
Our most popular post on Twitter in Sept/Oct...
Not a Top Tweet we want to repeat anytime soon.
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 Information Services Dept 902-275-3554
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 902-275-7868
#3 Chester and part of East Chester
Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624
#4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 902-275-8373
#5 Gold River to Martins River
Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765
#6 New Ross and area
Tina Connors 902-277-1095
#7 Middle River to Haddon Hill, Windsor Road to Sherwood
Sharon Church 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/Federal Contacts
Nova Scotia 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
Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA ...............................1-877-740-3378
..................................................................................902-279-3378
Bernadette Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655
...............................................................................1-888-816-4446
Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule:
Friday, December 23, 2016 CLOSING at noon
Monday, December 26, 2016 CLOSED for Boxing Day
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 CLOSED in lieu of Christmas
Wednesday, December 28, 2016 CLOSED
Thursday, December 29, 2016 CLOSED (Council meeting is cancelled)
Friday, December 30, 2016 CLOSED
Monday, January 2, 2017 CLOSED in lieu of New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 5, 2017 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:
Monday, December 26 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, December 24 (Monday Week B)
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year
Municipality of the District of Chester
Holiday Hours & Waste Collection Information
Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15, 2016 to March 31, 2017. Until the parking
ban ends, you cannot park on municipal property or any street in Chester or Western Shore between 1:00
and 6:00 a.m. 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, sand-
ing, etc). Incidentally, if you plow driveways, it’s illegal to plow snow across a street or onto a sidewalk.
Call the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal to receive or report information on local
roads. Their phone number is toll free: 1-888-432-3233. You can also access all of this information (plus
more) on their website: http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter
SNOW PARKING
If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scotia, there are a few things you need to know this winter.