HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-01_MunicipalInsight_pdf_archive-compressedmunicipal insight
“Keeping informed about January/February 2017
your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Did someone say...RECYCLING? Grant deadline looming (Page 4) How much do you #loveMODC?
Your Enviro-Depot If your non-profi t group Winners of our brand
takes a whole lot more is considering a major contest tell us about their
than cans (Page 2). project, apply soon! favourite places on Page 5.
FIRE CALL
Annual dinner recognizes bravery and service
Your Enviro-Depot If your non-profi t group
takes a whole lot more is considering a major contest tell us about their
than cans (Page 2). project, apply soon! favourite places on Page 5.
municipal insightmunicipal insight
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municipal insight
your municipal government”
Firefi ghters gather at the 9th Annual Appreciati on
Dinner held at Atlanti ca Oak Island.
Smiling, is Firefi ghter/MFR Georgina Sawler
Accepti ng awards on behalf of their departments are (left to right), Chief Stuart Hirtle (Marti ns River),
Captain Darryl Richardson (Hubbards), Chief Lyle Russell (New Ross), Chief Dave Richardson (Chester),
the Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse (MLA for Chester-St. Margaret's), Chief Doug Rines (Chester
Basin), Honourary Chief Terry Zwicker (Western Shore), Chief Marshal Hector (Blandford), and
Warden Allen Webber. The certi fi cates they are holding are Family Appreciati on Awards recognizing
the families of First Responders in the Municipality.
It happens all the ti me. Volunteers are recognized
for their contributi ons and dedicati on to the com-
munity, and they should be. Volunteerism accounted
for $50 billion in "economic value" in 2012 nati onwide.
According to the most recent stati sti cs available from
Stati sti cs Canada, 54% of Nova Scoti ans over the age of
15 years volunteer.
We owe them. We owe them for a social life, full bel-
lies, winning jackpots, help with costly medical bills,
sports for our kids, raising our spirits, and so much
more. Amidst the groups who freely give ti me and en-
ergy to their communiti es and neighbours are those in
the fi re service.
They look like regular people with regular jobs who
are a regular part of society. Except they aren't. They
are extraordinary. They fi ght fi res, att end to motor ve-
hicle accidents, and some medical calls. They are called
"fi rst responders" because many ti mes, they are fi rst
on the scene of an emergency.
Of course, that descripti on is what's "on paper".
More accurately, fi rst responders are compassionate,
kind, strong willed, good natured, funny, focused, and
defi nite leaders. Anyone with the kind of responsibili-
ti es they accept with a shrug, and who is willing to do
it out of the goodness of their heart for no compensa-
ti on, is a special type of person.
Firefi ghters provide your security, protect your prop-
erty, give you peace of mind, and save your life. In
return, they put in long hours, give up weekends for
training, are witness to someti mes nightmarish scenes,
and sacrifi ce ti me with their families.
We asked fi refi ghters from various Departments
that serve the Municipality about the number of hours
devoted to their service to us. On average, 142 hours
per month is spent ensuring operati ons run smoothly.
This includes everything from running a Department
to cleaning trucks; from fundraising to att ending meet-
ings. Oh, and of course all the emergency calls. The
usual fi re call can take anywhere from 1 to 48 hours
depending on the situati on. False alarms sti ll require
enough fi refi ghters for a truck to roll. It wouldn't occur
to anyone to not go, just in case. One fi re at our own
Landfi ll took 22 hours to fi ght, not including clean up af-
terward. No one can
leave the stati on un-
ti l trucks are ready to
roll to another call.
Departments serving
the Municipality re-
sponded to 678 calls
in 2015; over 300
were medical-relat-
ed. In fact, there was
a fi re call for Chester
Basin the very eve-
ning of the Apprecia-
ti on Dinner.Training takes most of the ti me and thousands of dol-
lars. Every new fi refi ghter must have primary training:
Basic Firefi ghti ng, First Aid (Standard and/or Basic),
Medical First Response, Vehicle Extricati on, Pump Op-
erati on, and Driver Training. Most of the training takes
place in the evening or on weekends. For example, Ba-
sic Firefi ghti ng (a requirement for all fi refi ghters who
plan on stepping anywhere near a fi re) is every week-
end for six months.
On top of training commitments, members of each
Department get together regularly for general meet-
ings and practi ces. It varies from department to de-
partment; the number of meeti ngs and practi ces can
be once a month, or they can be once per week. There
are special meeti ngs with Commissions (each Depart-
ment has one that acts as the governing body), offi cers,
other chiefs and
departments, and
annual meeti ngs.
Every Depart-
ment that we
spoke to does not
receive any out-
side funding either
other than the op-
portunity to ap-
ply for equipment
funding once every
three years from
the Province of
Nova Scoti a. All of
the money needed
for training, equip-
ment maintenance,
gear, apparatus,
hall maintenance,
etc. comes from
the fi re rate and
fundraising.
Many departments also have a "junior department"
that is specifi cally for youth interested in the fi re ser-
vice but not yet old enough or completely trained to
act during calls. Usual ages range from 11 to 16 years.
One young man we spoke to has been in his depart-
ment since he was 11 years old. His father was the Fire
Chief. He has been a senior fi refi ghter for the last three
years and has recently decided to make a career of it.
He is att ending NS Firefi ghti ng School in preparati on
to become a full-ti me fi refi ghter in HRM. He is grate-
ful for his ti me in the volunteer service as he feels it
has prepared him a great deal for the training he must
undergo for his future positi on.
The commitment is simply phenomenal. So why do it
at all? Here are some responses,
"My father has been in the Department for twenty
plus years." - member of 14 years
"It's like a brother/sisterhood. Everyone sti cks to-
gether." - member of 28 years
"I was told I was in the Department. That's it." -
member of 28 years
"To help people in the community. People look to
fi refi ghters to help them. It's rewarding." - member of
46 years
"I heard a siren one day and I went to the call. Then I
joined." - member of 40 years
All of the fi refi ghters we spoke to admit that one
of the sacrifi ces they make is ti me with their families.
Many have missed graduati ons, birthdays, and even
ti me during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas
dinners. They agree that commitment to the fi re ser-
vice takes a large toll on their families. Family support
is paramount.
Many, at one point or another, have faced trauma,
horrifi c scenes, and shocking experiences. Oft en, post-
traumati c stress disorder (PTSD) is something to be
aware of and deal with. So while fi refi ghters are taking
care of us, who is taking care of them? Family is num-
ber one, but someti mes members experience things
that they want to protect their family from hearing.
That's where Wendy Rafuse comes in.
A registered nurse by trade and a member of the
Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department since 1982,
Wendy is no stranger to trauma. She and a team of 8
to 10 volunteers have delivered and taught criti cal inci-
dent stress management in many parts of the Province
(Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth Coun-
ti es) since the early 1990s.
Support can be individual, for a Fire Chief or Deputy,
or it can be given to groups. Wendy notes that aft er
a parti cularly tragic event, her team will oft en have
group interventi ons and sessions even for themselves.
Her team, a sub-committ ee of the Fire Services As-
sociati on of Nova Scoti a, also conducts "pre-incident"
educati on sessions to help fi refi ghters recognize the
signs of PTSD and learn resilience strategies, as well as
to let them know that they are not alone. Signs of PTSD
that may not be obvious are a change in blood pres-
sure, depression, poor sleep, and headaches.
As an aside, Wendy and her team are volunteers. All
of the expenses associated with their work are covered
through donati ons.
The fi re service is more than meets the eye, and I for
one, am grateful.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Message from
the Warden
I certainly hope that all of you had a
great Christmas and were able to spend
some quality ti me with family and
friends.
Your new Council has been very busy,
and I believe has spent enough ti me
together to establish a good working
relati onship. A relati onship based on
mutual respect and a common purpose
to build a strong and vibrant family of
community, also recognizing that we
are in this together. Although we will
inevitably diff er, the common good is
what really matt ers.
Over the next few weeks, we will
spend several days establishing our
strategic path forward; not only for
this year, but our enti re four-year term
of offi ce. The prioriti es, goals and
objecti ves established will determine
the resources we require; therefore, to
a large extent, the capital and operati ng
budgets required to be successful.
Choices will have to be made on level
of service, capital project spending,
community expectati on, and what we
believe is your willingness to support
the operati ng budget required to
achieve these prioriti es. Sounds like an
interesti ng discussion!
To help build capacity, we conti nue
to examine opportuniti es to increase
revenue. We are currenlty examining
the recently announced Provincial
changes to the renewable energy
You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal
Offi ce at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at
(902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca
program (specifi cally, how it relates
to solar energy) to determine if there
is an advantage, both fi nancially and
environmentally, in our Municipality's
parti cipati on.
We recently had the opportunity
to join with our local fi refi ghters
in an evening that recognized the
tremendous role they play in the safety
of our communiti es and to say thank
you to them on your behalf. It was a
privilege.
The call for nominati ons for Volunteer
of the Year has gone out, and I know
there are many deserving individuals
out there working ti relessly on behalf
of all of us.
I want to congratulate staff and
community supporters on the recent
"food fi ght" challenge, which by the
way, we won. Your support of families in
need is tremendous. Thanks also to the
Municipality of Lunenburg and Town of
Bridgewater. Let's keep it going!
In closing, although the New Year will
bring its own challenges, some of which
are sti ll unknown, it will also bring
opportunity. Let's make the best of it
by working together for the common
purpose of helping make it bett er for
you and your neighbour.
Do you know who your Councillor is? Visit www.chester.ca for bio and contact informati on.2
Heritage Day Closures and Waste Collecti on
Informati on - All Municipal Offi ces will be
closed on Monday, February 20 for Heritage
Day. Waste Collecti on, however, will be held
as usual.
Telephone Directory Error - The "blue
pages" listi ng for Municipality of Chester by-
law enforcement in the current telephone
directory is incorrect. The number listed is
902-277-1589, but it should read 902-277-
1720 instead.
Economic Development Offi cer Bids
Farewell - Marianne Gates, the Municipality's
former Senior Economic Development
Offi cer, rejoins our former CAO in Wolfville.
Her last day was December 23. We will miss
you, Marianne!
Deputy Warden Elected - Floyd Sha� ord will
once again represent the Municipality as
our Deputy Warden aft er being elected on
December 8.
Forum for Regular Public Input - Council
allott ed 15 minutes at the start of each
regular Council and Committ ee of the Whole
(COW) meeti ngs for residents to speak
what's on their minds. COW meeti ngs are
the fi rst and second last Thursdays of the
month, and Council meeti ngs are the second
and last Thursday of the month; both at 8:45
am in Council Chambers.
IN BRIEF...
Adams Bott le Exchange is the Enviro-DepotTM
serving residents of the Municipality of Chester. It is
located at 5960 Highway #3 in Gold River.
They will accept:
• Paint** (see page 18 of the 2017 Waste Collecti on Calendar)
• Beverage containers
• Electronic waste
• Aerosol cans
• CFL and fl uorescent lightbulbs
• Household batt eries
They will not accept (take to Kaizer Meadow):
• Refrigerators, freezers or any items containing Freon®
• Roof patch
• Pesti cides, oils or any other hazardous waste
The Municipality of Chester, in cooperati on
with the Village of Chester Commission, will
make a Request for Proposals in January for
an analysis that will investi gate water needs
in the Village of Chester as well as the op-
ti ons available to address identi fi ed needs.
The agreed upon scope of work includes
well water testi ng, fl ow testi ng, infrastruc-
ture requirements, and survey of Ches-
ter residents within the Village boundary,
among other things. Opti ons to address the
needs identi fi ed will be explored as well.
CHESTER WATER STUDY UPDATE
Municipality proceeds with Request for Proposals to kick off project
Funding for the Study will be jointly shared
between the Village of Chester Commission
(who agreed to provide up to $30,000) and
the Municipality.
The RFP will be awarded around the end
of January, and work will begin shortly aft er.
Please keep an eye on the newslett er for in-
formati on on how the survey and testi ng will
be conducted and when.
The study is expected to be completed in
July 2017. We will update as oft en as we can
through the newslett er.
STRATEGIC PLAN
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 four compliments
and one complaint.
• Our Director of Information Services was
complimented on his abilities when he assisted
an outside organization with "technical
difficulties" during a collaborative project. The
compliment (verbatim) was, "Your IT support
is really good!" We couldn't agree more!
• Another compliment was given out of
appreciation to municipal staff and the
Regional Emergency Measures Organization
during the water shortage. A shout-out was
given especially to Bruce Blackwood, the
Municipality's Fire Services Coordinator, for
his role.
• Quick responses by the Engineering & Public
Works Department have earned them two
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.
compliments and big "thank
yous". The first response was
to a trail request, and the
second was to repair a reported broken sign
post. You are most welcome!
• Our only complaint since the last edition was
from a resident unhappy with the decision to
select champions to represent the Municipality
during Canada's upcoming 150 celebrations.
They felt that we should be more transparent
by presenting the option publicly and inviting
volunteers to fill these roles. Council put two names forward,
both were asked of
their interest. They
were selected based
on their long history
of involvement in
their communities
and beyond. With
a deadline quickly
approaching to apply for funding and "get the
ball rolling", combined with the traditionally
thin availability of volunteers, Council opted
to put feelers out to particular people.
There is still plenty to do and celebrating
Canada in our 150 will be a combined effort
among all volunteers and groups who are
planning events. If you have a penchant for
organizing and a knack for social media, your
contributions will not be turned away! Please
contact us at communications@chester.ca for
more information.
CHANGE IS GOOD!
The Municipality of Chester is looking to
improve its website. Besides an online user
survey, we are asking people to sit on a focus
group that will test and comment on usabil-
ity, navigation and content.
The focus group will have two duties. First,
to complete an "at home" list of tasks that
will require participants to navigate, search,
and submit forms, among other things.
After the "at home" portion, a group dis-
cussion with municipal staff will be held at
the Municipal Office. Scheduled date for the
group discussion is Wednesday, January 25
at 2:00 p.m. with a snow date of Wednes-
day, February 1.
The first ten respondents will be contacted
to participate. There is no payment, but we
will have refreshments at the group discus-
sion!
To have your name put on the list, please
contact Jennifer Veinotte, Communications
Officer, by calling 902-275-3555 extension
1202 or email communications@chester.ca
Capital ProjectREVIEW
At the start of this fiscal year (April 1, 2016),
staff outlined capital projects that either sup-
ported Council's strategic goals or needed to be
implemented because of safety or regulatory re-
quirements.
Some projects were completed already, started
but not yet completed, or not started at all. These
projects are listed below with a status update. If
there is a project not listed and that you would
like information on, contact us at 902-275-3554.
Chester Water Supply Feasibility Study: A Re-
quest for Proposals will be issued with a deadline
of January's end (Page 2).
Annex Building Repairs: Tentative completion
in Spring. Renovated area is gutted, electrical/
plumbing completed, and asbestos removed.
Next phase is a public entrance and overhang,
gyproc, and furnishings.
Drainage at Wild Rose Park: On hold as other
projects have taken up time and money.
Chester Basin Wharf Development: On hold due
to time constraints. Project will see upgrades to
exterior wood, decking, cribbing, and parking
when complete.
Retaining Wall, Chester Basin: On hold for now.
Equipment Purchases/Upgrades: Dump trailer
for property maintenance purchased; 4x4 truck
coming in January; and a tender will be issued in
January for a gently used loader for Landfill use.
Mill Cove Fire Protection System: Planned re-
placement for a fire pump only is July 2017.
Resurfacing of Foxwood Drive in Mill Cove: Both
phases complete.
Duke Street Sidewalk: Due to asphalt deficien-
cies during original installation, the contractor
repaired the sidewalk in June. Associated with
the sidewalk, the Municipality videoed the new
storm sewer (inside) and repainted street lines.
Streetlight Conversion: Streetlights at Wild Rose
Park have been converted to LED.
New Ross Sewer Panel Replacement: On hold
due to lack of funding.
Sewer Pump Replacement: This project is multi-
year. One pump has been replaced so far this fis-
cal year.
Manhole Replacement/Infiltration: The cost of
this project was supposed to be shared 50-50 be-
tween the Municipality and the Province. Provin-
cial funding was not available so we proceeded
with 50% of the project.
Upgrades to Waste Water Treatment Plants in
Chester and Otter Point: So far, one of two rail-
ings surrounding the clarifier in Chester was in-
stalled as well as general property improvements.
Improvements in both locations are postponed
due to NS Department of Environment approval
requirements. They need to assess the perfor-
mance of the collection systems and the condi-
tion of both plants before any work is completed.
Once completed, we will proceed with design.
Mill Cove Waste Water Treatment Plant: Speci-
fications for construction of this entirely new
plant are being finalized. The value of this project
is $1,120,000. The federal government (through
the Canadian Waste Water Fund) is funding 75%
of this project.
Pump Station #1, Otter Point: Replacement of
this pump station is not critical, but it will pro-
ceed as the money becomes available as it is
quite old.
Western Shore Waste Water Treatment Plant:
This $1.6 million project is being federally funded
by 75%. It will proceed this year with replace-
ment of the disinfection system, rebuild of the
clarifier, improvements to pH control, construc-
tion of staff facilities and a storage area, and es-
tablishing a back-up power supply. The tender for
engineering services was awarded in December.
New Ross Connector Trail: A trail connecting the
Consolidated School to Ross Farm was completed
as well as a new trail connecting to the existing
Lion's Club Trail. Funding (47%) was received by
the NS Department of Energy.
Trail Upgrades: 6 km of trail in Marriotts Cove was
resurfaced, as was 1.2 km between the trailhead
and bridge in Martins River. Additionally and to
date, 30 out of 77 swing gates were installed,
eventually replacing all the existing bollards. The
gates are to improve accessibility for emergency
vehicles and will enhance the Rum Runner's Trail
as a "destination trail" for visitors.
Landfill Cell Construction: Design and build of a
half cell (4a) will be tendered for this winter with
construction to start in Spring 2017.
Parking in Chester Village: This project is on hold
because of the decrease in staff and increase in
workload for Community Development. A scope
of work will be presented in early Spring.
Second EVC Tower at Landfill: A second tower
to disperse treated leachate is being considered,
and an application is in the NS Department of En-
vironment's hands, awaiting approval.
Engineered Bridge Inspections: We have three
bridges to inspect by engineers; however, this is
on hold due to other priorities and funds.
Gold River School: Demolition is scheduled for
February.
Capital projects for 2017-18 will be considered
in January-February after Council has reviewed
their strategic priorities for the upcoming fiscal
year. Keep an eye out for news!
COMMUNITY INTEREST
If you accidentally recycle your municipal newsletter, you can access it (and most of our publications) online at www.chester.ca 4
Chester Municipal Grant Programs.
“Fun”ding communities.
Every year, the Municipality of Chester improves communities by funding many
non-profit community groups and youth through our grant programs.
• Council Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31.
• Tourism Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31.
• Major Projects Grants - application deadline for 2017 is January 31.
• Recreation Grants - application deadline for 2017 is October 6.
• PRO Kids - applications received all year round.
• Youth Sponsorship Grants - applications received all year round.
All grant programs have eligibility requirements. Download the guidelines and
applications at www.chester.ca/engage/grants-and-sponsorship or telephone
902-275-3490 and let us help you choose the grant program that’s right for you.
Annual #foodfight an unqualified success
Municipality wins title in food drive challenge, but local food banks real winners
For the second year in a row, municipalities
joined in a friendly challenge to determine who
could collect the most food for their local food
banks.
This year, the contest was between the Munici-
palities of Chester and Lunenburg and the Town
of Bridgewater. The race was neck and neck, and
it looked like Bridgewater was going to win, but a
generous and inspiring cash gift was given by an
anonymous donor in the last week of competi-
tion to allow the Municipality of Chester to pull
ahead.
The final tally was Municipality of Chester 778,
Town of Bridgewater 676, and Municipality of
Lunenburg 667. Despite the standings, each mu-
nicipality happily accepted any and all donations,
including the Town of Mahone Bay who did not
officially join the race but collected an abun-
dance of donations in their Town Hall.
All donations received by the Municipality of
Chester were delivered to the Lighthouse Food
Bank on December 16. Thank you to residents,
staff, and Councillors. We hope to continue the
Food Drive next year and whether we defend our
title or not, raise even more for the Food Bank.
Food for Thought,
The number of people accessing food banks
is escalating. According to Food Banks Canada,
23,840 Nova Scotians were assisted by food banks
in March 2016, a 20.9% increase over 2015. Of
those 23,840 people, 30.4% were children.
The challenge of finding enough money each
month to buy food on a regular basis is an on-
going one; one that affects not only those on a
limited income. Many single-parent and multi-
ple-parent families with employment income
use food banks, as the expenses associated with
raising a family, like housing and transportation,
take their toll.
Giving is not limited to holidays. The Light-
house Food Bank will always welcome food or
financial donations.
Some ideas are pasta, rice, cereal, peanut but-
ter, canned goods, and food for school lunches.
In addition, baking ingredients are always wel-
come, as are things like tea or coffee and spices.
Many food banks also distribute non-food
items like personal hygiene products, lightbulbs,
and birthday party supplies.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
The Recreation & Parks Department is seeking ap-
plications from students who would like to be part of
our summer staff team. We need students to organize
special events and plan summer recreation programs.
If you are creative, outgoing, energetic, and enjoy work-
ing with youth and the public, submit your resume to:
Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department
ATTN: Jody Conrad
151 King Street, PO Box 369
Chester NS B0J 1J0
Email: jconrad@chester.ca
Phone: 902-275-2712
Fax: 902-275-3630
The deadline to apply for post-secondary positions is
Friday, March 10, 2017, and the deadline to apply for
high school positions is Friday, April 21, 2017.
Only those applicants selected for an interview will be
contacted.
Did you get a copy?
www.chester.ca 902-275-3490
Sunday, Jan. 8 Variety Show Forti es Community Centre, 1:30-
4:00pm. Call 902-689-2612.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 SCANS Registrati on &
Informati on Session
St. Stephen's Hall, 2pm. Call 902-444-
7588, email info@theSCANS.ca or visit
www.theSCANS.ca
Saturday, Jan. 14
Church Fundraising
Breakfast
St. Marti n's Anglican Church Hall,
7-11am. Proceeds for the Church.
Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Sunday, Jan. 15 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm.
Monday, Jan. 23 Blood Donor Clinic Chester Legion, 4:30-8:30pm. Call
1-888-236-6283.
Saturday, Jan. 28 Newfi e Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Saturday, Feb. 4 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am.
Saturday, Feb. 11 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am.
Sunday, Feb. 19 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1:00pm.
Every Monday and
Thursday Adult Skati ng Chester Rink, 10-11am. $3.50/person.
Call 902-275-7522.
Every Wednesday Public Skati ng Chester Rink, 2:15-3:30pm. $3/person.
Call 902-275-7522.
Every Saturday Public Skati ng Chester Rink, 6:15-7:45pm. $3/person.
Call 902-275-7522.
To have your community event posted here, on our website, and in a weekly column
in the local newspaper, please submit it to recreati on@chester.ca
Events listed on our website have more details than those listed here. Visit us online!5
COMMUNITY INTERESTSherbrooke Lake Update
In an eff ort to preserve a valuable working relati onship
MODL, Council proposed an alternati ve to the Land Use
By-law amendments, being a Memorandum of Under-
standing (MOU) between MODC and MODL that would
give MODC input into the development of property.
Council agreed to put on hold the fi nal approval of the
amendments (Second Reading), to give ti me to explore
the MOU opti on. If the terms can be agreed to, MODC will
have bett er control over how the land is developed, in-
cluding whether there is boat access and the type of boat
access (motorized; non-motorized). Boat access cannot
be eff ecti vely controlled under a Land Us By-law. Council,
however, does not have an unlimited ti me to explore this
opti on. Under provincial legislati on known as the Munici-
pal Government Act, once Council completes First Read-
ing of Land Use By-law amendments, no development
1. Securely donate online at lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca.
2. Start and participate in a workplace campaign.
3. Organize a special event in support of United Way Lunenburg County.
From poverty to possibility All that kids can beHealthy people, strong communities
Three
focus
areas
For more information: email: office@lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca; tel: Michael Graves 902.530.3072 (cell 902.521.4704)PO Box 244, Bridgewater, NS B4V 2W9 www.lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca
A safe and supportive community is everyone’s
responsibility. At some point in our lives we all will
need some kind of assistance. We want to help
ensure that our seniors are content and safe, that
our youth are engaged and that people have the
right tools to succeed.
Why donate to United Way of Lunenburg County?
• In 2016, donations invested $175,462 in
27 local programs for children, youth, families
and seniors.
• Most chairities send your donation to their
national office. Donate to United Way Lunenburg
County and you invest in local programs.
• Your donation helps friends, neighbours, loved
ones, co-workers, acquaintances, customers...
• Over 5,000 local people have directly benefitted
from United Way funding, 1,000s more indirectly.
• Over $1.5 million in donations invested locally
since 2003.
• 100% of your donation stays in
Lunenburg County.
• See the full list of local programs we support at
lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca
Building better tomorrows together
how
you can
help
1. Securely donate online at lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca.
2. Start and participate in a workplace campaign.
3. Organize a special event in support of United Way Lunenburg County.
From poverty to possibility All that kids can beHealthy people, strong communities
Three
focus
areas
For more information: email: office@lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca; tel: Michael Graves 902.530.3072 (cell 902.521.4704)PO Box 244, Bridgewater, NS B4V 2W9 www.lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca
A safe and supportive community is everyone’s
responsibility. At some point in our lives we all will
need some kind of assistance. We want to help
ensure that our seniors are content and safe, that
our youth are engaged and that people have the
right tools to succeed.
Why donate to United Way of Lunenburg County?
• In 2016, donations invested $175,462 in
27 local programs for children, youth, families
and seniors.
• Most chairities send your donation to their
national office. Donate to United Way Lunenburg
County and you invest in local programs.
• Your donation helps friends, neighbours, loved
ones, co-workers, acquaintances, customers...
• Over 5,000 local people have directly benefitted
from United Way funding, 1,000s more indirectly.
• Over $1.5 million in donations invested locally
since 2003.
• 100% of your donation stays in
Lunenburg County.
• See the full list of local programs we support at
lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca
Building better tomorrows together
how
you can
help
We are almost at the end of another
fi scal year and another year of being
the proud owners of the wind turbine at Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Management Centre.
Even though we post monthly stati sti cs online
with regard to producti on and revenue from the
wind tower, we only post the last seven months
worth of data. Below is the last twelve available
months showing the predicted performance
alongside the actual performance in terms of
producti on and revenue, according to Nova Sco-
ti a Power.
Also shown is something called "relati ve per-
Kimmie Bouti lier:Kimmie Bouti lier:Kimmie Bouti lier:Kimmie Bouti lier: "My favourite place in the Municipality is Bayswater Beach! Here is
my niece Harley and I about 10 years ago. This beach has awesome sand and waves, my niece Harley and I about 10 years ago. This beach has awesome sand and waves, my niece Harley and I about 10 years ago. This beach has awesome sand and waves, my niece Harley and I about 10 years ago. This beach has awesome sand and waves,
and of course Sheila's Canteen!!"and of course Sheila's Canteen!!"and of course Sheila's Canteen!!"and of course Sheila's Canteen!!"
Building
#loveMODC Brand Contest
Thank you to all of the entrants in our #loveMODC contest.
Each of the winners received a swag bag of loot for their
entries, which were AWESOME!
Eva Romita: "The out-
ermost reaches of the
Aspotogan Peninsula are Aspotogan Peninsula are
some of my favourite
places in the area. #love-places in the area. #love-
MODC"
entries, which were AWESOME!entries, which were AWESOME!
Johanna Shurko: "So many wonderful things I could menti on about our picturesque and
beauti ful community of Chester, but for tourism reasons, I choose Tancook Island and the
ferry to be my happy summer place! We have many friends and relati ves who visit us from
other parts of the Country, and this expediti on is always a huge hit! We go at least once a
year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry year. From the folks fi shing on the wharf in Chester, the gorgeous (and inexpensive) ferry
ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-ride, to the arrival of what I feel to be a magical island sharing its ways of life - every mo-
ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to ment of the trip is a unique experience that not many communiti es have the privilege to
share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"share :) Thanks for reading and thank you Tancook Island for sharing!"Jennifer Hatt : "My fa-
vourite place is Hutt s
Lake on Lower Grant
Road! My family and
I spend many warm,
sunny days here and
also cloudy ones too! I
have also been swim-
ming here since I was
12!"
The last issue of municipal insight reported that aft er
public consultati on, the Municipality of the District of
Lunenburg (MODL) purchased a piece of property in the
Municipality of the District of Chester (MODC) to develop
as a park. The property, located at Sherbrooke Lake, was
chosen to promote lake access to the public in response
to requests from MODL residents.
In response to this, and as a result of concern over the
impact of such a development on our community, Coun-
cil announced First Reading of amendments to the Mu-
nicipality’s Land Use By-law which would provide Council
with control over how the land was developed. Aft er a
public meeti ng/hearing hosted by MODC in November of
2016, at which the amendments were presented, it was
clear that our residents shared our concerns of excessive
traffi c, noise and environmental impacts.
can occur that is contrary to the proposed amendment
for 150 days for public noti fi cati on (the date the ad went
in the paper advising the public). The 150 days is up on
March 6, 2017; thus, either an MOU has to be fi nalized
and signed, or Second Reading of the amendments have
to be approved by Council before then.
There were a signifi cant number of presentati ons
made to Council on this matt er, both writt en and verbal,
and this input has been useful to us as we proceed with
negoti ati ng terms of an MOU. Since the last editi on, both
municipaliti es have been working on possible terms for
an MOU. Council has committ ed to seeking public input
on these terms prior to approving it, and will do so. Once
draft terms have been compiled that Council feels are
suitable to present to the public, a public meeti ng will be
held. At the date of the publicati on of this newslett er, a
draft MOU has yet to be completed; and as such, a meet-
ing date has not been set but should be soon. We will
adverti se on our website, social media and local paper.
PROPERTY SERVICES
6
Collecti on days that fall on
holidays are either rescheduled
to the Saturday BEFORE or the
Saturday AFTER.
Holiday Alternate day
April 14 April 15
September 4 September 2
December 25 December 23
If a holiday isn't listed, we will
collect as usual.
Soli Wast Departmen
902-275-2330
Call the Solid Waste Department at 902-275-2330 if you haven't received your 2017 Waste Collecti on Calendar
WINTER WASTE WORRIES?
A few ti ps to make waste collecti on go more smoothly
Winter Parking Ban Regulati ons are in eff ect from December 15 to March 31. Unti l 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 aft er a storm starts unti l two hours aft er it ends.
Your vehicle can be towed (at your expense) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salti ng, 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 Transportati on & Infrastructure Renewal to receive or report informati on on local
roads. Their phone number is toll free: 1-888-432-3233. You can also access all of this informati on (plus
more) on their website: htt p://novascoti a.ca/tran/winter
SNOW PARKING
If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scoti a, there are a few things you need to know this winter.
Hopefully the mild weather conti nues, but in
case a snow storm falls on your waste collecti on
day, there are one or more things you might
need to know.
1. There are two scenarios for the cancella-
ti on of waste collecti on. If waste collecti on
is pre-cancelled (by 3:00pm the day before
a predicted storm), then that day’s waste
will be collected on the following Satur-
day. If waste collecti on is cancelled dur-
ing a storm because roads have become
too diffi cult to travel on, then the rest of
that day’s waste will be collected on the
very next day. To be sure, visit our web-
site and look for collecti on noti ces under
the "Live" menu. Or, listen to CKBW or call
Kaizer Meadow at 902-275-2330. Put your
waste curbside by 8:00 am.
2. Private roads must be salted/sanded and
plowed before collecti on. If the road is not
passable, the truck may not collect. Pri-
vate roads are the responsibility of home-
owners who live on that road.
3. If waste is not collected, be sure to remove
it from the curb, or the plow will do it for
you.
4. The collector will not collect waste that
is not accessible. Be sure your collecti on
box/area is shoveled/plowed.
5. If there are side roads that cannot be col-
lected due to icy conditi ons, a list will be
posted on the website as well as when
they will be collected.
Green carts freezing?
• Use certi fi ed paper bags during the winter.
Loose items tend to freeze easier;
• Line the bott om of your cart with card-
board or boxboard;
• 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.
Tree looking more like Halloween than Christmas?
Christmas tree collecti on will be from January 16 to 27, 2017 on your regularly
scheduled day. Put trees out with the rest of your waste to be collected.
Paper and recyclables are like fl ip fl ops and snow. They do not mix.
Please keep them in separate bags.
Dear Shabby,
I'm still waiting for my 2017 Waste Collection
Calendar. I didn't get it in my mail, and I've been
checking every day for three weeks. Was there an
air strike? Did the mail delivery person get sick?
Did climate change melt a preserved dinosaur
causing it to come to life and destroy the printing
plant? This is tragic!
~ Extremely Concerned
Chester Basin
Dear “Extreme”:
CALM DOWN! Nothing like that happened!
You were just missed, that's all. You can see a
copy of it at www.chester.ca. If you want a pa-
per copy, pick one up at the Municipal O ce or
Kaizer Meadow.
********************************************************
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
Dear Shabby,
I think you will be pretty proud. I'm tossing my
substantial store of unused alkaline batteries be-
cause I just replaced them all with rechargeable
ones! No more disposables for me! Hello, respon-
sible consumer!
~ signed Green Days Ahead
Coleman Cove
Dear “Green”:
So let me get this straight. You want to throw
away perfectly good batteries because you're sav-
ing the Earth...the irony of this situation is too
much to bear. First of all, use your disposable
batteries until they are dead. Second of all, don't
throw them in the garbage because they are a re
hazard and poisonous. Take them to one of the
Municipality's battery stations. They are con-
veniently located at the Municipal O ce, Kai-
zer Meadow Environmental Management Cen-
tre, Adams Bottle Exchange, and the hardware
stores in both New Ross and Hubbards. Third,
good job buying rechargeable; they are de nitely
worth it!
********************************************************
Dear Shabby,
What should I do with all of the gift wrap I have
left over from Christmas?
~ signed Buried Alive in
Chester
Dear “Buried”:
Why recycle it of course! All gift wrap can be
put in a clear bag for paper recycling. The only
kind of paper that cannot be recycled is foil or
that with foil in it. Also, if you can reuse ribbons
and bows, then go for it. Otherwise, they are gar-
bage. Paper is paper no matter how festive it is!
Dear Friends,
I have returned from my hiatus with many a wondrous tale to tell! I am refreshed, rejuvenated, and revitalized! Speaking of the 3 Rs, I must tell you that
here in the Municipality of Chester, we are doing very well in the recycling department in comparison to the rest of the world. The Earth thanks you!
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
way cameras, and which roads are plowed and when
(road priority list). There is also some safety infor-
mati on including road conditi ons and a winter travel
safety pdf.
You are responsible for
• following the Winter Parking Ban Regulati ons;
• maintaining your own road if it is private;
• reporti ng uncleared or messy sidewalks by
calling us any ti me during the day (offi ce #) or
evening (aft er hours #);
• reporti ng road conditi ons to NSTIR; and
• using cauti on when winter traveling; whether
walking, driving or biking.
Snow removal in the Municipality of Chester (and
prett y much in all municipaliti es) is a shared eff ort
between us, the NS Department of Transportati on &
Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), RCMP and citi zens.
The Municipality is responsible for our own roads:
• Captains Way, Aspotogan
• Commodore Drive, Aspotogan
• Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove
• Lake Road, Mill Cove
• Landing Drive West, East River
• Millennium Drive, Chester
• Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove
We are responsible for plowing our own municipal
properti es and infrastructure, including sewer plants
Have a solid waste questi on? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca
PROPERTY SERVICES
JOINT FIRE ADVISORY
7
The Chester and District Volunteer Fire De-
partment, Village of Chester, and Districts 3 and
7 Joint Fire Advisory Committ ee (JFAC) issued its
fi rst report in October 2016. The report largely
focused on the conditi on and need for replace-
ment of the 2000 gallon tanker pumper, which
has been in use by the department for over 20
years.
A mechanical report by an independent evalu-
ator noted many problems with the conditi on of
the apparatus. The truck has broken down sev-
eral ti mes recently and repairs to bring it, even
temporarily, up to reliable working standard will
be very costly. The Insurance Underwriters stan-
dards also recommend replacement of appara-
tus aft er 20 years of service.
The apparatus, as noted by the Committ ee,
is an important piece of equipment in the pro-
vision of the “Superior Tanker Shutt le” rati ng
maintained by the Department and in the pro-
vision of Mutual Aid to neighbouring depart-
ments and areas. Many residents and business-
es enjoy reduced insurance rates because the
Department has this rati ng, which is the highest
a non-paid staff ed fi re department can obtain.
It is equivalent to a rati ng given where fi re hy-
drants are in place.
The report has been presented to the Village
of Chester Commission and the Municipality of
the District of Chester as well as the Fire Depart-
ment, but the recommendati on to replace the
Notice of
Public Meeting
The Joint Fire Advisory
Committee will hold a public
meeting at
Chester Legion
Saturday, January 28, 2017
2:00 to 4:00 pm
The purpose will be to receive
input on the fi re service for the
Village of Chester and Districts
3 and 7 of the Municipality of
the District of Chester.
Residents are encouraged to
attend and provide their input.
truck has not, at the ti me of writi ng, yet been
approved.
The Commission and Municipality have had at
least one joint meeti ng to discuss the report and
a decision is expected in early January 2017.
The Committ ee thanks former member Nancy
Hatch - who withdrew once elected as a Village
Commissioner in November - for her work and
parti cipati on. At the same ti me, we welcome
Ray Cambria as the new Village representati ve
on the JFAC.
Members of the Committ ee are:
• VOC: Ray Cambria (Vice Chair), Jon
Dimmick and Dennis Connolly
• CVFD: Cody Stevens, Terri Demont (Secre-
tary) and Danny Nauss
• MODC: Debra Bond, Angela Jessome and
Robert Manuel (Chair)
PUBLIC MEETING
The JFAC will host a public meeti ng on Satur-
day, January 28, 2017 from 2 to 4 pm at the Roy-
al Canadian Legion in Chester. Residents of the
Village and Districts 3 and 7 are encouraged to
parti cipate in this forum and provide their ques-
ti ons, concerns and suggesti ons regarding the
fi re service to the committ ee.
Feedback on what level of service you expect/
want from a fi re service, what acti viti es the fi re
service should parti cipate 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, and aspects of
the service you think the Committ ee should be
looking at would be appreciated.
You can also provide feedback via email at
jfaccns9@gmail.com
Watch for more updates in future issues of
Municipal Insight.
- contributed by JFAC
JOINT FIRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ISSUES FIRST REPORT
Some ti me ago, we ran an arti cle about the is-
sues of certain items not breaking down prop-
erly in the composti ng process.
Originally, we encouraged residents and busi-
nesses to use compostable (plasti c-like) bags in
their green carts. We also asked that hot/cold
drink cups (Tim Hortons, McDonalds, Subway®,
etc.) be composted as well. As it turns out, these
items have a negati ve eff ect on the processing
of organic material.
The compostable bags and cups get stuck in
the grinding equipment used at the Lunenburg
Regional Community Recycling Centre (LRCRC),
where our organics are processed.
To make matt ers worse, when the bags and
cups make their way into the curing (aging/ma-
PLASTIC vs PAPER
Changes to composti ng program a must
turing) stage, they
do not break down,
even a year aft er sit-
ti ng in the compost
pile. Sure, put com-
postable bags in
your cupboard for
a month and they
turn to dust, but put them in a pile of ro� ng
organics and suddenly they are invincible.
In any case, we are now asking residents and
businesses to fi nd an alternati ve to composta-
ble bags and to throw drink cups into the gar-
bage (lids are sti ll recyclable though).
So, what are the alternati ves, you ask.
• Paper-based liners, such as bags, box-
board, newspaper, etc. or
• no liners at all.
Paper products are easily shredded in the
grinding equipment and break down easily.
If you have any questi ons, please contact the
Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management
Centre by calling 902-275-2330 or emailing
solidwaste@chester.ca
US
SNOW REMOVAL...us, them or you?
902-275-1312 offi ce1-888-664-6998 aft er hours
and sidewalks. Our sidewalks are in Chester Basin,
Chester Village, Hubbards, Mill Cove, New Ross, and
Western Shore. We contract snow clearing.
NSTIR is responsible for all provincial roads, includ-
ing highways, routes, and all roads represented by a
green road sign. Examples are Highway #103, Route
#14 (Windsor Road), and Chester Grant Road and
most Village roads.
To make plowing easier for NSTIR, Winter Parking
Ban Regulati ons are in eff ect from December 15 to
March 31 (see Page 6).
You can also visit htt p://novascoti a.ca/tran/ and
check out cool things like NSTIR's Plow Tracker, high-
THEM 511 informati on1-888-432-3233 offi ce YOU
Tweet of the Week
Our most popular post on Twitt er in Nov/Dec...
Good luck to you, Kate!
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 fi nd all of the latest up-
dates, minutes, tender informati on, and more.
Twitt er: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your
Twitt er account. Follow us and get regular updates and noti fi cati ons
about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meeti ngs.
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 questi ons about…call this Department... at this number
Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Offi cer 902-277-0017
Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding) Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Boat Launches Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Building Permits/Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on 902-275-3080
By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080
Civic Numbering Informati on Services Dept 902-275-3554
Composti ng Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312
Council Meeti ngs Administrati on/Tax Department 902-275-3554
Fire Inspecti ons Building/Fire Inspecti on 902-275-3080
Islands (use of)Recreati on & Parks Department 902-275-3490
Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330
Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 902-275-1312
Aft er Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998
Parks/Trails Recreati on & 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 Administrati on/Tax Dept 902-275-3554
Waste Collecti on 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 administrati on@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca
P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreati on@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 Veinott e 902-277-1409
#2 Simms Sett lement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Sha� ord 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 Marti ns 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 Offi ce at 902-275-3554
or click on the “Inform” menu opti on on our website.
Provincial/Federal Contacts
Nova Scoti a Department of
Environment ..........................................................902-543-4685
Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665
Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555
Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850
Transportati on (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-8169
Transportati on (Marriott ’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221
Property Valuati on Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775
Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA ...............................1-877-740-3378
..................................................................................902-279-3378
Bernadett e Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655
...............................................................................1-888-816-4446
Want to give us your feedback? Call, visit, mail, email, post a message or come to a Council meeti ng. We are all ears!