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Home My Public Portal About2019-02_MunicipalInsight_indd-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping you informed about February/March 2019 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... I'll Show You Who's Boss... Puppy Love... Ambassador of Buzz We have a new CAO. Fire Departments have #LOVEwhereyoulive and His name is Dan. new a lifesaving piece of you can be a winner Dan is on Page 2. equipment (Page 4). like Candace (Page 8). CENTRAL WATER UPDATE We've had meetings and a Poll. What happens next? FREE Lunch time Skate at the Chester Rink February 21, 28 12:30 to 1:30 pmFind all the details online at lobstercrawl.ca Since the last edition, the Municipality held two public information sessions and con- ducted a Poll for property owners in the Village of Chester to get feedback and provide informa- tion about a central water system proposed for the Village of Chester. Both sessions were open to everyone and very well attended with over 100 people each eve- ning. The open-house style allowed for informal conversation with municipal staff, and informa- tion sheets were on hand to take home. Following the open house, a question and answer period provided clarity on some of the issues surrounding the potential project. The Q&A was livestreamed through Facebook Live, which was well received. Shortly after the last session, the Municipal- ity asked property owners if they were in favour of construction or not by conducting a Poll both electronically and in person. The percent of par- ticipation was 67.4%, or 743 ballots cast out of a potential 1,103. The breakdown in results is in the table below. NO - 57%YES - 43% 98 in person 57 in person 328 electronic 260 electronic 426 TOTAL BALLOTS 317 TOTAL BALLOTS Council discussed the results at their regular Committee of the Whole meeting on February 7. In the end, they voted not to proceed with construction of a central system. Council felt that community consultation, with property owners in particular, was a very important factor in their decision because of the financial impact such a project would have. Overall, feedback was constructive online and at the information sessions. The estimated $48 million project anticipated 73% of its funding from provincial and federal governments, with the remainder of the costs shared amongst property owners in the service area; a cost too high to proceed without the support of the majority of property owners. At the meeting, Council recognized that al- though the immediate will of the majority of property owners was to forgo a proposed cen- tral water system, a supply of clean and safe drinking water is necessary to sustain the Village of Chester, and all communities in the Munici- pality. An options report will be presented by the Municipality that will propose some solutions for residents experiencing water quality and quantity issues. Please visit us online, drop in to the Munici- pal Office, or call us at 902-275-1312 with your questions. You can also email us at public- works@chester.ca or engage us through Voices and Choices at www.voicesandchoices.ca/cen- tral-water where you can post questions, stories or comments as well as receive updates.EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP Create tourism experiences for your business at this free workshop Are you looking for new ways to attract visi- tors? Do you have a tourism business idea for the South Shore? Do you want to learn more about experiential tourism activity? You know how great your community is, and we know how great your community is, so please join us for a South Shore Tourism Experi- ence Workshop in Liverpool. Tourism Nova Scotia, the South Shore Tourism Cooperative, fellow business owners, and tour- ism industry partners will share resources and provide valuable information during this all-day workshop. During the presentation and hands-on activi- ties, learn about: • what Nova Scotia's visitors want • opportunities to attract new visitors • maximizing your tourism profile • partnerships to grow your business • tools to create experiences and packages The workshop is on Wednesday, March 6 from 9:30am to 3:30pm with a 9:00am meet and greet at Queens Place Emera Centre located at 50 Queens Place Drive in Liverpool. The cost is FREE and includes a light lunch and refresh- ments. All you have to do is RSVP by February 28 to Jenny Rockett either by calling 902-354-5741 or emailing jrockett@regionofqueens.com MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Follow @chestermun on Twitter for live tweets from Council meetings!2 Message from the Warden Welcome to the middle of February. Am I the only one who thinks winter started early, and what happened to the January thaw? It's Nova Scotia...come on spring! On a positive note, our new CAO has been on the job for about three weeks now. Welcome to the team, Dan. Dan comes to us with a wealth of experience at both the municipal and provincial government levels and seems to be settling in well. His knowledge of both levels of government is an asset to our organization and will serve us well as we meet the many challenges and opportunities of local government. The Chester Village water issue has been front and centre on the agenda over the past several months resulting in a public vote on the issue by those impacted most significantly, both financially and socially by the outcome and final decision of Council. 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 The resutls are in and Council has chose to respect the will of the majority to not proceed with a full scale central water supply at this time. This was, and is, a complex issue, and the decision not to proceed was not made in the absence of our full understanding that many residents look to us to assist in funding and supporting more localized solutions. Staff have been asked to prepare an options report for Council, which will include a variety of approaches to find was to assist residents. Council continues its efforts to engage youth in municipal life and will conduct a tour of the Sustane Technologies facility with student government and members of their environmental committee on February 14. The issue of single-use plastics has been hotly debated recently, and we feel that they should be fully aware of the efforts to repurpose that resource that are being made at Kaizer Meadow and our overall goal of eliminating the need to bury 90% of what we considered waste by turning it into a value-added resource. Lastly, summer is coming, and I would like to encourage students from our Municipality to apply for the variey of employment opportunities that will be available with us over the summer months. Thanks to all of you for continuing to be engaged and your ongoing efforts to keep our communities vibrant. Respectfully, Condolences: Council and Municipal Staff offer condolences to the family of the late Don Weagle, who passed late last year. His contribution to his community is remembered and honoured. Don was a stellar volunteer, coach, and instructor and was recognized for his work by provincially representing his community as Volunteer of the Year in 2017. A donation to PRO Kids was made in his memory. Holiday: Monday, February 18 is Heritage Day in Nova Scotia. Although Municipal Offices in Chester will be closed, Kaizer Meadow is open and waste collection will take place as usual. Building Code Changes: The Province is amending Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations. Two amendments of interest will involve "tiny houses" and "recreational cabins". Amendments will address loft access in tiny homes, and exemptions to certain parts of the Code for cabins could see a significant reduction in costs for those developing recreational property. Tax-free Salaries: Up until recently, elected municipal officials received an allowance from the federal government where one-third of their salaries was tax-free. This incentive was originally introduced to offset the extra costs to Councillors incurred outside of their regular job. For example, speaking at an event, or driving to check something out for a constituent, or attending a community meeting. The increase means Councillors' net pay will stay pretty much the same as the additional amount will be paid to the federal government in taxes. Other municipal units have already incorporated the increase. As an aside, Councillors' and the CAO's expenses are on our website at https://chester.ca/ government/council/council-and-cao-expenses New Road Name: Sensea Road is the Municipality's newest addition. It is located off Target Hill Road. IN BRIEF... If you enjoy participating in decisions that affect your lifestyle, safety, and Kaizer Meadow Landfill, sitting on a Council Committee could be for you. Council has a number of committees that have public membership, and residents are invited to represent their District and/or Municipality during meetings. Those residents have an impact on discus- sions around issues that affect various aspects of life in the Municipality of Chester, and, to some extent, beyond our border as an example to other municipal units. If going to meetings isn't your style, committee membership is publicized on our website, so you can contact either the Municipality, the representing Councillor, or the member(s) of the public with your concerns or ideas that you want brought forward at meetings. Not all committees have positions for the public. There are committees that only have municipal staff and one or more Councillors. Those committees deal with internal issues. Also included is the Build- ing Code and Unsightly Premises Committee, which sometimes deals with sensitive issues related to spe- cific residents. The list on the right indicates what type of mem- bership a committee has. All committees, and their membership (excluding staff), are listed on the web- site at https://chester.ca/ government/committees-and-appointments or are available by calling 902-275-3554. UPDATED LIST OF COMMITTEES Council appoints new members to several Committees COUNCIL COMMITTEES • Audit Committee (public) • Building Code & Unsightly Premises (Council) • Citizen's Planning Advisory Committee (public) • Committee of the Whole (Council) • Health & Wellbeing Committee (Council) • Landfill Citizens Monitoring Committee (public) • Joint Building/Fire Inspection Services Steering Committee (Council) • Joint Fire Services Committee (public only) • Landfill Consultation Committee (Council) • Municipal Area Advisory Committee (public) • RCMP Advisory Board (public) • Recreation & Parks Committee (public) • Service Capacity Review Steering Committee (Council) • Sherbrooke Lake Access Advisory Committee (public) • Spectacle Lake Watershed Advisory Committee (public) • Village Area Advisory Committee (public) • Water Quality Monitoring Committee - Mill Cove (public) The Municipality of Chester is excited to announce that Dan McDougall took the reigns as Chief Administrative Officer starting January 28, 2019. Dan brings with him a considerable back- ground in municipal and provincial leadership roles, including deputy ministerial positions and CAO of two Nova Scotia municipalities. Provincially, Dan has worked with Housing Nova Scotia, the Department of Municipal Af- fairs, and Service Nova Scotia. This follows a 12- year municipal career as Chief Administrative Officer of Colchester County and the District of Guysborough, consecutively. Dan has helped the organizations he has worked with achieve their strategic priorities. He has provided leadership for initiatives, such as the development of small and large recre- ation complexes, regional solid waste manage- ment facilities, as well as business and industrial MOCCAO parks. Impressive, Dan! On a personal note, Dan is a self-proclaimed fitness enthusiast and is an active runner, swim- mer, and cyclist. He has volunteered for com- munity and professional organizations and has served on the Board of both the Association of Municipal Administrators and the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. Please join us in welcoming Dan by dropping by the Municipal Office or contacting him via phone (902) 275-3554 or email dmcdougall@ chester.ca Grant application forms are at www.chester.ca or call the Recreation & Parks Department for advice at 902-275-3490.3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT This section of the newsletter is dedicated to business events and learning opportunities happening in Nova Scotia to help you connect and grow your business. Please read the listing below for information that could be valuable to you and your business. IT'S A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU Taxes & Bookkeeping Tips for the Self-Employed 101 General bookkeeping tips, financial accounting, and methods to do accounting. February 19, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Bridgewater http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event Cannibis & the Workplace At this lunch and learn, learn the differences be- tween medicinal and recreational marijuana, how to handle medicinal marijuana in the workplace, and responsibilities of employers. February 20, 11:30am to 1:00pm $20.00 Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre, Western Shore RSVP: chair@chesterchamber.ca E-Cert #3 - Financial Management February 20, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Bridgewater http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event Pricing and Costing Your Product This session has both a marketing and financial fo- cus, and gets to the heart of how pricing plays an important role in your overall business success. February 21, 9:00am to 12:00pm $89.00 Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Overcoming Specific Project Challenges Speakers are Jud Mullen, Construction Manager, and Blaise Morrison, Manager of Development & Plan- ning of the Armour Group. February 21, 6:00 to 8:00pm $52.00 Construction Association of Nova Scotia, Halifax https://secure.cans.ns.ca/events Discover Opportunities in Asia Pacific with Cana- da's New Free Trade Agreement, the CPTPP, plus the CKFTA Global Affairs Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportuni- ties Agency and Nova Scotia Business Inc. invite you to join some of Canada's International business de- velopment experts to learn about business opportu- nities in Asia Pacific from the newly signed Compre- hensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnershipa nd the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agree- ment. February 26, 9:00am to 4:00pm Nova Scotia Business Inc., Marriott Halifax Harbour- front Hotel https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/events Business Building Brainstorming Session This Community of Practice allows you to engage and support one another as you open, build and grow your business. February 27, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Bridgewater http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event Minister's Conference 2019 The focus of the conference is Quality of Nova Sco- tia's Seafood. February 27 & 28, 9:00am to 4:00pm Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Halifax Convention Centre http://www.perennia.ca/ministersconference/ Home Building & Renovations - Healthy Indoor Environment In this full-day workshop, the Canadian Home Build- ers' Association of Nova Scotia will describe the fac- tors that can impact a healthy indoor environment, list healthy materials choices for new and retrofit projects, and describe the importance of ventilation in the healthy indoor environment. Choose one of two sessions: March 5, 9:00am to 4:00pm NSCC Kingstec Campus, Kentville March 28, 9:00am to 4:00pm Best Western Hotel, Bridgewater $25 members/$35 non-members admin@nshba.ns.ca Fit to SucCEED A series of six workshops focused on product to mar- ket fit. March 5, 12, 15, 20, 26 & 29 9:00am to 4:00pm $779.00 Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Money Matters Hear from experienced small business financing pro- fessionals, have the opportunity to ask questions, and gain advice and exposure to financing opportu- nities for your business. March 6, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ SEB Orientation This program assists aspiring entrepreneurs to be- come self-sufficient through self-employment. March 7, 9:00am to 4:00pm FREE Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Start Smart Explore local resources, be introduced to CEED's programs and services including loans, training and the Self-Employment Benefits Program. March 7, 5:00 to 6:30pm FREE Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ FITTskills Course: International Sales and Marketing The details to consider when promoting and selling products and/or services beyond its domestic bor- ders. March 7 & 8, 8:30am to 4:30pm $50.00 Nova Scotia Business Inc., Halifax https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/events Information Session on Starting Your Business with the Support of Futupreneur Canada Are you 18-39 years old and considering becoming a usiness owner? Join David Eisnor, Business Devel- opment Manager with Futurpreneur Canada and hear all about the tools and resources available to start your business. David will discuss the financing options and mentoring program available as well as some of the other tools. March 12, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Bridgewater http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event Building Supply Expo March 13 Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax https://absda.ca/absda-building-supply-expo Legal Issues for Small Businesses General considerations for people starting new busi- nesses, such as incorporation, partnership, share- holders agreements, and employee contracts. March 14, 10:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Liverpool http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event Home Building & Renovations - Basement Struc- ture & Insulation Understand the building science of foundations and basements, learn ways to improve the energy per- formance of an existing basement, and learn how to design and build trouble-free, energy efficient base- ments in new houses. Hosted by the Canadian Home Builders' Association of Nova Scotia. March 14, 9:00am to 4:00pm $25 members/$35 non-members Best Western Hotel, Bridgewater admin@nshba.ns.ca Biz Success Tips Hear from seasoned business owners as they share experiences, tips, tricks and advice for start-ups. March 15, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ 6th Southwest Nova Scotia Agriculture Day This full day brings together farmers, interested farmers and the general public for networking and learning. March 16, 9:00am to 3:15pm FREE Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre, Western Shore www.growsouthwestnovascotia.ca For Employers: Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project A webinar on how ISANS, a settlement-providing or- ganization, can help NS employers settle and retain skilled immigrants and international graduates. March 18, 10:00 to 11:00am FREE Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia http://www.isans.ca/event Doing Immigration Differently For researchers, policy makers, and representatives from community and settlement organizations to get together to share and exchange knowledge and ex- perience in the field of immigration and settlement. March 21 to 23 21st Metropolis Canada Conference, Halifax Conven- tion Centre https://www.metropolisconference.ca Canada Revenue Agency Workshop Thsi presentation by Canada Revenue Agency cov- ers common tax errors, demonstrates how to use fi- nancial benchmarks for relevant industries, provides information on the CRA's services, and explains gen- eral bookkeeping concepts and best practices. March 27, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Acadian Entrepreneurship Centre, Bridgewater http://aec-wordpress.colibri-software.com/event If you're in business in the Municipality of Chester, register it with our Business Directory at https://chester.ca/business-directory Log in to upload photos, videos, hours, menu, social media links, location map, and even your TripAdvisor review! Edit your listing at any time. Call Erin Lowe, Economic Development Officer, at 902-275-4138 for details. WALK-IN CLINIC HOURS Tuesday 9:30 am - 1:30 pm Wednesday 1:00 - 5:00 pm Friday 1:30 - 5:30 pm Saturday 1:00 - 5:00 pm For more information go to ourhealthcentre.ca, or call 902-273-2098 (messages retrieved on clinic days) or 902-275-3847, Monday to Friday. • Registration starts one hour before the times posted above. The Clinic is closed on Saturday, February 23 and Tuesday, March 19. • Once a walk-in shift reaches the maximum number of patients that can be treated, a sign will be posted on the main entrance door and in the second floor waiting area, and the closed sign will be posted outside. • If, for some unforeseen circumstance, there is no doctor available to cover a shift, a notice will be posted on Facebook, on the main entrance door, and in the second floor waiting area. • On Friday, January 17 OHC received notification from the NS Department of Health and Well- ness that they have granted a three-month exclusion to a local doctor's APP contract that will allow that doctor to cover the Friday and Saturday walk-in clinic shifts until Friday, April 5. This means that the OHC Walk-in Clinic hours will not be reduced, as anticipated, while two of our doctors are away. The Board is very grateful to the NS Department of Health and Wellness for issuing this special consideration. This is fantastic news for our communities! Follow us on social media for updates on employment opportunites, current events, project news, and much more.4 COMMUNITY INTEREST In July 2018, the government of Nova Scotia made Develop Nova Scotia, a Crown Corpora- tion, responsible for developing and implement- ing a strategy to improve Internet access for Nova Scotians without reliable high-speed Internet. The government also set aside significant funding to in- vest in better Internet. The goal: high-speed Inter- net (25mbps wireless–50mbps for wired) reaching a minimum of 95% of Nova Scotians. While we can’t reach 100% of the province, we’re committed to get- ting to as many homes and businesses as is feasible. It’s a big goal, but we’re working hard to make Nova Scotia more connected. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO GET INTERNET TO MY HOME OR BUSINESS? In many communities, a lot needs to happen be- fore high-speed Internet is available at your door- step. We are currently working on a strategy that will help Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other organizations set up networks and equipment in underserved communities across Nova Scotia and then get that Internet to individual homes and busi- nesses. WHEN WILL I SEE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IN MY COMMUNITY? Connecting at least 95% of Nova Scotians is a big project and these projects can typically take 2–5 years. The timing of your access depends on what already exists in your community and how quickly providers can upgrade existing technology or install new technology. Develop Nova Scotia is working to make sure this happens as quickly as possible. WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW? We went out to ISPs and other organizations in mid-December 2018 to gage their ability and inter- INTERNET FOR NOVA SCOTIA INITIATIVE An update from Develop Nova Scotia (contributed) If you qualify, you could receive insulation or other energy efficiency upgrades for your home. We help Nova Scotian home- owners living on low incomes save money – and feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If we discover that upgrades will help reduce your heating and power bills, we will install them at no cost to you. For free. Seriously, there’s no catch. www.HomeWarming.ca or call 1-855-478-4445. To see if you qualify, go to PROJECT BREATHE SAVES LIVES Winston (center) demonstrates the use of a pet oxygen mask. These kits were donated to each fire department in the Munici- pality of Chester by Byranna Zwicker of Invisible Fence Brand as part of their Project Breathe program. To date, it is reported that the program has saved over 200 pets from fire and smoke inhalation. All of our fire departments now carry the kits on their apparatus. Photo (left to right): Bruce Blackwood, MOC Fire Services Co- ordinator; Doug Rines, Fire Chief, Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department; Mike Schnare, Fire Chief, Blandford Fire Rescue; Everett Hiltz, Fire Chief, Chester Volunteer Fire Department; Bryanna Zwicker, Invisible Fence Brand, Project Breathe Center; Winston the dog. est in providing high-speed Internet services. Those that pass our rigorous requirements will be asked to propose solutions to deliver those services in Nova Scotia. From there, we will sign ironclad contracts with these providers, holding them accountable to provide competitively-priced, quality high-speed In- ternet now and in the future. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IN MY COMMUNITY? Yes. We have all of the data required to understand exactly where the gaps are that prevent each home or business from meeting our speed targets. As con- nections improve, no region will be overlooked. For more information, or if you have comments or questions, contact Develop Nova Scotia at: 902-422-6591 info@developns.ca www.developns.ca Develop Nova Scotia 5Add your community event to the Municipality's website at www.chester.ca/events or email it to recreation@chester.ca Saturday, Feb. 16 Dance Chester Legion, 9pm. 19 years +. Call 902-275-3315 for information. Sunday, Feb. 17 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. 902-275-3315. Benefit Music Show for Mary Sawler at the Little Red School, 1-4pm. 902-275-3496 or 902-523-1029. Saturday, Feb. 23 Sports Day New Ross Legion, 10am. Register by Feb. 18 by calling 902-689-2650. 19yrs+. Saturday, Mar. 2 Crib Tournament Little Red School, 11am. Sunday, Mar. 3 Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Call 902-689-2147. Tuesday, Mar. 5 Pancake Supper Ocean Swells Community Centre, 4-6pm. Saturday, Mar. 9 Country Jamboree Little Red School, 7-10pm. Jimmy Flynn Comedy Show Western Shore Fire Dept, 8pm. Call 902- 277-1114. Sunday, Mar. 10 Crib Tournament Little Red School, 1pm. Friday, Mar. 15 St. Patty's Day Dance with music by Eldorado, Western Shore Legion, 8pm. 902-627-2570. Sunday, Mar. 17 Corned Beef & Cabbage Supper Forties Community Centre, 4pm. Call 902-689-2612 or 902-689-2000. Saturday, Mar. 30 The Thomas Medicine Show Western Shore Legion, 2pm. Call 902- 627-2570. Friday, April 5 Music by 5 Bucks Western Shore Legion, 9pm. Call 902- 627-2570. Every Monday Auction East Chester Recreation Hall, 1pm. Darts New Ross Legion upper level, 8pm. Every Tuesday Bingo Chester Legion, 7pm. 902-275-3315. Every Thursday The Llewelyn Chester Sea Cadets Meets at the Chester Legion, 6:30- 9:00pm. Call 902-857-1828. Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm. 902-689-2650 45s Card Games District #1 Community Centre, Blandford, 7:30pm. Auction Captain Kidd Rod & Gun Club, 7:30pm. Fridays Friday Night Live Music MOST Fridays at the New Ross Legion, 8:30pm. Contact 902-689-2650. Saturdays Bingo East Chester Recreation Hall, 7pm. Email events to recreation@chester.ca to have them included on our website, this newsletter, and in a weekly events column published in a local newspaper. COMMUNITY INTEREST The Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department is seeking applications from students who would like to be part of our summer staff team. Specifically, we are looking for our Summer Supervisor and Special Events Coordinator (both starting late April) as well as four Youth Leaders (starting late June). If you are creative, energetic, organized and enjoy working with youth and the public, submit your resume to: Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department ATTN: Mr. Jody Conrad 151 King Street P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 email: jconrad@chester.ca phone: (902) 275-2712 fax: (902) 275-3630 Deadline to apply for post-secondary posi- tions is Friday, March 8. For high school po- sitions, the deadline is Thursday, April 18. NEED A JOB THIS SUMMER? PROPERTY SERVICES Subscribe to municipal email notifications and alerts at www.chester.ca on the homepage.6 Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may if ALL of the following applies to you: • The total income from all assessed own- ers, including spouses and common law spouses, residing 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 $21,231.00 in the 2017 calendar year; and • Exemptions are only for residential proper- ty tax on the principal residence. Although all owners do not have to live in the resi- dence, it must be a principal dwelling of one of the owners. Proof of income is required. Please bring your Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada with you. The deadline is March 29, 2019. Please see P-25 Tax Exemption Policy for more details or call the Finance Department at 902- 275-3554. PROPERTY TAXEXEMPTION Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15 to March 31. 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. WINTER WASTE WORRIES No need to worry! You can be prepared with the following information: There are two scenarios for the cancellation of waste collection. 1) If waste collection is pre-cancelled (by 3:00pm the day before a predicted storm), then that day’s waste will be collected on the following Saturday. 2) If waste collection is cancelled during a storm because roads have become too difficult to travel on, then the rest of that day’s waste will be collected on the very next day. To be sure, visit our website at www.chester.ca and look on the main page under "Closures and Cancel- lations". Or, call Kaizer Meadow at 902-275-2330 or listen to CKBW. Put waste curbside by 8:00 am. You can also subscribe to waste collection notifications at https://chester.ca/contact/municipal-notifications Also: • Private roads must be salted/sanded and plowed by the homeowners who live on that road prior to collection. • Remove uncollected waste from the curb, or the plow will do it for you. • Be sure your collection box/area is shoveled/ plowed. • If there are side roads that cannot be collected due to icy conditions, a list will be posted on the website. way cameras, and which roads are plowed and when (road priority list). There is also some safety infor- mation including road conditions and a winter travel safety pdf. You are responsible for • following the Winter Parking Ban Regulations; • maintaining your own road if it is private; • clearing your own driveway entrance after the plow has passed by; • reporting uncleared or messy sidewalks by calling us any time during the day (office #) or evening (after hours #); • reporting road conditions to NSTIR; and • using caution when winter traveling, whether walking, driving or biking. Snow removal in the Municipality of Chester (and pretty much in all municipalities) is a shared effort between us, the NS Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), RCMP, and citizens. 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 • Endeavour Avenue, East River • Millennium Drive, Chester • Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove We are responsible for plowing our own municipal properties and infrastructure, including sewer plants US SNOW REMOVAL...us, them or you? 902-275-1312 office1-888-664-6998 after 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 Regulations are in effect from December 15 to March 31 (see above), which the RCMP enforce. You can also visit http://novascotia.ca/tran/ and check out cool things like NSTIR's Plow Tracker, high- THEM 511 information1-888-432-3233 office YOU ...and other things Freezing green carts If your green cart keeps freezing and won't empty, try this: • Use paper bags during the winter • Line the bottom of your cart with boxboard or cardboard • Spray your cart with vegetable oil • Alternate layers of brush and food that has high moisture content • Strain excess liquid before placing material in your cart Program reminders 1. Compostable, plastic-like bags make the lives of those working at the compost processing plant miserable. They get caught in the machin- ery, causing it to stop working. Also, they don't break down in compost like they should. Please stop using them. An alternate is paper bags or boxboard. 2. Ammunition, smoke cannisters, or flares of any kind do not belong in the garbage. Contact the RCMP to ask how to dispose of it safely. 3. Want to know what else doesn't belong in the garbage? Batteries, propane tanks, and aerosol cans because they are HAZARDOUS. They can cause fires or injury to staff. 4. If you bring recycable paper to the Landfill drop-off site, use bags, not boxes to prevent it from blowing around and causing a litter issue. 5. Our Paint Program now accepts empty paint cans, including aerosol paint cans. Bring them to Kaizer Meadow or Adam's Bottle Exchange on Highway 3 in Gold River. Changes • There is no Christmas tree collection in 2019. Instead, we will collect your tree with your reg- ular waste on your collection day. It will count as one bulky item, which is the limit for bulky items per collection. • Speaking of bulky items, special collection has been replaced with regular collection of bulky items. You can place one large item (same rules apply as special collection) out for collection on your regular day along with your other waste. Safety Be careful when you bring waste to the Public Drop- off at Kaizer Meadow. Follow the rules posted and DO NOT back your vehicle too close to the bins because if you trip you will fall into the bin. Not only is it nasty in there, you risk seriously injuring yourself. Back in within a safe distance, stand on the pavement, and then empty your vehicle by hand. Secure loads on the back of your vehicle and/or trailer before bringing them to the Landfill. Blowing waste could cause an accident. Didn't get a 2019 calendar? Call 902-275-2330! We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 7 We are now entering the fifth year of the reVISION Municipal Plan Review. The significant work done to date includes a com- prehensive study of existing planning policy and documents, followed by research, discussion, public engagement and the creation of several drafts of the new Municipal Planning Strategy BOSS or BUST REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY: Calling 902-275-3554. Leaving your name is optional. Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@ chester.ca Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca under "Contact" or https://webfiche.district. chester.ns.ca/Forms/CCRegister Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. Since the last report in December, we received one compliment and three complaints. • Our compliment was from a winter walker who was impressed with the snow clear- ing on the sidewalks that she uses on her route. You are very welcome, and thank you for your note of appreciation. • Complaint #1 was about unavailable park- ing near the front door at the Municipal Office during tax payment deadline date. It so happened that a well-attended meet- ing was happening at the same time, and many of the close parking spaces were tak- en. The resident suggested keeping three spaces (including the handicap space) available near the door. • The second complaint reported a culvert in disrepair at the end of a resident's driveway. We referred them to the NS Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal as they are in charge of driveway culverts. • The last complaint was about the lack of information about comfort/warming cen- tres on ours and the Regional Emergency Measures Organization (REMO) websites. We passed the information on to REMO. They have opted to step away from tell- ing communities how to operate their comfort centres in favour of communities determining when their centres open and for how long, where they are located, and who operates them. We have updated our website to include this. and Land Use By-law. While originally envisioned to be complete by the end of 2016, Council understands and ap- preciates the significant opportunities and po- tential concerns that may accompany this type of wide-ranging policy review. Therefore, Coun- cil has committed to following their chosen pro- cess and is more concerned with the final result than in meeting arbitrary timelines with a sub- standard product. As we begin the fifth year of the review, only a handful of outstanding items or issues require a decision before the Final Draft Municipal Plan- ning Strategy and Land Use By-law are complete. Council hopes to conclude these discussions in the coming months. Once prepared, the Final Draft Documents will be made available prior to Council giving 1st Reading (the first step in of- ficially adopting the new documents). For more information on the reVISION process and to keep up to date as the process continues, please visit: www.voicesandchoices.ca/revision or contact the Community Development De- partment at 902-275-2599. Strategic Priorities Refresh Investment Strategy: We met with our bank- ing institution to discuss investment portfolio opportunities for the Municipality. Their rec- ommendations will be considered when de- veloping our investment strategy. Central Water System for Chester: See the first page for this update. Council met on Feb- ruary 7 to talk about the property owner Poll that was conducted near the end of January. Shared Services: The inter-municipal agree- ment for shared building/fire/dangerous and unsightly services has been approved by all units involved. Phase One is underway and will focus on processes needed for providing services regionally. Simultaneously, municipal- ities will work with the Province to implement legislative changes to facilitate training. Target finish date is February 2019, so we will have more to report next issue. Waste Collection Contract: This service was awarded to our previous contractor, GEs All Trucking. • Internal process/control review: Nothing new to report. Our Finance Staff plans to review the Department's internal pro- cesses. The newly-formed Audit Commit- tee will review the results first. • Purchase order module: Not started. • Tax rate and debt strategy: Not started. • Human resources succession strategy: Not started. • Service inventory: This is onging. • Business continuity plan: This is new, but critical. • Business retention/engagement: This will be determined by the outcomes of the Sector Strategy work. Our Economic Development Officer continues to work with businesses in the Municipality. • IT risk mitigation plan: A draft Informa- tion Access and Protection policy is de- veloped and waiting on internal review. From there, security protocols will be created. • Sherbrooke Lake park design: The draft park design was approved by the Park Design Committee and the Steward- ship Committee for this project, which is headed up by the Municipality of Lunenburg. • Sustane Transition: Ongoing. • Policy Development/Review: Council is periodically reviewing existing policies to ensure they are up-to-date and relevant and that new policies are put in place when needed. • Fire Inspection Policy: Council adopted a policy that defines the process of fire inspections. Top 8 Wow, you finished your list so here are some other things Next Priorities • Sector strategy: Ongoing. • Business/industrial and EcoPark devel- opment plan: We have ceased activity related to the business park in Robin- son's Corner for the moment. • Village Land Use By-Law and Secondary Planning Strategy: This will proceed after our Municipal review has wrapped up. • Open spaces plan: We have visited nu- merous "priority" properties and a staff report is pending in December. • Asset management: Ongoing! • Active Living Strategy: In progress. • Expense Policy for Council: This is still in progress. Councillor expenses are posted at https://chester.ca/government/coun- cil/council-and-cao-expenses • Plan Review: We have an update for you below. Follow updates at www.voices andchoices.ca. • Sewer capacity analysis: We are looking at Chester Basin and Chester Village. • Signage by-law program: A draft By-Law was presented to Council and more infor- mation can be found at www.voicesand choices.ca • Wastewater management by-law and Gold River Sewer Assessment: We are a little behind on this as our attention was given to other projects. • Rural Internet: We are gathering data from an internet performance test until May 2019. Develop NS provided an up- date for Nova Scotians, and you can read it on Page 4. • Alternate Revenue: We are always trying to identify feasible ways to increase our revenue other than property taxes. If there is anything to report, we will. • Salary/Remuneration/Benefit Review: Council asked if we would put together information from other comparable municipal units for their review. We said okay. Care to see our Strategic Priorities List? You can find it at https://chester.ca/ government/council/councils- strategic-priorities Here is an update on Council's 2018/2019 priorities, their "next priorities", and what we're doing after that "wow, you finished your list so here are some other things" list. 4x Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitter in 2018 was in July... 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 updates, 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 something 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! YouTube: Subscribe to modcvideo for our latest videos. We have a channel showcasing some of our outstanding attractions and businesses, and we are hoping to add more! 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 Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080 By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080 Civic Numbering Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Composting Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Council Meetings Administration 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 Taxes Finance Department 902-275-3554 Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Wharves Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 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 Marshal Hector 902-277-2982 #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 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. 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) ................................902-543-4121 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 Bernadette Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655 ...............................................................................1-888-816-4446 Hugh MacKay, MLA ...................................................902-826-0222 ...............................................................................1-833-826-0222 Want to become an Ambassador of Buzz and win great prizes? 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