HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-10-27_MR_Shared Building Services
MEDIA RELEASE
LUNENBURG COUNTY – Councils and CAOs for the five municipal units that make up
Lunenburg County are exploring ways to meet the challenges and opportunities facing
their building and fire inspection services.
Delivery of these services is currently functioning well in all municipalities. However,
there are several issues, including future recruitment and retention of building
inspectors and the cost to smaller units to provide mandatory inspection services, that
may present challenges in the coming years.
One opportunity to navigate such challenges discussed by the Councils and CAOs is
the concept of an intermunicipal shared services agreement among all five units (the
Municipalities of Chester and Lunenburg, and the Towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay,
and Lunenburg).
“Shared services” is not a new concept in Lunenburg County, with all five units already
participating in resource pooling in one form or another. For example, the Municipality
of Chester provides planning, development and building/fire inspection services to
the Town of Mahone Bay. The Town of Lunenburg and Region of Queens share by -law
enforcement. The Joint Services Board, responsible for waste collection and
Information Services in the Municipality of Lunenburg and the Towns of Mahone Bay
and Bridgewater, has been in operation for five years.
To date, four of the five local municipal units have agreed to develop a shared
building/fire inspection services model. The Town of Bridgewater has opted to explore
shared building/fire inspection service options through the existing Municipal Joint
Services Board.
Over the next several months, the four partnering units will be working toward creating
a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the matter. It is anticipated the MOU would
see each municipal unit contribute to a joint budget covering the costs associated with
building inspection, fire inspection, and dangerous/unsightly premises matters.
DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2017
SUBJECT: MUNICIPALITIES CONSIDER SHARED SERVICES FOR BUILDING AND
FIRE INSPECTIONS, UNSIGHTLY PREMISES
STATUS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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The idea driving the MOU forward is to establish uniform processes and interpretation
through a group of inspectors, who would be available to cover services in all
municipal units if needed.
“If the MOU proposal is adopted, building services offices in each respective
municipality would remain unchanged for two years while preparations are jointly
made for a possible regional service,” explained Tammy Wilson, the CAO for the
Municipality of Chester.
“In the two-year interim, all three services (building, fire and unsightly premises) will
be blended so inspectors can serve multiple functions without compromising service
levels, ensuring continuous delivery across Lunenburg County,” she added. “In
addition, units can focus on some of the gaps that presently exist, such as outstanding
occupancy permits.”
At the same time, municipal units will also be working with the province to make
legislative changes related to training and certifying qualified professionals in these
fields.
Under the MOU, there would be no cost savings but importantly there would be no job
cuts.
“Focus will not be on not saving money,” Ms. Wilson said, “but on reducing risks,
ensuring continuity in the delivery of a mandatory service, and using our staffing
resources efficiently.”
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Tammy Wilson, CAO
Municipality of Chester
902-275-3554 ext. 1101
twilson@chester.ca
Kevin Malloy, CAO
Municipality of Lunenburg
902-541-1320
Kevin.Malloy@modl.ca
Richard MacLellan, CAO
Town of Bridgewater
902-541-4363
Richard.Maclellan@bridgewater.ca
Bea Renton, CAO
Town of Lunenburg
902-634-4410
bearenton@explorelunenburg.ca
Jim Wentzell, CAO
Town of Mahone Bay
902-624-8327
Jim.Wentzell@TownofMahoneBay.ca