Digby Municipal Council Minutes

Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe Council meeting was called to order with Warden Gregoryin the chair at 6:00 p.m. AttendanceCouncillors present: Linda Gregory, Warden Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, Councillor David Tudor, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryRegrets: Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative OfficerPrayerWarden Gregory welcomed everyone to the meeting and askedeveryone to pause to seek guidance for the meeting. WardenGregory thanked everyone for coming and read theMunicipality’s mission statement.AgendaWarden Gregory added Female Bantam AA Hockey Teamrequest as New Business #7. MOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDPresentationsJenny Milligan – Tri-County Women’s Centre Ms. Milligan was unable to attend the meeting due to bad road conditions. Minutes January 24, 2011MOVED and seconded that the minutes from the Council of January 24, 2011 be approved as circulated.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising from Minutes/OldBusiness#1 Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee – FinalReading of Amendment # 11 ofTax Exemption By-law 2000-02.MOVED and seconded that the final reading be approvedfor Amendment # 11 of the Tax Exemption By-law 2002-02 adding the Old Weymouth Library Building to Schedule“A”.MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia2#2 Dog By-law –Final Reading of Amendment to DogBy-law 2006-02MOVED and seconded that the final reading be approvedfor the amendment to Dog By-law 2006-02.MOTION CARRIEDDeputy Warden MacAlpine No Old Business.Councillor Amero No Old Business.Councillor Adams No Old Business.Councillor Tudor No Old Business.Warden Gregory No Old Business.New Business#1 South West Music Festival – FundingRequest ($100) The CAO noted that because this event is going to be held in early April, a decision could be made now as there is stillmoney in the Municipal Marketing Budget.MOVED and seconded that the $100 funding request forSouth West Music Festival be approved.MOTION CARRIED It was agreed the funds would come from the Municipal Marketing Budget.#2 By-law forRegulation of Wind Turbines – Possible Amendment to Definition of DomesticWind Turbine Councillor Amero declared a conflict of interest and left themeeting. Council discussed a possible amendment to the definition of“domestic wind turbine” in the by-law for Regulation ofWind Turbines.After a lengthy discussion, Councildecided it would be best to get the opinion of the Plannerbefore making a decision. MOVED and seconded that Council table making a decisionon a possible amendment to the definition of Domestic WindTurbine in the by-law for the Regulation of Wind Turbinesuntil Council obtains more information.MOTION CARRIED Councillor Amero returned to the meeting.#3 Digby Town and Municipal HousingBoard (Tideview Terrace) –Appointment of Elected Official Councillor Amero agreed to be appointed to the DigbyTown and Municipal Housing Board providing themeetings can accommodate his schedule. Councillor Tudorhas agreed as well if it doesn’t work out for Councillor Amero. Warden Gregory will see if they can change themeetings to evening meetings.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia3MOVED and seconded that Councillor Amero be appointedto the Digby Town and Municipal Housing Board (TideviewTerrace).MOTION CARRIED#4 Inter-municipal Agreement with Town of Digby –Amendment to include Public Drop OffMOVED and seconded that changes be approved to bemade to the inter-municipal agreement with the Town ofDigby to include public drop off.MOTION CARRIED#5 Deputy Warden MacAlpine – Seasonal Tourist Designation for Artist Studios A request has been received requesting that artists/artisans be included in the category of “Seasonal Tourist Business Designation”. MOVED and seconded that the request for artists/artisans be included in the category of “Seasonal Tourist BusinessDesignation” be put on the next agenda for the Rural Caucus.  It was noted that if this were to be approved, it wouldfollow the same regulations as the seasonal restaurants,roofed accommodations, and camping establishments. MOTION CARRIED#6 Warden Gregory –Letter ofAcknowledgement The Nova Scotia Art Bank encourages the development ofartistic excellence and stimulates an awareness of andinterest in visual arts and craft among Nova Scotians and their visitors. It was noted that Mrs. Carol Mahtab had apiece that was purchased by the Nova Scotia Art Bank.MOVED and seconded that a letter of acknowledgement besent to Mrs. Carol Mahtab.MOTION CARRIED#7 Female Bantam AA Hockey Team RequestMOVED and seconded that Council purchase anadvertisement for $50 in the Program for the FemaleBantam AA Hockey Team event.MOTION CARRIED#8 Town of Digby –UNSM SpringWorkshopMOVED and seconded that the Municipality of Digbyparticipate with Town of Digby in regards to the hospitalityof the UNSM Spring Workshop for the events outlined intheir letter.MOTION CARRIEDCAO Report Westport Ferry –Response Letter The CAO report for February 28, 2011 was included in themeeting package. Councillor Tudor expressed that he felt the solutions outlined by Mr. Michael Wamboldt concerning the break-down of the Westport Ferry was inadequate. It was
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia4suggested that this matter be taken to the MLA as ferryservice is a Provincial responsibility. Councillor Tudor willdo that.Request forDecision/DirectionN/AMeetingDates/RemindersPayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$599,864.46 for the month of January 2011 be approved as presented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial Report The financial report for January 31, 2011 was circulated.Warden Gregory –Note of Thanks Warden Gregory thanked everyone for the flowers shereceived when she was sick.Council CommitteesRecommendations to Council fromCommittee of theWholeN/ARecommendations to Council from Bylaw& Policy CommitteeDangerous &Unsightly PolicyMOVED and seconded that the updates to the Dangerousand Unsightly policy be approved as presented.MOTION CARRIEDLow Income TaxExemption 2011MOVED and seconded that pursuant to The Low IncomeTax Exemption Policy # 2010, the Municipality hereby grants an exemption from taxation, operating as a reductionin the 2010-2011 taxes otherwise payable to the Municipalityin respect to a property in the amount of $ 125.00 forowners of property whose 2010 income from all sourcesdoes not exceed $ 20,000.MOTION CARRIEDAdvisory CommitteesDigby Source WaterProtection AdvisoryCommittee The Digby Source Water Protection Advisory Committeehas not met since the last report.Heritage AdvisoryCommittee The Heritage Advisory Committee minutes for April 2010 were included in the meeting package. There is a meeting scheduled for March 10, 2011.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia5Planning AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Planning Advisory Committee meeting since the last report.Police AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Police Advisory Committee meeting since the last report.MOVED and seconded that Ms. Kathleen Gidney beappointed as citizen representative to the Police Advisory Committee.MOTION CARRIEDREMO AdvisoryCommittee The REMO Management Planning Committee minutes from November 2010 were included in the meeting package. There was a REMO Advisory Committee meetinga couple weeks ago. Don LeBlanc gave an update of whathe has been doing. He has been doing an excellent job. They are talking about doing exercises for emergencies. Tri County HousingAuthority The Tri County Housing Authority was last reported on in November 2010. The reports are on a quarterly basis.Regional / Joint CommitteesAirport WorkingGroup There has been no Airport Working Group meeting sincethe last Council meeting.Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA minutes for February 2011 were included in the meeting package. Also included was the Acting Manager Director’s Report.  Warden Gregory attended a meeting as the alternate forCouncillor Amero on February 24, 2011. It was a goodmeeting. They are working on a business plan.Digby Annapolis Development Corp The DADC minutes from July 2010 were included in themeeting package. There has been one meeting since July.There was a discussion regarding the Convergys site andwhat can be done with the building. They would like to exhaust all opportunities to get a call centre there, but if not, the building may have to be subdivided so that it can berented out.  There was a discussion regarding the intent of the building was to create employment for the area. This needs to bediscussed in greater detail before a decision is made as tohow to move forward.Digby Area LearningAssociation The DALA minutes for November 2010 as well as theExecutive Director report for January 2011 were included in the meeting package.  There was a meeting on February 23, 2011 which Councillor Adams was unable to attend. The minutes willbe forwarded once they are received.Digby Area Tourism Association  The Digby Area Tourism Association minutes for the last couple meetings have not been sent along. A person hasbeen hired to help with signage. It was also noted that the
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia6Passport project is coming along nicely.Digby Area Recreation Committee The DARC minutes for December 2010 and January 2011as well as staff reports for January and February 2011 wereincluded in the meeting package.  The Canadian curling championships are coming soon. Theice time is going well. Digby Harbour Port Association The Digby Harbour Port Association minutes for Septemberand November 2010 were included in the Council package. A Digby Harbour Port Association meeting has just been held. The biggest concern is the storm damage to the wharf.There is $200,000 damage to the wharf and REMO would be able to provide a maximum of $80,000. They arecurrently operating under an extremely tight budget andhave the highest rates in the Province. Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee has not met since the last report. Fundyweb Broadband  Fundyweb Broadband has not met since the last report.  Deputy Warden MacAlpine reported that it is hoped to havea meeting within the next two weeks. The last meeting tookplace in September.Industrial Commission  The Industrial Commission met on February 25, 2011. Mr.Mike Gushue has been hired as a Consultant. They areworking on making Digby the port of choice for a service centre for tidal development. Mr. Gushue is doing anexcellent job. Hanse Society Councillor Amero was away during the last meeting. Hewill look into obtaining a copy of the minutes fordistribution to Council.Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority minutes for December 2010and February 2011, the ridership report for January 2010and the General Manager’s report for February 2011 wereincluded in the meeting package. Councillor Amero was unable to attend the last meeting asit was scheduled in the morning.MEDIC The MEDIC minutes for January 2011 were included in the meeting package. The next meeting is scheduled for March1, 2011.Senior SafetyCommittee The Senior Safety Committee will meet on March 9, 2011.Councillor Adams will get a copy of the minutes fordistribution. Southwest Biosphere There is a Southwest Biosphere meeting scheduled forMarch 1, 2011.Tideview Terrace The Tideview Terrace minutes for November 2010 and January 2011 as well as the staff reports for February 2011were included in the meeting package.  There was a Tideview Terrace meeting on February 22,
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia72011. The new Tideview is coming along and is withinbudget.Waste Check The Waste Check minutes for November 2010 as well as staff reports for February 2011were included in the meeting package. Waste Check has a Business Rewards Program whichstarted in October that acknowledges businesses doing agreat job. A plaque is given to them and the business is outlined in their newsletter.  Waste Check is trying to get the numbers to 300 kg perperson and is currently down to 320 kg per person. Theyare getting closer to the goal. The enforcement officer is doing a good job. He has beenfinding contact information in garbage bags and is finingrepeat offenders. Western Counties Regional Library There has been no Western Counties Regional Librarymeeting since the last Council meeting.Council Activity Reports/OtherCommitteesCouncillor Adams  Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Councillor Amero  Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Tudor Councillor Tudor gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Deputy Warden MacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month. Warden Gregory Warden Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month. Comments from thegallery The meeting was opened up to the gallery for questions. There were no questions or comments.BreakMOVED and seconded that there be a five minute breakbefore proceeding in camera.MOTION CARRIEDIn CameraMOVED and seconded that the meeting move in camera todiscuss contractual and personnel issues.MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesFebruary 28, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia8Regular session resumed.AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 7:45PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK