Council AgendaMeeting DateOctober 25, 2010Meeting LocationSmiths Cove Fire HallCall to OrderDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpinePause to Seek GuidanceDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpineReading of Mission StatementDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpineDocumentsSubject AreaApproval of the AgendaAdditions/Deletions CouncilStaffSpecial PresentationsPresentationsPeter Newton, Warden Municipality of County of Annapolis LifePlex Wellness CentreDr. Bob MaherSenior ResearchScientistApplied Geomatics Research Group(AGRG)Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS)NSCC Annapolis Valley Campus (Middleton) Community Mapping, web GISand the Creative Rural EconomyLarry BrooksDigby Ground Search andRescue
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Council AgendaMinutesApproval/Amendments September 27, 2010BusinessArising from Minutes/Old Business1.2.3.Deputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsNew Business# 1Petition Unpaved portion of CullodenRoad# 2# 3# 4
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Council AgendaCAO ReportRequest for Decision orDirectionMeetingDates/Reminders Oct 12th–(Note change from the 11th) COTW @ 6:00pm Digby Neck Consolidated School Oct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pm Smith’s Cove Fire Hall Nov 8th– Special Council Meeting @ 6:00 pm Tiverton Community Hall Nov 8th– COTW Tiverton Community Hall Nov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pm Barton SchoolMeeting ActionItem UpdatesSpecial ProjectUpdatesPayables-September 2010 $ 707,621.92Financial Report Sept 30, 2010Correspondence1.Rob Hersey Cenotaph Unveiling Invitation2.FCM PresidentFCM Information3.Mayor Peter KellyInvitation to NationalSymposium on Parks andGrounds (Oct 27-30th)4.PVSCPictometry Pilot Project5.
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Council AgendaCouncil Committees1.COTWRecommendationfrom COTW Approval for $ 4,500 forupgrades/paintingDigby Library2.By-law &PolicyAdvisory Committees# 1REMO AdvisoryCommitteeDeputy WardenMacAlpine# 2HeritageAdvisory CommitteeCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams# 3PlanningAdvisory CommitteeDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Gregory No meeting since last report# 4Police Advisory CommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams Meeting Scheduled for Nov 16th There is 1 citizen position that needs to be filled# 5Tri County HousingAuthorityR FitzgeraldNo report available The 3 western housing authorities will be one as of Dec/10. This includes Tri Count, Anna. Valley andSouth shore housingauthorities.
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees# 1Airport WorkingGroupDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Adams# 2Annapolis Digby Economic DevelopmentAgencyDeputy WardenMacAlpine Meeting scheduled for Oct28th. #3Digby AnnapolisDevelopmentCorpCouncillor AmeroNo meeting since lastreport#4Digby Area LearningAssociationCouncillor Adams#5Digby Area Tourism AssociationCouncillor Gregory April 2010 Minutes#6Digby Area RecreationCommitteeCouncillor Gregory Councillor Amero Minutes July 2010 Recreation Manager Report September 2010 Minutes September 2010 Staff Reports October 2010#7Digby Harbour Port AssociationCouncillor Gregory Minutes July 22, 2010#8Digby Library CommitteeDeputy WardenMacAlpine Meeting Notes Sept 27th#9FundywebBroadbandDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Amero No meeting since lastreport# 10IndustrialCommissionDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor Amero No meeting since lastreport
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees (con’t)# 11Kings TransitAuthorityCouncillor Amero Meeting Scheduled for Nov 4th# 12Senior Safety CommitteeCouncillor Adams Councillor Gregory# 13Tideview TerraceCouncillor Gregory & Councillor Adams # 14Waste CheckDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Gregory Minutes Sept 2010 Staff Reports-Oct 2010# 15Western Counties Regional LibraryDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncil Activity Reports/Other CommitteesDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Gregory Digby Source Water Protection Minutes Aug2010 Buy Back Nova ScotiaCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams Notice of MotionIn Camera Contractual Issue
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Council AgendaAdjournment
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Municipal Council Minutes
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe Council meeting was called to order with Deputy Warden MacAlpine in the chair at 6:00 p.m. AttendanceCouncillors present: Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Linda Gregory, Councillor Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerDeputy Warden MacAlpine welcomed everyone to the meetingand asked everyone to pause to seek guidance for the meetingand asked everyone to keep Past Warden, Jim Thurber in theirthoughts as he had an accident on the weekend. DeputyWarden MacAlpine thanked everyone for coming and read theMunicipality’s mission statement. AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved as circulated.MOTION CARRIEDSpecial PresentationsSissiboo Investments Ltd. – Mobius Environmental Award, Small Business of theYear Deputy Warden MacAlpine presented a certificate ofrecognition to Mr. Sabean from Sissiboo Investments Ltd.in recognition of his receipt of the Mobius EnvironmentalSmall Business of the Year award. Deputy WardenMacAlpine thanked Mr. Sabean for his efforts to help theenvironment. Waste Check was very happy with the binthat was created. Mr. Sabean thanked Council for the certificate but noted that the credit should go to theemployees who came up with the idea.PresentationsNILMinutes August 23, 2010MOVED and seconded that the minutes from the Council of August 23, 2010 be approved as circulated.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising from Minutes/OldBusinessAnimals at WildlifePark Deputy Warden MacAlpine advised Council that themajority of the animals at the Animal Park in Upper Clements went to Shubenacadie and the rest went to a parkin Quebec.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia2#1 Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee – Second & Final Reading of Amendment #10 to theTax Exemption By-law #2000-02MOVED and seconded that Council approve the second andfinal reading of amendment # 10 to the Tax Exemption By-law # 2000-02, adding Weymouth Waterfront DevelopmentCommittee to the list.MOTION CARRIED#2 TLC Animal Shelter – FundingRequest $12,000 The CAO had been asked to research how and if othermunicipal units provided funding to shelters/SPCA. A report was circulated with responses from municipal units. There is $4,600 left in the “Grants to Organizations” budget that isn’t allocated. Council was concerned that if the Municipality doesn’t helpthem they may be forced to shut down. Council was alsoconcerned that TLC Animal Shelter was requesting this amount annually without a vision to be sustainable. It wasmentioned that if the majority of this budget was used, therewould be no other funds available for other requests. Council decided to request a meeting with TLC Animal Shelter to discuss options with them in hopes to work something out.MOVED and seconded that the funding request from TLC Animal Shelter be tabled until Council is able to meet withthem within the next month. MOTION CARRIED#3 Keith Trimper Memorial Playground – Funding Request $10,000 Council heard that the Keith Trimper Memorial Playgroundhad raised most of the required funding.MOVED and seconded that Council give the Keith TrimperMemorial Playground a grant of $2,000. It was noted that this request will come from the “Grants toOrganizations” budget.MOTION CARRIEDDeputy Warden MacAlpine No Old Business.Councillor GregoryTrout Cove Road -SignageEastlink – Internet Service The signage for Trout Cove Road has never been placed. Itwas agreed to add this item to the agenda for theDepartment of Transportation meeting and inform them ofthe addition prior to the meeting. Councillor Gregory has been asked by a resident whyEastlink is not going to be installed in Whale Cove.Councillor Gregory will contact the company to obtain answers.Councillor Amero No Old Business.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia3Councillor Adams No Old Business.New Business#1 Dorothy Elms –Letter & Petition Deputy Warden MacAlpine was contacted by Ms. DorothyElms who had a number of concerns. These concernsinclude the third lane in Conway, sidewalks and crosswalks for Conway, Lifeplex facility and concerns regarding theFederal mailbox review. Deputy Warden MacAlpine has discussed most of theseissues with her. Deputy Warden MacAlpine stated that hewill talk to her about the addition of a second sidewalk in Conway as there will be no room on the other side of theroad. A petition was received along with the letter with signaturesrequesting community safety in Conway including easyaccess to mailboxes and ample crosswalks and sidewalks in the community to allow for a safe crossing at anincreasingly busy area of Digby. This petition alsorequested Council’s support for the Fundy YMCA pool in Cornwallis. It was noted that there were signatures frompeople in Annapolis County on the petition. Council mentioned that she is not alone in how she feelsabout the changes to mailboxes. There have been severalcomplaints from the community regarding this program.MOVED and seconded that a letter be written to CanadaPost, carbon-copied to the MP and MLA, outlining theconcerns of the citizens in the community and outline thelack of communication being done to the citizens from therepresentatives of Canada Post. MOTION CARRIED It was agreed to send a letter to Ms. Elms thanking her forthe letter and petition and advising her that Council iswriting a letter to Canada Post on her behalf as well as the community, advising her that Council is addressing thecrosswalk issue and also that the recreation department is currently looking at the cost to enclose its pool.#2 ADEDA – CouncilRepresentationMOVED and seconded that Deputy Warden MacAlpineserve as Council’s representative on the ADEDA Board toreplace Warden Thurber.MOTION CARRIED#3 ADEDA –Committee to ReviewFunding Agreement &Governance Issues ADEDA has requested that the Warden and CAO sit on a committee to review the funding agreement and othergovernance issues.MOVED and seconded that Deputy Warden MacAlpine and
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia4the CAO sit on a committee for ADEDA to review thefunding agreement and governance issues.MOTION CARRIEDAdministrationRequest fordecision/directionCAO Report Update – Drainageissues in Weymouth The CAO report for September 27, 2010 was included in the meeting package. A meeting was held with the Village Commission,Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal in regards to thedrainage issues in Weymouth. The Province has decided todo a cost share which would be a three way split. Thisproject should start right away.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$491,406.90 for the month of August 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial ReportN/ACorrespondence It was noted that correspondence number one and numberfour is available at the Municipal Office in hardcopy oronline.Council CommitteesCommittee of theWholePolice AdvisoryCommittee –Appointment of Ryck Miller and VictoriaWilson to PoliceAdvisory CommitteeMOVED and seconded that Council appoint Ryck Millerand Victoria Wilson to the Police Advisory Committee.MOTION CARRIED The CAO noted that she was informed early in the summerthat there would be training for members of the PoliceAdvisory Committee. The two new members can attend. Itwas noted that there is still one seat vacant for a citizenrepresentative for the committee. If Council has any namesfor possible appointments, they can be forwarded to theCAO.Bylaw & PolicyReviewNILAdvisory Committees
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia5#1 REMO Management PlanningCommittee There has been no REMO meeting since the last Councilmeeting. A conference call took place prior to HurricaneEarl. The next meeting is scheduled for September 29,2010.#2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee The Heritage Advisory Committee has not met since thelast Council meeting.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Planning Advisory Committee meeting since the last report.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee The Police Advisory Committee meeting for July has beenpostponed until new citizen members are appointed. Themembers are now in place. The Police community meeting took place last week. There were concerns with speed; tireburning; spinning until the tires catch fire; ATVS driving onthe side of the road and on properties; motorcycles passing on the wrong side of the road; and the speed of vehiclesgoing by emergency vehicles, as a fireman was nearly hitbecause of speed. These were just a few concerns that cameout of the meeting. It was suggested that an article be placed in the Coastline Newsletter making people aware ofthe 60km/hr maximum speed limit when driving aroundparked emergency vehicles. There will be more Mounties on Digby Neck with radar. The meeting notes from the meeting will be circulated toCouncil.#5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A Tri-County Housing Authority report was circulated onMay 25, 2010. The CAO will get an update before the next meeting.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group has not met since the last Council meeting. There has not been a date set for the next meeting; however, there will probably be one before the endof October.#2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA general board minutes for June and August2010, minutes from the July and September Conferencecall, as well as the Managing Director Report for September 2010 were included in the meeting package. Deputy Warden MacAlpine attended an ADEDA meetingon September 23, 2010. Regional development authority isvery important and there was a discussion regarding whichdirection to take it. They are in the process of having a group developed to discuss governance issues.#3 Digby Annapolis Development Corp The DADC has not met since the last report.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association There is a DALA meeting on September 29, 2010. Therewas no meeting over the summer. The addition to Learning Grove is coming along. They are currently working on the
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia6inside. They are a bit behind schedule. The new addition will house the after school program that is currently being held at the school. It will also be used by the pre-schoolduring the day.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association The Digby Area Tourism Association meeting was held thesame night as the Port Association. There is a Tourism meeting in Yarmouth scheduled soon.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for June, 2010 as well as the Recreation Manager Report for September 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There is a new furnace in the Curling Centre. There havebeen renovations done to both the Digby Elementary andMunicipal soccer fields. The Vaughn Vantassell Memorial Park had to be closed for safety issues which since havebeen corrected. Councillor Gregory gave an update onprogramming being done in DARC.#7 Digby HarbourPort Association The Digby Harbour Port Association minutes from July2010 were included in the meeting package. There was ameeting a week ago. The finances are doing well. It was noted that they are able to have Customs availability forboats in the summer. #8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee met September 27, 2010.They are looking at ways to improve the look of the libraryand improve usage. They are looking at painting theinterior of the library. Plans are to put a canopy over thefront entry and install tracks to hang pictures. The frontdoor was leaking and has been fixed. #9 Fundyweb Broadband The Fundyweb Broadband minutes from April 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There was a meeting heldon September 8, 2010. At the last meeting direction was given to CAOs to seek legal advice to divest Municipal Units from the board.#10 Industrial Commission The Industrial Commission has not met since the last report.There will be a meeting soon.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority July and August 2010 minutes, as well as the ridership and financial report for August wereincluded in the Council package. There was a Kings Transit Authority meeting last week. A building has been purchased in New Minas which will beused for a garage as well as an office. Ridership continues to go down. The Weymouth run isnow loosing ridership at the fastest rate. This is the second year in a row that it is declining. The CAO noted that the results from the King Transit survey that was included inthe Coastline will soon be coming forward to Council. There was a discussion regarding the Kings Transit Budget.#12 Senior SafetyCommittee There was a Seniors’ Expo recently held and was wellattended. Dawn Thomas is doing a great job.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia7#13 Tideview Terrace The move in date for the new Tideview is still scheduled forJune 2011. The structure of the board is being reviewed. It hasn’t beendecided whether Warden Thurber will be replaced on theboard or whether a community member will be elected. The Eden plaque was presented and now hangs in the library. Tideview is currently full and there is a waiting list. Therewas a discussion regarding the policy and procedures inplacing people into homes.#14 Waste Check The Waste Check minutes for July 2010, General ManagerReport for September, Strategic Action Plan, By-lawEnforcement Report as well as the Regional Chairs updatewere all included in the Council package. There was a Waste Check meeting earlier this month. All haulers in region 7 are rejecting blue bags that are notproperly sorted. There was a retirement luncheon for Rene Belliveau. Hedid an excellent job while employed for Waste Check. The bylaw enforcement officer is doing a great job.Cameras are being placed in areas where frequent dumpingis occurring. Signs will be placed in these areas. Waste Check does not want signs to be placed in areas withoutsurveillance as it may not be effective.#15 Western Counties Regional Library The Western Counties Regional Library meeting minutes from July 2010 were included in the meeting package. Since the Weymouth Library has opened there has been a large increase in computer usage, internet usage and books. The adopt-a-book campaign was just completed. 1600 books were donated. This program runs every other year.This is the highest number of books ever adopted. Norman Leveque is going to be demonstrating the newequipment in the Weymouth Library to various groups. Council ReportsDeputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Fire Damage – DigbyNeck Councillor Gregory inquired about the status of the propertytax adjustment for a property located on Digby Neck that was destroyed by fire. The CAO noted that the revisedassessment had been received and the taxes were adjustedaccordingly.Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Council
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia8outlining 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. Deputy Warden MacAlpinethanked everyone for attending the meeting.BreakMOVED and seconded that there be a five minute breakbefore proceeding in camera.MOTION CARRIEDIn CameraMOVED and seconded that the meeting move in camera.MOTION CARRIEDRegular session resumed.ADEDA - FundingMoved and seconded that the Municipality of the District ofDigby fund the shortfall in the funding for investment attraction consulting services if required by ADEDA inorder to save the project and avoid the loss of the matching Provincial and Federal funding of $ 65,000. MOTION CARRIEDAdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:10PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia2#1 Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee – Second & Final Reading of Amendment #10 to theTax Exemption By-law #2000-02MOVED and seconded that Council approve the second andfinal reading of amendment # 10 to the Tax Exemption By-law # 2000-02, adding Weymouth Waterfront DevelopmentCommittee to the list.MOTION CARRIED#2 TLC Animal Shelter – FundingRequest $12,000 The CAO had been asked to research how and if othermunicipal units provided funding to shelters/SPCA. A report was circulated with responses from municipal units. There is $4,600 left in the “Grants to Organizations” budget that isn’t allocated. Council was concerned that if the Municipality doesn’t helpthem they may be forced to shut down. Council was alsoconcerned that TLC Animal Shelter was requesting this amount annually without a vision to be sustainable. It wasmentioned that if the majority of this budget was used, therewould be no other funds available for other requests. Council decided to request a meeting with TLC Animal Shelter to discuss options with them in hopes to work something out.MOVED and seconded that the funding request from TLC Animal Shelter be tabled until Council is able to meet withthem within the next month. MOTION CARRIED#3 Keith Trimper Memorial Playground – Funding Request $10,000 Council heard that the Keith Trimper Memorial Playgroundhad raised most of the required funding.MOVED and seconded that Council give the Keith TrimperMemorial Playground a grant of $2,000. It was noted that this request will come from the “Grants toOrganizations” budget.MOTION CARRIEDDeputy Warden MacAlpine No Old Business.Councillor GregoryTrout Cove Road -SignageEastlink – Internet Service The signage for Trout Cove Road has never been placed. Itwas agreed to add this item to the agenda for theDepartment of Transportation meeting and inform them ofthe addition prior to the meeting. Councillor Gregory has been asked by a resident whyEastlink is not going to be installed in Whale Cove.Councillor Gregory will contact the company to obtain answers.Councillor Amero No Old Business.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia3Councillor Adams No Old Business.New Business#1 Dorothy Elms –Letter & Petition Deputy Warden MacAlpine was contacted by Ms. DorothyElms who had a number of concerns. These concernsinclude the third lane in Conway, sidewalks and crosswalks for Conway, Lifeplex facility and concerns regarding theFederal mailbox review. Deputy Warden MacAlpine has discussed most of theseissues with her. Deputy Warden MacAlpine stated that hewill talk to her about the addition of a second sidewalk in Conway as there will be no room on the other side of theroad. A petition was received along with the letter with signaturesrequesting community safety in Conway including easyaccess to mailboxes and ample crosswalks and sidewalks in the community to allow for a safe crossing at anincreasingly busy area of Digby. This petition alsorequested Council’s support for the Fundy YMCA pool in Cornwallis. It was noted that there were signatures frompeople in Annapolis County on the petition. Council mentioned that she is not alone in how she feelsabout the changes to mailboxes. There have been severalcomplaints from the community regarding this program.MOVED and seconded that a letter be written to CanadaPost, carbon-copied to the MP and MLA, outlining theconcerns of the citizens in the community and outline thelack of communication being done to the citizens from therepresentatives of Canada Post. MOTION CARRIED It was agreed to send a letter to Ms. Elms thanking her forthe letter and petition and advising her that Council iswriting a letter to Canada Post on her behalf as well as the community, advising her that Council is addressing thecrosswalk issue and also that the recreation department is currently looking at the cost to enclose its pool.#2 ADEDA – CouncilRepresentationMOVED and seconded that Deputy Warden MacAlpineserve as Council’s representative on the ADEDA Board toreplace Warden Thurber.MOTION CARRIED#3 ADEDA –Committee to ReviewFunding Agreement &Governance Issues ADEDA has requested that the Warden and CAO sit on a committee to review the funding agreement and othergovernance issues.MOVED and seconded that Deputy Warden MacAlpine and
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia4the CAO sit on a committee for ADEDA to review thefunding agreement and governance issues.MOTION CARRIEDAdministrationRequest fordecision/directionCAO Report Update – Drainageissues in Weymouth The CAO report for September 27, 2010 was included in the meeting package. A meeting was held with the Village Commission,Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal in regards to thedrainage issues in Weymouth. The Province has decided todo a cost share which would be a three way split. Thisproject should start right away.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$491,406.90 for the month of August 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial ReportN/ACorrespondence It was noted that correspondence number one and numberfour is available at the Municipal Office in hardcopy oronline.Council CommitteesCommittee of theWholePolice AdvisoryCommittee –Appointment of Ryck Miller and VictoriaWilson to PoliceAdvisory CommitteeMOVED and seconded that Council appoint Ryck Millerand Victoria Wilson to the Police Advisory Committee.MOTION CARRIED The CAO noted that she was informed early in the summerthat there would be training for members of the PoliceAdvisory Committee. The two new members can attend. Itwas noted that there is still one seat vacant for a citizenrepresentative for the committee. If Council has any namesfor possible appointments, they can be forwarded to theCAO.Bylaw & PolicyReviewNILAdvisory Committees
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia5#1 REMO Management PlanningCommittee There has been no REMO meeting since the last Councilmeeting. A conference call took place prior to HurricaneEarl. The next meeting is scheduled for September 29,2010.#2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee The Heritage Advisory Committee has not met since thelast Council meeting.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Planning Advisory Committee meeting since the last report.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee The Police Advisory Committee meeting for July has beenpostponed until new citizen members are appointed. Themembers are now in place. The Police community meeting took place last week. There were concerns with speed; tireburning; spinning until the tires catch fire; ATVS driving onthe side of the road and on properties; motorcycles passing on the wrong side of the road; and the speed of vehiclesgoing by emergency vehicles, as a fireman was nearly hitbecause of speed. These were just a few concerns that cameout of the meeting. It was suggested that an article be placed in the Coastline Newsletter making people aware ofthe 60km/hr maximum speed limit when driving aroundparked emergency vehicles. There will be more Mounties on Digby Neck with radar. The meeting notes from the meeting will be circulated toCouncil.#5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A Tri-County Housing Authority report was circulated onMay 25, 2010. The CAO will get an update before the next meeting.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group has not met since the last Council meeting. There has not been a date set for the next meeting; however, there will probably be one before the endof October.#2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA general board minutes for June and August2010, minutes from the July and September Conferencecall, as well as the Managing Director Report for September 2010 were included in the meeting package. Deputy Warden MacAlpine attended an ADEDA meetingon September 23, 2010. Regional development authority isvery important and there was a discussion regarding whichdirection to take it. They are in the process of having a group developed to discuss governance issues.#3 Digby Annapolis Development Corp The DADC has not met since the last report.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association There is a DALA meeting on September 29, 2010. Therewas no meeting over the summer. The addition to Learning Grove is coming along. They are currently working on the
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia6inside. They are a bit behind schedule. The new addition will house the after school program that is currently being held at the school. It will also be used by the pre-schoolduring the day.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association The Digby Area Tourism Association meeting was held thesame night as the Port Association. There is a Tourism meeting in Yarmouth scheduled soon.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for June, 2010 as well as the Recreation Manager Report for September 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There is a new furnace in the Curling Centre. There havebeen renovations done to both the Digby Elementary andMunicipal soccer fields. The Vaughn Vantassell Memorial Park had to be closed for safety issues which since havebeen corrected. Councillor Gregory gave an update onprogramming being done in DARC.#7 Digby HarbourPort Association The Digby Harbour Port Association minutes from July2010 were included in the meeting package. There was ameeting a week ago. The finances are doing well. It was noted that they are able to have Customs availability forboats in the summer. #8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee met September 27, 2010.They are looking at ways to improve the look of the libraryand improve usage. They are looking at painting theinterior of the library. Plans are to put a canopy over thefront entry and install tracks to hang pictures. The frontdoor was leaking and has been fixed. #9 Fundyweb Broadband The Fundyweb Broadband minutes from April 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There was a meeting heldon September 8, 2010. At the last meeting direction was given to CAOs to seek legal advice to divest Municipal Units from the board.#10 Industrial Commission The Industrial Commission has not met since the last report.There will be a meeting soon.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority July and August 2010 minutes, as well as the ridership and financial report for August wereincluded in the Council package. There was a Kings Transit Authority meeting last week. A building has been purchased in New Minas which will beused for a garage as well as an office. Ridership continues to go down. The Weymouth run isnow loosing ridership at the fastest rate. This is the second year in a row that it is declining. The CAO noted that the results from the King Transit survey that was included inthe Coastline will soon be coming forward to Council. There was a discussion regarding the Kings Transit Budget.#12 Senior SafetyCommittee There was a Seniors’ Expo recently held and was wellattended. Dawn Thomas is doing a great job.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia7#13 Tideview Terrace The move in date for the new Tideview is still scheduled forJune 2011. The structure of the board is being reviewed. It hasn’t beendecided whether Warden Thurber will be replaced on theboard or whether a community member will be elected. The Eden plaque was presented and now hangs in the library. Tideview is currently full and there is a waiting list. Therewas a discussion regarding the policy and procedures inplacing people into homes.#14 Waste Check The Waste Check minutes for July 2010, General ManagerReport for September, Strategic Action Plan, By-lawEnforcement Report as well as the Regional Chairs updatewere all included in the Council package. There was a Waste Check meeting earlier this month. All haulers in region 7 are rejecting blue bags that are notproperly sorted. There was a retirement luncheon for Rene Belliveau. Hedid an excellent job while employed for Waste Check. The bylaw enforcement officer is doing a great job.Cameras are being placed in areas where frequent dumpingis occurring. Signs will be placed in these areas. Waste Check does not want signs to be placed in areas withoutsurveillance as it may not be effective.#15 Western Counties Regional Library The Western Counties Regional Library meeting minutes from July 2010 were included in the meeting package. Since the Weymouth Library has opened there has been a large increase in computer usage, internet usage and books. The adopt-a-book campaign was just completed. 1600 books were donated. This program runs every other year.This is the highest number of books ever adopted. Norman Leveque is going to be demonstrating the newequipment in the Weymouth Library to various groups. Council ReportsDeputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Fire Damage – DigbyNeck Councillor Gregory inquired about the status of the propertytax adjustment for a property located on Digby Neck that was destroyed by fire. The CAO noted that the revisedassessment had been received and the taxes were adjustedaccordingly.Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Council
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesSeptember 27, 2010Weymouth, Nova Scotia8outlining 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. Deputy Warden MacAlpinethanked everyone for attending the meeting.BreakMOVED and seconded that there be a five minute breakbefore proceeding in camera.MOTION CARRIEDIn CameraMOVED and seconded that the meeting move in camera.MOTION CARRIEDRegular session resumed.ADEDA - FundingMoved and seconded that the Municipality of the District ofDigby fund the shortfall in the funding for investment attraction consulting services if required by ADEDA inorder to save the project and avoid the loss of the matching Provincial and Federal funding of $ 65,000. MOTION CARRIEDAdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:10PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
Labels:
Digby Municipal Council minutes
Monday, October 18, 2010
Coyotes- A Letter to the Minister
Minister of Natural Resources
John MacDonell
min-dnr@gov.ns.ca
It is my belief that the minister has reacted to panic and to those who do not love our wildlife or the diversity of nature, and to those humans who may have caused the problem in the first place by feeding coyotes.
Leg hold traps are cruel and unusual punishment to a whole species of animal that is normally shy and withdrawing. IS the minister reacting to extinguish a whole species because of rare unfortunate encounters?
Coyotes deal with the rodent population. Does the minister want us to be overrun with rodents? Coyotes deal with the sick and dying and the dead animals.
Leg hold traps are banned in most other places. Why? Because of the dreadful suffering it causes anything that’s living that gets caught in one. The serrated steel jaws penetrate with an awful force causing severe and utter pain. Animals sometimes try to end this excruciating pain by biting their own legs off. That’s how bad it is.
The trapper on the t.v. the other night said that (in my words) they are using leg hold traps to cause this terrific pain so the animal will associate humans with a horrific ordeal or the sounds of it.
1) trappers eliminate the scent of a human on the trap by wearing gloves and covering with sand so the animal will step into the trap. A coyote otherwise would avoid humans and their scent. So trapping will not cause a coyote to associate this awful experience with humans. Other coyotes may hear the trapped animals painful howls and its whimpering in distress. This also will not create a negative association about humans. The trapper walks in, sees this helpless, hurting animal (that he has caused) and kills it. The trapped animal may see a negative association there, but only for an instant. Another animal hearing the agony will have no knowledge that a human did it.
2) The program indicated that the trappers were going to only kill the aggressive coyote. A trapper who is receiving money for killing coyotes is going to make no distinction on what he thinks is an aggressive coyote or one that’s just going to bring him 20 bucks for his hide. Leg hold traps do not know an aggressive coyote from the normal shy one. Leg hold traps also don’t discriminate about what steps in them. Maybe it would be a coyote. Maybe it would be a deer who has caused no problem but to exist. But maybe it would be your own kid.
This land, this earth was “owned” by animals before humans came in. It is *US* who are in *their* territory. And we didn’t always kill them. We were vegetarians, first, before we became predators. We and the other animals always found ways of living together, before the human turned to killing.
Trapping coyotes is not only a barbaric form of cruelty, killing coyotes does not reduce their numbers. They just have a bigger litter later. The fact that the minister’s own employees stood up against him should tell you something big time. You could imagine that most government employees would fear for their jobs. Yet they had the guts to stand against something that was wrong.
Do you have the guts? *Stop this barbarism! We are better humans than this! Stop the leghold traps and the bounty, Minister, and start to deal with the matter on a higher level. We need to stop killing off or trying to kill off species in our world. We need diversity. We need to find ways of living together instead of the primitive first reaction of “kill it”.* Readers: copy and paste this paragraph, if you feel the same, and email it to the minister. Add your own thoughts or other phrases from this page. E-address is at top and elsewhere on this page.
Educate the humans who are causing the problem in the first place. Educate humans on how to deal with coyotes. Educate humans that not all coyotes are bad. Educate humans that everything in this world is interrelated and interdependent. And that we’ve got to stop messing with it.
The rule of law says that you don’t make laws for the extraordinary situations. And the practice of governance says that you don’t react to a panic over an unfortunate but extremely rare occurrence with barbarity and unjustified cruelty and attempt to exterminate a species in this world.
John MacDonell
min-dnr@gov.ns.ca
It is my belief that the minister has reacted to panic and to those who do not love our wildlife or the diversity of nature, and to those humans who may have caused the problem in the first place by feeding coyotes.
Leg hold traps are cruel and unusual punishment to a whole species of animal that is normally shy and withdrawing. IS the minister reacting to extinguish a whole species because of rare unfortunate encounters?
Coyotes deal with the rodent population. Does the minister want us to be overrun with rodents? Coyotes deal with the sick and dying and the dead animals.
Leg hold traps are banned in most other places. Why? Because of the dreadful suffering it causes anything that’s living that gets caught in one. The serrated steel jaws penetrate with an awful force causing severe and utter pain. Animals sometimes try to end this excruciating pain by biting their own legs off. That’s how bad it is.
The trapper on the t.v. the other night said that (in my words) they are using leg hold traps to cause this terrific pain so the animal will associate humans with a horrific ordeal or the sounds of it.
1) trappers eliminate the scent of a human on the trap by wearing gloves and covering with sand so the animal will step into the trap. A coyote otherwise would avoid humans and their scent. So trapping will not cause a coyote to associate this awful experience with humans. Other coyotes may hear the trapped animals painful howls and its whimpering in distress. This also will not create a negative association about humans. The trapper walks in, sees this helpless, hurting animal (that he has caused) and kills it. The trapped animal may see a negative association there, but only for an instant. Another animal hearing the agony will have no knowledge that a human did it.
2) The program indicated that the trappers were going to only kill the aggressive coyote. A trapper who is receiving money for killing coyotes is going to make no distinction on what he thinks is an aggressive coyote or one that’s just going to bring him 20 bucks for his hide. Leg hold traps do not know an aggressive coyote from the normal shy one. Leg hold traps also don’t discriminate about what steps in them. Maybe it would be a coyote. Maybe it would be a deer who has caused no problem but to exist. But maybe it would be your own kid.
This land, this earth was “owned” by animals before humans came in. It is *US* who are in *their* territory. And we didn’t always kill them. We were vegetarians, first, before we became predators. We and the other animals always found ways of living together, before the human turned to killing.
Trapping coyotes is not only a barbaric form of cruelty, killing coyotes does not reduce their numbers. They just have a bigger litter later. The fact that the minister’s own employees stood up against him should tell you something big time. You could imagine that most government employees would fear for their jobs. Yet they had the guts to stand against something that was wrong.
Do you have the guts? *Stop this barbarism! We are better humans than this! Stop the leghold traps and the bounty, Minister, and start to deal with the matter on a higher level. We need to stop killing off or trying to kill off species in our world. We need diversity. We need to find ways of living together instead of the primitive first reaction of “kill it”.* Readers: copy and paste this paragraph, if you feel the same, and email it to the minister. Add your own thoughts or other phrases from this page. E-address is at top and elsewhere on this page.
Educate the humans who are causing the problem in the first place. Educate humans on how to deal with coyotes. Educate humans that not all coyotes are bad. Educate humans that everything in this world is interrelated and interdependent. And that we’ve got to stop messing with it.
The rule of law says that you don’t make laws for the extraordinary situations. And the practice of governance says that you don’t react to a panic over an unfortunate but extremely rare occurrence with barbarity and unjustified cruelty and attempt to exterminate a species in this world.
Power Costs and Renewable Energy in B.C.
Get ready to pay more for power. A lot more
Vancouver Sun October 16, 2010
a.. Story
b.. Photos ( 1 )
WIND POWER: Ontario has a plan to siphon billions from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers. B.C. is planning to do the same thing next year.
Photograph by: Reuters Files, Vancouver Sun
We're often told that British Columbia has the lowest prices for electricity in North America, but the claim is only partly true. Households that use up to 750 kWh a month do pay the lowest monthly rate on the continent; however, the average household uses 1,000 kWh and based on that level of consumption, B.C. ranks third behind Quebec and Manitoba.
In any case, B.C. consumers will soon pay more -much more -if the province follows the lead of Ontario where power prices are soaring, not just as a result of higher generation or transmission costs, but because of ill-conceived energy policies.
Under Ontario's Green Energy Act, a feed-in tariff (FIT) will siphon $3.8 billion from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers.
B.C. plans to introduce a FIT program early next year.
The way the program would work is that BC Hydro would enter into energy supply contracts with alternative power producers at prices set to provide backers of these projects with an "acceptable" rate of return.
In Ontario, the power authority will pay prices ranging from about 20 cents/kwh to 80 cents/kwh; B.C.'s are likely to be in the same ballpark.
Given that the average residential price in B.C. is just over seven cents, it is clear that the cost to households will increase dramatically. In Ontario, the cost of residential power by 2015 is seen at 21 cents/kWh, nearly triple the price in 2003.
The idea is that a FIT will provide a revenue stream based on production that would enable projects to predict rates of return and attract financing to cover construction and operating costs. For the entrepreneur, a FIT transforms a bet on a pure power play into a surer thing, a subsidy play. All the risk is shifted to the residential consumer.
And the B.C. government plans to heighten that risk by focusing on emerging technologies, such as biomass, biogas, geothermal heat, solar, tidal and wind.
In order to prevent capital flight and job losses, governments that engage in this kind of reckless energy policy will have to find a way to insulate industrial power prices, leaving residential consumers to carry 100 per cent of the cost, although they account for only a third of electricity demand.
In the United Kingdom, FIT and other energy taxes, fees and charges increased the cost of energy so much that five million citizens were facing fuel poverty as of March 2009. Measures introduced to solve the problem reportedly exceeded the amount of revenue that the policies that caused it were designed to raise.
There's no doubt that former premier W.A.C. Bennett's hydroelectric vision in the 1960s helped B.C. to develop into the prosperous province it is today.
He well understood that energy policy and economic policy are one and the same, and that firm, cheap power was needed to exploit B.C.'s vast resources and attract investment. In fact, the mandate of BC Hydro is to ensure "reliable power at low cost for generations."
British Columbians -some grudgingly -may recognize that they have to pay slightly higher prices soon as our public utility embarks upon a program to modernize aging transmission lines.
But the energy policies the Liberal government is foisting on the province decouple energy from economics, impose higher than necessary costs on households and the outcome may parallel the experience in Europe -declines in manufacturing output, less business investment, weaker economic growth, fewer private sector jobs and additional taxes to finance social programs.
In Ontario, the combination of hydro rate hikes, eco-fees and the harmonized sales tax -the latter having raised barely a peep of protest when first introduced there -may now cost Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty the next election.
In the latest poll, 41 per cent backed Conservative leader Tim Hudak and only 29 per cent supported McGuinty. A telling statistic is that 86 per cent of those polled said they felt poorer than they did two years ago.
We are in favour of encouraging the development of alternative energy, but not at any price.
Since the government defanged the B.C. Utilities Commission, guardian of the public interest, there is no one looking out for the interest of residential ratepayers.
Median household incomes in B.C. have not seen much growth in recent years, the unemployment rate is relatively high, consumer and business confidence has fallen partly due to the continuing slowdown in the U.S., and there is a general anxiety about what our economic prospects are in the coming years.
So, this is not the time to erode the confidence of consumers and dampen economic activity by increasing the energy bills of British Columbians.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/ready+more+power+more/3682418/story.html#ixzz12cWboo1J
Vancouver Sun October 16, 2010
a.. Story
b.. Photos ( 1 )
WIND POWER: Ontario has a plan to siphon billions from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers. B.C. is planning to do the same thing next year.
Photograph by: Reuters Files, Vancouver Sun
We're often told that British Columbia has the lowest prices for electricity in North America, but the claim is only partly true. Households that use up to 750 kWh a month do pay the lowest monthly rate on the continent; however, the average household uses 1,000 kWh and based on that level of consumption, B.C. ranks third behind Quebec and Manitoba.
In any case, B.C. consumers will soon pay more -much more -if the province follows the lead of Ontario where power prices are soaring, not just as a result of higher generation or transmission costs, but because of ill-conceived energy policies.
Under Ontario's Green Energy Act, a feed-in tariff (FIT) will siphon $3.8 billion from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers.
B.C. plans to introduce a FIT program early next year.
The way the program would work is that BC Hydro would enter into energy supply contracts with alternative power producers at prices set to provide backers of these projects with an "acceptable" rate of return.
In Ontario, the power authority will pay prices ranging from about 20 cents/kwh to 80 cents/kwh; B.C.'s are likely to be in the same ballpark.
Given that the average residential price in B.C. is just over seven cents, it is clear that the cost to households will increase dramatically. In Ontario, the cost of residential power by 2015 is seen at 21 cents/kWh, nearly triple the price in 2003.
The idea is that a FIT will provide a revenue stream based on production that would enable projects to predict rates of return and attract financing to cover construction and operating costs. For the entrepreneur, a FIT transforms a bet on a pure power play into a surer thing, a subsidy play. All the risk is shifted to the residential consumer.
And the B.C. government plans to heighten that risk by focusing on emerging technologies, such as biomass, biogas, geothermal heat, solar, tidal and wind.
In order to prevent capital flight and job losses, governments that engage in this kind of reckless energy policy will have to find a way to insulate industrial power prices, leaving residential consumers to carry 100 per cent of the cost, although they account for only a third of electricity demand.
In the United Kingdom, FIT and other energy taxes, fees and charges increased the cost of energy so much that five million citizens were facing fuel poverty as of March 2009. Measures introduced to solve the problem reportedly exceeded the amount of revenue that the policies that caused it were designed to raise.
There's no doubt that former premier W.A.C. Bennett's hydroelectric vision in the 1960s helped B.C. to develop into the prosperous province it is today.
He well understood that energy policy and economic policy are one and the same, and that firm, cheap power was needed to exploit B.C.'s vast resources and attract investment. In fact, the mandate of BC Hydro is to ensure "reliable power at low cost for generations."
British Columbians -some grudgingly -may recognize that they have to pay slightly higher prices soon as our public utility embarks upon a program to modernize aging transmission lines.
But the energy policies the Liberal government is foisting on the province decouple energy from economics, impose higher than necessary costs on households and the outcome may parallel the experience in Europe -declines in manufacturing output, less business investment, weaker economic growth, fewer private sector jobs and additional taxes to finance social programs.
In Ontario, the combination of hydro rate hikes, eco-fees and the harmonized sales tax -the latter having raised barely a peep of protest when first introduced there -may now cost Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty the next election.
In the latest poll, 41 per cent backed Conservative leader Tim Hudak and only 29 per cent supported McGuinty. A telling statistic is that 86 per cent of those polled said they felt poorer than they did two years ago.
We are in favour of encouraging the development of alternative energy, but not at any price.
Since the government defanged the B.C. Utilities Commission, guardian of the public interest, there is no one looking out for the interest of residential ratepayers.
Median household incomes in B.C. have not seen much growth in recent years, the unemployment rate is relatively high, consumer and business confidence has fallen partly due to the continuing slowdown in the U.S., and there is a general anxiety about what our economic prospects are in the coming years.
So, this is not the time to erode the confidence of consumers and dampen economic activity by increasing the energy bills of British Columbians.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/ready+more+power+more/3682418/story.html#ixzz12cWboo1J
Municipal Council Agenda
Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting DateOctober 12, 2010Pause to Seek GuidanceApproval of the AgendaAdditions/DeletionsPresentationsApproval of Minutes September 13, 2010Old Business /BusinessArising from Minutes# 1.0TeamWeymouth Request for Letter of Support# 2.0# 3.0Other BusinessArisingDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaNew Business#1Western Valley PeeWeeAAA Tournament Request for Municipality to place an advertisement in their program for the tournament#2Digby Library Repairs Interior Repairs:1. Main Library & Program Room –Painting & Plaster Repairs2. Program Room – Hanging SystemOutside Repairs:1. Awning for Outside Entrance#3#4#5#6# 7# 8CorrespondenceReceivedInformation Only# 1 Municipality of the District of Barrington Local fish plant workers – EI # 2 Phil Barrett, RCMP False Alarm Strategy# 3 Harold (Jr) Theriault Copy of letter to Min Estabrooks, TIR#4Conway Workshop Letter requesting signage for theirorganization in Conway#5Nova Scotia GamingCorporation 2009-10 Social Responsibility CommunityReport#6Nova ScotiaDepartment of Justice Request for feedback to possible amendments to the Police ActChief AdministrativeReport October 12, 2010Request for Decisions/Direction
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting Dates/RemindersOct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pm Smith’sCove Fire Hall Nov 8th– Special Council @ 6:00 Tiverton Community Centre Nov 8th– COTW following Special CouncilMeeting – Tiverton Community Centre Nov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pm BartonSchool Dec 13th– COTW @ 6:00Acaciaville Baptist Church Hall.Department Reports for September 2010 Administration Taxation Building Department Building Permit Municipal Fire Inspector Airport/Dispatch Dispatch Call Report Airport Statistical Dog Control Activity Dog Control Financial Coordinator Program DevelopmentUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial Projects UpdatesStrategic PrioritiesUpdateNotice of MotionIn-CameraAdjournment
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaNew Business#1Western Valley PeeWeeAAA Tournament Request for Municipality to place an advertisement in their program for the tournament#2Digby Library Repairs Interior Repairs:1. Main Library & Program Room –Painting & Plaster Repairs2. Program Room – Hanging SystemOutside Repairs:1. Awning for Outside Entrance#3#4#5#6# 7# 8CorrespondenceReceivedInformation Only# 1 Municipality of the District of Barrington Local fish plant workers – EI # 2 Phil Barrett, RCMP False Alarm Strategy# 3 Harold (Jr) Theriault Copy of letter to Min Estabrooks, TIR#4Conway Workshop Letter requesting signage for theirorganization in Conway#5Nova Scotia GamingCorporation 2009-10 Social Responsibility CommunityReport#6Nova ScotiaDepartment of Justice Request for feedback to possible amendments to the Police ActChief AdministrativeReport October 12, 2010Request for Decisions/Direction
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting Dates/RemindersOct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pm Smith’sCove Fire Hall Nov 8th– Special Council @ 6:00 Tiverton Community Centre Nov 8th– COTW following Special CouncilMeeting – Tiverton Community Centre Nov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pm BartonSchool Dec 13th– COTW @ 6:00Acaciaville Baptist Church Hall.Department Reports for September 2010 Administration Taxation Building Department Building Permit Municipal Fire Inspector Airport/Dispatch Dispatch Call Report Airport Statistical Dog Control Activity Dog Control Financial Coordinator Program DevelopmentUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial Projects UpdatesStrategic PrioritiesUpdateNotice of MotionIn-CameraAdjournment
Municipal Council Minutes
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order with Deputy Warden MacAlpine in the chair at 6:00 pm.AttendanceCouncillors present: Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Linda Gregory, Councillor Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerDeputy Warden MacAlpine asked everyone to pause to seekguidance for the meeting and requested that everyone keep in mind the people missing on the scallop dragger. AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved ascirculated.MOTION CARRIEDHearings & PresentationsSean Fredericks & Niki Lewis – Keith Trimper MemorialPlaygroundMOVED and seconded that Mr. Sean Fredericks and Ms.Niki Lewis come before the committee to make a presentation on the Keith Trimper Memorial Playground.MOTION CARRIED Mr. Fredericks and Ms. Lewis made a presentation to theCommittee regarding the replacement of the DigbyElementary School’s playground which is twenty-four yearsold and has been deemed unsafe. A committee has beenformed in an effort to make this project happen. Thecommittee has gone into the community to get grants and funding. “Let Them Be Kids” have agreed to fund half of the equipment cost for this project. The committee’s goalsare to promote and encourage community involvement,provide areas for school and community use, provide a safe
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia2play space for students as well as various other projects. Itwas noted that the project includes the installation of a pieceof equipment for disabled students. The project cost is$130,000. The committee is seeking funding from theMunicipality. A question and answer period followed thepresentation. The group would like to get a response fromCouncil as soon as possible as the build day is scheduled totake place on September 25, 2010. A copy of thepresentation as well as the project budget was requested byCouncil. Deputy Warden MacAlpine thanked them for thepresentation.MinutesJuly 12, 2010It was noted that Noise email should be replaced with NoiseBylaw in the agenda section of the July 12, 2010 minutes.MOVED and seconded that the minutes of July 12, 2010 beapproved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising/OldBusinessTransportation Study –NS Transit Research Incentive Program(TRIP) – JointApplication Update There was a discussion on the Transportation Study, NSTransit Research Incentive Program. It was noted that jointapplications were encouraged. Council had originallydiscussed applying jointly with the Municipality ofAnnapolis, Town of Digby and the Municipality of Clare.There was some concern that all of these units may not beinterested in participating. Council expressed their interestto go forward even if only the Municipality and Town of Digby are interested. The deadline for applications isSeptember 22, 2010.Other BusinessArising NILDeputy WardenMacAlpine No Business Arising
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia3Councillor Gregory -Conway – Highway303 expansion Councillor Gregory mentioned that residents in Conway areinquiring whether the Department of Transportation wouldbe able to further expand the lanes in Conway in the futureand take more of their land. It was advised to direct them toBasil Pitts, Department of Transportation.Councillor Amero No Business ArisingCouncillor Adams No Business ArisingNew Business#1 West Nova Agro –Letter of SupportMOVED and seconded that a letter be sent in support of thebusiness development proposal for West Nova Agro. It was noted that the CAO should note in the letter that theMunicipality is interested in promoting renewable energyopportunities.MOTION CARRIED#2 Team Weymouth –Funding Request -$5,000 Team Weymouth and the Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopment Committee have recently become successfulin securing funding to complete phase II of the WaterfrontDevelopment. They have recognized that a number ofthings have to happen along with phase II, one being thehiring of a consultant with the aim to find ways to attractforeign direct investments. Team Weymouth is requesting$5,000 from Council to move forward with this project.There was a short discussion of Council and it was agreedthat the CAO will follow up with ADEDA to find out if Team Weymouth is working with them to make thishappen. This request will was referred to the next councilmeeting. It was also suggested that Team Weymouth beinvited to the next Council meeting which is scheduled inWeymouth to make a presentation. # 3 Fall for Bear River – Funding Request -$500 A funding request has been received from the organizing committee for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amountof $500. The Community grants account has $4,600 remaining forthis fiscal year and there are two other requests yet to be
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia4considered.MOVED and seconded that Council approve the fundingrequest for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amount of$500. MOTION CARRIEDCorrespondenceMinister of Health –Palliative CareServices It was noted that correspondence from the Minister ofHealth regarding palliative care services was not included inthe package. This information will be forwarded rightaway.Chief AdministrativeReportMaud Lewis Site –SignageMunicipal Building –RenovationsNovember MeetingDatesCrosswalks – Highway303 The CAO report dated September, 2010 was included in theCOTW Package. Councillor Adams brought up that the sign has been placedfor the Maud Lewis site. It was noted that Councilmisunderstood what type of sign was being installed. Deputy Warden MacAlpine noted that there is a lot of workbeing done on the Municipal building. The project isestimated to be completed by January. The CAO noted thatthe heating proposal is in and is on budget. It was decided by Council to hold a special Council sessionon November 8, 2010 for the swearing in ceremony for thenew Councillor in District 4. This will be followed by aCOTW meeting. These meetings will be scheduled at theLittle River Baptist Church Hall at 6 pm. The Councilmeeting for November will be held on November, 22, 2010at the Barton School at 6 pm. The COTW meeting forDecember 13, 2010 will be held at the United BaptistChurch Hall in Acaciaville at 6 pm. It was noted that the Department of Transportation does notfund crosswalks, but will install them for municipalitiesupon their approval. Council would like to have crosswalksadded on Highway 303. The CAO will add this to theagenda for the next meeting with Transportation.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia5Request for Decisions/Direction NILDepartment ReportsTaxation The Taxation report for both July and August 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection Report The Building Inspection report for both July and August2010 were included in the meeting package. It was noted that permits were up over the last year.Airport/Dispatch The Airport/Dispatch report for both July and August 2010were included in the meeting package. It was noted that it was good to see that the surveillance equipment has beeninstalled at the Airport.Dog Control Activityand Financial Report The Dog Control Activity and Financial report for both Julyand August 2010 were included in the meeting package. Coordinator ProgramDevelopment The Coordinator Program Development report for July 9 to August 12, 2010 was included in the meeting package.Other BusinessN/AUpdates fromPrevious meetingsN/ASpecial ProjectsUpdatesN/AStrategic PrioritiesUpdateThe Strategic Priorities update was not available.Notice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryNIL
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia6AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 7:31PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia2play space for students as well as various other projects. Itwas noted that the project includes the installation of a pieceof equipment for disabled students. The project cost is$130,000. The committee is seeking funding from theMunicipality. A question and answer period followed thepresentation. The group would like to get a response fromCouncil as soon as possible as the build day is scheduled totake place on September 25, 2010. A copy of thepresentation as well as the project budget was requested byCouncil. Deputy Warden MacAlpine thanked them for thepresentation.MinutesJuly 12, 2010It was noted that Noise email should be replaced with NoiseBylaw in the agenda section of the July 12, 2010 minutes.MOVED and seconded that the minutes of July 12, 2010 beapproved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising/OldBusinessTransportation Study –NS Transit Research Incentive Program(TRIP) – JointApplication Update There was a discussion on the Transportation Study, NSTransit Research Incentive Program. It was noted that jointapplications were encouraged. Council had originallydiscussed applying jointly with the Municipality ofAnnapolis, Town of Digby and the Municipality of Clare.There was some concern that all of these units may not beinterested in participating. Council expressed their interestto go forward even if only the Municipality and Town of Digby are interested. The deadline for applications isSeptember 22, 2010.Other BusinessArising NILDeputy WardenMacAlpine No Business Arising
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia3Councillor Gregory -Conway – Highway303 expansion Councillor Gregory mentioned that residents in Conway areinquiring whether the Department of Transportation wouldbe able to further expand the lanes in Conway in the futureand take more of their land. It was advised to direct them toBasil Pitts, Department of Transportation.Councillor Amero No Business ArisingCouncillor Adams No Business ArisingNew Business#1 West Nova Agro –Letter of SupportMOVED and seconded that a letter be sent in support of thebusiness development proposal for West Nova Agro. It was noted that the CAO should note in the letter that theMunicipality is interested in promoting renewable energyopportunities.MOTION CARRIED#2 Team Weymouth –Funding Request -$5,000 Team Weymouth and the Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopment Committee have recently become successfulin securing funding to complete phase II of the WaterfrontDevelopment. They have recognized that a number ofthings have to happen along with phase II, one being thehiring of a consultant with the aim to find ways to attractforeign direct investments. Team Weymouth is requesting$5,000 from Council to move forward with this project.There was a short discussion of Council and it was agreedthat the CAO will follow up with ADEDA to find out if Team Weymouth is working with them to make thishappen. This request will was referred to the next councilmeeting. It was also suggested that Team Weymouth beinvited to the next Council meeting which is scheduled inWeymouth to make a presentation. # 3 Fall for Bear River – Funding Request -$500 A funding request has been received from the organizing committee for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amountof $500. The Community grants account has $4,600 remaining forthis fiscal year and there are two other requests yet to be
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia4considered.MOVED and seconded that Council approve the fundingrequest for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amount of$500. MOTION CARRIEDCorrespondenceMinister of Health –Palliative CareServices It was noted that correspondence from the Minister ofHealth regarding palliative care services was not included inthe package. This information will be forwarded rightaway.Chief AdministrativeReportMaud Lewis Site –SignageMunicipal Building –RenovationsNovember MeetingDatesCrosswalks – Highway303 The CAO report dated September, 2010 was included in theCOTW Package. Councillor Adams brought up that the sign has been placedfor the Maud Lewis site. It was noted that Councilmisunderstood what type of sign was being installed. Deputy Warden MacAlpine noted that there is a lot of workbeing done on the Municipal building. The project isestimated to be completed by January. The CAO noted thatthe heating proposal is in and is on budget. It was decided by Council to hold a special Council sessionon November 8, 2010 for the swearing in ceremony for thenew Councillor in District 4. This will be followed by aCOTW meeting. These meetings will be scheduled at theLittle River Baptist Church Hall at 6 pm. The Councilmeeting for November will be held on November, 22, 2010at the Barton School at 6 pm. The COTW meeting forDecember 13, 2010 will be held at the United BaptistChurch Hall in Acaciaville at 6 pm. It was noted that the Department of Transportation does notfund crosswalks, but will install them for municipalitiesupon their approval. Council would like to have crosswalksadded on Highway 303. The CAO will add this to theagenda for the next meeting with Transportation.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia5Request for Decisions/Direction NILDepartment ReportsTaxation The Taxation report for both July and August 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection Report The Building Inspection report for both July and August2010 were included in the meeting package. It was noted that permits were up over the last year.Airport/Dispatch The Airport/Dispatch report for both July and August 2010were included in the meeting package. It was noted that it was good to see that the surveillance equipment has beeninstalled at the Airport.Dog Control Activityand Financial Report The Dog Control Activity and Financial report for both Julyand August 2010 were included in the meeting package. Coordinator ProgramDevelopment The Coordinator Program Development report for July 9 to August 12, 2010 was included in the meeting package.Other BusinessN/AUpdates fromPrevious meetingsN/ASpecial ProjectsUpdatesN/AStrategic PrioritiesUpdateThe Strategic Priorities update was not available.Notice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryNIL
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia6AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 7:31PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Digby Municipal Council minutes
Friday, October 15, 2010
350 Mile Wind Grid
...but a "promise" not to interfere with natural views. - blogger
Week in Pics:
The News In Review
Exclusive:
Michelle Kaufmann at W. Coast Green
Today, Google announced that it's getting into the wind power game in a big way -- according to the New York Times, the search engine giant is taking 37.5% of the equity for a $5 billion project to create a 350 mile transmission 'backbone' for future offshore wind farms on the East Coast. The backbone would span New York City to southern Virginia, and support a capacity of 6,000 megawatts of electricity. It would provide an important lifeline to further offshore wind development, and could have huge implications on the nascent American wind industry. Here's what the plan looks like:
This Times graphic shows the basic outline of the proposed project:
The plan has been widely met with praise from environmentalists and government officials alike. Enviros like the plan because it marks a major investment in a transmission line not intended to carry electricity from coal-fired power plants, and it should serve to spur further investment in East Coast wind power. Though the reports make little mention of it, the the announcement coincides with President Obama's recent push to rev up the nation's dormant offshore wind industry.
Construction is slated to begin on the backbone in 2013, but even before there are wind farms to plug into the grid, the transmission backbone will serve a purpose -- carrying electricity from Virginia, where it's relatively cheap, to places like New York and New Jersey, where it's far more expensive (looks like the project won't be entirely coal-free ...).
Google's initial investment is thought to clock in at around $200 million, and a New York financial firm called Good Energies is matching it. Further investors will likely be attracted to the project with such big names and capital attached.
Yet while this is exciting news for the nation's flagging energy infrastructure, politicians and pundits are quick to warn that the project, which spans 5 sates and is the first ever attempted of its kind, could get help up in various bureaucratic morasses. We all, of course, know too well what happened to a certain wind farm proposed in Massachusetts 10 years ago ... However, the companies anticipate such obstacles, and the wind farms proposed to connect to the backbone have subsequently been planned for locations that are out of sight from the shoreline to limit the interference from any natural view.
All told, this is an exciting development that could mark a turning point in American offshore wind.
Week in Pics:
The News In Review
Exclusive:
Michelle Kaufmann at W. Coast Green
Today, Google announced that it's getting into the wind power game in a big way -- according to the New York Times, the search engine giant is taking 37.5% of the equity for a $5 billion project to create a 350 mile transmission 'backbone' for future offshore wind farms on the East Coast. The backbone would span New York City to southern Virginia, and support a capacity of 6,000 megawatts of electricity. It would provide an important lifeline to further offshore wind development, and could have huge implications on the nascent American wind industry. Here's what the plan looks like:
This Times graphic shows the basic outline of the proposed project:
The plan has been widely met with praise from environmentalists and government officials alike. Enviros like the plan because it marks a major investment in a transmission line not intended to carry electricity from coal-fired power plants, and it should serve to spur further investment in East Coast wind power. Though the reports make little mention of it, the the announcement coincides with President Obama's recent push to rev up the nation's dormant offshore wind industry.
Construction is slated to begin on the backbone in 2013, but even before there are wind farms to plug into the grid, the transmission backbone will serve a purpose -- carrying electricity from Virginia, where it's relatively cheap, to places like New York and New Jersey, where it's far more expensive (looks like the project won't be entirely coal-free ...).
Google's initial investment is thought to clock in at around $200 million, and a New York financial firm called Good Energies is matching it. Further investors will likely be attracted to the project with such big names and capital attached.
Yet while this is exciting news for the nation's flagging energy infrastructure, politicians and pundits are quick to warn that the project, which spans 5 sates and is the first ever attempted of its kind, could get help up in various bureaucratic morasses. We all, of course, know too well what happened to a certain wind farm proposed in Massachusetts 10 years ago ... However, the companies anticipate such obstacles, and the wind farms proposed to connect to the backbone have subsequently been planned for locations that are out of sight from the shoreline to limit the interference from any natural view.
All told, this is an exciting development that could mark a turning point in American offshore wind.
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