The Municipality of the District of

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council held in the Council Chambers, in the Administrative Centre, in Barrington, N.S., on Monday, July 28, 2008.

The meeting was called to order by the Warden at 7:00.


ROLL CALL

The Clerk reported that all councillors representing all districts of the Municipality were present:

- Warden Louise Halliday
- Deputy Warden Eddie Nickerson
- Councillor George El-Jakl
- Councillor Donna LeBlanc-Messenger
- Councillor Wilford Smith
- Councillor Larry Stewart
- Councillor Sean Strang

- Brian Holland, Municipal Clerk


DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Moved by W. Smith and seconded by L. Stewart that minutes of the last previous meeting of Barrington Municipal Council held July 14, 2008 be approved as circulated.

Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by L. Stewart and seconded by W. Smith that the minutes of the Special Meeting of Council held July 22, 2008 be approved as circulated.

Motion carried unanimously.


MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Owners Unknown Property

The following motion from the Council meeting held June 23, 2008 had been deferred:

Moved by S. Strang and seconded by W. Smith that the Municipality obtain the owners unknown property at Exit 30 off Highway 103 and proceed with the required survey at the estimated cost of $7,000.00.

Members were previously provided with a report from Municipal Staff indicating that the property had been viewed and that it was recommended the Municipality obtain the property.  Access has yet to be confirmed by the Department of Transportation as the Department’s engineer is currently away on vacation.

Page 2, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, July 28, 2008

Resolution C080816

Moved by G. El-Jakl and seconded by D. Messenger that the Municipality obtain the owners unknown property at Exit 30 off Highway 103 provided access is approved by the Department of Transportation. 

Motion carried unanimously.


CORRESPONDENCE

Solid Waste Stewardship and the Financing of Municipal Programs

Correspondence has been received from the Regional Chairs Committee of the Nova Scotia Solid Waste Resource Management Group.  This correspondence is a copy of a letter to The Honourable Mark Parent, Nova Scotia Minister of Environment.  In this correspondence the Minister is asked to discontinue the practice of annually retaining 10% of RRFB net revenues for government use.  The Province is requested to impose a levy on drink cups.  The government is also requested to move expeditiously to implement industry funded mandatory product stewardship programs with deadlines, and the government is also informed that the Regional Chairs Committee does not support an increase in the beverage container deposit at this time.

Uranium Mining

A copy of a letter has been received from the Municipality of West Hants.  This letter has been sent by the District of West Hants to the Honourable David Morse, Minister of Natural Resources.  In this letter the Municipality indicates that the moratorium on uranium mining should not be lifted and that uranium exploration should no longer be permitted in the province of Nova Scotia.  The letter is circulated to all municipal councils in the province for their information and support.

Continuing Care Month

Correspondence has been received from the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations requesting that September be declared Continuing Care Month.

Resolution C080717

Moved by D. Messenger and seconded by S. Strang that September be proclaimed Continuing Care Month in the Municipality of the District of Barrington.

Motion carried unanimously.

South West Shore Transition House

Correspondence has been received from the South West Nova Transition House Association thanking the Municipality for their continued support and operating grant for the current year.

DVD

A DVD that was prepared by local fishermen in 1996 has been provided to Council for their information.  This DVD will be copied and circulated to all councillors.

Page 3, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, July 28, 2008


WARDEN’S REPORT

The Warden provided a brief report on her activities since the last meeting of Council, which included attendance at the following:

    -  July 15th, Temple Church for a Disabilities Inclusion and Support meeting,
    -  July 17th, the Veterans Ceremony at the Library and Town Criers Banquet in Shelburne,
    -  July 25th, Rural Caucus Meeting at Sandy Point.


COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Councillor Wilford Smith

Councillor Smith had no activities to report.

Councillor Larry Stewart

Councillor Stewart indicated that he had attended various meetings including the Veteran’s Ceremony at the Library, the Rural Caucus Meeting, a C.S.I. Sewer Meeting with the Town of Clark’s Harbour representatives, and a Team Shelburne County meeting.

Councillor Donna LeBlanc-Messenger

Councillor Messenger gave a brief report on her activities since the last meeting of Council which included the Veterans Ceremony at the Library, the Persons with Disabilities meeting, a meeting of the Western Shelburne County Health Care Charitable Society and the Rural Caucus Meeting. 

As a result of a presentation made on Age Friendly Communities, Councillor Messenger suggested that the Municipality examine its facilities to ensure that they are age friendly.

Resolution C080718

Moved by D. Messenger and seconded by L. Stewart that Municipal Staff audit all municipal facilities to determine how they can be made more age friendly in future.

Motion carried unanimously.

Councillor Larry Stewart continued

Councillor Stewart also informed members that he had chaired a Planning Advisory Committee meeting the previous Thursday.

Resolution C080719

Moved by L. Stewart and seconded by S. Strang that the proposed amendments to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-Laws relating to “banks and financial institutions” be proceeded with by Council.

Motion carried unanimously.

Page 4, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, July 28, 2008

Councillor Sean Strang

Committee of the Whole Council

Department of Transportation

Resolution C080720

Moved by S. Strang and seconded by W. Smith that a letter be sent to the local Department of Transportation Supervisor, requesting that shouldering of the road be done in Upper Port LaTour, Port LaTour and Baccaro areas, and that the grass be cut along the shoulder of the road in those areas and that trees near the road be cut back in those areas, and also that the grass along the guardrail at the Sherose Island Causeway be removed and trimmed back.

Motion carried unanimously.

Brass Hill Playground & Other Playgrounds

Resolution C080721

Moved by S. Strang and seconded by D. Messenger that a grant of $656.30 be provided to the Clubhouse Playground Association in Wood’s Harbour for the purchase of equipment for the playground, and that $3,500.00 be provided from playground funds to the Brass Hill Playground Association, the Wayne Perry Memorial Park and the ERMES Playground, and that copies of invoices for work done on these playgrounds be required in order to obtain payment of these grants.

Motion carried unanimously.

Members were also informed that the Brass Hill Playground Association will be holding a yard sale at the playground on Saturday, August 2, 2008. 

At this time the Deputy Warden was requested to assume the Chair while the Warden addressed this matter.

Members were informed that the Wayne Perry Memorial Park Association had held a bake sale at a local store the previous Saturday in order to raise funds for their playground.

The Warden then resumed the Chair.

Resolution C080722

Moved by D. Messenger and seconded by S. Strang that the Municipality submit a grant application to the Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion and Protection for the purpose of obtaining funds for the upgrade of the Brass Hill playground.

Motion carried unanimously.

Page 5, Regular Meeting of Barrington Council, July 28, 2008

Tourism Manager

Moved by S. Strang and seconded by L. Stewart that the Shelburne County Tourism Association be informed that the Municipality will consider any proposal for a Shelburne County Tourism Manager once a commitment is made from other funding partners and not until that time.

Resolution C080723

Moved by E. Nickerson and seconded by S. Strang that the motion also include “the Municipality maintains its commitment of $15,000.00 for this purpose”.

Amendment carried unanimously.

The division was then requested on the amended motion.

Motion carried unanimously.

Councillor George El-Jakl

Councillor El-Jakl provided a brief report on his activities since the last meeting of Council which included attending the Planning Advisory Committee Meeting and the Rural Caucus Meeting.

Deputy Warden Eddie Nickerson

Deputy Warden Nickerson provided a brief report of his activities since the last Council meeting, which included the Disabilities Inclusion Meeting on July 17th, the Veteran’s Ceremony on July 17th, the Planning Advisory Committee meeting on July 19th, the C.S.I. Sewer Meeting with Town representatives on July 23rd; the Founders Day Fireworks and Parade of Lights, and the Nova Scotia Marathon.


CLERK’S REPORT

The Clerk provided a report for the month of June 2008.  The Clerk also informed members that Faye Haley, the Chair of the Tri-County Regional School Board, had called this morning to inform members that their letter concerning the behavior of students on the Oak Park Road near Barrington Municipal High School would be brought up at the Board Meeting to be scheduled for September 2, 2008.


NEW BUSINESS

Certificates of Recognition Policy

Members had been given notice of consideration of a proposed Certificates of Recognition Policy at a previous Council meeting.  The Certificates of Recognition Policy will provide recognition to local residents for 50th anniversaries and above, and birthdays 75 years and above, as well as recognition to members of the community who have contributed much to the community or who achieved sports and other milestones, and also to volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency service providers.

Page 6, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, July 28, 2008

Resolution C080724

Moved by L. Stewart and seconded by W. Smith that the Certificates of Recognition Policy be approved by Council as proposed.

Motion carried unanimously.

Repeal of Policy No. 17

Since there is now a new Certificates of Recognition Policy, the former policy No. 17 “Recognition of Volunteer Firefighters” is no longer required.

Notice of Consideration had been given at a previous Council meeting.

Resolution C080725

Moved by W. Smith and seconded by S. Strang that Policy No. 17 “Recognition of Volunteer Fire Fighters” be repealed.

Motion carried unanimously.

Notices of Consideration

Notices of Consideration are being provided to Council at this meeting for the following:

    - Revisions to Policy No. 39 “Hiring Policy”
    - Repeal of Summer Staff Hiring and Admin Policy #3
    - Repeal of Recreation Department Policy Re: Summer Staff #20
    - Repeal of Policy No. 50, Casual Labour
    - Repeal of Policy No. 27, EMO/S&R Bus
    - Repeal of Policy No. 23 Re: Announcement Banner
    - Revised Arena Fees for Usage of the Facility Re: Benefit Concerts and Fundraisers
    - Revised Policy 6 “Policy Governing Use of Municipal Facilities Re: Benefit Concerts and Fundraisers”
    - Repeal of Recreation Department, Sherose Island Community Centre Policy #12

All of these matters will be considered at the next subsequent meeting of Council.


CAPE SABLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY REQUEST

Email correspondence has been received from the Cape Sable Historical Society.  Their laptop computer is currently not working properly and they believe it needs to be replaced.  The Society is requesting permission from the Municipality to use the grant funds that have been provided to them for the purchase of display cases to be diverted for the purchase a new laptop for the Society.

Page 7, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, July 28, 2008

Resolution C080726

Moved by S. Strang and seconded by W. Smith that the request of the Cape Sable Historical Society to use the grant provided by the Municipality for the purchase of a new laptop be approved.

Motion carried unanimously.

Deputy Warden Nickerson

Deputy Warden Nickerson informed members that an announcement had been made that federal funding is being provided for upgrades and improvements at the Newellton wharf, the West Head wharf and the Clark’s Harbour wharf, on Cape Sable Island.


CLOSED SESSION

Members then entered into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter and several legal matters.

Having completed their discussion of matters in Closed Session, Council then returned to Open Public Session.


C.S.I. SEWER

Resolution C080727

Moved by E. Nickerson and seconded by L. Stewart that CBCL Limited be hired to complete a preliminary design for the Cape Sable Island Sewer System at a cost of $25,000.00.

Motion carried unanimously.


ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned by mutual consent of members at 8:55 p.m.