The meeting was called to order by the Deputy Warden at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The Clerk reported that all councillors representing all districts of the Municipality were present with the exception of Warden Halliday who is convalescing from recent surgery.
- 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 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of conflicts of interest by councillors.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by L. Stewart and seconded by G. El-Jakl that the minutes of the last previous meeting held November 27, 2006 be approved as circulated.
Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Keith Menzies Interview
Mr. Keith Menzies who is a senior officer of the Nova Scotia Department of Health was requested to address Council regarding the future development and expansion of Bay Side Home.
Mr. Menzies informed members that he had met with the Board of Directors of Bay Side Home approximately one month ago. At that time the Board asked him to address Barrington Municipal Council. Mr. Menzies informed members that the continuing care strategy announced by the provincial government in May contains three major components. They are, home care programs, community programs and the addition of nursing home beds. The provincial government announced at that time that there would be 1320 nursing home beds added throughout the province over the next ten years. The provincial government also made a commitment to add 820 of these beds by March of 2010, which is less than 3 ½ years away.
Page 2, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 11, 2006
Mr. Menzies indicated that the 40 bed addition committed to Bay Side Home would be done sometime during the next 3 years. These beds have been committed to be built once standards for nursing home beds have been developed by the Department of Health. It is necessary to develop these standards first so the beds that are added are consistent across the province. It is anticipated that the standards will be completed by the spring of 2007. Once these standards are developed the design work may be done for the expansion at Bay Side Home and tenders will be called.
Mr. Menzies indicated that Bay Side Home is in a “preferred position” allowing for more speed in the development of this project. He informed Council that it was possible for the design and tenders to be completed before the end of 2007.
There was some question regarding further public input for the standards being developed. Mr. Menzies indicated that public input had been obtained during the consultations that were held during the previous year, and that at the present time there was no provision for additional public input.
When pressed Mr. Menzies indicated that the target date for completion as indicated by the Minister is March 2010. He indicated that the 40 beds being added to Bay Side Home would be nursing home beds.
Mr. Menzies was questioned whether or not there will be provision made for further expansion after the 40 bed addition is completed. He indicated that this would be up to the Board of Directors of Bay Side Home.
The Bay Side Home Board of Directors will customize the 40 bed addition so that it is suitable for this area and will incorporate the nursing home standards required by the Department of Health.
Mr. Menzies indicated that a possible time line would be 2 years for the design and construction of the 40 bed expansion. He indicated it takes approximately 6 months for the design and tender, and 18 months for the construction phase of this type of expansion.
Having completed his discussion of this matter, Mr. Menzies then retired from the meeting.
MONTHLY POLICE REPORT
Cpl. Doug Brannen appeared on behalf of the local R.C.M.P. Detachment to present the police report for the month of November 2006. A written report of statistics was provided to councillors for their information.
Cpl. Brannen informed members that the local detachment is now at full complement with 5 constables, a supervisory corporal and an administrative sergeant. He informed Council that the local detachment will be assigning five different zones to operational officers for community work, and to improve visibility of the R.C.M.P. in the community.
The R.C.M.P. is taking an initiative to increase its exposure in the community in order to better communicate with the youth in the community and to provide better policing services. They have arranged for some space in which they may work at Barrington Municipal High School in order to provide more contact with youth.
Page 3, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 11, 2006
When questioned, Cpl. Brannen felt that the implementation of a Joint Police Advisory Board would be preferable to the local detachment.
Having completed his report, Cpl Brannen then retired from the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Members were informed that a telephone response had been received from Warden Paulette Scott regarding the proposed disposition of Shelburne Place. She had informed the Clerk through telephone conversation that there has as yet been no concrete proposal made by the Municipality of the District of Shelburne to take over Shelburne Place. Any proposal to be made was dependant on the approval of the provincial government to rent space from the Municipality at this location. Until the commitment of the provincial government could be obtained, no concrete proposal will be forthcoming from the Municipality of Shelburne.
CORRESPONDENCE
Community Health Centre Parking Lot
The Community Health Centre parking lot has recently been paved by Dexter Construction Co. Ltd. In the letter received from Dexter Construction Co. Ltd., they have informed the Municipality that they are willing to pave this parking lot in exchange for placing their paving plant on municipal property at Ridge Road. They estimate the cost of paving the Community Health Centre parking lot is $9,800.00, and that they used approximately 81 tons of asphalt to get a compacted thickness of 2 ½ inches. Dexter Construction Co. Ltd. has not billed the Municipality for the cost of this paving in return for the Municipality’s and local resident’s cooperation during their paving project on the 103 highway.
A letter of thanks and appreciation has been sent to Dexter Construction Co. Ltd. for the completion of this project.
CAP Site Funding
Correspondence has been received from our MP, Mr. Gerald Keddy, regarding CAP Site Funding. In this correspondence Mr. Keddy ensures Council that the Community Access Program Funding has been extended including the ones in the Municipality of Barrington, and that the federal government will be looking to find a permanent solution for CAP sites so that they may remain open in the future.
Medical Privileges
An email has been received from Shirley Watson-Poole, the Physician Resource Primary Care Manager for Southwest Health. In this email we are informed that the work permit for Dr. Lely Abud will be processed by the end of December. This is good news for the Municipality as it means that Dr. Abud will be able to begin practice as expected sometime during late January.
Page 4, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 11, 2006
COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Councillor George El-Jakl
Councillor El-Jakl no report.
Councillor Donna LeBlanc-Messenger
Councillor Messenger attended the Atlantic Municipal Human Resources Conference held in Halifax from November 29th to December 1st and gave a brief report on the presentations made at that conference.
She also indicated that she had attended the annual non-denominational service held at the Old Meeting House in Barrington.
Councillor Wilford Smith
Nothing to report.
Councillor Larry Stewart
Nothing to report.
Councillor Sean Strang
Committee of the Whole Council
E.I. Program
Resolution C061201
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by W. Smith that Human Resources and Social Development Canada be asked to provide a breakdown of the unemployment rate, by county, for the Western Nova Scotia Region.
Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution C061202
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by G. El-Jakl that the letter received from Human Resources and Social Development Canada regarding hours to qualify for the employment program be forwarded to Sandra Atwood.
Motion carried unanimously.
Page 5, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 11, 2006
Request for Leave
Resolution C061203
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by G. El-Jakl that Warden Halliday’s request for a leave of absence from this evening’s Council meeting be granted as requested since she is presently convalescing from a recent surgery.
Motion carried unanimously.
Job Description
Resolution C061204
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by G. El-Jakl that the job description for Solid Waste Manager/By-Law Enforcement Officer be approved as circulated.
Motion carried unanimously.
Police Advisory Board
Resolution C061205
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by G. El-Jakl that the Municipality discuss the formation of a Joint Police Advisory Board with the Town of Clark’s Harbour.
Motion carried unanimously.
For this purpose a meeting will be arranged early in the new year inviting all of the councillors from both the Town and the Municipality to meet for the purpose of discussing this matter. This matter will also be placed on the December 18th Committee of the Whole agenda for further discussion by municipal councillors.
NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
Highway 103 Committee
Members were informed that a meeting of the Highway 103 Committee will be held at the Lunenburg Municipal Office on December 18, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
No members indicated any interest in attending this meeting, and therefore regrets will be forwarded to the Committee.
Review of Municipal Districts
Previous to the meeting a draft application for review of municipal districts had been circulated to all councillors. As required by the Municipal Government Act, all municipalities in Nova Scotia must review the number of districts and the number of councillors and the system of governance in their municipalities during the 2006 fiscal year.
Page 6, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 12, 2006
Council has now completed this review and wishes to make application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. The application to be made to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board under Section 369 of the Municipal Government Act is to confirm the number and boundaries of polling districts and confirm the number of councillors.
It is the wish of Council to have the number of polling districts and the number of municipal councillors remain at 7. This is the substance of the application that will be forwarded to the Utility and Review Board.
Resolution C061206
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by D. Messenger that an application be made to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board pursuant to Section 369 of the Municipal Government Act to confirm the number and boundaries of polling districts and confirm the number of councillors.
Motion carried unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION
Council then entered into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters, legal agreements and legal action, and potential agreements for the development of municipal property.
OPEN SESSION
Having completed their discussion of matters in Closed Session, Council then returned to Open and Public Session.
Approval of Annual Increments
Resolution C061207
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by D. Messenger that the annual increments for Andrew Goreham, Building Inspector/Development Officer, and for Shenton Allen, Property Services Technician/Landfill Operator, be approved as both employees have received satisfactory performance evaluations for the previous year.
Motion carried unanimously.
Rental Agreement
Resolution C061208
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by W. Smith that the Municipality enter into a rental agreement with Parsons Investments Ltd. for the one year rental of space for a doctor’s office in Barrington Passage for Dr. Lely Abud.
Motion carried unanimously.
Page 7, Regular Meeting of Barrington Municipal Council, December 11, 2006
Dr. O’Connor Agreement
Resolution C061209
Moved by S. Strang and seconded by G. El-Jakl that the Municipality amend the agreement with Dr. O’Connor to change the required date of beginning his practice in the Municipality from July 31, 2007 to August 31, 2007.
Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by L. Stewart that the meeting adjourn at 10:50 p.m.
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