The meeting was called to order by the Deputy Warden at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present:
- Deputy Warden Fred Bower
- Councillor Angus Atkinson (7:02 p.m.)
- Councillor Eddie Nickerson
- Councillor Wayne Smith
- Councillor Steven Stoddart
- Councillor Tina Wickens
- Brian Holland, Municipal Clerk
Warden Sterling Belliveau was delayed due to the opening of the B.M.H.S. 2000 Reunion being held at the Barrington Municipal High School.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by T. Wickens and seconded by W. Smith that the minutes of the last previous meeting held July 12, 2000 be approved as circulated.
Motion carried.
MATTER ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Doctor Shortage
The Clerk related information that had been obtained from Mr. Frank Peters regarding the recruitment of doctors and the possibility of family physicians visiting the area in the coming months.
CORRESPONDENCE
Response from Minister of Fisheries
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal has written in response to a letter from the municipality regarding the meeting held on March 24, 2000 in Yarmouth.
Mr. Dhaliwal expressed his regrets that neither the Member of Parliament nor the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the region were included in the list of participants. He assured Council that this in no way reflects the importance that he places on the contribution from these representatives of the people.
Mr. Dhaliwal further stated that he continues to welcome input from Council and others through letters which we have provided to him.
Page 2, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Infrastructure Works Program
Correspondence has been received from Ronald Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works for the Province of Nova Scotia, indicating that Nova Scotia intends to participate in an Infrastructure Works Program, although the province has major concerns about the relatively small level of funding that has been announced and the share that Nova Scotia would likely receive. As a result further negotiations must take place with Ottawa before the province will be in a position to provide specific answers regarding the Infrastructure Works Program.
Communication System
The Clerk indicated that correspondence has been received from the Municipality of Pictou supporting the resolution of the Municipality of Barrington in urging the province to provide for input from municipal units, volunteer groups, and volunteer fire departments, to the Threat Risk Assessment to be completed by independent consultants for the Integrated Mobile Radio System to be used by volunteer agencies throughout Nova Scotia.
Samuel Wood Museum Complex
Correspondence has been received from the Samuel Wood Museum Complex thanking the municipality for their grant of $2,500.00 to the organization and assuring council that a statement of expenditures will be forwarded upon completion of the project.
Barrington Municipal High School Safe Grad
A letter of thanks has been received from Mr. Deon Sampson, Vice-Principal and Safe Grad Advisor at B.M.H.S., for the contribution towards Safe Grad.
OWEN WHEELOCK INTERVIEW
Mr. Wheelock appeared before Council in order to address several issues which he felt were pertinent.
The first of these issues was the fire department grants. Mr. Wheelock wished to know if his concerns had been taken into consideration when reviewing the policies regarding these grants. Mr. Wheelock was informed by the Deputy Warden that a report was forthcoming from the Finance Committee this evening regarding the review of these policies.
The second issue Mr. Wheelock raised was the difficulty that he had experienced in hearing councillors speak at meetings. Mr. Wheelock stated that this difficulty was not apparent at this particular meeting this evening.
The third issue Mr. Wheelock raised was the paying of taxes on-line and through telephone banking. He suggested that the municipality seriously consider implementing this process of paying taxes to make it easier for residents to pay their taxes instead of having to come to the municipal office during business hours.
Fourthly, Mr. Wheelock suggested that a newsletter be circulated, together with the tax bills, to provide information to residents regarding council's activities.
Page 3, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Fifthly, Mr. Wheelock suggested that Suzanne Belliveau's request for compensation should be paid. He suggested that someone had been "asleep at the switch"; that the compensation should be paid and perhaps these funds could be taken from the so-called "contingency fund".
Sixth, Mr. Wheelock addressed the matter of the contingency fund. He stated a dictionary definition for the word "contingency" and indicated that the funds as set up in the municipal budget were in no way to be interpreted as a "contingency" fund. He stated that there apparently was no application process and that this funding lacked accountability.
A brief discussion ensued regarding the issues brought up by Mr. Wheelock.
Moved by T. Wickens and seconded by W. Smith that the method of tax payments and the matter of a newsletter be referred to Finance for further discussion and recommendation to Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
Having completed his presentation Mr. Wheelock retired from the meeting.
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS
Finance and Administration Committee, July 18, 2000
Painting of Visitor Information Centre
It had previously been proposed to paint the Visitor Information Centre as soon as possible; however, after preparing to paint the Visitor Information Centre, Public Works employees discovered that the siding on the building had deteriorated to such an extent that it would be impractical, if not impossible, to paint it.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that the Visitor Information Centre not be painted.
Motion carried.
Heliport Landing Site
It is proposed that gravel from the municipal pits at Ridge Road be used as fill for the Heliport Landing Site in order to keep costs to a minimum.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that gravel from municipal pits in the Ridge Road area be used as fill for the Heliport site.
Motion carried.
Page 4, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Centreville Church Preservation Society
The Centreville Church Preservation Society is constructing an observation deck in the steeple of the old United Baptist Church in Centreville. This observation deck will be approximately sixty feet off the ground and will allow visitors to view the entire island and parts of the shoreline to the west of Cape Sable Island. The Society is seeking a letter of support from the municipality for funding for this project through ACOA.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by A. Atkinson that a letter of support for the construction of an observation deck in the steeple of the old United Baptist Church in Centreville be sent to the Centreville Church Preservation Society.
Motion carried.
Samuel Wood Historical Society
WHEREAS members believe the establishment of branch libraries should be funded by the Western Counties Regional Library which is already funded by the Municipality of Barrington;
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the municipality write the Samuel Wood Historical Society informing them that they should contact the Western Counties Regional Library for funding for their project.
Motion carried.
Western Counties Regional Library
The amount of the contribution to the Western Counties Regional Library has been changed due to a reduction in the contribution from the Province of Nova Scotia.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that the amount of the municipal contribution to the Western Counties Regional Library be determined according to the amended funding formula rate which decreases the Municipal of Barrington's contribution by $1,060.74.
Motion carried.
Barrington Ballfield Committee Request
WHEREAS funds are available under Recreation Policy #37-Recreation Loans Policy;
THEREFORE it is moved by Steven Stoddart and seconded by E. Nickerson that an interest free loan in the amount of $3,500.00 be extended to the Barrington Ballfield Committee to be repaid in equal annual installments over a period of three (3) years.
Motion carried.
Seaside Cemetery Club
The Seaside Cemetery Club is restoring its cemetery in Newellton and has requested funding for this purpose.
Page 5, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by A. Atkinson that a grant of $1,000.00 be approved for the Seaside Cemetery Club out of the contingency fund for that district.
Upon request of two members the division was recorded:
FOR AGAINST
Angus Atkinson Tina Wickens
Fred Bower
Eddie Nickerson
Steven Stoddart
Wayne Smith
Motion carried.
Edith Nickerson Property
Edith Nickerson is a resident of Clam Point who owns a small piece of property along Barrington Bay. Mrs. Nickerson is willing to donate the property to the municipality for the purpose of establishing a seaside tourist stop.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that the municipality accept this donation of property from Edith Nickerson.
Motion carried.
The Municipal Solicitor will be contacted to complete the necessary legal work and possible survey work, if necessary.
Tax Clerk Job Description
Due to the rearrangement of duties in the municipal office it is necessary to update the tax clerk's job description.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the revised job description for the Tax Clerk position be approved by Council.
Motion carried.
Municipal Flag
Most municipalities in the province now have flags. These flags are used at Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities' meetings to indicate the representation of the members.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the Municipality of Barrington have a municipal flag.
Motion carried.
Page 6, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Greenhill Senior Citizen's Club
Greenhill Senior Citizen's Club has collected recyclables from the Barrington Municipal Arena during the past season and raised money to be used for projects at the club. These funds are mainly used for the costs of maintenance for the senior's club.
Moved by Steven Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that Mr. Eric Newell be permitted to salvage the recyclables from the Barrington Municipal Arena for the coming season on behalf of the Greenhill Senior Citizen's Club of Upper Port LaTour.
Motion carried.
Yarmouth Regional Hospital Meeting
Correspondence has been received from the Town of Yarmouth indicating that a meeting will be held, of local municipal representatives, together with the Provincial Minister of Health to discuss proposed cuts to the number of beds at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the Municipality of Barrington be represented by the Warden and Clerk and any other councillors who wish to attend this meeting and that they have a prepared statement of Council's position at that time.
Motion carried.
It was also suggested that a copy of the letter received from the Town of Yarmouth be sent to our local MLA.
Dr. Blair Protest
WHEREAS the Warden together with the Mayor of the Town of Clark's Harbour have already met with the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons to protest the suspension of Dr. Blair;
AND WHEREAS the Warden together with the Mayor has already met with the Minister of Health to protest the suspension of Dr. Blair and to emphasize the current doctor shortage in the municipality;
AND ALSO WHEREAS Council has instituted an incentive program to attract additional doctors to the municipality;
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the request of the Volunteer Committee for financial support in hiring a bus to transport residents to Halifax for a protest at the offices of the College of Physicians and Surgeons be denied because the issue now at hand is finding a replacement for Dr. Blair during his period of suspension.
Motion carried.
Carl Smith Service Award
Carl Smith was employed by the municipality for thirteen years as Building Inspector. He has recently terminated his employment with the municipality.
Page 7, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that a service award be paid to Mr. Carl Smith, our former Building Inspector, for his period of service to the municipality for thirteen years, to a total of $1,300.00. The award will be paid, with thanks, to Mr. Smith in the immediate future.
Motion carried.
Finance and Administration Committee Meeting, July 19, 2000
Visitor Information Centre Feasibility Study
WHEREAS the Municipality of Barrington wishes to conduct a feasibility study to determine an optimum location for its Visitor Information Centre;
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that $3,000.00 be allocated to fund a Visitor Information Centre Feasibility Study and that these funds be taken from the amount of $16,000.00 previously designated in the budget for tourism initiatives.
Motion carried.
Access Road to Clement's Pond
Members had previously been presented with a proposal for the construction of an access road to the Clement's Pond area during a closed session of the Finance and Administration Committee Meeting.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the municipality not build an access road to the Clement's Pond area at this time.
Motion carried.
Barrington Regional Curling Club
WHEREAS members believe all issues brought forward in the letter from the President of the Barrington Regional Curling Club have previously been dealt with by Council;
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that a letter be sent to the Barrington Regional Curling Club thanking them for their correspondence and informing them that Council believes there is no further action required at this time.
Motion carried.
White Paper on Policing
Members have reviewed the White Paper on Policing and have found that it is very unclear in regards to it implications to municipalities in future. The members suspect that the implications of this White Paper on Policing will be that more costs of policing will be passed on to municipal units.
Page 8, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by W. Smith that a letter be sent to the Department of Justice expressing Council's concern with the implications of the White Paper on Policing and Council's unwillingness to accept future provincial downloading as a result of the implementation of this White Paper.
Motion carried.
A copy of this letter will also be sent to the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.
Review of Policies 18 & 19 Re: Grants to Fire Departments
WHEREAS members have reviewed Policy #18 "Capital Grants-Fire Departments" and Policy #19 "Operating Grants-Fire Departments" and are in agreement that the process in place for the establishing of these grants is the most practical and optimum available at the present time;
THEREFORE it is moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that Policy #18 "Capital Grants-Fire Departments" and Policy #19 "Operating Grants-Fire Departments" remain the same as presently stated.
Motion carried.
Waterfront Development Committee
Councillor Smith reported on the most recent meeting of the Waterfront Development Committee.
John Smith-Signsmith is working on three signs at the present time and will complete seven more in the future.
The Waterfront Development Committee has adopted the name "Barrington Bay Trail" as the official name of the trail to be developed along Barrington Bay and the Barrington Passage area. Tenders are in the process of being prepared by the Chairman and will soon be issued.
Shelburne County Community Leaders Meeting Re: Adult Protection
Councillor Atkinson reported that he had attended this meeting and that it was an information session only and it was primarily in regard to the Hemeon case in Sandy Point.
Cindy Nickerson Recognition
Councillor Wickens indicated that some individuals in the Shag Harbour/Bear Point area felt that there should be special recognition for Cindy Nickerson who had worked diligently as a volunteer for the Chapel Hill Museum, the I.W.K. Hospital and for the 215th Birthday Celebrations of Shag Harbour. In the last event she had raised $2,000.00 by herself. Residents suggested that a recognition certificate for this lady would be appropriate.
Moved by W. Smith and seconded by E. Nickerson that the matter of a recognition certificate for Cindy Nickerson and the matter of a policy for recognition certificates both be referred to the Finance Committee for further discussion and consideration. At that time a criteria for application will also be discussed.
Motion carried.
Page 9, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Tourism
Funds have been allocated within the Municipal Budget for tourism initiatives. Members indicated that action should be taken in the tourism field as quickly as possible.
Moved by E. Nickerson and seconded by A. Atkinson that the Clerk identify the beaches in the area and identify locations for placing of signs to direct the public to these beaches and prepare a map with these signs strategically placed to be reviewed by the Public Works Committee at their next meeting.
Motion carried.
It was also suggested that the map used at the Tourist Bureau should be revised to show more detail.
Moved by E. Nickerson and seconded by S. Stoddart that the map showing the municipality being used at the Visitor Information Centre be revised to show more detail and be taken to the next subsequent Public Works meeting for revision by members.
Motion carried.
At approximately 7:55 Warden Sterling Belliveau arrived and assumed the Chair.
Waterfront Development Committee Resignations
Letters of resignation were read to Council from Mr. Clyde Nickerson and Mrs. Louise Halliday.
Moved by S. Stoddart and seconded by T. Wickens that the resignations of Clyde Nickerson and Louise Halliday from the Barrington Waterfront Development Committee be accepted with regret and that a letter of appreciation be sent to each of them.
Motion carried.
Mr. Ken Anthony, Chairman of the Waterfront Development Committee, suggested by memo the following new members to the Committee to replace those resigning: Patty Ross and Peter Nickerson. Both are business people in the Barrington Passage area.
Moved by T. Wickens and seconded by F. Bower that Patty Ross and Peter Nickerson be appointed to the Barrington Municipal Waterfront Development Committee.
Motion carried.
Randy Nickerson Request
Randy Nickerson owns a property at 40 Petticoat Lane in Barrington. This property is not on the municipal sewer line and is not within 100 feet of the municipal sewer line and, therefore, is not required to be connected to the sewer line.
Mr. Nickerson is subdividing the property so that he may sell the house located at 40 Petticoat Lane. In order to have this subdivision approved he is requesting a letter from the municipality indicating that it would be allowable for this property to be hooked up to the municipal sewer line at the owner's expense. It would also be necessary for the property owner to pay the annual sewer charge on this property once it is hooked up and pay the $1,000.00 connection fee.
Page 10, Council Meeting, July 26, 2000
Moved by W. Smith and seconded by F. Bower that the municipality allow the property at 40 Petticoat Lane to be hooked to the municipal sewer at the property owner's expense.
Motion carried.
REPORT OF WARDEN
The Warden gave the following report of his activities since the last Council meeting.
- July 14th - Attended Waste Check meeting at which there was no quorum. An information session was held instead.
- July 17th - Attended Dr. Blair protest meeting in Clark's Harbour.
- July 18th - Met with our local MLA Cecil O'Donnell and Economic Development Minister, Mr. Gordon Balser at Dixon's Boat Yard in Wood's Harbour.
- July 19th - Attended a South West Shore Development Authority meeting in Barrington, followed by a Marine Resource Centre Subcommittee meeting.
- July 31st - Will meet with Senator Bernie Boudreau in Halifax and will meet with Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser
- July 24th - Sound Stage Committee received update of the construction in progress.
- July 24th - 7:00 p.m. met with Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Town of Clark's Harbour re Joint Health Care efforts. Consensus was arrived at that Council's will act co-operatively together to address health care issues directly without the intermediate step of a Health Care Committee.
- July 26th - B.M.H.S. 2000 Reunion prior to Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by F. Bower and seconded by E. Nickerson that the meeting adjourn at 8:27 p.m.
Motion carried.
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