The Municipality of the District of

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL

July 31, 2003

The meeting was called to order by the Warden at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, in the Administrative Centre, in Barrington, N.S., with the following members present:

- Warden Sterling Belliveau
- Deputy Warden Eddie Nickerson
- Councillor Angus Atkinson
- Councillor Louise Halliday
- Councillor Dwayne Hunt
- Councillor Wayne Smith

- Brian Holland, Municipal Clerk

Absent was Councillor Bower due to work commitments.
 

PURPOSE OF MEETING

This meeting was requested by the Warden pursuant to Section 19(4)(5) of the Municipal Government Act to consider correspondence recently received concerning the construction of a new high school in Barrington.
 

TRI-COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD LETTER

A letter has been received from Nancy Whittaker, Chair of the Tri County District School Board.  In this letter, the School Board wishes the Municipality to clarify its position on whether or not land offered by the Municipality is serviced.  

There then followed some discussion by Councillors regarding this matter and the response that had previously been sent to Mr. Leroy Legere, Chair of the Southwest Regional School Board.  In the letter to Mr. Legere it was previously indicated that the Municipality was not providing serviced land, and at no time had indicated to the School Board, Department of Education or the public that it would provide serviced land.

Resolution C030733

Moved by W. Smith and seconded by A. Atkinson that the Municipality send a copy of the letter sent to Mr. Legere on July 7, 2003, to the Tri County District School Board, explaining clearly the Municipality’s position.  The letter will be sent to the Board members; Mr. Phil Landry, Director of Education; Mr. Leroy Legere, CEO, Southwest Regional School Board; Mr. David Buckland, Principal, Barrington Municipal High School; and the Selection Committee.

Motion carried.
 

Page 2, Special Meeting of Council, July 31, 2003
 

SAFE AND QUALITY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LETTER 

Correspondence has been received from the Safe and Quality School Association containing two (2) requests for the Municipality.  The first request is that the Municipality immediately put forward a third “free” site which would satisfy the requirements of the Education Act, rendering it unnecessary for the Tri County District Board to add the present site of Barrington Municipal High School to the list of viable sites.

The second request is that Council restate its position to the Tri County District School Board that the present site is NOT to be used as a site for any new school.

Information was then provided to Councillors regarding burial sites that may be located on Sherose Island.

Resolution C030734

Moved by L. Halliday and seconded by W. Smith that the information provided on the burial sites that may possibly be located on Sherose Island be forwarded to the Site Selection Committee , c/o Mr. Dave Buckland, Secretary.

Motion carried.

There then followed some discussion regarding who would prioritize sites for the new school.  There is some general confusion over who will prioritize the sites.  It is uncertain whether the School Steering Committee or the Southwest Regional School Board will prioritize sites.

Resolution C030735

Moved by A. Atkinson and seconded by D. Hunt that the Department of Education be asked who will make the recommendation for the site for a new school.

Motion carried.

There then followed some discussion of the process being used to recommend a site for a new school, and the various influences being exercised within the community on this topic.

Moved by W. Smith and seconded by A. Atkinson that the Municipality offer other municipal properties at Ridge Road for the site of a new school.

There then followed some discussion of this motion during which it was suggested that an offer be made to the School Board to provide any site on any Municipal property instead of one particular site.

At this point Deputy Warden Nickerson assumed the Chair so that the Warden could address the issue.

The Warden suggested that the Municipality might offer any piece of municipally owned property for the site of a new school.  

Having completed his address, the Warden then resumed the chair.

There then followed some discussion of the generality of this suggestion and the impact on prolonging the selection process.

Page 3, Special Meeting of Council, July 31, 2003
 

At the suggestion of the Warden, all members adjourned briefly for a refreshment break.

Moved by W. Smith and seconded by E. Nickerson that the previous motion be amended by including the property at Lyle’s Bay as an alternate site for a new school as well.

Amendment defeated.

There then followed some discussion of the motion made at the Site Selection Committee to advertise for property sites for a new school.  The advertisement has as yet not been done.  It was felt that a third property location may result from this advertisement.

The division was then requested on the motion.

Motion defeated.

Resolution C030736

Moved by D. Hunt and seconded by W. Smith that the Warden contact the Department of Education, (either Leroy Legere or Paul MacLellan or both), in order to inquire why no advertising has been done for alternative school sites, and why the Tri County District School Board will be making a site selection recommendation.

There was also some question whether or not the present site has been included for consideration.

Motion carried.
 

ADJOURNMENT

After some brief continued discussion the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.