Newsletter: District Seven Councillor: November 2004
Thank you for your wonderful support during the Oct 2004 municipal election. I will work hard on your behalf by placing your expectations upon myself. We also owe Brian Fillmore considerable thanks for his service to our community organizations for the past seven years.
One of my duties is to keep you informed on how I am discharging the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I will do that by means of a periodic newsletter like this, by visits in your villages and by being available when you call me at 656-2793. That advice from you will help keep me informed on the issues that face the municipality as a whole, make decisions in the best interest of the whole community and create an intelligent interest in community and public affairs within the municipality.
It has been interesting, educational and fun to attend all the committees of council to learn the powers and limitations of council and to knowledgably contribute to their discussions. We will soon choose on which committees each councillor is to serve. The aim is for council to work as a team to improve the finances, health, security and quality of life in the municipality. All of these committee and council meetings are open to the public if you wish to attend or else come along with me.
On 8 November councillors were sworn in to execute their duties to the best of their knowledge and ability and to do that impartially. Councillor Paulette Scott of West Green Harbour was unopposed in the election for Warden and John Roscoe of Jordan was elected Deputy Warden. We will soon decide our goals for the next four years.
In the next couple of months there are a number of issues that may come up including:
- Off-highway vehicle report,
- Tobeatic Advisory Group draft management plan,
- Business occupancy tax removal,
- Team Shelburne development proposals,
- El Paso / Blue Atlantic discussions,
- A municipally operated waste collection program,
- An area tax rate for the Sable River Volunteer Fire Department, and
- A provincial 15% cap on tax assessment increases for NS residents.
In Feb 2004, the Interim Report of the Voluntary Planning “Off-highway Vehicle Task Force” was published. The Final Comments were due 31 July for consideration in a final report. That report is now available by calling 1(866) 858-5850 (toll free) or viewing the website www.gov.ns.ca/vp/ohv It proposes that all drivers be over 16 years of age, all off-highway vehicles be registered, that they be restricted to designated trails only and a too free incident reporting line. Municipal Recreation will examine it in detail. After you have read the report, I would like to have your comments.
The Tobeatic Advisory Group Draft Management Plan is available at the McKay library in Shelburne and has been widely distributed. Many of you have provided your written comments and attended meetings about it. Your council has also provided comment. The final report should be out shortly.
The Business Occupancy Tax is probably going to be legislated out of existence shortly by the Provincial government. This provides up to $85,000 of tax income to the municipality that will not be available in the future. Council will make every effort to adjust the budget to do without these funds without raising taxes.
Team Shelburne is being co chaired by your Warden who is doing her best to get them moving on pursuing a development officer, development plan and development for the Municipality. Its activity is not yet public despite efforts to move it that way.
The Blue Atlantic / El Paso project is not dead. No matter where you stand on that development, you may educate yourself about the issues related to it (jobs, environmental impacts, regulatory controls, etc.) at several sources. You may call the Blue Atlantic office in Shelburne at 875-1468 (Mon-Wed), SWNEPG (Anne Smith) at 875-3375 or visit the Shelburne McKay library files.
The Joint Services Board of Lockeport, Shelburne and our Municipality are developing a program for a less expensive weekly waste collection program. It will include Board owned trucks and Board employees. It should save us over $40,000 per year and provide better service after it starts sometime in the new year. A new C&D waste facility is also being built at West Green Harbour.
The SRVFD will soon need a new vehicle. Our new Chief, Janet Taylor, is doing wonderful work preparing the department for that purchase. This may also involve asking the citizens of the Sable River fire district to approve a district fire rate. She will provide the information necessary and involve us in that discussion as it develops.
Remember our high school students who are preparing to go to England next year. Also, support our local businesses and community by shopping close by this Christmas.
In conclusion: Call me with your comments on municipal issues.
I’m at 656-2793 or call the municipal offices at 875-3544; I live at 1784 East Sable River Road if you wish to stop by. I’m also available at scembree@auracom.com
Yours aye,
Sherm Embree
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