District Seven Councillor Newsletter June 2006
The annual municipal budget has not yet been prepared. Council and municipal staff are currently reviewing the initial draft budget and hope to have your tax bills issued by early July. All taxpayers will still have the usual one-month grace period after the tax bills are issued before payment is due. When the budget is approved at a public council meeting the detailed budget will be available from the municipal office at 875-3544 (ext 221). Of course, beforehand I will take any advice you may have to the budget discussions, and then after approval I will be available to discuss it.
Highway 103 work priorities were discussed 15 May between your municipal council, representatives of three other councils and, with the Department of Transportation Western District Director. Councils were able to learn how they set their highway improvement priorities and provide our input on your behalf. We talked to the engineers. Their recommendations are then considered in light of the available funding and provincial government influence. For our local area the most substantive information provided was that DOT will be doing planning survey work this summer at the Granite Village Shelburne County line to straighten the road. This is not the actual work but planning work to identify possible improvements in engineering and construction terms. After this survey approval of the actual work and funding is required.
The Municipality accepted, at the May 8 Council meeting, the recommendations of a report on how to make our municipal organization more efficient and effective. Its key recommendations are to adopt a Council / Manager type of system rather than our previous Council / Committee / Clerk system. This will increase the accountability of councillors and staff. Councillors will be focused on policy and plans that will be reflected in the budget. Staff will be more responsible to deliver those services, programs and the day to day operations. An executive summary of the report is available from the Council offices or through me. This is a bigger change than it may seem. We need to establish the ability and capacity to deliver the services and sustainable economic development our community needs. We first need our administrative and financial house in order to do that.
On 30 March 2006, there was a public meeting at Sable River Hall to get the community’s response to a suggestion that the Tom Tigney walking trail be converted to a multi use trail. There had been some vandalism that removed posts from the trail. Some walkers suggested that the packed snow was beneficial to ease of walking. The municipal recreation committee was considering the repair to be done and these suggestions. The meeting was convened with lots of experience to answer the questions raised. It was concluded that until there is assurance that safety, enforcement, maintenance and insurance issues could be adequately handled it would remain a walking trail. Proponents of multi use trails will have to prove their capability to deal with these issues on other trail systems before it is considered again here. I find it very disappointing that we let “yahoos” hinder a community from developing its recreational, business and tourism capacity. In order to responsibly develop our opportunities a new shared use trail association, called Woodland Multi Use Trail Association, has been started in Shelburne County. Dan Moody is President at 656-2221. If you would like to help in that trail development contact him or Rob Harlow at 656-2090.
While on that topic, new Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) regulations came into force on 1 April 2006. A summary booklet on those regulations for users and the public is expected to be available shortly. The OHV hotline is at 1-800-565-2224 to report violations and request enforcement. You can also call the Shelburne County Department of Natural Resources at 875-2501 and ask for Chris MacLean who is the local conservation officer with the Off-Highway Unit.
Finally, during the month of March the SRVFD started discussions with the municipality to determine which of their fire department needs the community was willing to support with an area fire rate. They will be assisted by the municipality to do a “needs assessment” and to examine the options, budget and financing as well as to provide the community with information and determine the wishes of the community. The municipality will only put in place an area tax rate when the use of the funds are clearly identified, minimized and accepted as the wishes of the area taxpayers. In the SRVFD area the Fire Chief will be informing you further.
You will find a litter collection bag for use in vehicles with this newsletter. Hopefully you or someone you know can use it to help leave our community as beautiful as it can be.
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 respectfully,
Sherm Embree,
Councillor, District seven,
Municipality of the District of Shelburn
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Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
9:00am to 4:30pm
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Address
136 Hammond St.
P.O. Box 280
Shelburne, NS
B0T 1W0
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Office Location
Main floor of the Municipal Administration Building,
136 Hammond Street, Shelburne, N.S. |
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Telephone
(902) 875-3544
(902) 875-3083
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Fax
(902) 875-1278 |
