Region of Queens Municipality
Region of Queens Municipality
February 7, 2021, 8:00pm: Region of Queens Municipality’s Administration Office and Queens Place Emera Centre will be closed on Monday, February 8, due to adverse weather conditions, and the safety of our residents and staff.
Feb. 7, 2021, 2:30 pm: Please note that waste collection scheduled for Monday, February 8, 2021 will be postponed to to the winter storm forecast. Waste collection has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Please have waste placed curb-side by 8 am.
Update, January 20, 2021, 8:45 a.m.: Mayor Norman has recorded a video message regarding painted rocks at Pine Grove Park. Effective today, placing of painted rocks may resume at Pine Grove park, however, all other materials and items nailed to trees will be removed as found moving forward.
January 19, 2021: Over the past year, an increasing number of decorative items have been brought into Pine Grove Park by members of the public. While some consider these items an added feature of the park, others feel they detract from the pristine natural setting. While we appreciated the time and creativity of people,Municipal staff today removed the items.
Pine Grove Park is a Municipal park and trail system used by thousands of people each year. The Municipality feels it is important to maintain the natural integrity of the park and ensure it remains a pristine natural site for people to enjoy for many years to come.
We encourage you to continue to visit Pine Grove Park, and while you are there, remember to take only photographs, make only memories and leave no trace.
There will be a Special meeting of Region of Queens Council held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Region’s Council Chambers, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool. The purpose of this meeting is to deal with an in-camera item under section 22(c) of the Municipal Government Act. An agenda has been posted on this website.
January 12, 2021; Liverpool, NS: Region of Queens Council has appointed Adam Grant, P. Eng., as the Municipality’s new Director of Engineering and Public Works, effective immediately, at the January 12, 2021 Regular Council meeting. Grant had been working in the position in an acting capacity since the retirement of the previous Director, Brad Rowter, in December 2020. Hired in 2007 as Assistant Director of Engineering and Public Works, Grant has a strong comprehension of Municipal infrastructure, management experience working with multi-disciplined teams, and has led complex capital works projects in Queens.
“We are pleased to have Adam take on this important role with Region of Queens Municipality. With 14 years’ experience as an Engineer with the Municipality, we are confident Adam can lead the Municipality in our continued growth and continue to advance important infrastructure projects,” said Darlene Norman, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality.
As Director of Engineering & Public Works, Grant will be responsible for overseeing the management, maintenance and development of municipal infrastructure two sewer systems, water system, Queens Solid Waste Management Facility and Materials Recovery Facility, streets in Liverpool, parks and green spaces throughout Queens County, as well as the operational components of Queens Place Emera Centre.
December 22, 2020, Liverpool, NS: From parks to parking, from waste management to water treatment, and from residential care to recreational activities, Region of Queens Municipality’s skilled workforce maintains many areas important to the lives of Queens County residents and visitors. Milestone achievements were recognized with Years of Service Awards at the Region of Queens Municipality’s December 22, 2020 Regular Council meeting.
“Council is proud to recognize these milestones in the careers of staff, and celebrate the skills, commitment and high level of customer service they provide to the Municipality,” said Mayor Darlene Norman. “Region of Queens Municipality has a workforce who takes great pride in what they do, and show their commitment to public service. All of these employees are positive ambassadors of Council and the Region of Queens, and are much appreciated and respected by Council and the residents of the Region.”
Twenty employees were recognized for five, 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of service; those employees represent 265 years of employment cumulatively. Staff who have reached five years of employment include Steve Kennedy, John Nickerson, and Christine Watson. Ten year milestones were reached by Samantha Frail, Rachel Joudrey, KayLee Oickle, James Rhyno, Eugene Wamboldt, Phillip Whynot, and Larry D. Whynot. Those with 15 years of employment are Tracy Baker, Melvin Carver, Jeff Cunningham, Fred Murphy, Steve Parnell, and Randy Rapp. David Henderson, Scott LeBlanc, and Paulette Smith were recognized for 20 years of work, and with a career
of 30 years so far, Jane Lawson, was given her award.
The operations and services provided by the Region of Queens are diverse, and include departments of Planning, Recreation & Healthy Communities, Finance, Economic Development, and Engineering & Public Works, as well as parks and playgrounds, Queens Place Emera Centre, the Municipal landfill and recycling facility, water treatment facility, sewage treatment facility, and Hillsview Acres Residential Care Facility. Service Awards are presented each year in December to staff as they achieve 5 year milestone increments. Years of service for staff employed by either the former Municipality of Queens or former Town of Liverpool prior to the amalgamation are carried forward and added to their employment with the Region of Queens Municipality.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020: In anticipation of the pending snow storm forecasted to impact the South Shore on Thursday, December 17, 2020, Region of Queens Municipality’s Administration Office and Queens Place Emera Centre will be closed on Thursday, and will re-open on Friday, December 18, 2020. The closure is in effect to ensure staff and citizens remain safe at home and not on roadways in potentially dangerous driving conditions. In the event the storm track shifts and the weather system misses Queens County, the closure may be reevaluated, and updates will be posted on the Municipal website (https://www.regionofqueens.com/emergency-measures/current-developing-situations ), and on the municipal Facebook and Twitter pages. For local updates, please check local radio stations, and for information on the Special Weather Statement issued by Environment Canada, please visit: https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?ns4#51253783232200992202012150506ws1171cwhx
Region of Queens Municipality’s staff maintain public roadways within Liverpool, and Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) maintain all other roadways in Queens County. Preparation for a winter storm begins before the storm starts and continues during and after the storm concludes. Please be patient, as there are many roads to clear which can take time. The map in this link provides users with expected timelines for snow removal for specific TIR maintained roadways: https://nstir.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4fcd5ff2377f41168e80ecb106a6df09
If you live outside of Liverpool you can track the snow plow progress in real time on the Plow Tracker website – https://novascotia.ca/tran/winter/plowtracker.asp?wbdisable=true
To see the Provincial winter maintenance standards refer to this poster: https://novascotia.ca/tran/winter/WinterMaintenanceStandards.pdf
In the event the storm causes power outages, call the Nova Scotia Power outage line to report outages at 1-877-428-6004, follow Nova Scotia Power’s twitter account at @nspowerinc or follow their live outage map on their website at www.nspower.ca.
It is always wise to be prepared, and to have an emergency kit on hand in the event of an emergency. Be prepared – make sure you your emergency kit prepared with food, water and supplies to help you shelter in place and be self-sufficient for 72 hours in case of a power outage, or other effects of a storm. This link has a good example of what you could put in your emergency kit: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/bsc-kt-en.aspx
On December 6, 2020, flags at Queens Place Emera Centre and Region of Queens Municipality’s Administration building will be flown at half mast in observance of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, as noted in Region of Queens Municipality’s Operational Policy #84: Flag Flying.
It is now 31 years since the mass shooting in which 14 young women were killed and 13 other people were injured at École Polytechnique in Montreal. An armed man separated the women from the men in a classroom and murdered them because they were women.
In 1991, the Parliament of Canada declared December 6 to be a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On December 6, people across Canada remember the young women who died that day. Their names were Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colga, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, police services, shelters, and community organizations across Canada have reported a marked increase in calls related to gender-based violence throughout the pandemic.
On National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women take a moment to remember those who have experienced gender-based violence and those lost as a result of it. We can help prevent and address gender-based violence by remembering and learning from our past, listening to survivors, and speaking up against harmful behaviour.
Learn more here: https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/vaw-vff/remembrance-commemoration-en.html
#WeRemember
Region of Queens Municipality provides free customer parking at its parking meters for your convenience during the holiday season.
Please remember that parking is still enforced in timed parking lots, spaces designated for handicapped persons without the proper permit, and in no parking areas. All of these areas are clearly signed.
Happy Holidays!
November 24, 2020; Liverpool, NS: Provincial funds received by Region of Queens Municipality will benefit local public transit organization Queens County Transit. At the November 24, 2020 Regular Council meeting, Region of Queens Municipal Council approved a motion to transfer $25,674 to Queens County Transit as required by Nova Scotia Safe Re-Start Agreement for municipalities.
“The effects of the pandemic have been felt here in Queens and across the province, and we are grateful to Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (DMAH) for the funding Region of Queens Municipality has received. Queens County Transit has been a valued service for many of our residents, providing deliveries of needed supplies during business closures, and a safe method of transport to appointments and shopping once restrictions were lifted,” said Darlene Norman, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality.
DMAH recently announced that they would provide funding to all municipalities in Nova Scotia through its provincial Safe re-Start Agreement funding, which it received from the federal government. The allocation for Region of Queens Municipality was $590,735, with the intent of the funding to help municipalities bridge the COVID-19 lockdown of many municipal operations and services. Region of Queens Municipality’s largest financial loss was at Queens Place Emera Centre, with a projected financial loss of an estimated $300,000 in non budgeted revenue, as of the end of summer.
In addition to the $25,674 provided to local transit as mandated by DMHA, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) and Association of Municipal Administrators (AMANS) will receive money from Queens. These two groups have been advocating for municipal units across Nova Scotia at the provincial and federal level for funding support to help mitigate the costs and lost revenues resulting from the pandemic. AMANS and NSFM have sent a letter of request to each municipality in Nova Scotia, requesting a small portion of the funds to help them remain solvent in these trying times. The amount requested and approved by Region of Queens’ Council was $2,020.15, to be equally divided between the two organizations.
The remaining $563,016 received from the Safe Re-Start program will be used by the Municipality to balance an expected deficit in its 2020/2021 annual operating budget, mainly due to loss revenue from Queens Place Emera Centre and other pandemic related revenue shortfalls and increased operating expenses related to COVID-19.
October 29, 2020; Liverpool, NS: The seventh Council of the Region of Queens Municipality officially took office at a swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, October 29, 2020. The Swearing in ceremony is part of the first Council meeting of the newly elected Council, and once they have taken the oath of office, they become members of the Region of Queens Municipality’s Council.
Darlene Norman was sworn in as the Region of Queens Municipality’s seventh Mayor, along with councillors in seven districts during the ceremony. The 2020 – 2024 Council includes Mayor Darlene Norman, District 1 Councillor Kevin Muise, District 2 Councillor Ralph Gidney, District 3 Councillor Maddie Charlton, District 4 Councillor Vicki Amirault, District 5 Councillor Jack Fancy, District 6 Councillor David Brown, and District 7 Councillor Carl Hawkes.
Following the swearing in of the Council members, the first order of business approved by Council was the election of the Deputy Mayor. Councillor Muise, District 1, and Councillor Fancy, District 5, were nominated by their peers, and Councillor Muise was elected by a majority vote to be Deputy Mayor. The term of office for Deputy Mayor is two years, starting immediately and expiring on October 31, 2022, at which time, Council will take nominations for the position to serve in the position through to the end of their term in 2024.
History was made for Region of Queens Municipality for many reasons during the Swearing in ceremony. It was the first time in Region of Queens Municipality’s 24 year history that the Oath of Office was taken by a person under the age of 30. Councillor Maddie Charlton has that distinction. Secondly, it was the first time for the Municipality that the Council Oath of Office was taken by three females at one swearing-in ceremony. Thirdly, the Mayor’s Oath of Office was taken for the first time by a female member of Region of Queens Municipality. Her photograph will join the wall of photographs on display in Council Chamber which features every Mayor and Warden from the former Town of Liverpool, Municipality of the County of Queens, and Region of Queens Municipality. The fourth historic first is that Mayor Norman is the first female person in the history of Queens County dating back to 1879, or 141 years ago, to be installed as its Mayor, and her presence on that wall will forever be a reminder to young girls in the future that she was a trailblazer, and they can be too.
In adherence to Public Health protocols for COVID-19, attendance at the Special Council meeting was limited to members of Council and their family members. It was live-streamed on the Municipality’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages to enable the public to be a part of this occasion which marked the beginning of the four year term of the seventh Council for Region of Queens Municipality.
2020-2-24 Region of Queens Municipal Council
Front row: Councillor Maddie Charlton – District 3, Mayor Darlene Norman, Councillor Vicki Amirault – District 4
Back Row: Councillor Ralph Gidney – District 2, Councillor Carl Hawkes – District 7, Councillor David Brown – District 6, Deputy Mayor Kevin Muise – District 1, Councillor Jack Fancy – District 5
Mayor Darlene Norman
Deputy Mayor Kevin Muise
LEAF AND YARD WASTE PICK-UP
November 2 to November 6, 2020
and
November 9 to November 13, 2020
This year’s LEAF AND YARD WASTE roadside pick-up will be held during the weeks of November 2 to November 6, 2020 and November 9 to November 13, 2020 on your regular collection day.
The materials acceptable for pick-up shall include leaves, grass trimmings, and yard waste placed in clear or orange plastic bags. (No plastics, cigarette packages, cups, etc.) Branches and limbs will be accepted if individual branches do not exceed 7 cm. (2.5 inches) in diameter. These should be tied in bundles no longer than 1.2 m. (4 feet) and 20 m. (8 inches) in diameter.
Scott LeBlanc
Solid Waste Clerk/Safety Officer
902-354-3455
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