May 23, 2017; Liverpool, NS: The Region of Queens Municipal Council approved a motion at the May 23, 2017 Regular Council meeting to provide support for the next steps in the community led local transit solution for Queens County. Next steps include Queens Care Society and the Transportation Working Group developing a Transit Business Plan and pre-pilot implementation, funded up to a maximum of $20,000 by the Department of Municipal Affairs and up to $6,500 from the Region of Queens Municipality.

“The Queens Care Society and the Transportation Working Group have worked hard to get to this stage, and have been successful in their application for funding through the province to move this exciting project forward,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The Municipality has been able to provide some staff support for this effort, and have funding allocated to help move to the next step. The Queens Care Society will be working with the community and seeking partnerships to ensure that the project fits the needs of residents.”

A consultant will be sought to work with the Working Group to refine the business case. The business case will define the parameters of the program and what equipment will be in place to fulfill the transit needs in the community. It is anticipated that the pre-pilot operation of the local transit system will begin in the fall and through the winter.

May 23, 2017; Liverpool, NS: Properties that the Region of Queens Municipality has determined are surplus to the needs of the Municipality will be put up for sale. At the May 23, 2017 Council meeting, Council approved a motion that would see nine properties listed in the real estate market.

“It is important to unlock development potential in Queens, and in putting these properties up for sale, there is an opportunity for commercial and residential development,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The properties were not utilized by the Municipality, and if they are sold will add to the Municipal tax base. Potentially, some of them may be developed to fulfill needs of community, such as housing or business development.”

Municipal staff conducted a systematic review of assets of the Region of Queens Municipality, with the intent to put underutilized properties on the market. Revenues from the sale of property and the resulting tax collection would contribute to advancing the priorities of the Municipality. Following the approval of the nine surplus properties, Council also approved a motion declaring the former Buckfield Community Hall surplus, and directing staff to begin the process of divesting that property.

A Commercial Realtor Services Request for Proposals was awarded to Turner Drake in June 2016; they will list the larger parcels that have subdivision opportunities. A short form Request for Proposal will be issued, and a local realtor will be selected to list the smaller properties. The nine properties have a total value of $158,900.

May 23, 2017; Liverpool, NS: A significant part of the history of Liverpool will be acknowledged through the renaming of a street. Council of the Region of Queens Municipality approved the renaming of Elm Street to Welder’s Way, a name suggested in a contest that the Municipality organized in March and April.

“Welder’s Way is a nice acknowledgement of the important role that that the ship repair and fabrication company Thompson Brothers and later Stenpro had on Liverpool over the years,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “Our economy and population was positively affected by the welders of Stenpro, and it seems appropriate and fitting to name a street located near the former site of the plant.”

The renaming of Elm Street came to Council following a complaint by the public regarding the presence of two Elm Streets in Region of Queens Municipality, including one in Brooklyn and one in Liverpool, which has caused confusion with couriers and potentially emergency response. Since the closure of a portion of Water Street, Elm Street was only accessible from one end, and has no street addresses, although it provides driveway access from it to two properties on Main Street.

Following further consideration of the matter, and specifically related to the fact that two properties on Main Street retain property (driveway) access from Elm Street, it had been determined that a better approach would be to simply rename the street instead of a full closure, which would create a scenario where the Region would still need to maintain the property as a street.

Twenty six submissions were received in a contest that asked residents of the Region of Queens to submit names to be considered. Region of Queens’ staff received the submissions, and removed names that were duplicate to existing streets, and also contacted individuals and the families of those whose names had been submitted for consent that their names be considered. Several names were removed at the request of individuals or the families of those nominated. Councillors ranked their preferences of the submitted names, and Welder’s Way received the top score. Welder’s way was the name nominated by Jane Dunlop-Stevenson of Liverpool, who noted in her submission, “Welder’s Way….as it headed to Stenpro where much welding was done. I think they contributed greatly behind the scenes working, raising families, and helping the economy of our area, for a very long time. Recognize the little guy.”

The final list of names brought forward for Council’s consideration is as follows:

Frank Bell Lane

Vivian Burke Lane

Clarke Drive

Farrell Road

Sid Ford Lane

Ron Lane

Ron Lane Avenue

John Leefe Lane

Leefe Street

Leefe Lane

Tim McDonald Road

Tim McDonald Lane

Perkins Lane

Perkins Street

Simeon Perkins Blvd.

Polly’s Lane

Sanford Street or Sanford Lane

Short Street

Arthur Sproul Sr. Street or A. Sproul Sr. Street or Sproul Street

Terrance Warrington Road

Welder’s Way

Armand Avenue

Municipal staff will submit the name change for the street to a central database registry, to ensure that all emergency services maps and other electronic mapping systems are updated with the new name. A sign denoting the new street name is being ordered and will be posted on its arrival in a few weeks.

“Thank you to all residents of Queens for their thoughtful submissions of names in the contest, and a special thank you to Jane Dunlop-Stevenson,” said Mayor Dagley. “The names brought forth showed a great deal of pride in our community, and pride in residents, current and historically, who have made positive impacts on Queens County.”

The Joint Municipal Accountability and Advisory Committee have recommended amendments to the Municipal Government Act designed to improve public accountability.

Legislative Requirements (MGA):
44 (1) The council shall annually appoint an audit committee.
(2) The responsibilities of the audit committee include
(a) a detailed review of the financial statements of the municipality with the auditor;
(b) an evaluation of internal control systems and any management letter with the auditor;
(c) a review of the conduct and adequacy of the audit;
(d) such matters arising out of the audit as may appear to the audit committee to require investigation;
(e) such other matters as may be determined by the council to be the duties of an audit committee;
(f) any other matters as may be determined by the council.
Recommended amendments:
(3) An audit committee shall meet at least twice in each fiscal year.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), an audit committee must include a minimum of one person who is not a member of council or an employee of the municipality.
(5) Where an audit committee does not include the person referred to in subsection (4),
(a) the audit committee shall continue to meet and perform its duties and may exercise its powers; and
(b) the municipality shall advertise to recruit a person who is not a member of council or an employee of the municipality at least once every six months until the requirement is met.

Region of Queens is seeking applicants for this volunteer position on the Audit Committee.

Preferred skills and qualifications:
• Education and experience as an accountant, auditor, financial officer, or a position involving similar functions;
• Experience overseeing or assessing the performance of organizations with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements and internal controls; Or,
• Other relevant experience.

Duration: Two year term

It is the desire of the Region to have this appointment in place prior to the presentation of the audited financial statements for 2016 /2017, which is anticipated to be before the end of September.

Please submit your application letter, outlining your skills and experience to info@regionofqueens.com or drop off at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool.

Deadline: June 9, 2017

Respectfully,

Richard MacLellan
Chief Administrative Officer

 

 

May 9, 2017; Liverpool, NS: During the May 9th Regular Council Meeting, Region of Queens Council voted to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with a large Canadian developer. The agreement will be entered into with Plaza Retail REIT for an 84,100 square foot parcel of serviced land at Queens Crossing in Liverpool.

“We are very pleased that this land is intended to be sold and developed as a retail location. Queens Crossing is prime retail real estate, very visible from the highway, and adjacent to the great programs, events, and services offered at Queens Place Emera Centre,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The lands at Queens Crossing have been marketed for several years, with the aim of attracting new commercial development to the area, contributing to the economic prosperity of the Region.”

Plaza Retail REIT owns and manages retail real estate in locations in Central Canada and the Atlantic provinces. The developer has interests in 297 companies, and approximately 90.7% of their properties are anchored by national companies as tenants, with 7.8 million square feet of retail space across Canada.   The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Purchase and sale agreement is due to be executed on or before May 12, 2017, with an anticipated closing date by early October, 2017. At the time of the closing of the sale of the property, details may be released.

May 9, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  At the Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Regular Council meeting, the Region of Queens Municipality Council approved a motion to accept an offer to purchase the 32 acres of property fronting on Barss St., Liverpool,  formerly known as the Nauss Brothers Lands.  The purchase and sale agreement will be with Kent Fields Estates Limited for a price of $55,000.00.

Kent Fields Estates Limited is a family owned residential property rental firm, based in Kentville, NS with developments in Queens County, and other areas of the South Shore.  The development will include the immediate construction of two eight-unit rental buildings.  Construction of future buildings on the property will progress as the market enables.

“We have seen the Whynot family development projects, both with the Quarterdeck rebuild and expansion, and the apartment complex in Bridgewater they recently constructed,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “We are pleased with the quality of work by Kent Fields, and are excited to attract this development to Queens.”

Terms and conditions of the purchase and sale agreement will be available following execution of the contract, and completion of all due diligence obligations.  These terms are expected to be completed by July 21, 2017.

May 9, 2017; Liverpool, NS:  Recommendations from the Joint Municipal Accountability and Transparency (JMAT) Committee will be adopted by the Region of Queens Municipality’s Council.  The Committee consists of representatives from the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, the Association of Municipal Administrators, and the Department of Municipal Affairs.

The purpose of the JMAT report was to ensure that mechanisms are in place to support the requirement of local government’s transparency and accountability to the public, strengthen expense  policies, increase transparency of local government staff and elected officials expenses to the public, improve audit function of said expenses, and effect amendments to the Municipal Government Act.

“Council embraces these recommendations as consistent to our priority of governing to best practices.  More openness and transparency is good government and is expected by our community” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality.

“Our current policies highly align with the committee recommendations.  While there will be some subtle policy changes which will come back to Council in due course, we will implement the direction immediately,” added CAO Richard MacLellan.

The expense reports for elected officials and Municipal staff are posted on the Region of Queens website to accompany the quarterly financial statements, as was released in 2015/2016; this information is posted in the Council & Mayor section www.regionofqueens.com/council-governance/council-mayor-for-cg.
The Region of Queens Audit Committee will see a change as a result of the recommendations in the JMAT report.  Currently, the Audit Committee is made up of all members of Council, as is standard practice across Nova Scotia.  A volunteer will be sought to fill the position of Independent member of the Audit Committee, as per the recommendations of the JMAT report.  This volunteer position will be advertised in near future, along with the skills required.  A new Terms of Reference for the modified Audit Committee will be developed.

The adoption of the recommendations of the JMAT report regarding transparency and accountability supports Council’s strategic priority of governing to the best Municipal practices.

There will be a Special meeting of Region of Queens Council held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in the Region’s Council Chambers, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool.  The purpose of this meeting is to deal with in-camera items under sections 22(2)a and 22(2)c of the Municipal Government Act.

April 25, 2017; Liverpool, NS: Trails work in Queens County will progress in 2017, advancing non-motorized and shared-use trails throughout the county. Laura Barkhouse, Regional Trails Coordinator, provided an update to the Region of Queens Council on behalf of three Trails organizations in Queens County.

The Brookfield Mines Trails Association, the Queens County Rails to Trails Association and the Queens County ATV Association have all worked closely with Barkhouse, as they move their projects forward. She indicated that recent ACOA funding announcement for the Brookfield Mines Trails Association will allow the group to achieve significant progress in their multi-use trail construction, taking the project from Caledonia to Colpton. The 18 kilometre stretch of trail will have signage, gates, and benches installed this year. The Gold Mines Trail project was also funded in 2016/2017 in the amount of $5,000 by the Region of Queens Municipality’s Facility Development Major Category grant.

The work of the Queens County Rails to Trails Association has been progressing, and currently they are managing and maintaining a trail system that connects Brooklyn to Lunenburg County, Port Mouton to Shelburne County, and Summerville Beach to Silver Rock Drive. At present, portions of the trail construction are being completed, and planning and partnerships are ongoing. There are plans underway to include the Trestle Trail and the Trestle Trail Bridge in the trail system of the Queens County Rails to Trails Association. At present, planning is ongoing. There is a preliminary assessment planned for this summer to assess the structure, and route planning for connectivity is also underway. Based on the results of the assessment, fundraising will begin to support the construction needs identified. The group is optimistic that repairs could be completed in 2018. Barkhouse noted that prior to construction, community consultation will be part of the process.

Managing and maintaining the trail north from Brooklyn is the responsibility of the Queens County ATV Association. Currently, they are finalizing construction on this section of trail, and have established relationships with the Nova Scotia Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and Environment. These partnerships are crucial in planning the further development of the trail system in Queens.
Shared use trails have significant impacts on communities, Barkhouse noted, citing examples such as increased opportunities for tourism and tourism businesses, jobs in rural areas to support trail users’ needs, enhanced recreational and leisure/quality of life for the community and visitors, spin off business for existing and developing businesses from trail building and maintenance, and others.

A well developed and maintained trails system is a benefit to a community. Barkhouse advised Council that the top searches for Queens County on the South Shore Connect website (southshoreconnect.ca), a website that provides information about recreation, leisure and services in communities on the South Shore, were primarily trails/walking routes related. Carter’s Beach, Thomas Raddall Provincial Park, Queens Place Emera Centre, Queens Rails to Trails Association, and the Trestle Trail being among most frequently searched topics.

April 25, 2017; Liverpool, NS: As the weather warms, more and more people are getting outside and are looking for ways to be active. The Region of Queens Recreation Department can help keep you moving, all year long!

At the April 25, 2017 Regular Council meeting, Diana Johnson, Municipal Physical Activity Coordinator, reviewed plans for expansions to the Recreation Department’s Physical Activity in Box program, as well as efforts the Recreation Department has undertaken to work with groups and individuals to offer physically active events and activities on the Liverpool waterfront this summer.

“Privateer Park and Centennial Park on the waterfront in Liverpool are wonderful assets in our community. We are fortunate to have large green spaces in the heart of Liverpool, and Council would like to see the waterfront parks be a vibrant hub of activity,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “It would be great to have events scheduled in the parks every weekend, all summer long. There are many groups in Queens who could help bring this vision to reality.”

Johnson has been making connections with groups and individuals to offer physically active opportunities, and advised Council that she would be pleased to discuss opportunities with more groups and individuals. She may be contacted at the Region of Queens Recreation Department to discuss having an event. One time or recurring events such as volleyball, washer toss, frisbee, and others would be welcomed, but people are needed to organize and move them forward.

The Physical Activity in a Box loan program has been well used, and Johnson’s plans to expand the equipment available will provide many warm weather opportunities for fun. The Recreation Department will add Twister, giant Jenga, large format checkers, washer toss, tick tac toe, installation of a volleyball net, and an array of sports balls, such as footballs, volleyball, soccer balls, etc.

The Physical Activity in a Box program was one of the first actions of the Region of Queens Physical Activity Strategy developed in 2010, and was put in place to encourage active opportunities for all at no cost. Since 2010, each year the Recreation Department has added to the program, which has both warm weather and cold weather equipment. Ladder golf, parachute games, flag football, a gps for geocaching, and Nordic walking poles are warm weather items, and igloo making kits and snowshoes in a variety of sizes are cold weather items; all are available to borrow for a fully refundable deposit.

For more information about the Physical Activity in a Box items, or to contact Diana Johnson regarding offering physically active programs or events in the waterfront parks, please contact the Recreation Department at 902-354-5741.

LEAF AND YARD WASTE PICK-UP

May 1 to May 5, 2017

and

May 8 to May 12, 2017

This year’s LEAF AND YARD WASTE roadside pick-up will be held during the weeks of May 1 to May 5, 2017 and May 8 to May 12, 2017 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 Management

902-354-3455

April 11, 2017; Liverpool, NS: Mobile food trucks will have access to a centralized location, reasonable fees and access to electrical service under an updated vending bylaw in the Region of Queens Municipality. At the Region of Queens Regular Council meeting on April 11, 2017, Council approved the first reading of Bylaw No. 16 – A Bylaw Respecting Vending, along with the installation of an electrical panel on the former Legion property on the Liverpool waterfront, which will be available for use by food truck vendors, as well as other activities and events on the waterfront. Bylaw No. 16’s updates will take effect following the second reading, scheduled for May 8, 2017.

Originally presented at the March 21, 2017 Committee of the Whole meeting, at that time Council had a number of comments, questions and concerns that were requested to be considered by staff when formulating a final version of the bylaw. Consultation with vendors and fixed roof food establishments in the Liverpool’s downtown area has resulted in modifications to the bylaw that are reflective of the options and input they provided, as well as the feedback from Councillors. It has been proposed that mobile food truck vendors wishing to sell in the downtown of Liverpool only will be situated in a central location on the Liverpool waterfront between Privateer Park and Centennial Park, known locally as the former site of the Legion. The mobile food truck vendors will have access to electrical service, if they desire, reducing noise from generators and their overhead costs.

Vending fees have also been adjusted to be more in line with those of other municipal units, with consideration made for festivals and events ($50 with a list of all vendors authorized to sell under their permit during the festival); vending licenses on a weekly ($25), monthly ($75) or annual ($150) basis; mobile canteen with electrical hookup ($100/month or $200/year); and an annual fee for a group of vendors ($200). Nonprofit groups and students who retain all profits from their sales are exempt from the fees when applying for a permit. Vendors and Mobile food truck vendors may vend between 6:30 a.m., and 11:30 p.m. daily. Vending permits may be issued at any point during the year, and expire on March 31 each year. The vending bylaw applies to vending on Municipal property only.

Overall, the updates to the vending bylaw should help improve the visitor and local experience on the Liverpool waterfront, while providing balance in responding to the needs of the mobile food trucks and the year round restaurant operators.