1
00:01:17,119 --> 00:01:25,600
Good morning everyone.
Welcome to council session for March 23,

2
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:31,280
2026.
I'd like to call this meeting to order.

3
00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:37,840
Uh councelor Patterson has sent his
regrets. uh he will not be joining us

4
00:01:34,079 --> 00:01:42,560
today and I just
all council is with him at this our

5
00:01:41,119 --> 00:01:46,159
thoughts and prayers are with him during
this difficult time for him and his

6
00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:53,399
family.
Can I get

7
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:53,399
approval for the agenda please?

8
00:01:53,600 --> 00:02:00,079
It's moved by councelor Mat Lefort
second by councelor Donovan. All in

9
00:01:58,479 --> 00:02:06,479
favor?
Motion carried.

10
00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:11,200
Okay, before we start with the agenda, I
Warden would like to recognize that

11
00:02:08,239 --> 00:02:15,280
March 21st, 2026 was International Day
for elimination of racial

12
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:19,920
discrimination. It is a day to reaffirm
our commitment to confronting and

13
00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:26,400
dismantling systemic racism and
promoting inclusivity.

14
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:32,640
I also have a proclamation for autism
acceptance month for April. Whereas it

15
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:37,120
is estimated that one in 66 people
across the county are autistic or have

16
00:02:34,959 --> 00:02:44,000
autism and one in 32 people
approximately 30,000 individuals in Nova

17
00:02:40,239 --> 00:02:49,120
Scotia are autistic or have autism. And
whereas many dedicated autistic

18
00:02:46,239 --> 00:02:52,720
individual people with autism, parents,
teachers, researchers, and

19
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:57,519
professionals, including those at Autism
Nova Scotia and their community-based

20
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:02,159
organizations, work tirelessly
throughout our province to make the

21
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:07,040
committees or sorry, communities where
we live accessible and inclusive for

22
00:03:04,159 --> 00:03:13,680
autistic individuals with autism and
their loved ones. And whereas with 11 no

23
00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:18,800
locations throughout the province and
with the support of autism community,

24
00:03:16,319 --> 00:03:24,480
Autism Nova Scotia builds understanding,
acceptance, and inclusion for autistic

25
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:28,800
individuals on the autism spectrum and
for their families through leadership

26
00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:34,959
and advocacy, education, training, and
programming across the lifespan. And

27
00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:40,560
whereas this month of April marks Autism
Acceptance Month and Tuesday, April 2nd

28
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:45,120
marked the World Autism Acceptance Day
when people across the globe come

29
00:03:42,319 --> 00:03:50,560
together as a community to celebrate
autism and promote acceptance and

30
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:55,120
inclusion. Therefore, be it resolved
that I, Warden, Oregon, on behalf of the

31
00:03:52,720 --> 00:04:01,439
County of Victoria, do hereby proclaim
April 2026 as autism acceptance month

32
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:06,720
throughout the county of Victoria and
encourage all our residents and visitors

33
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:11,760
to recognize the autistic individuals,
people with autism, family members,

34
00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:16,079
caregivers, educators, and other
professionals who strive to make Nova

35
00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:20,519
Scotia an inclusive and accessible place
for us to all call home.

36
00:04:20,799 --> 00:04:31,520
Also,
a proclamation for National Volunteer

37
00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:37,199
Week, April 19th says 2026 2026.
Whereas, a sense of caring and the

38
00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:41,840
desire to share have motivated thousands
of Nova Scotians of all ages to

39
00:04:39,759 --> 00:04:47,199
volunteer their time and services to the
needs of others in in our communities.

40
00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:53,040
Whether it be by helping the sick, the
needy, the disabled, children, students

41
00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:57,759
or elderly, by enriching their lives of
all through the arts, recreation and

42
00:04:55,759 --> 00:05:03,199
cultural activities or by serving on
boards and committees. And whereas

43
00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:08,240
volunteer action is powerful force for
the solution of problems. And whereas

44
00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:13,280
volunteers are increasingly recognized
as their important as an important

45
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:19,199
partner with government and industry in
providing services to citizens. And

46
00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:24,000
whereas anyone can be a volunteer and
reap the rich rewards that come from

47
00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:29,759
doing for others while improving one's
own skills and widening one's horizons.

48
00:05:27,199 --> 00:05:34,160
And whereas volunteering offers all Nova
Scotians, young and old, the opportunity

49
00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:37,600
to participate in the life of their
community and to link their talents and

50
00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:42,400
resources
to address some of the major issues

51
00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:47,600
facing our communities. And whereas it
is all fitting that for all Nova

52
00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:51,919
Scotians to join and celebrate of our
rich volunteer heritage and to give

53
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:57,039
special recognition to the dedication
dedicated volunteers and volunteering

54
00:05:53,759 --> 00:06:02,160
groups which contribute immers
immemorously to communities throughout

55
00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:06,479
the province. Therefore, I, Warden, on
behalf of Victoria County Council, in

56
00:06:04,479 --> 00:06:13,360
recognition with the splendid efforts of
all volunteers, do hereby designate the

57
00:06:09,919 --> 00:06:19,319
week of April 19th to the 26th, 2026 as
volunteer

58
00:06:15,039 --> 00:06:19,319
week in the county of Victoria.

59
00:06:22,639 --> 00:06:33,479
Okay, now we'll get back to our agenda.
Can I get approval of the minutes uh for

60
00:06:29,919 --> 00:06:33,479
February 2023?

61
00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:43,840
It's moved by councelor Bourne. I'm
going to get a second.

62
00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:49,039
Second by councelor Hen. All in favor?
Motion carried. Now we'll get to our

63
00:06:46,479 --> 00:06:54,520
presentations.
Uh, Victoria County Home Support,

64
00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,520
Northwood,

65
00:06:56,479 --> 00:07:05,199
Miss Ripley and Mlan.
Um, you know the drill. We have 20

66
00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:10,639
minutes and
we'll go around the table. I I think

67
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:16,240
we'll we'll start introducing
uh right here with counselor Mat Lord.

68
00:07:13,919 --> 00:07:20,000
Good morning and welcome. Glad we didn't
get the snow today so we could actually

69
00:07:17,599 --> 00:07:24,479
be here today for presentations. Uh my
name is Donna Matis Leford and I'm in

70
00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:28,080
district one which is Wadmakook Washabug
Peninsula and Buckla. Thank you for

71
00:07:26,319 --> 00:07:34,639
coming today.
>> Good morning. Uh Mloud uh welcome

72
00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:41,039
district 2 big middle river inlet Nansa
and M River. Yep.

73
00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:44,720
» Welcome. Great to see you here today.
And although you already know me, I will

74
00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:51,440
say that my name is Rossella Bourne and
I am in district 4 and that would be

75
00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:57,960
part of Bedc Bay Road, English Town, Big
Harbor, St. Ans, and up to the base of

76
00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,960
uh Smokeoky. Welcome.

77
00:07:58,479 --> 00:08:06,000
» Morning. Welcome. Uh I'm Tim Donovan,
counselor for district 6, which is uh

78
00:08:03,759 --> 00:08:09,000
from the sum of the Smokeoky to Doring
Ganesh.

79
00:08:09,919 --> 00:08:15,360
» Good morning. Uh my name is Wanda Henik.
I'm in district 8 which would be

80
00:08:13,199 --> 00:08:19,599
Dingwall Cape North at Lawrence up to
Capstick. Welcome

81
00:08:17,919 --> 00:08:25,039
and good morning. I'm Jackie Organ. I'm
from district 7 between these two fine

82
00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:28,039
counselors here. So go ahead with your
presentation.

83
00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:07,720
It's on. Oh, can you hear me now?
Yeah.

84
00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:16,399
So, I support both the home care
agencies for Antiggones and Victoria

85
00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:20,480
County. And so we're here just to kind
of give you a little bit of an update as

86
00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:24,279
well as our community connections um
programming as well.

87
00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:43,600
Perfect. Thank you. And so now there's
been since I started uh prior to that

88
00:09:41,279 --> 00:09:46,800
there was a management agreement with
Northwood and they were providing some

89
00:09:44,959 --> 00:09:53,040
oversight and accountabilities for the
agencies. As of January 1st we are now

90
00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:59,279
formally under the Northwood umbrella.
And so that's for all employees um and

91
00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:03,440
the management functions, financial
accountability, recruitment, all of

92
00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:08,320
those pieces. And so I've included on
this slide both uh just a bit about the

93
00:10:05,519 --> 00:10:13,519
Victoria County and the Antiggonia area.
So for our specific area, we have about

94
00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:20,240
17 home support workers and we provided
1,800 hours of support during um

95
00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:26,720
approximately each month to about uh 100
to 120 clients. We also offer services

96
00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:30,480
around meals plus and cluster care. And
then just for comparison, our oversight

97
00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:37,040
now includes anti Ganesh where we have
37 home support workers and provide um

98
00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:44,600
approximately 2700 hours per month to
over 240 240 clients.

99
00:10:41,279 --> 00:10:44,600
And so

100
00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:54,680
the button is not working.

101
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:06,440
Yeah, that's what it is.
>> That side. Okay. Pardon me.

102
00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:15,120
So, just to share with you a little bit
about Northwood and so because these

103
00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:20,240
values really closely align with
Victoria County and so everyone has a

104
00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:24,160
play plays a part. People come first. We
promote social justice and we do that

105
00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:28,480
through um part of our community
connections program as well within

106
00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:33,360
Halifax. We have um some supportive
housing for unhoused clients in the

107
00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:39,200
community and um some programming to
support um those with mental health and

108
00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:43,200
addictions within those environments. We
are all accountable and we can always do

109
00:11:41,279 --> 00:11:48,160
better. And so I share this with you
because I've found these to be uh

110
00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:51,920
Northwood to really live by their values
in the organization. Just want to share

111
00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:56,720
that with you for local context given
that your shift has gone from heavy

112
00:11:54,160 --> 00:12:00,959
local governance to a provincial or
nonfor-profit organizational structure

113
00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:05,600
and it's really important for me that we
maintain these values as we move forward

114
00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:11,440
with Victoria County. And so within this
new structure like our board that was

115
00:12:07,519 --> 00:12:15,440
local has dissolved and so now we are
there we go um looking towards a

116
00:12:13,839 --> 00:12:21,279
community advisory committee. So we
still have the local input from the

117
00:12:17,839 --> 00:12:25,920
ground into our program areas. And so
our first meeting was scheduled for this

118
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:31,200
afternoon. Uh it's now delayed for two
weeks um just because we had some

119
00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:35,440
declinations and um couldn't get
everybody in the room at the same time.

120
00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:42,880
And so really this is where we're going
to work with our our community members

121
00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:47,600
right from Bay St. Lawrence through to I
think we have someone from Iona. Yes.

122
00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:51,519
Um right across the district. So we're
very happy that we have representation

123
00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:56,959
in our five members. We were looking for
around eight members and really we will

124
00:12:54,480 --> 00:13:01,680
look to them to provide advice on our
service delivery and our practices and

125
00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:06,000
help to identify what are the gaps in
community and trends that we can bring

126
00:13:03,839 --> 00:13:11,200
to the table and consider for our
overarching strategic plans and goals.

127
00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:16,079
and then really to foster that open
communication between Northwood and our

128
00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:19,680
community partners.
And then ultimately to support community

129
00:13:17,839 --> 00:13:26,000
engagement and awareness, which really
fits within our Accreditation Canada um

130
00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:31,160
standards for for involving community in
our practices and um policies.

131
00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:38,000
So this is next couple of slides are
really just a reminder about what we do

132
00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:42,240
in the community from the personal
support worker lens. And so really we're

133
00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:47,040
looking to assist people to stay in
their homes as long as they can with

134
00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:51,760
dignity and quality care. So this could
be, you know, their personal care and

135
00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:58,720
mobility, meal prep and advanced meal
prep, um lighthousekeeping and respit

136
00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:03,040
care. And a lot of our home support
workers have been with us for a number

137
00:14:00,079 --> 00:14:07,920
of years. The newer class of CCAs coming
through have an expanded skill set and

138
00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:13,600
scope. And so we're looking to embed
those skills into our current population

139
00:14:10,959 --> 00:14:19,600
of home support workers. And so what I
mean by that is that we'll be looking to

140
00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:24,639
ensure that all of our staff are kind of
brought up to speed on their scope

141
00:14:22,399 --> 00:14:30,000
around administering medication,
applying medicated creams and ointments,

142
00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:34,560
assisting with um opening the medication
and and delivering it. In the past, that

143
00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:38,800
was an was not a normal practice. They
weren't allowed to do that unless it was

144
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:42,160
authorized.
uh doing their vitals so we can support

145
00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:47,360
measuring the blood pressure, their
temperature, blood oxygen levels, um

146
00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:51,120
pulse and respirations. And then with
the activities of daily living, this

147
00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:55,600
will be a a bit of a newer scope for our
team in Victoria County is around the

148
00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:59,519
nail care, nail trimming, filing for our
stable and predictable clients and then

149
00:14:58,079 --> 00:15:02,519
they can support collection of
specimens.

150
00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:10,079
And so what we can expect within our
county is we need to provide the

151
00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:14,560
refresher training and the goal was to
have it completed by um the first of

152
00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:18,959
this year. However, just with some of
the transition pieces and we have a

153
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:24,480
little bit of a staff shortage right now
that we're looking to to put this into

154
00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:28,480
practice between May and September will
be our goal. So that that just means

155
00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:34,399
that we need to have someone come from
Halifax to provide that training um to

156
00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:40,160
our CCA population. And then for clients
that we have already with us, if our

157
00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:45,040
CCAs identify a need for a new service
to be provided to the client, that

158
00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:48,959
request will go to our supervisor who
will assess the situation and then

159
00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:52,560
receive authorization from continuing
care just to make sure we're billing

160
00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:56,480
appropriately.
And so for any new clients, that can

161
00:15:54,800 --> 00:16:00,399
already be done once we have our CCA
standardization in place. then the

162
00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:04,720
continuing care could just include it as
part of the new service plans coming

163
00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:10,240
forward. And so we're looking to really
kind of build on our our tools that we

164
00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:13,480
provide again to support quality care in
the home.

165
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:19,920
In terms of um I'm not quite sure what's
been presented at this table in the past

166
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:24,399
around the roles between continuing care
and the agency, but really the

167
00:16:21,839 --> 00:16:28,320
continuing care drives the service plan.
They did the assessment using a

168
00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:32,079
standardized tool. They authorize
services and they coordinate with the

169
00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:37,839
Department of Seniors long-term care and
and partners around the uh funding and

170
00:16:35,519 --> 00:16:43,759
provision of services on our side. We
take those plans and we enact them and

171
00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:49,959
and put them into place given our our
human resource availability and the

172
00:16:45,759 --> 00:16:49,959
scheduled hours that we have available.

173
00:16:53,440 --> 00:17:02,240
And so what's coming up for us really in
this year? Uh there's a lot of system

174
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:07,199
changes which delays some of the ability
to to do the CCIA standardization

175
00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:12,160
earlier than we'd like. We are now
switching to a new software. So as of

176
00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:16,480
April 27th, the software that the teams
are using for cure is is no longer being

177
00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:24,319
supported anywhere. And so we're moving
to Alli Care and the training starts in

178
00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:29,520
the next um the next month. Uh we have a
tentative agreement on the union

179
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:32,160
contract. So that is underway as well.
And then we're really looking at

180
00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:36,480
scheduling workflows. I'm sure that
you've heard within the community that

181
00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:41,760
we've had a lot of more canceled visits
as of late with a couple of unexpected

182
00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:48,320
staff shortages. And so with that comes
the opportunity. We're hiring a new

183
00:17:43,919 --> 00:17:51,440
full-time scheduler. And um they'll so
between Anti Ganesha, Victoria County,

184
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:57,840
we'll have a scheduling model that
supports 7-day a week coverage and

185
00:17:54,559 --> 00:18:02,480
holiday coverage. So that um across the
two counties and um with that also comes

186
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:08,559
the opportunity to ensure that they have
the proper training and supports and are

187
00:18:05,679 --> 00:18:11,919
really working to common workflows and
practices. Whereas right now they're

188
00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:16,000
everyone's was trained at a different
time under different governance

189
00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:21,840
structures and um they're doing the best
they can with what they have but there's

190
00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:26,240
lots of opportunity for improvement.
And then with education priorities I

191
00:18:23,919 --> 00:18:30,559
mentioned CCA standardization.
We need to look at safe client handling

192
00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:34,320
as well as crisis intervention. or
finding some mental health issues with

193
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:38,640
our senior population that comes to our
CCAs and um we just want to be able to

194
00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:41,919
ensure that they have more tools in
their toolkit to better support the

195
00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:45,600
client as well as their own mental
health.

196
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:52,720
For recruitment, we're looking to hire
more CCAs. Um we have a couple of of

197
00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:56,720
interviews next week. Oh no, it's this
week, pardon me, for the north area,

198
00:18:54,720 --> 00:19:02,720
Bedak area. we really need to get some
more CCAs here. And so we have some ads

199
00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:06,880
posted and um through the universities
and the regular recruitment channels and

200
00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:12,160
then again I mentioned the staffing
officer and so all of these within the

201
00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:16,480
context of our values again listed on
the on the bottom there that we really

202
00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:19,919
want to do better. We are accountable
and we're looking for process

203
00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:23,919
improvements and team building so that
everyone we're sharing a common goal

204
00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:28,280
sesh and working towards the best
practice we can within our communities.

205
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:35,600
Now it's my turn. Thank you uh Laurian.
That's a lot of as you've heard really

206
00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:39,120
exciting things that are happening under
the the home care side of the agency now

207
00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:43,760
that we're part of Northwood Victoria
County. One thing I'm really happy to

208
00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:48,080
share is that um the community
connections program which was launched

209
00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:52,320
here and was unique to Victoria County
because of this integration now gets to

210
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:55,840
be expanded to Annie Ganesh. So the best
practices that not only council

211
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:59,760
supported in the past but the rest of
Victoria County has supported will be

212
00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:03,679
shared with other counties for the
benefit of all which is in my opinion

213
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:09,200
very exciting. So thank you for your
past support. Um, as you know that in

214
00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:13,120
addition to the home care services, we
also offer community services. So, when

215
00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:16,720
you get to come by the office and see
our new sign and it says home and

216
00:20:14,559 --> 00:20:20,720
community care, it really gives a sense
that not only are we offering the

217
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:24,960
clinical um services that Laurianne went
over, but we are working to continue to

218
00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:28,400
address the community needs. Our
community programs are not only

219
00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:33,280
available to clients, they are available
to anyone in the county over the age of

220
00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:36,720
55. But I want to stress as well as with
home care, these are supplemental

221
00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:41,039
programs. So they're not intended to be
a complete fix, but they are intended to

222
00:20:38,799 --> 00:20:45,440
be a bit of a safety net as we're able
to. So some of our ongoing programs that

223
00:20:43,679 --> 00:20:50,480
were able to continue because they are
self- sustaining is the meals plus

224
00:20:47,679 --> 00:20:54,159
program for clients that is continuing.
Our community cupboard is continuing

225
00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:59,039
with our partnerships from the north of
Smoky Food Bank as well as the helping

226
00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:03,360
hand south of Smokeoky Food Bank. Um and
we have four locations for that

227
00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:08,799
community cupboard. Um we are also able
to continue our volunteer supports, our

228
00:21:05,919 --> 00:21:12,640
navigation services, our recreation loan
program, again courtesy of the

229
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:17,360
municipality, and our send support loan
program which focuses on dementia

230
00:21:15,039 --> 00:21:22,240
friendly um items and also items for
loneliness like our companion pets. So

231
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:26,159
those are continuing um and we'll be
sharing some of those best practices

232
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:30,400
like I mentioned with Andy Ganesh. Some
of our new programs that we have going

233
00:21:27,919 --> 00:21:35,520
on currently and in the near future is
the home to healthcare pilot that was um

234
00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:38,480
funded through our CBU research program
where we're offering complimentary

235
00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:43,120
transit to medical appointments for
anyone in the county. That's going very

236
00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:47,039
well and it's very uh manageable we're
finding right now. So, um we probably

237
00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:50,559
have funding to continue that till the
end of April. So, it's been um a great

238
00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:55,120
way to offer support especially during
this time of year when driving is tricky

239
00:21:52,799 --> 00:21:58,880
for for weather reasons. Um, but as more
daylight comes and as weather improves,

240
00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:03,120
hopefully that will be easier for folks.
We're also offering a medical companion

241
00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:07,919
program for folks who maybe just need
some assistance getting into the medical

242
00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:13,520
building and some time, somebody to wait
with them. Um, so that's been um, uh,

243
00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:17,440
very satisfying to offer as well. and
the community champions program uh

244
00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:22,799
running both for youth and for older
adults um in coordination with uh Chris

245
00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:28,400
from your recreation department and and
with Dan's support there. So that's

246
00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:33,360
going on uh well we have both in uh Bedc
Academy and the uh Iona School of

247
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:37,360
Franken School of the Narrows is um
working with us on that and we have

248
00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:41,600
folks going and calling bingo uh once a
week over um at our highdensity building

249
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:44,799
projects there and I was really
surprised to learn how few teenagers

250
00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:48,960
know how to play bingo. So I think
everyone's learning through this

251
00:22:46,159 --> 00:22:52,240
process. So that's that's great. Um, the
last thing I'd just like to mention,

252
00:22:50,159 --> 00:22:56,000
being mindful of time, is that over the
last two years, the community side of

253
00:22:54,000 --> 00:23:00,080
our programming has worked really hard
to develop relationships with existing

254
00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:06,480
community groups. And I believe we have
all of the districts um here. Um, all

255
00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:10,559
eight districts are represented. So, we
have official community partnerships

256
00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:14,240
with everybody and we work together. So,
if we have programs, we try to reach

257
00:23:12,159 --> 00:23:17,360
out. It's been most successful with food
distribution, but has been really

258
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:22,720
helpful when we're trying to connect a
volunteer with someone locally. So, um

259
00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:27,360
we have about 10 partnerships in total.
So, we're really hoping that will

260
00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:32,240
continue um so that we're not competing
against each other, but working together

261
00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:34,880
for uh for the benefit of all. So, um
did you have anything else to add,

262
00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:38,000
Marian? No. All right. Well, thank you
very much. We really appreciate. Just

263
00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:42,640
wanted to be able to bring everybody up
to speed on the good things that are

264
00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:48,799
happening and thank you for your time.
Thank you ladies. Great presentation. Uh

265
00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:52,159
do I have any questions or councelor
Matson Lefort

266
00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:56,240
» just the part where you said that they
would take someone to a healthc care

267
00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:59,760
facility is would there be an option to
expand on that for some people that are

268
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:05,039
uncomfortable going into the doctor
alone and getting a diagnosis or

269
00:24:02,799 --> 00:24:09,280
instructions to have someone assist them
with that to be able to take notes or at

270
00:24:07,679 --> 00:24:13,200
this time that's not something we're
looking at. we really want to refine at

271
00:24:10,799 --> 00:24:17,520
least getting supporting people getting
two medical appointments. Um our

272
00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:20,880
volunteer supports also is mindful of
the volunteer mental health needs as

273
00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:25,440
well. So until we have a better handle
on how what that would look like um but

274
00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:29,360
all of our programs are driven from
requests and needs. So if that is

275
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:33,600
presented as something that folks would
like to be included then I think it's

276
00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:36,000
something that we should explore but
it's not something available at this

277
00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:39,760
time.
>> Thank you very much.

278
00:24:38,159 --> 00:24:44,320
Councelor
Henock.

279
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:49,520
» Hi there. Thank you all for your such
great work. Um I just want to applause

280
00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:53,919
the the pilot project that was done with
the the the lawn care and the snow

281
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:58,240
removal. Uh people in my district
absolutely loved it. They were sad to

282
00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:03,039
hear that it was just a pilot project
that it wouldn't be continued. Um is

283
00:25:00,559 --> 00:25:06,960
there any um indication from the
province if they'll renew that program

284
00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:10,640
or not?
Thank you for that. excellent feedback

285
00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:15,520
because we heard the same thing. So, it
does resonate with what we heard from

286
00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:19,279
folks. Um that was such an amazing um
learning project over those two years.

287
00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:23,279
Um in terms of what we've heard from the
province, we have um that was federal

288
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:28,240
funding. So, we did submit our final
report uh with the strong recommendation

289
00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:34,400
that any funding that they could give to
us would be put to that use. Um we have

290
00:25:31,279 --> 00:25:37,600
explored other options. At this time the
recommendation is to use the senior's

291
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:42,400
care grant which we are supporting
people with and we are looking to take

292
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:48,720
our learnings and apply them to other
grant applications for um perhaps more

293
00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:52,720
sustainable longer term projects that
could meet that need for for people. So

294
00:25:51,039 --> 00:25:56,320
we we took the learnings and we took the
feedback and we are applying for more

295
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:59,960
funding from other sources but nothing
uh at this time.

296
00:26:01,039 --> 00:26:09,600
questions for from the counselors.
I too heard a lot of uh people wanted

297
00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:15,200
that program come back and I think
around all north or the smoke Victoria

298
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:20,000
County where you know we'd like it but
anyway no other questions.

299
00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:25,279
Oh go ahead Deputy Warden.
>> Thanks. Uh you say about it's a was a

300
00:26:22,559 --> 00:26:30,400
federal funding. anything we can help uh
to advocacing something about

301
00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,559
» uh you will be seeing an application
coming through in the next couple of

302
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:36,240
days. Yes.
>> Okay. But it's still for the federal

303
00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,679
government
>> uh from the federal government at this

304
00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:44,240
time. No, but they are still reviewing
all of the final reports. Um December

305
00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:49,120
31st was the end of that and our final
report was submitted end of January. So,

306
00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:54,159
it's still fairly recent from the report
submissions, but um we will continue to

307
00:26:51,919 --> 00:26:56,400
to seek that out because it did um
really resonate with Victoria County

308
00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:03,880
residents.
>> Okay. Thank you.

309
00:26:59,279 --> 00:27:03,880
» Thank you. Thank you, ladies.

310
00:27:15,039 --> 00:27:24,120
Next we have the property tax interest
waved request

311
00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:24,120
from Miss Fitzgerald.

312
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,400
Okay.

313
00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:58,279
Hi, Hillary. Can you hear us?

314
00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:19,159
Good morning, Hillary. Can you hear us?

315
00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:31,159
We're having te technical difficulties.

316
00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:11,399
Good morning, Hillary. Can you hear us?

317
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,080
Uh oh.
Hello.

318
00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:37,200
» Good morning.
>> Hi. Sorry about that.

319
00:30:35,919 --> 00:30:42,960
» That's okay.
>> Technical difficulties.

320
00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:46,880
» I Yes, I understand.
>> Um, you're here today to talk about the

321
00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:52,880
property tax interest.
>> Yes, I am.

322
00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:58,399
» Okay. if you would like to go ahead.
>> Okay. Um, in

323
00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:03,440
June of 2024,
it was probably closer to July, my

324
00:31:01,039 --> 00:31:08,720
husband called and changed the date or
the address of our our billing address

325
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:16,720
for our tax bill.
Um, so I didn't think anything else of

326
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:21,039
it. And then I go away. I I I have a
house in Inganesh. So I I spend my

327
00:31:18,559 --> 00:31:27,440
summer in Gananish. I didn't get back
until October. When I got back, it

328
00:31:23,919 --> 00:31:33,120
dawned on me that oh, I didn't get a tax
bill.

329
00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:37,799
So I called and uh I called I think it
was around October 27th

330
00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:44,399
or maybe the day before and I told them
that I did not get my tax bill and I

331
00:31:42,399 --> 00:31:49,919
asked if they could send me my tax bill.
So, I got my tax bills on October the

332
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:58,640
27th
and I paid them on October the 28th

333
00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:03,919
less the interest because I didn't get a
bill. So, I didn't think that the

334
00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:08,480
interest was justified
considering I didn't even know how much

335
00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:13,840
I owed on my taxes.
Um, I've been here for 20 years. I've

336
00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:21,840
never been late for my taxes
and I just think it is completely unjust

337
00:32:16,799 --> 00:32:26,559
to be charged interest on uh for a bill
that I didn't I didn't even receive

338
00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:29,559
after already asking that the address be
changed.

339
00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:43,039
» Okay. Um is that all you would like to
say at this time right now?

340
00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:48,640
Well, I I don't think there's much more
to it. Um if if if I don't have a bill,

341
00:32:46,399 --> 00:32:53,360
I don't know how much I owe. The I guess
what I will add there is we were running

342
00:32:51,519 --> 00:32:58,480
a business at this location and we
closed the business. So, we had

343
00:32:56,159 --> 00:33:05,600
contacted the assessment office as well
to switch from commercial to

344
00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:11,120
residential. So, we were expecting uh a
reduction in the tax bill as well, but

345
00:33:09,039 --> 00:33:16,039
that I mean that didn't happen, but I
don't think that that has anything to do

346
00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:16,039
with this.

347
00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:22,080
» Okay. Thank you. I'm going to ask any
counselors if they have any questions

348
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:25,080
for you. Yeah.
>> Okay.

349
00:33:25,279 --> 00:33:31,360
» Councelor Bourne,
>> thank you. The question that I have is,

350
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:34,480
was this the first year that you did not
receive a bill and did prior bills get

351
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:38,399
to you?
>> Yes,

352
00:33:36,799 --> 00:33:45,120
this is the first year that I did not
get a bill. Um, we had closed our post

353
00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:52,399
office box and just switched to the uh
our um civic location address and it was

354
00:33:50,559 --> 00:33:57,679
I got a note here on the bill. My
husband actually called and he switched

355
00:33:54,960 --> 00:34:02,640
it in in and around. He doesn't have the
date there, but he's got a note here

356
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:07,919
that switched and it's on the June 20th,
2024 bill that he called and changed

357
00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:13,359
address.
>> So, he would have contacted PVSC to make

358
00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:21,079
the change or who did he contact?
He contacted uh municipality of the

359
00:34:16,720 --> 00:34:21,079
county of Victoria 282953231.

360
00:34:24,879 --> 00:34:32,200
» Thank you.
>> Okay.

361
00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:32,200
Any other questions?

362
00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:37,320
» Okay.

363
00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:48,639
Can I clarify again what's the amount
that's asking to be waved?

364
00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:53,200
» Is it the 17250 that I'm seeing?
>> 17494 is now what it is. The last one I

365
00:34:51,839 --> 00:34:57,639
received.
>> Okay. Thank you.

366
00:34:54,639 --> 00:34:57,639
» Yep.

367
00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:15,880
» Yeah.
um to talk about this. We'll need a

368
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:15,880
motion on the table and a seconder.

369
00:35:17,839 --> 00:35:20,839
Okay.

370
00:35:29,359 --> 00:35:34,280
Your your mic. Yep. Sorry.

371
00:35:35,119 --> 00:35:43,520
Go ahead.
your your mic on. Go ahead.

372
00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:48,320
» Okay. I make a motions to
what is that? Wave the wave the interest

373
00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:51,599
for 172.
>> So there's a motion on the table to wave

374
00:35:50,079 --> 00:35:56,040
the interest. Is there a second?
Councelor Dunovan. Discussion please.

375
00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:05,040
» Just to Can I?
>> Deputy Warden. Go ahead.

376
00:36:01,839 --> 00:36:09,520
» Okay. So just to understand you. So you
didn't receive a bill because you were

377
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:13,440
in English, right?
>> You were in English.

378
00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:17,839
» No, the bill did never got mailed to me
at all.

379
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:23,440
» Well, was mailed to in the address pure
address we have in the system. Correct.

380
00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:29,040
» Not the new not to the new address that
we called and switched it like.

381
00:36:25,839 --> 00:36:31,359
» Yeah. Okay. Do you change the address?
>> Yes.

382
00:36:29,599 --> 00:36:36,000
» In the municipality, you come you came
to the municipality to change your

383
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:40,640
address. No, he called
>> Untalable.

384
00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:46,000
» He doesn't have a name here. I I'm
sorry. He doesn't have a name here. It

385
00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:56,240
just says he just has a note on the bill
from June 2024 called switched from PO

386
00:36:50,560 --> 00:37:01,760
Box to 785 Highway 105.
At that time, we were switching a lot of

387
00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:07,359
our switching our address with a lot of
people. So, unfortunately, he didn't he

388
00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:14,560
didn't record the name of the person he
spoke to. I'm sorry.

389
00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:19,359
It's okay because
we have email here. This elevation spoke

390
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:25,359
with him.
That was it. It's in the email here.

391
00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:30,560
Anyway, so
you know when you have to pay your

392
00:37:27,839 --> 00:37:35,040
taxes, right? It's in, you know, the
bills go in August and then you if you

393
00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:40,160
not receive your bill, you call in
August to see where is your bill. Not

394
00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:44,240
until October. So
it is

395
00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:50,000
as you run a business, you know, the
taxes, how paid, right?

396
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:53,680
I I understand that. But at the time,
uh,

397
00:37:51,599 --> 00:37:57,520
all of my mail was being forwarded to me
in Ingenanish. I didn't think I was

398
00:37:55,359 --> 00:38:03,200
missing anything. And if I don't have it
in front of me, I I I'm busy. I'm really

399
00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:08,320
busy. I work 60 hours a week. I If I
don't have it in front of me, I I don't

400
00:38:06,079 --> 00:38:12,720
remember. No, I I don't remember what
dates bills come out.

401
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:16,960
» Yeah. Yeah. I understand that.
Everybody's busy, but

402
00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:21,359
» Yeah. I know. And I pay my bills. I I'm
not I'm not disputing the the amount of

403
00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:26,079
the bill or anything. And I paid it
within one day of receiving.

404
00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:30,240
» Yeah. But you wait until October to
figure out your bill. It was not there.

405
00:38:28,079 --> 00:38:37,520
» I didn't think of it until October.
>> Well, so my Yeah, it's it's just to my

406
00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:43,520
knowledge. Uh you know, your bill went
uh uh send it to the pure address. You

407
00:38:41,599 --> 00:38:47,760
didn't you were not there. You were in
some in another place.

408
00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:54,880
» No, you're you're missing something
here. My bill did not come to my civic

409
00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:59,920
address. I never received a paper bill.
I received an email bill when I

410
00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:08,599
requested it.
I did not receive a paper bill.

411
00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:08,599
» What address they use, Le, to send it?

412
00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,960
Yeah. So, where is the address?

413
00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:34,800
So, if our bills went out the first week
of June in 2024, they would have been to

414
00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:40,640
the address that we had on file.
If we were called June 20th with a

415
00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:47,599
different address, it would have gone to
the address that we had on file.

416
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:50,640
So, our bills went out earlier than June
20th.

417
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:54,640
» Okay. So, the bill was gone before you
called.

418
00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:59,040
And our process is if people call and
they say that they their address has

419
00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:03,599
changed or there's they're disputing
some parts of the bill, we say please go

420
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:10,240
to your bill, pay the whole amount that
is owing. If there is anything that is

421
00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:16,240
to be uh written off, pay the whole
thing and then square it up later so

422
00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:21,839
that it's it's taken care of so there's
not more that is um building on the

423
00:40:19,599 --> 00:40:28,240
bill.
I I don't I totally understand that I

424
00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:37,079
did not receive a paper bill.
I called in October because I said,

425
00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:37,079
"Wow, I didn't get a tax bill."

426
00:40:37,359 --> 00:40:49,520
I got the email with my tax bill on the
27th of October and I paid it on the

427
00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:54,200
28th of October minus the interest owing
because I did not think that that was

428
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:54,200
justified.

429
00:40:54,240 --> 00:41:04,200
But today, as of this date, I have not
received a paper bill. only the emails.

430
00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:09,240
» Any other questions?

431
00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:21,119
» Councelor Henk.
>> Uh just a quick question there. Uh so

432
00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:25,680
when you closed your PO box uh off, did
you get your mail transferred to your

433
00:41:23,839 --> 00:41:31,680
new address?
>> I did for quite a while. Absolutely.

434
00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:37,280
» Yeah. So funny like if if it didn't go
in the box prior to and you then you

435
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:43,000
transferred it to your new address.
Funny you didn't receive the bill that

436
00:41:39,119 --> 00:41:43,000
went out on June 4th.

437
00:41:45,599 --> 00:41:56,200
Now we're talking two different years.
We're talking 2024 and 2025.

438
00:41:51,359 --> 00:41:56,200
So my husband called in 2024.

439
00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:06,400
So yeah, it's it's really funny I didn't
get it to the proper address. 785

440
00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:11,040
Highway 105 because it's not a couple of
days in the difference. It's a year in

441
00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:16,560
the difference.
>> Yeah. And and if I had received it,

442
00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:22,079
trust me, I would have paid it. You can
look at my record. I I don't neglect my

443
00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:27,520
bills. This is a matter of principle to
me.

444
00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:33,000
Any
other questions or comments or

445
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,000
discussion?

446
00:42:37,119 --> 00:42:40,119
» You

447
00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:59,599
warden, did you want to say something?
No, it's just uh uh it's about dates. Is

448
00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:04,800
it that you say I say and in the mail,
right? But in the end of the day, we

449
00:43:02,480 --> 00:43:12,079
know that you have you we need to pay
our taxes in determined time. If you are

450
00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:16,560
in in June for the the bill went, you go
in June 20 in 20 to call the you change

451
00:43:15,119 --> 00:43:20,880
your bill, why you didn't ask for your
bill in that time. And second, you

452
00:43:19,599 --> 00:43:25,839
should have pay, you know, you should
have paying be in no until October.

453
00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:31,119
» Yeah, you're you're talking a year in
the difference though. Like this is we

454
00:43:28,319 --> 00:43:37,760
changed the address in 2024. We're
talking about the bill in 2025.

455
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:41,400
So it's not days here, it's or months
here, it's a year.

456
00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:50,119
So I I'm asking the what address was in
2024 in the administration.

457
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:55,880
» That's a good point.

458
00:43:56,079 --> 00:44:04,359
» Don't know but uh Alex is looking it up
to the address that was on the bill I

459
00:44:00,319 --> 00:44:04,359
think. Or if you can contact

460
00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:25,160
So, what address is it right now?

461
00:44:29,839 --> 00:44:38,960
So, just to clarify, you're saying that
since 2024, you've never received any

462
00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:46,160
mail for any taxes from Victoria County?
>> No, I have not.

463
00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:51,440
» So, our system has notes um that they
received the property the property tax

464
00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:57,440
bill was returned by Canada Post in June
of 2025. Says moved unknown. And then

465
00:44:55,599 --> 00:45:01,920
there was a property tax reminder that
was returned also November 11th with

466
00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:07,880
moved unknown.
>> Okay. So November 11th of 2025

467
00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:15,920
notes that we sent out reminders that we
don't have an address change on file.

468
00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:19,359
But that would have been then the second
time I've tried to change the address.

469
00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:24,880
Then
I did receive I I know it's right now

470
00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:32,079
because I have a bill. I've been
receiving these tax bills since November

471
00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:37,200
19th, 2025, but when I called in
October,

472
00:45:33,599 --> 00:45:40,920
you guys still had the P.O. box and I
changed it again.

473
00:45:42,480 --> 00:45:50,960
And
>> so we so we have no record of an address

474
00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:56,560
change until November 19th.
Well, that's ridiculous because when I

475
00:45:52,800 --> 00:46:02,800
was when I requested that my bills get
emailed to me, I in October,

476
00:46:00,319 --> 00:46:06,720
you emailed me my bills. I had changed
it again. Then

477
00:46:04,880 --> 00:46:11,760
» I didn't change any questions.
>> I change it was tried to tried to change

478
00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:15,680
it in June of 2024, tried to change it
in October, and now you're saying it

479
00:46:13,839 --> 00:46:19,800
didn't go through until November. Well,
that doesn't sound like my fault.

480
00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:34,800
So in our system as soon as uh we were
contacted the address was changed.

481
00:46:32,079 --> 00:46:38,800
Reminders go out in early October. It
would have went in the mail to their it

482
00:46:37,119 --> 00:46:43,040
would have been rejected. It would have
came back to us in November when we

483
00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:48,560
received it. we would have recorded it
as owner returned or owner unknown or

484
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:52,720
owner moved. The November piece is
irrelevant because that's just the date

485
00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:56,960
that we got it back in the mail.
>> Okay,

486
00:46:55,119 --> 00:47:01,359
» that makes sense.
>> Councelor Dunovan.

487
00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:05,200
» Uh yeah, I guess it sounds like there
was an error somewhere along the line

488
00:47:03,119 --> 00:47:15,760
that something got missed or misplaced
or not recorded or whatever. Um

489
00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:20,640
I I I guess my opinion is take the past
history of the taxpayer. They've never

490
00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:26,480
been late. It's always been on time.
This is an anomaly that apparently

491
00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:32,240
there's no explanation for.
So I would say take it from there.

492
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:39,359
» Question. Alex, don't we have an
explanation

493
00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:45,359
or in your opinion?
>> I mean, I can only go So, we send out

494
00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:51,760
12,000 tax bills a year to multiple
property owners. So, we can only go by

495
00:47:48,720 --> 00:47:56,319
what the system says. So, in the system,
we have no record of the address change.

496
00:47:54,560 --> 00:48:03,440
I'm not trying to convince anyone that
nobody contacted so and so. We just

497
00:47:59,839 --> 00:48:08,079
don't have evidence that there was an
address change that came through in June

498
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:13,119
of 2024.
As soon as the address change was

499
00:48:10,319 --> 00:48:17,839
requested in October, we did it. And
just as she said, she paid. But our

500
00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:22,079
policy says that when the property tax
bill is due, the wording is that it's

501
00:48:20,240 --> 00:48:27,760
the responsibility of the property tax
owner even if the bill is not received.

502
00:48:24,720 --> 00:48:34,720
That is what is written in the policy.
And the reason it's written like that is

503
00:48:29,839 --> 00:48:40,640
because we send out 12,000 bills. So,
we can't follow up on every single one

504
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:47,920
that comes back. Um,
and we always use Nova Scotia Power as

505
00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:52,800
the analogy that when the bill comes,
you know, the bill is due. So, our bill

506
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:57,520
is annual, which makes it it does make
it more difficult, but when the due date

507
00:48:55,040 --> 00:49:03,599
comes, the bill is due. If it's not paid
by that, we just run interest. We don't

508
00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:08,559
do any exceptions, the system processes
interest. If it continues to not be

509
00:49:05,440 --> 00:49:14,480
paid, the system processes interest. So
the way our policy is written is what we

510
00:49:11,440 --> 00:49:21,440
followed and any exception to that
policy is a decision of council. So,

511
00:49:17,599 --> 00:49:26,160
Alex, uh, for the policy, is it not that
the interest should be paid and then

512
00:49:23,359 --> 00:49:30,400
taken up so that there's not more
interest being put on?

513
00:49:28,640 --> 00:49:32,480
Uh, I don't believe our system charges
interest on interest.

514
00:49:32,079 --> 00:49:38,319
» Okay.
>> Um, but as the CIO said earlier, we do

515
00:49:36,160 --> 00:49:42,319
encourage people to pay it in full and
then work out the details after the

516
00:49:40,400 --> 00:49:49,359
fact. But where it was just interest
that's not paid, I I'm pretty certain it

517
00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:55,920
we don't charge interest on interest.
>> Thank you for that. So there is a motion

518
00:49:52,160 --> 00:50:01,319
on the table. We've discussed it. So uh
the motion was

519
00:49:58,319 --> 00:50:01,319
depart

520
00:50:01,520 --> 00:50:08,319
again please
>> to the on the amount of interest for the

521
00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:10,319
tax bill is 2020.
>> Okay.

522
00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:15,280
» 2025.
So, we have a motion on the table. We

523
00:50:12,079 --> 00:50:19,079
have a seconder. All in favor to wave
the interest.

524
00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:29,920
All in favor to wave the interest. We
have one against

525
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:36,160
to pay the interest so that the the onus
is on the owner of the property. Can I

526
00:50:33,440 --> 00:50:42,720
have a count again?
Motion's defeated. I'm sorry. Um, you're

527
00:50:39,760 --> 00:50:45,960
going to have to pay your interest on
your bill.

528
00:50:46,559 --> 00:50:52,520
» Okay.
I think it's totally unfair,

529
00:50:55,599 --> 00:51:02,920
but that is your decision.
>> Thank you.

530
00:51:03,280 --> 00:51:06,520
» Thank you.

531
00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:18,200
Next we have the community garden
project. I'm sorry I will butcher your

532
00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:18,200
name but

533
00:51:23,119 --> 00:51:26,119
Yes.

534
00:52:08,880 --> 00:52:11,960
Come on.

535
00:52:22,880 --> 00:52:31,680
So, welcome to our council. Um,
your mic is in front of you and if the

536
00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:35,680
green light is on just when you speak,
but I will get counselors to introduce

537
00:52:33,839 --> 00:52:40,559
yourselves and then you can tell us a
little bit about yourself. You have 20

538
00:52:37,359 --> 00:52:44,160
minutes for uh to to go ahead. We're
going to start right here. Uh, welcome.

539
00:52:42,160 --> 00:52:48,079
My name is Donna Mat Leford. I'm
District 1 which is Wadma Cookook,

540
00:52:46,079 --> 00:52:52,240
Buckla and the Washabug Peninsula. Thank
you for coming today. Thank you.

541
00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:56,640
» Good morning. Uh my name is Pa Mloud.
District 2 Big Bedc Middle River inlet

542
00:52:55,040 --> 00:53:00,400
Nansa
and Jack.

543
00:52:58,480 --> 00:53:06,480
» Welcome. Thank you. My name is Rosella
Bore and we've met before district 4 and

544
00:53:03,119 --> 00:53:11,440
that would be uh part of Bedc Bay Road,
Big Harbor, uh South Haven, English

545
00:53:09,280 --> 00:53:17,520
Town, St. An's and all the way up to the
base of Smokeoky. Welcome. Morning.

546
00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:23,839
Welcome. I'm Tim Donovan, counselor for
district 6, which is from the summit of

547
00:53:19,839 --> 00:53:27,599
Smokeoky to North Ingenanish.
>> Morning. My name is Wanda Hen. I'm from

548
00:53:25,599 --> 00:53:32,640
district 8. That would be Dingwall Cape
North Bay at Lawrence and Capstik.

549
00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:39,440
Morning. I'm Jackie Organ and my
district is seven from Ingadesh down to

550
00:53:35,599 --> 00:53:45,359
uh Dingwall for Wanda or Councelor
Henick's area. So, welcome. Thank you so

551
00:53:42,240 --> 00:53:51,359
very much for all of your warm welcome.
Uh here I'm beyond honored to sit here

552
00:53:48,079 --> 00:53:58,000
and tell you about my idea. Um so when I
was a little girl, I got to take my

553
00:53:54,880 --> 00:54:04,079
grandmother to our um kindergarten for a
soup fest and that was a point of great

554
00:54:01,599 --> 00:54:09,520
pride and honor for me to take her there
and um provide her the variety of soups

555
00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:16,480
that we had prepared there. So I would
like to share this value with my

556
00:54:12,720 --> 00:54:22,240
community and um so with great hope and
excitement I would like to introduce the

557
00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:27,280
community project as an extension to our
community garden that we already have

558
00:54:24,160 --> 00:54:33,119
here on the property. Um I would be
working together with Bold to um get the

559
00:54:31,200 --> 00:54:39,119
funding through Nova Scotia Literacy
Fund as well as some seniors of

560
00:54:36,319 --> 00:54:44,240
Northwoods. they would also collaborate
with um our idea. So really it's about

561
00:54:42,160 --> 00:54:49,280
bringing children's hands back into the
soil, exposing them to all those

562
00:54:46,800 --> 00:54:55,119
valuable lessons, bridging the gap
between seniors and children as we have

563
00:54:51,839 --> 00:55:01,920
a large demographic gap here um on the
island in general, but as well as in

564
00:54:57,200 --> 00:55:07,920
Bedc um to increase the patches of
native species throughout our town that

565
00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:14,000
can also provide food for pollinators as
well as for us.

566
00:55:10,240 --> 00:55:18,800
Um so the project would be structured
from seed to harvest. That means

567
00:55:16,400 --> 00:55:23,920
children and seniors can plant the crops
that we are to harvest in the end of the

568
00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:28,640
year together. They can learn at the
bold community center through

569
00:55:26,000 --> 00:55:34,960
presentations to through other gardeners
and local artisans artisans that will

570
00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:40,880
come and help create this really
important educational program uh during

571
00:55:38,640 --> 00:55:46,800
the summer. And we would celebrate with
a harvest soup festival in the end where

572
00:55:43,200 --> 00:55:54,240
we would invite every partaking
person and um community

573
00:55:51,119 --> 00:56:01,359
together to enjoy the soup and kind of
learn about Thanksgiving

574
00:55:56,960 --> 00:56:06,720
in a way. Um, Bedc Academy has garden
boxes that they would be happy to um,

575
00:56:04,079 --> 00:56:13,680
provide for us to plant in them as well
as working with their children together

576
00:56:09,520 --> 00:56:19,280
to create this um, program. Um, as well
as the daycare down here on Chbakto

577
00:56:17,280 --> 00:56:25,040
Street, they also have um, shown
interest in planting their gardening

578
00:56:21,359 --> 00:56:31,040
boxes. So I think it would be a amazing
project to initiate and see how big this

579
00:56:28,480 --> 00:56:36,559
can grow. I think lots of people are
very interested in supporting this and

580
00:56:33,680 --> 00:56:41,359
coming together for a good reason. So
this is my idea and I hope we can make

581
00:56:38,880 --> 00:56:46,400
it happen.
Thank you very much. So I met with

582
00:56:43,040 --> 00:56:51,440
Salana last week. Um she's talking about
uh the piece of property that we have

583
00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:56,559
back here beside the community boxes.
um and digging into the ground there and

584
00:56:54,000 --> 00:57:00,079
creating a a garden.
>> Yeah.

585
00:56:56,880 --> 00:57:04,480
» And so it's a it's a blank piece of
property that we're not it's currently

586
00:57:01,760 --> 00:57:08,799
not being used. Sounds like a great
idea.

587
00:57:06,319 --> 00:57:13,520
» I also didn't want to take away from the
existing raffle um that we do have with

588
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:18,000
the gardening boxes up here uh because
there is plenty of avid gardeners in

589
00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:23,520
town that may may want to do their own
thing or Yeah.

590
00:57:21,200 --> 00:57:27,359
partly contribute and so I didn't want
to take away from that and yeah the lawn

591
00:57:26,079 --> 00:57:33,640
spaces there and
>> okay um any questions from the

592
00:57:30,640 --> 00:57:33,640
counselors

593
00:57:34,319 --> 00:57:40,640
» deputy warden go ahead
>> thank you so yeah it's a great idea so

594
00:57:38,960 --> 00:57:47,440
why you need for us
>> uh well the permission um to use the

595
00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:53,200
lawn space that is there so yeah
>> I would be working with um our community

596
00:57:50,079 --> 00:57:57,760
centers together, but um the piece of
lawn that is right there, that's what

597
00:57:54,960 --> 00:58:02,000
we're interested in. Um and kind of
scooping the the county into this great

598
00:58:01,200 --> 00:58:05,400
idea.
>> Okay.

599
00:58:02,400 --> 00:58:05,400
» Yeah.

600
00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:14,079
» Thank you for this. Um do you have a
budget on what it's going to cost to

601
00:58:12,400 --> 00:58:20,319
roll out and maintain this throughout
the summer? and how much is in the food

602
00:58:17,839 --> 00:58:23,040
and literacy fund grant that you're
going to be seeking. So, it's two parts

603
00:58:21,680 --> 00:58:27,359
of that question. Thank you.
>> Very good. Thank you. Um, so the Nova

604
00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:33,839
Scotia food literacy fund that we are
applying for is $2.5,000

605
00:58:30,720 --> 00:58:42,319
» and um so that's what we're going after
for this project. And

606
00:58:38,480 --> 00:58:47,599
the um the program itself is a very
lowcost program. So all we would really

607
00:58:44,559 --> 00:58:53,200
need through this funding is the some of
the materials that we can't gather

608
00:58:49,920 --> 00:58:59,880
through um community
um collaboration

609
00:58:54,960 --> 00:58:59,880
and some of the labor.

610
00:59:00,640 --> 00:59:08,960
» Would you be the project lead on this?
>> Uh yes uh I suppose uh I would be

611
00:59:06,079 --> 00:59:14,640
delighted to keep uh pushing and uh work
with many other people together. there's

612
00:59:12,160 --> 00:59:20,960
absolutely strength in community. So I
think the project itself can be kept at

613
00:59:17,040 --> 00:59:26,960
very low cost especially since um our
local landscaping company the big tree

614
00:59:23,119 --> 00:59:31,839
my company kind of I want to volunteer
some hours of the installation for sure

615
00:59:29,839 --> 00:59:39,440
for this project just to get it going
and off the ground.

616
00:59:35,520 --> 00:59:45,280
Councelor Matthys for So this was a
success this year as I used to be a a

617
00:59:43,440 --> 00:59:50,000
private teacher in a project based
school overseas and we were always

618
00:59:47,040 --> 00:59:52,559
looking for those real life scenarios to
work into our curriculum that we had.

619
00:59:52,079 --> 00:59:56,960
» Yes.
>> Would you be looking at if this was a

620
00:59:54,880 --> 01:00:00,799
success contacting and having meetings
with the teachers to find out what

621
00:59:59,280 --> 01:00:05,119
grades would be able to work some of
their problems?

622
01:00:01,359 --> 01:00:11,920
» Absolutely. Absolutely. So starting from
what is a seed right there is so many so

623
01:00:07,839 --> 01:00:18,160
much value in in um rolling up this
gardening project

624
01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:24,480
um and depending on which grade the
program can always be altered to to help

625
01:00:21,920 --> 01:00:29,760
support learning.
Yeah. Yeah.

626
01:00:27,359 --> 01:00:33,760
So, as the deputy warden said, you're
looking for from us the piece property

627
01:00:32,720 --> 01:00:36,880
here to grow on.
>> Correct.

628
01:00:34,799 --> 01:00:40,359
» You're not It's not an ask for money
right now or

629
01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:45,520
» council born.
>> Question. What liability do we need to

630
01:00:43,680 --> 01:00:52,000
help support this? Is there liability?
Is there risk with offering this piece

631
01:00:48,319 --> 01:00:55,920
of land to volunteers
in case there's an injury?

632
01:00:53,920 --> 01:01:02,160
» It's a good question. I would say that
it's similar to the community boxes that

633
01:00:58,799 --> 01:01:07,200
we currently have. Um
I'm not sure what our insurance coverage

634
01:01:04,559 --> 01:01:14,160
is, but we do have a blanket policy
currently. I'm hoping it's a low low

635
01:01:11,119 --> 01:01:19,040
liability. Um but we can certainly reach
out uh to see if there's any

636
01:01:17,440 --> 01:01:22,880
anything that would need to be insured.
And one other question, when it comes to

637
01:01:20,880 --> 01:01:26,880
children and vulnerability with
children, will these volunteers have

638
01:01:25,040 --> 01:01:30,680
police checks and checks?
>> Okay, thank you.

639
01:01:27,680 --> 01:01:30,680
» Yeah,

640
01:01:35,119 --> 01:01:41,040
» councelor Donovan.
>> Yeah, I seem to recall that there was a

641
01:01:38,160 --> 01:01:49,760
similar program that was run in HRM a
few years back. Uh, same idea. um group

642
01:01:46,000 --> 01:01:54,480
of children uh gu did the the planting
and the harvesting only they took it a

643
01:01:51,599 --> 01:01:57,599
step further and I think they they
planted the ingredients required to make

644
01:01:56,559 --> 01:02:01,280
salsa.
>> Okay.

645
01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:06,480
» And I think they were on Dragon's Den or
one of those one of those TV shows. They

646
01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:13,119
didn't get what they were looking for,
but I think they got like a $100,000

647
01:02:09,839 --> 01:02:14,640
boost from the the folks on the dragons
and

648
01:02:13,680 --> 01:02:18,480
» yeah,
>> they they thought it was a a really good

649
01:02:16,880 --> 01:02:23,839
thing and it is a really good thing. It
>> is truly Yeah, it intersects with many

650
01:02:21,760 --> 01:02:30,319
many of the aspects that we're trying to
cover. Um, and yeah, as I said, I think

651
01:02:26,720 --> 01:02:33,960
I I see the potential of this growing
really big, too.

652
01:02:34,160 --> 01:02:38,280
to make a motion to

653
01:02:38,720 --> 01:02:48,480
to allow this group. I don't know what
you're going underneath, but anyways, um

654
01:02:44,640 --> 01:02:54,240
community garden uh to use the piece of
property in the backyard of the building

655
01:02:52,160 --> 01:02:58,880
here.
>> Yeah. I I move that we allow the uh the

656
01:02:57,040 --> 01:03:02,480
group to use the piece of property for
their for their project.

657
01:03:00,799 --> 01:03:08,839
There's a motion on the table. I'll
second by councelor Mat Lefor. Any

658
01:03:05,839 --> 01:03:08,839
discussion?

659
01:03:12,880 --> 01:03:22,559
» I think so.
A pilot project. How about

660
01:03:19,440 --> 01:03:25,799
Can you read that back
to me?

661
01:03:28,079 --> 01:03:31,079
Salana.

662
01:03:32,240 --> 01:03:35,240
Yeah.

663
01:03:42,319 --> 01:03:48,799
» Okay. There's a motion on the floor and
we have a seconder. All in favor?

664
01:03:47,119 --> 01:03:51,599
Your motion is carried. You have your
piece of land to you.

665
01:03:50,799 --> 01:03:54,400
» Thank you. Wow.
>> Well, we look forward to having a bowl

666
01:03:53,280 --> 01:03:59,440
of soup in the fall.
>> Wonderful. Your first soup goes to

667
01:03:56,960 --> 01:04:04,839
Jackie. We're good.
>> Thank you very much everybody for coming

668
01:04:01,599 --> 01:04:04,839
» so much.

669
01:04:05,200 --> 01:04:10,440
We're going to take a 15minute recess.
Yes.

670
01:05:23,119 --> 01:05:30,960
Hey, we're back. Um, we're here for
council discussion. First one is the

671
01:05:28,480 --> 01:05:36,799
water protection symposium.
Uh, attendance. Uh,

672
01:05:34,319 --> 01:05:41,440
anybody that's wishing to go or would
like to speak on it. I know councelor

673
01:05:38,799 --> 01:05:47,839
Mat Lefort is wants to speak on that. I
I I registered for it the minute it came

674
01:05:43,760 --> 01:05:52,160
in. So, and I was at the um Bdor Lake
Biosphere Region Associ and I told them

675
01:05:50,319 --> 01:05:56,319
about it as well to see if anybody from
there wanted to go and represent. So, if

676
01:05:54,960 --> 01:06:03,000
I was going to attend, it was kind of
almost was going to be for Bor Lake and

677
01:05:59,119 --> 01:06:03,000
municipality. So,

678
01:06:04,079 --> 01:06:10,720
councelor Vaughn did sign up because it
was free. So, I do have an option to

679
01:06:08,799 --> 01:06:15,160
cancel if other people would like to go,
but I did put my name down to go.

680
01:06:17,839 --> 01:06:24,640
I I don't see why you know both of you
can't

681
01:06:22,079 --> 01:06:28,880
go for it.
It's okay with the rest of council of

682
01:06:26,880 --> 01:06:34,079
symposiums. You hear symposium? I'm like
I'm there.

683
01:06:30,720 --> 01:06:40,880
There. Okay. Motion. We need a motion.
Uh can I get a motion to accept that

684
01:06:37,440 --> 01:06:46,400
both counselors attend the water
protection symposium?

685
01:06:44,400 --> 01:06:52,079
Yes, councelor Dunovan. It's moved by
councelor Dunovan, second by councelor

686
01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:56,559
Henick. All in favor
motion is carried.

687
01:06:54,720 --> 01:07:03,039
We'll look forward to your report when
you come back, ladies.

688
01:07:00,480 --> 01:07:09,160
Okay, next one is the committee
vacancies and to speak on that is Steph

689
01:07:06,160 --> 01:07:09,160
Mloud.

690
01:07:21,760 --> 01:07:29,200
Hi, morning everybody. Um, so I sent her
an email I guess probably almost a month

691
01:07:25,920 --> 01:07:33,520
ago now um with um actually a few weeks
with the councelor Kerr's resignation

692
01:07:31,760 --> 01:07:38,559
there. That that means that there's
vacancies on committees. Um the

693
01:07:36,079 --> 01:07:42,880
following committee members are needed.
Um an alternate member for EDPC

694
01:07:40,960 --> 01:07:47,520
committee, member of the housing
committee. Um we do need a board member

695
01:07:46,000 --> 01:07:53,359
for the VDEC moing authority. This
position is typically filled by district

696
01:07:49,520 --> 01:08:02,400
3 counselor. So they um are not meeting
anytime soon. I think we would be um

697
01:07:57,200 --> 01:08:06,880
fine to wait to um appoint this position
to district 3 counselor when that

698
01:08:04,160 --> 01:08:11,359
happens. Um and we need a board member
for the Invess Victoria Federation of Ed

699
01:08:09,119 --> 01:08:15,920
agriculture. Um and this will need to be
filled by a counselor as well. Um and I

700
01:08:13,440 --> 01:08:20,560
if you want I can reach out to the Bedc
Moring authority but it is typically

701
01:08:18,719 --> 01:08:25,239
um
appointment of district 3 counselor.

702
01:08:28,239 --> 01:08:35,400
Go ahead councelor Henick. I could
probably go on the member of the housing

703
01:08:32,400 --> 01:08:35,400
committee.

704
01:08:37,199 --> 01:08:43,440
Okay. So, what we'll do, we can we'll do
one big motion. So, if you kind of want

705
01:08:41,440 --> 01:08:47,359
to discuss all of them and then we will
do a motion for the um appointments of

706
01:08:46,239 --> 01:08:51,279
the committees to the following
counselors and we'll do it that way.

707
01:08:48,640 --> 01:08:56,359
We'll do one big motion.
>> I could be the alternative to the EDPC.

708
01:09:13,440 --> 01:09:18,719
put it out there that I'm on so many
right now that I really can't stress

709
01:09:16,640 --> 01:09:22,880
myself anymore.
Okay, thank you.

710
01:09:21,359 --> 01:09:28,239
The agricultural one I'm like no don't
do it.

711
01:09:25,440 --> 01:09:35,759
It's
he was in the past he is not right now.

712
01:09:33,120 --> 01:09:43,199
It was council occurr
but he has been in the past.

713
01:09:39,600 --> 01:09:49,520
Can we reach out to him to see if
the later date if we just get

714
01:09:46,239 --> 01:09:54,040
past for two?
Councelor Dunovan, do you have something

715
01:09:50,880 --> 01:09:54,040
to say?

716
01:09:58,000 --> 01:10:02,040
That's not the way it works here.

717
01:10:03,440 --> 01:10:08,640
Um yeah, we can do that. So I think
maybe then we'll hold off on the motion

718
01:10:07,520 --> 01:10:11,679
and we'll bring that to committee to the
whole as a recommendation when councelor

719
01:10:10,400 --> 01:10:14,640
Patterson can speak for himself
regarding that.

720
01:10:12,640 --> 01:10:19,280
» Yeah, it's just that uh with he he was
on the committee before and maybe his

721
01:10:17,280 --> 01:10:24,800
experience with with it he might like to
do that again.

722
01:10:22,239 --> 01:10:30,080
Councelor Matson Lefor,
>> what's the issue with as we know there's

723
01:10:28,480 --> 01:10:34,159
going to be an election and have a new
counselor coming in. Is it an issue

724
01:10:32,320 --> 01:10:39,520
right now just to have those positions,
empty positions like put on hold in case

725
01:10:37,679 --> 01:10:44,080
uh the new counselor coming in wants any
of them.

726
01:10:41,120 --> 01:10:48,400
» I believe the there's a sense of urgency
for the housing committee. Um that's

727
01:10:46,000 --> 01:10:53,360
just based on observations um for
council meetings. That is entirely

728
01:10:51,120 --> 01:10:58,560
council's call though.
>> Can I ask who was currently because I

729
01:10:55,920 --> 01:11:02,239
had asked to be put on the housing one
and then it hadn't shown up as I wasn't

730
01:11:00,880 --> 01:11:06,320
in any of the emails but then it was
listed on my h who is currently in the

731
01:11:05,280 --> 01:11:09,800
housing one officially
>> born and Donovan.

732
01:11:11,280 --> 01:11:15,880
» Tim you are on the housing committee.

733
01:11:16,000 --> 01:11:20,800
» Okay. because I had wanted to be on the
housing committee

734
01:11:19,040 --> 01:11:21,440
» and I had gone back and forth and
>> Yeah.

735
01:11:21,120 --> 01:11:23,120
» Yeah.
>> Yeah.

736
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:26,800
» Well, we couldn't figure we couldn't
find anywhere where that was said, but

737
01:11:24,880 --> 01:11:32,239
we both believed remembering that you
had asked, but um

738
01:11:30,000 --> 01:11:35,280
» do you want to be the alternate or
>> we don't need an alternate for the

739
01:11:33,520 --> 01:11:40,520
housing? We just need an alternate for
EDPC.

740
01:11:37,520 --> 01:11:40,520
» Oh,

741
01:11:41,840 --> 01:11:47,920
I thought Councelor Henock said she was
going to be on to be on the housing. She

742
01:11:46,080 --> 01:11:52,239
was and and councelor Mass the fourth
thought she was already on it but we

743
01:11:49,760 --> 01:11:57,520
can't find anywhere that she was
>> before.

744
01:11:54,400 --> 01:12:01,120
Yeah. So it's council's committee
>> more the marrier.

745
01:11:59,440 --> 01:12:06,960
» Okay.
We have another it'll be born Donovan

746
01:12:03,920 --> 01:12:13,159
Henik and Matson fort on the housing two
north and two south.

747
01:12:10,159 --> 01:12:13,159
Okay.

748
01:12:15,600 --> 01:12:23,640
Move to have these committees approved
and then wait on the Perfect. Thank you.

749
01:12:23,920 --> 01:12:32,800
So, can I get a motion
to have those two committees approved

750
01:12:30,719 --> 01:12:38,480
and then or do you want to wait to the
cow? It's up to you guys.

751
01:12:36,239 --> 01:12:45,199
» I move to have those two committees.
It's moved by councelor

752
01:12:41,920 --> 01:12:50,480
Mat Lefor, second by councelor Bourne
that these two committees be filled. All

753
01:12:48,320 --> 01:12:56,000
in favor?
Your motion is carried. Uh we'll bring

754
01:12:53,600 --> 01:13:01,600
the other two
committees to cau

755
01:12:58,960 --> 01:13:07,120
or when
yeah

756
01:13:03,920 --> 01:13:10,920
position is filled for district three.
Okay. Um

757
01:13:11,360 --> 01:13:20,920
information report District 3 by
election.

758
01:13:16,560 --> 01:13:20,920
Um Miss Cloud, you're up again.

759
01:13:23,920 --> 01:13:30,480
Um yeah, so you've all gotten the
information report provided to you um in

760
01:13:28,159 --> 01:13:35,440
your council package. Um there was a
resignation for district 3, so we do

761
01:13:32,480 --> 01:13:39,520
need to have a special bi-election. Um
so this the report was just to kind of

762
01:13:37,199 --> 01:13:43,280
walk council through that process and
how it's going to take place. There are

763
01:13:41,360 --> 01:13:48,000
a couple things that council needs to
decide today. Um we are going by the mun

764
01:13:46,239 --> 01:13:52,480
municipal elections act as directed by
the department of municipal affairs.

765
01:13:50,080 --> 01:13:57,600
Today is the absolute last day that we
can that council can pick a election

766
01:13:55,360 --> 01:14:03,920
day. Um you have council has to pick an
election day for the bi-election

767
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:10,000
anywhere from April 25th to June uh June
6th. You also have to pick a first

768
01:14:07,840 --> 01:14:13,920
advanced poll day and I can give you
those dates but I have to we have to

769
01:14:11,760 --> 01:14:19,920
first pick the election day. it has to
fall within certain requirements. And

770
01:14:16,480 --> 01:14:24,400
then you also have to um appoint a
returning officer and as recommended in

771
01:14:21,920 --> 01:14:31,719
the report um that would be myself, the
municipal clerk as operationally I am uh

772
01:14:27,840 --> 01:14:31,719
that is on my job description.

773
01:14:37,600 --> 01:14:43,679
So we do have to pick the
councelor Matson

774
01:14:41,920 --> 01:14:48,480
» or you also have to pick voting options.
That was the other um and there there is

775
01:14:46,080 --> 01:14:54,159
a cost breakdown of per voting option
that was supplied in your report.

776
01:14:51,520 --> 01:14:58,400
» Council, I'm just going to I plotted all
this out beforehand. So for me

777
01:14:56,320 --> 01:15:02,560
personally, I was going to suggest
Saturday May 30th. The rationale is

778
01:15:00,880 --> 01:15:06,560
because it falls within the legislated
window. Provides sufficient time for

779
01:15:05,040 --> 01:15:11,280
nominations,
staffing and public communication. It

780
01:15:08,320 --> 01:15:15,600
avoids rushing the process which can
create inefficiencies. It balancing time

781
01:15:14,000 --> 01:15:19,920
that supports proper election
administration without extending the

782
01:15:17,199 --> 01:15:26,239
timeline unnecessarily.
I also went with the Elchipo decision. I

783
01:15:24,000 --> 01:15:30,400
would be going for paper ballots
personally at this point and minimal

784
01:15:28,719 --> 01:15:33,760
advanced polling to reduce costs
further. So that's my rationale. That's

785
01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:36,800
what I'm
>> Can I ask what you said about the

786
01:15:35,120 --> 01:15:43,280
advanced poll thing?
>> Uh minimal advanced polling cost further

787
01:15:40,320 --> 01:15:46,280
and anyway that's that's what I chose.
But

788
01:15:47,920 --> 01:15:58,880
» any other council Henick? I agree with
the with the paper ballot um way. I feel

789
01:15:56,159 --> 01:16:03,920
that it's uh a safer way of doing it.
You show your identification, who you

790
01:16:00,400 --> 01:16:06,920
are, and it's it's an easier way to do
it.

791
01:16:08,320 --> 01:16:14,120
Councelor Bourne,
>> I'm fine with those recommendations so

792
01:16:11,120 --> 01:16:14,120
far.

793
01:16:18,159 --> 01:16:27,280
Deputy Warden, are you okay with Yeah.
>> Okay. So, if it is May 30th for the

794
01:16:25,040 --> 01:16:30,960
election that you're that you're
choosing, then

795
01:16:29,600 --> 01:16:36,640
Sorry, just one sec.
>> Got to get my calendar back up.

796
01:16:34,560 --> 01:16:41,840
» That would be the first advanced poll
day. Um would either be you have to pick

797
01:16:38,960 --> 01:16:49,880
either the Thursday the 21st or the
Saturday, May 23rd.

798
01:16:45,440 --> 01:16:49,880
for the first advanced poll day

799
01:16:50,800 --> 01:16:56,199
and that would also make nomination day
May 5th.

800
01:16:59,120 --> 01:17:05,440
» Um,
is there any

801
01:17:03,120 --> 01:17:08,719
best practices with a weekday versus a
weekend for advanced polling? Not that

802
01:17:07,360 --> 01:17:11,679
I've seen. Not that you've seen. So,
>> there's two polls. You have your first

803
01:17:10,159 --> 01:17:15,280
advanced poll and then you have your
legislated second advanced poll. And

804
01:17:13,679 --> 01:17:17,120
that's four days prior to this election
day.

805
01:17:15,520 --> 01:17:21,600
» Okay, fair enough.
>> Okay.

806
01:17:19,199 --> 01:17:24,000
» So, can you say that date again? The
advanced poll would have to be the 26th,

807
01:17:23,520 --> 01:17:26,880
right?
>> Nope. No.

808
01:17:24,719 --> 01:17:32,400
» So, election day, if election day is May
30th, you have two options for first

809
01:17:30,000 --> 01:17:36,480
advanced poll day. You have May 21st as
the option

810
01:17:33,520 --> 01:17:39,840
» or you have May 23rd as the option. It's
a Thursday or a Saturday.

811
01:17:38,400 --> 01:17:44,239
» So, you're not here for the You don't
need to be here for the events.

812
01:17:41,360 --> 01:17:51,360
» No. Okay. They're very quiet.
>> I'm I'm just checking with our CCO is

813
01:17:47,760 --> 01:17:54,360
sort of vacation time there. So,
>> um

814
01:17:56,960 --> 01:18:04,199
» yeah,
>> if it was to reduce costs, the Thursday

815
01:17:59,520 --> 01:18:04,199
would be the less of a cost.

816
01:18:06,560 --> 01:18:12,640
I'm
>> fine with that. Like I said, with me,

817
01:18:08,400 --> 01:18:15,760
it's just Council Born, you have your
Okay. Vance poll 21st.

818
01:18:14,960 --> 01:18:19,760
» Yes.
>> Okay. So that means that the special

819
01:18:17,840 --> 01:18:28,880
election for district 3 by election
would be May 30th, 2026 with first

820
01:18:24,159 --> 01:18:31,880
advanced poll being May 21st, 2026
and

821
01:18:32,480 --> 01:18:35,480
May.

822
01:18:36,000 --> 01:18:40,000
That's two.
>> And nominations, they have to have their

823
01:18:38,239 --> 01:18:45,440
nominations in by
>> uh nomination day would be May 5th.

824
01:18:44,480 --> 01:18:48,000
» May 5th.
>> Yep.

825
01:18:46,640 --> 01:18:53,600
» Okay. Um
>> and are you going by paper ballot?

826
01:18:50,159 --> 01:19:01,440
» Per ballot. Okay.
One thing Go ahead, Council Mat Lefor.

827
01:18:57,440 --> 01:19:05,520
Just to just to note, I'm backing a
paper ballot for this just because it's

828
01:19:03,600 --> 01:19:09,520
an exceptional bi-election, but that's
not necessarily where I would stand for

829
01:19:07,679 --> 01:19:14,320
the next it. It's just for this
bi-election. That option is Yep. Yep. We

830
01:19:12,640 --> 01:19:20,560
just want to I just wanted to supply all
the options that are available.

831
01:19:16,880 --> 01:19:26,080
» Mr. CL, can I ask what about the seniors
residents? Uh the

832
01:19:22,719 --> 01:19:29,360
» So, there is a a vote by proxy. Um, and
we could also I need I'm going to be

833
01:19:28,000 --> 01:19:33,840
looking into it. I just needed to find
out what the decision was on council.

834
01:19:32,000 --> 01:19:37,360
Um, but there is a potential that an
advanced polling station could be set up

835
01:19:35,440 --> 01:19:39,840
there at one of the homes.
>> Yes. Yes.

836
01:19:38,480 --> 01:19:43,040
» Just to make sure that
>> Yes.

837
01:19:40,320 --> 01:19:47,920
» Okay. So,
>> I'm also fine with appointing staff as

838
01:19:46,000 --> 01:19:51,040
the
officer election administration

839
01:19:50,239 --> 01:19:56,000
returning officer.
>> Do you need a motion for that?

840
01:19:52,560 --> 01:20:02,159
» I have one. I so I provided a um a
sample motion um for all of the it's one

841
01:19:59,280 --> 01:20:06,440
motion that entails everything.
>> Yes.

842
01:20:03,440 --> 01:20:06,440
» Yeah.

843
01:20:07,280 --> 01:20:16,239
» Can we get a motion then? So the motion
should say that council declare May 30th

844
01:20:14,560 --> 01:20:21,600
» as the date of the district 3
bi-election that the first advanced

845
01:20:17,679 --> 01:20:24,159
polling will be May 21st
in accordance with legislative

846
01:20:22,960 --> 01:20:27,920
requirements and that the municipal
clerk be appointed as returning officer

847
01:20:25,760 --> 01:20:35,960
for the bi-election and that council
approve the use of paper ballots as a

848
01:20:32,719 --> 01:20:35,960
voting method.

849
01:20:36,239 --> 01:20:42,159
That's the motion. If somebody wants to
>> somebody want to make that motion,

850
01:20:40,320 --> 01:20:47,840
councelor Henock, the motion's on the
table. Do I have a seconder?

851
01:20:44,640 --> 01:20:50,239
Councelor Mat fort. No discussion
discussion.

852
01:20:48,320 --> 01:20:56,239
» Just one discussion. Do we need to add
the

853
01:20:51,760 --> 01:20:58,560
» um the 21st in there just to dates to
pick?

854
01:20:56,719 --> 01:21:04,239
» Was that in there? I guess. Okay. Y
Thank you. No problem.

855
01:21:02,320 --> 01:21:11,920
Okay. Uh there's a motion on the table.
We have a seconder. All in favor?

856
01:21:07,760 --> 01:21:17,159
Motion is carried. Bi-election May 30th,
2026 for district 3. Thank you.

857
01:21:14,159 --> 01:21:17,159
Counselors,

858
01:21:22,320 --> 01:21:28,120
are you speaking on this?
>> I

859
01:21:28,239 --> 01:21:38,480
Okay. Next, we have the uh tip fee uh
write off uh for the Bedc Rink demo. um

860
01:21:36,320 --> 01:21:45,360
our CEO is going to be speaking on this.
>> Yeah. So, um we have received some um

861
01:21:42,400 --> 01:21:50,480
some material so far from the Victoria
County Highland Civic Center. Uh it was

862
01:21:47,840 --> 01:21:57,600
brought to council in the past about
writing off the tipping fees for the um

863
01:21:53,840 --> 01:22:02,719
demolition of the old arena. Um and I
think that it was noted to wait until uh

864
01:22:01,120 --> 01:22:06,880
we came in to see how much that would
cost.

865
01:22:04,239 --> 01:22:12,080
So, currently where we're where we're
at, we wanted to bring council up to

866
01:22:08,639 --> 01:22:15,920
date on it. Um because Bill O'Brien, the
manager there, approached uh our

867
01:22:14,080 --> 01:22:24,719
department requesting municipal council
wave the tipping fees. Uh what we have

868
01:22:18,239 --> 01:22:28,960
so far um is that to date 34.6 me metric
tons of demolition materials have been

869
01:22:26,639 --> 01:22:35,280
disposed of at the Bedc Waste Management
Facility, resulting in $2,492.20

870
01:22:32,560 --> 01:22:40,239
20 cents in tip fees. Uh the demolition
project is still in progress. Um and

871
01:22:38,400 --> 01:22:44,320
updated information will be provided at
the time of completion, but just wanted

872
01:22:41,679 --> 01:22:48,560
to keep you up to date on where we are
at with the fees. I think we're thinking

873
01:22:47,040 --> 01:22:53,360
that the total is probably going to come
in around$7,000.

874
01:22:51,199 --> 01:22:57,199
» Okay. So, this is just for information
purpose. And

875
01:22:54,400 --> 01:23:02,080
» well, you could um choose to write it
off currently if you wanted to. That's

876
01:22:59,840 --> 01:23:07,280
the number that we have so far.
Um that's council's decision.

877
01:23:06,239 --> 01:23:11,199
» Councelor Bourne
>> suggesting that so it stays in the

878
01:23:08,880 --> 01:23:16,199
fiscal year and that way this portion is
and then the rest would be okay. Ideally

879
01:23:19,760 --> 01:23:26,600
questions on the tipping fee.
>> Okay.

880
01:23:27,040 --> 01:23:35,199
Make a motion on that. Sure. I' I've put
a motion on the floor that we pay the

881
01:23:32,560 --> 01:23:43,120
$2,492
in tipping fees in this fiscal year.

882
01:23:38,960 --> 01:23:48,480
» You actually just write it off. Yeah,
>> there's a motion on the table. Do I have

883
01:23:44,639 --> 01:23:51,800
a seconder? Second by councelor Dunovan.
Any discussion

884
01:23:56,320 --> 01:24:04,040
during just during this fiscal year? in
the just to capture this amount in this

885
01:24:00,719 --> 01:24:04,040
fiscal year.

886
01:24:05,679 --> 01:24:14,320
All in favor?
Your motion is carried. So you'll be

887
01:24:10,800 --> 01:24:18,440
writing that off.
Councelor Dunovan.

888
01:24:15,120 --> 01:24:18,440
» Councelor Dunovan.

889
01:24:19,920 --> 01:24:28,960
Um community shredding event.
This was asked for. So, our staff have

890
01:24:26,400 --> 01:24:35,520
been in contact with Scotia Shredding,
Scotia Security Shredding. Um, they have

891
01:24:32,800 --> 01:24:42,159
proposed a couple of Saturdays to come
and do this event. Um, the following or

892
01:24:39,600 --> 01:24:47,360
the Saturdays of May 9th and May 23rd
were the Saturdays that were suggested.

893
01:24:44,560 --> 01:24:53,360
Um the quoted costs for having this
service done which would be um ideally

894
01:24:50,560 --> 01:24:59,679
they come park in a parking lot and
residents can come and give their um

895
01:24:57,440 --> 01:25:06,320
items that they wish to be have shredded
their personal items um through a a

896
01:25:03,760 --> 01:25:12,000
secure system through a secure company.
Uh so south of Smokeoky is $700 and

897
01:25:09,360 --> 01:25:16,159
north of Smokeoky was about $1,200. Uh
this service would include the mobile

898
01:25:13,920 --> 01:25:20,000
shredding truck staff and on-site secure
shredding for residents during the

899
01:25:17,520 --> 01:25:24,639
scheduled time period.
A spot where they uh request so I guess

900
01:25:22,639 --> 01:25:28,239
there's two different pieces to this.
Are we interested in doing this? We may

901
01:25:26,880 --> 01:25:33,120
actually be able to get a grant from
divert to offset the cost of these uh

902
01:25:31,440 --> 01:25:38,480
which we will look into if it's
something the council is interested in

903
01:25:34,719 --> 01:25:44,239
doing on those dates. Um and on top of
that, uh we are hoping that the location

904
01:25:42,239 --> 01:25:52,480
that's determined is the school parking
lots. Seems to be the best most sort of

905
01:25:48,080 --> 01:25:56,800
out of the way locations for um
for having this truck go in park. So

906
01:25:55,040 --> 01:26:00,320
we're hoping that when Susan Kelly comes
to council that council will request

907
01:25:58,480 --> 01:26:04,719
that that be something that happen in
the school parking lots.

908
01:26:02,320 --> 01:26:09,360
» Councor Mats on the floor. Um, can I ask
does it cost $500 more to get to North

909
01:26:07,360 --> 01:26:14,239
of Smokey? Like what is the difference?
What is the reasoning for the $700

910
01:26:11,760 --> 01:26:22,159
versus $1,200?
I'm surprised it's not double. But yeah,

911
01:26:20,000 --> 01:26:29,760
and like search charge that I don't know
about when it comes to North of Smoking.

912
01:26:26,400 --> 01:26:33,440
Councelor D, if you want to speak.
No,

913
01:26:30,080 --> 01:26:38,480
» I mean that's a big difference. I get
Yeah, I get if it's you're traveling

914
01:26:36,400 --> 01:26:43,679
extensively or maybe going into a place
that's risky,

915
01:26:41,679 --> 01:26:48,400
like danger pay, but I don't understand
the $500 difference. I'd be curious to

916
01:26:46,560 --> 01:26:52,719
in their quotes unless they just have an
overall sweeping

917
01:26:50,560 --> 01:26:56,560
policy regarding that. So,
>> unfortunately,

918
01:26:54,800 --> 01:27:01,440
north of Smokeoky, as soon as you say
north of Smokeoky, it does become more

919
01:26:58,480 --> 01:27:08,159
expensive for transport. Uh typically
there are trucking fees and also fuel

920
01:27:05,440 --> 01:27:13,679
fuel search charges that are applied to
loads that

921
01:27:10,639 --> 01:27:19,040
come over Smokeoky
>> was think I was thinking the same thing

922
01:27:16,000 --> 01:27:25,199
uh counselor um it is quite a difference
between the two spots but add on to that

923
01:27:22,320 --> 01:27:29,199
there's there's staff that they're
sending traveling to these locations so

924
01:27:27,280 --> 01:27:39,159
if it's two hours to get there two hours
to get back plus the cost of fuel, it's

925
01:27:33,040 --> 01:27:39,159
it's different than coming to bed. So,

926
01:27:39,440 --> 01:27:45,920
if the schools are not an option, could
the RC and P2 stations be a good option

927
01:27:44,080 --> 01:27:50,159
as well?
>> Possibly both sell the Smokey and

928
01:27:48,239 --> 01:27:52,960
» Yeah, we're we're hoping for the school.
Sure.

929
01:27:50,400 --> 01:27:55,760
» And then um if we need to find an
alternate location, I'm sure we can

930
01:27:55,120 --> 01:28:00,639
somewhere.
>> Great. Do you need a motion, Leanne, or

931
01:27:58,000 --> 01:28:03,840
» Yeah, I think that Sorry. Okay,
>> councelor Hanick first.

932
01:28:01,840 --> 01:28:08,880
» Just curious, are they going to give us
a a report on how much was shredded?

933
01:28:07,600 --> 01:28:13,520
» I wonder
>> we we probably can ask for that.

934
01:28:11,280 --> 01:28:17,760
» I'm just saying because if there's no
like if it's not used then then then why

935
01:28:16,239 --> 01:28:19,440
get it, right? Like for the
>> Yeah.

936
01:28:18,000 --> 01:28:24,159
» You know what I mean? Like just if we
have a a ballpark on how much was taken

937
01:28:22,320 --> 01:28:28,239
in or used or or whatnot, right?
>> Right. That's something that we normally

938
01:28:25,679 --> 01:28:33,520
look for. So, for instance, we had our
household hazardous waste uh drop offs,

939
01:28:31,199 --> 01:28:40,000
which was a special
I think it was a huge cost that we paid

940
01:28:36,960 --> 01:28:44,880
and there might have been five people to
10 people show up at it. So, for this as

941
01:28:43,199 --> 01:28:48,320
well, yes, that will be something that
will be tracked.

942
01:28:46,480 --> 01:28:51,199
» Okay. So, then they're only going to be
there from a certain time to a certain

943
01:28:49,760 --> 01:28:53,679
time, right? Like if it's going to be at
the school.

944
01:28:51,920 --> 01:28:59,440
» Yep. It's 3 hours of service on a
Saturday and as we get the dates, we'll

945
01:28:56,239 --> 01:29:06,120
then get the information out on um
getting it out to the public, doing a

946
01:29:01,600 --> 01:29:06,120
blitz on advertising for it.

947
01:29:08,080 --> 01:29:17,520
Okay. If it's council's wishes to have
this looked into more or for location,

948
01:29:15,840 --> 01:29:20,520
um I'm going to need a motion on the
table.

949
01:29:20,960 --> 01:29:26,480
Okay, go ahead council Bourne.
>> I will move that we accept the

950
01:29:24,320 --> 01:29:32,080
recommendations and the report on the
two dates and with the cost on both SAM

951
01:29:29,360 --> 01:29:37,040
Smokeoky and North Smokeoky.
>> There's a motion on the table. Can I get

952
01:29:33,760 --> 01:29:42,080
a seconder? Second by councelor Dunovan.
All in favor?

953
01:29:39,760 --> 01:29:49,199
Your motion is carried. Look into that
for us, please.

954
01:29:45,920 --> 01:29:54,639
Okay. Next is council reports. We'll
start with Oh, sorry.

955
01:29:52,400 --> 01:29:59,080
I scratched that off, too. Scheduling
council and cow meetings

956
01:30:02,880 --> 01:30:09,159
was speaking on this. Who brought it up?

957
01:30:10,960 --> 01:30:17,920
Gordon.
>> Yeah, I didn't ask for the councils and

958
01:30:13,760 --> 01:30:25,600
cal meetings but uh just I want to sk
when we scheduled the training meetings

959
01:30:20,880 --> 01:30:32,320
and um extra meetings. So make um if we
can be all full quarum to that meetings

960
01:30:29,840 --> 01:30:39,199
and we know that councils and cow
meetings we have it Mondays is scheduled

961
01:30:35,280 --> 01:30:45,280
for the year. I'm fine with that um with
schedule and I in personal I work I work

962
01:30:42,719 --> 01:30:53,120
Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays until
noon. So it's I can be Tuesdays,

963
01:30:48,080 --> 01:30:59,120
Wednesdays. So um I just about schedule
extra meetings so if they can give us in

964
01:30:56,000 --> 01:31:05,600
advance the dates and then I can make or
not make it. Um about Mondays the

965
01:31:03,520 --> 01:31:11,360
console meetings and cloud I'm fine with
that. I don't know if we keep it for a

966
01:31:07,760 --> 01:31:17,040
year again. That's I think we do every
year, right? So, it's working. So, just

967
01:31:14,080 --> 01:31:23,120
because a new council is coming
uh not necessarily sometimes we have to

968
01:31:19,280 --> 01:31:28,480
meet at 12:00 in Mondays. Maybe the new
counselor is working as well. So, we can

969
01:31:25,520 --> 01:31:34,639
meet after 5. We do that before. So,
just just want to make sure it's options

970
01:31:30,719 --> 01:31:40,400
there. And um yeah just if they're more
u about the extra meetings that you're

971
01:31:36,960 --> 01:31:46,080
going to we are going to uh schedule so
get more consideration about like we we

972
01:31:43,360 --> 01:31:54,159
need to be all full quarum for council
for meetings. So now uh either one can

973
01:31:51,440 --> 01:31:59,520
just send us the dates the
administration is giving it to you we

974
01:31:56,320 --> 01:32:02,480
can just figure out
Yep.

975
01:32:03,600 --> 01:32:10,320
Let
so the request is for council to send

976
01:32:08,320 --> 01:32:16,400
their
their meeting their their their

977
01:32:13,920 --> 01:32:20,080
uh calendars. Uh we don't need to see
the details.

978
01:32:18,159 --> 01:32:27,600
It helps with scheduling. There's a lot
of meetings that are coming up.

979
01:32:23,440 --> 01:32:32,400
Two Mondays of a month are council and
committee of the whole. One Monday is

980
01:32:29,760 --> 01:32:37,920
usually a holiday.
We have a tight schedule there now to

981
01:32:35,199 --> 01:32:43,760
work around. So if it means moving
meetings to the evenings, we need to

982
01:32:40,239 --> 01:32:49,360
know. But scheduling of the meetings
takes a lot to have presenters come,

983
01:32:47,520 --> 01:32:54,880
other
levels of government come, all kinds of

984
01:32:52,400 --> 01:33:01,280
different things. So the the scheduling
of it, it it doesn't just happen.

985
01:32:59,280 --> 01:33:07,040
And then to have the counsel like send
it to Jackie to send out to send back.

986
01:33:03,760 --> 01:33:12,960
Why not use ouruler who schedules
things? She needs access to your

987
01:33:09,120 --> 01:33:17,280
calendars to fit them in. So we don't
need to see what what you're what you're

988
01:33:15,120 --> 01:33:21,600
doing. There's settings in your calendar
that can be set. As long as everything

989
01:33:19,199 --> 01:33:26,320
is in your calendar, we we try to
accommodate But there's just other times

990
01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:30,120
that we just can't based on others
coming. So,

991
01:33:31,199 --> 01:33:37,199
councelor Mat Lefor.
>> Um, regarding the calendar, I was

992
01:33:34,320 --> 01:33:41,760
actually confused because I thought that
administration already had access to it

993
01:33:39,120 --> 01:33:45,679
because it had shown in there that there
was another party that had access to our

994
01:33:43,600 --> 01:33:48,719
calendars. So, I guess that's what
confused me,

995
01:33:47,120 --> 01:33:53,440
» right? And that's what confused me. I
thought it was staff that had like

996
01:33:50,880 --> 01:33:57,120
administered that had that. So um but on
another note is it going to be in our

997
01:33:55,360 --> 01:34:02,080
policy because I know it's being worked
on when it doesn't happen in the end of

998
01:34:00,480 --> 01:34:06,400
time of the year but winter about
rescheduling our cow in council

999
01:34:04,719 --> 01:34:10,800
sessions. Are we going to have that
written in so it's a definite always a

1000
01:34:08,800 --> 01:34:13,440
week later or always three day like is
are we going to do something like that

1001
01:34:12,000 --> 01:34:17,679
for the canceled ones because of weather
and things like that? So the policy

1002
01:34:15,520 --> 01:34:22,880
currently as it so it will be discussed
at committee the whole but it is written

1003
01:34:20,880 --> 01:34:28,480
in it that it is the warden and the
CEO's call to if it's going to go to

1004
01:34:25,840 --> 01:34:32,719
virtual. So like here's an example this
last meeting of committee of the whole.

1005
01:34:30,880 --> 01:34:38,560
We've now pushed it off. Our schedule is
now doubled on things because we haven't

1006
01:34:34,880 --> 01:34:42,159
had another time there. But if if we're
going to keep moving them and we only

1007
01:34:40,480 --> 01:34:48,239
have a small time frame to schedule
around, your days are going to be really

1008
01:34:44,800 --> 01:34:55,440
long. So why we have the ability to do
virtual. So we try to do what we can in

1009
01:34:52,400 --> 01:35:01,840
virtual if that's if that's what the
call is. So we're still we'd like to

1010
01:34:58,400 --> 01:35:06,960
keep the same days, but just decide on
where it's going to be or how it's going

1011
01:35:04,159 --> 01:35:11,199
to be. Council Donovan,
>> it just seems to make sense to me if all

1012
01:35:09,199 --> 01:35:15,199
the folks on council realize that every
second Monday you have a meeting. If

1013
01:35:13,520 --> 01:35:19,199
there is a weather event and you can't
make it into bedc because of snow or or

1014
01:35:17,600 --> 01:35:24,080
whatever,
doing the meeting virtually just seems

1015
01:35:21,280 --> 01:35:29,440
to be the obvious decision
>> and and we agree with that. The only

1016
01:35:27,440 --> 01:35:37,360
issue that we've had in the past is
trying to hybrid it. So if some are

1017
01:35:32,080 --> 01:35:44,159
virtual and some are um in person, it's
hard to hear. It's hard to So

1018
01:35:41,600 --> 01:35:48,080
yeah. Oh
>> no.

1019
01:35:45,199 --> 01:35:52,320
» Yeah. So that's why the
>> Yeah. And you have to also remember like

1020
01:35:50,560 --> 01:35:58,000
there may not be anybody here today.
However, we try to make the calls.

1021
01:35:56,400 --> 01:36:04,080
You have to think about the people
thinking about coming to the meetings.

1022
01:36:00,639 --> 01:36:08,880
um the the weather that they would be um
coming through. There's not it's not

1023
01:36:06,880 --> 01:36:13,760
just making sure these people are here.
You also have to think about the public

1024
01:36:10,880 --> 01:36:22,080
if the public was to ever show up. So
virtual may make more sense or or or

1025
01:36:19,360 --> 01:36:26,239
rescheduling. It's your call, but that
is in the council policy currently, the

1026
01:36:24,639 --> 01:36:29,920
council procedural policy which you're
going to see. I think we're going to

1027
01:36:28,080 --> 01:36:35,360
send it out.
Okay. Uh so there is something in there

1028
01:36:32,639 --> 01:36:39,679
where these meetings the warden and the
CEO work in conjunction to figure out if

1029
01:36:38,239 --> 01:36:43,040
it's going to be turned to a virtual
meeting or not. And there should be

1030
01:36:40,880 --> 01:36:50,480
enough time ahead of time to figure that
piece out too. But if our schedule is

1031
01:36:46,960 --> 01:36:54,800
down to between 2 days or 2 and 1/2
days,

1032
01:36:52,159 --> 01:36:58,800
we may have to look at the times of
these meetings if they're not working

1033
01:36:56,400 --> 01:37:04,000
for people. So
we try to do our best, but we can't

1034
01:37:01,040 --> 01:37:09,520
always we can't always.
>> I understand that you can always it's

1035
01:37:06,719 --> 01:37:16,560
just uh we have considerations a lot in
the formal console. some of them were

1036
01:37:12,480 --> 01:37:22,320
working that time. So if you can we can
meet after 4:30 that I don't see the

1037
01:37:19,360 --> 01:37:28,000
problem in that. I'm just asking more
flexibility in in the meetings and not

1038
01:37:25,040 --> 01:37:32,800
just 10 to 12 and 2 to 4 like we can
meet after and we are not the only know

1039
01:37:31,119 --> 01:37:37,920
there's a lot of consults they're
meeting after 5 because people work. So

1040
01:37:36,000 --> 01:37:43,199
it's just I'm asking for that
consideration as personal because my my

1041
01:37:40,960 --> 01:37:49,920
work is going to be there until I don't
know until I finish at 4:30 but I can be

1042
01:37:47,280 --> 01:37:56,239
by 4:30 here. So that's I'm asking a
consideration for console to to keep

1043
01:37:52,400 --> 01:38:00,440
that in mind. So I can meet every day
but after 4:30 sometimes.

1044
01:38:02,000 --> 01:38:07,679
» Councelor Matson Lefor. No, I do. I I
Yeah, I acknowledge that because I know

1045
01:38:06,080 --> 01:38:15,280
there are other councils where they're
meeting at 6:00 and 700 p.m.

1046
01:38:10,800 --> 01:38:18,639
So, mind you, my only concern was just
when those things for those things

1047
01:38:16,560 --> 01:38:22,239
happen in the winter traveling with the
ones that come from the north just

1048
01:38:20,639 --> 01:38:25,760
because we have different geographical
constraints here in Victoria County and

1049
01:38:23,920 --> 01:38:32,239
Inesse County than they would have in
like, you know, or Yeah. you know.

1050
01:38:28,480 --> 01:38:35,280
Anyway, but again, I'm I'm fine with
later on in the day as well as long as

1051
01:38:34,320 --> 01:38:40,800
it's a reasonable
>> and I'm okay with a console and cow and

1052
01:38:37,280 --> 01:38:45,760
Mondays. I I can do it just is just the
days I'm working. So, I'm trying to be

1053
01:38:43,679 --> 01:38:51,119
you guys can be consideration about
that. That's it. Can be training, can be

1054
01:38:49,119 --> 01:38:54,719
budget,
but they need have to be consideration

1055
01:38:53,360 --> 01:39:00,159
there.
>> Okay. No taken. uh with the the virtual

1056
01:38:58,159 --> 01:39:04,320
the only thing
the only time that if we can't do it

1057
01:39:02,000 --> 01:39:10,639
virtually would be with the power the
power north of Smokeoky we'd have to

1058
01:39:06,400 --> 01:39:15,119
take in consideration that our powers
is usually out so

1059
01:39:12,560 --> 01:39:22,880
» so if we could have councils share their
schedules um their calendars and it is

1060
01:39:19,119 --> 01:39:27,119
here who can help with doing that um it
just makes it easier for our schedulers

1061
01:39:25,360 --> 01:39:30,000
as
Thank you.

1062
01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:33,679
» Okay, I'll council to share their
calendar. Go ahead, council. Question

1063
01:39:31,760 --> 01:39:36,719
because the last training session was
with municipal affairs. Is that going to

1064
01:39:35,199 --> 01:39:44,520
be rescheduled and maybe that could be
done on a Monday afternoon when like

1065
01:39:39,840 --> 01:39:44,520
after cow or when we're free?

1066
01:39:45,920 --> 01:39:49,480
Okay, thank you.

1067
01:39:54,719 --> 01:40:07,480
Um, now we'll go to council reports.
We'll start with councelor Henick today.

1068
01:40:03,040 --> 01:40:07,480
Oh, just one.

1069
01:40:16,800 --> 01:40:24,719
Okay, we'll start with counselor. Thank
you, Warden. Um, the Cabbat Fire Hall

1070
01:40:22,320 --> 01:40:29,600
Auxiliary will be having uh their
elementary age dance along with the

1071
01:40:26,800 --> 01:40:34,480
Easter Bunny Pictures on March 27th from
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Cab Fireh Hall.

1072
01:40:32,000 --> 01:40:39,280
It was uh cancelled last week because of
the storm, so come on out and uh get

1073
01:40:36,880 --> 01:40:43,679
your bunny pictures done. Uh North
Highland Nordic will be having a spring

1074
01:40:41,440 --> 01:40:48,880
market and breakfast every Saturday in
April from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

1075
01:40:46,800 --> 01:40:54,480
Please message the Nordic to book a
table. Uh and the breakfastes go pretty

1076
01:40:51,199 --> 01:40:58,719
quick too, so uh come early. Um Bas
Lawrence Community Center will be having

1077
01:40:56,159 --> 01:41:05,119
their second annual spring health fair
Wednesday, April 29th from 1 to 4. Uh

1078
01:41:02,800 --> 01:41:09,040
please see their Facebook page for more
information.

1079
01:41:07,119 --> 01:41:14,320
A reminder to district 8 that the
misable grants deadline is March 31st.

1080
01:41:12,159 --> 01:41:18,560
And thank you to everyone that had their
say in doing the municipal survey, but

1081
01:41:16,719 --> 01:41:24,159
they still have time. The deadline is
today. So, get them in. Um, and that's

1082
01:41:21,679 --> 01:41:30,239
it for me. Thank you, councelor.
Councelor Donovan.

1083
01:41:26,719 --> 01:41:35,040
» Thank you, Warden. Um, let's Oh, excuse
me. Smoker Recreation. Um, I believe

1084
01:41:32,719 --> 01:41:40,560
they're starting to wind down on their
Sunday afternoon jam sessions. They were

1085
01:41:38,400 --> 01:41:45,040
uh very popular this this year once
again.

1086
01:41:41,840 --> 01:41:51,119
Um I from what I understand I believe uh
Cape Smokey Ski Cape Smokeoky are going

1087
01:41:47,280 --> 01:41:55,520
to be open into mid to late April
provided the snow holds up. They tell me

1088
01:41:53,280 --> 01:42:00,639
they have about a 4ft base of snow
man-made so they may still be there

1089
01:41:58,560 --> 01:42:08,639
skiing in April.
uh there on uh Good Friday there will be

1090
01:42:04,239 --> 01:42:13,840
a uh homemade beans fishcake supper at
the Royal Canadian Legion in Northades.

1091
01:42:11,760 --> 01:42:18,480
That's district. That's your district.
Sorry about that.

1092
01:42:16,320 --> 01:42:24,960
Uh and uh recently I did receive an
emailed question regarding the uh septic

1093
01:42:22,000 --> 01:42:30,639
system at the new daycare center. Uh I
have asked a few questions. Uh, I spoke

1094
01:42:27,280 --> 01:42:35,760
with the the head of smoky recreation.
He tells me that he is not aware of any

1095
01:42:33,199 --> 01:42:39,040
issue whatsoever with septic system. I
haven't heard anything from any

1096
01:42:37,199 --> 01:42:47,520
provincial authorities that pointed out
that there is an issue. Um, I'm not sure

1097
01:42:43,119 --> 01:42:55,520
who would be contacted to verify any of
that. Anyway, I uh yeah, I'm not sure

1098
01:42:52,800 --> 01:42:58,080
who else to ask.
That's it for me.

1099
01:42:56,639 --> 01:43:02,239
» Thank you, Councelor Dunham. Councelor
Bourne. Thank you, Warden. We received

1100
01:43:00,560 --> 01:43:07,520
the sad news that Recco Cove General
Store will not be reopening under its

1101
01:43:04,480 --> 01:43:11,920
current owners, Jen and Brent. Uh, for
many in our community, the store has

1102
01:43:09,840 --> 01:43:15,840
been more than just a place to shop. It
has been a gathering spot, a friendly

1103
01:43:13,679 --> 01:43:20,159
face, and part of the daily life for
years. I want to sincerely thank Jen and

1104
01:43:17,920 --> 01:43:24,320
Brent for the dedication and service and
wish them all the best in their future

1105
01:43:21,679 --> 01:43:28,800
endeavors. On March March 4th, I
attended the Nova Scotia Indigenous

1106
01:43:26,000 --> 01:43:32,400
Tourism Enterprise Network event in
member 2. As a board member of

1107
01:43:30,480 --> 01:43:36,560
Destination Cape Breton, it was a great
opportunity to learn more about the

1108
01:43:34,159 --> 01:43:41,440
important work happening in indigenous
tourism. Counselor Mat Lefor also joined

1109
01:43:39,280 --> 01:43:46,960
me which made the event even better to
connect and learn together.

1110
01:43:44,560 --> 01:43:51,679
There is a free tax clinic. So, it's a
reminder of the free tax clinic being

1111
01:43:48,800 --> 01:43:57,199
held every Thursday in March and April
at Knox Hall from 10 to 1:00 p.m. except

1112
01:43:54,560 --> 01:44:02,639
March 26. It's available for seniors and
lowincome residents.

1113
01:44:00,080 --> 01:44:06,480
The health group in St. An's Bay
continues to be a strong advocate for

1114
01:44:04,560 --> 01:44:12,880
community health. Their last senior
lunch had over 60 attendees,

1115
01:44:10,239 --> 01:44:18,000
showing much how much this program is
needed. They also offer weekly guided

1116
01:44:15,119 --> 01:44:21,760
tours, hikes, clinics, foot clinics,
yoga, and more. You can check out their

1117
01:44:19,840 --> 01:44:26,480
Facebook page and events page for
upcoming activities. On March 18th, I

1118
01:44:24,800 --> 01:44:30,960
attended the annual general meeting at
the Northshore and District volunteer

1119
01:44:29,440 --> 01:44:35,440
fire department. So, a big
congratulations to the newly elected

1120
01:44:32,800 --> 01:44:40,239
officers and to Chief McDonald. I want
to sincerely thank them for their

1121
01:44:37,280 --> 01:44:43,760
volunteer for to all the volunteers for
their dedication, your hard work and

1122
01:44:41,920 --> 01:44:48,400
commitment to make our community safer
every day. On Sunday, March 22nd, I

1123
01:44:46,880 --> 01:44:52,320
attended a community breakfast in
Englishtown. Many thanks to the

1124
01:44:49,760 --> 01:44:56,080
volunteers who put on the breakfast and
for bringing the community together. I'd

1125
01:44:54,320 --> 01:45:00,639
also like to thank Warden Oregon for
joining me. We appreciate you coming and

1126
01:44:58,719 --> 01:45:05,679
share the community event. South Haven
Hall will have their community breakfast

1127
01:45:02,320 --> 01:45:10,239
on Saturday, March 28th. And then just
to note as well, Meadow Road washouts. A

1128
01:45:08,239 --> 01:45:14,800
resident reached out about the road
washouts on Meadow Road after recent

1129
01:45:12,639 --> 01:45:18,639
heavy rains. I followed up with the Nova
Scotia public works with sending

1130
01:45:16,639 --> 01:45:23,520
pictures in and details of the area to
the area manager and that we will follow

1131
01:45:20,719 --> 01:45:25,040
up. And with that being said, I do have
a motion.

1132
01:45:24,159 --> 01:45:29,760
» Oh, go ahead.
>> Thank you so much.

1133
01:45:27,520 --> 01:45:34,080
Reliable cellular service is essential
for public safety, economic stability,

1134
01:45:32,000 --> 01:45:40,159
and quality and life of communities
across Nova Scotia. However, significant

1135
01:45:36,960 --> 01:45:45,440
gaps in coverage remain along the travel
corridors, including the Cab Trail and

1136
01:45:43,199 --> 01:45:50,159
in many rural areas in Victoria County
and beyond. These gaps pose serious risk

1137
01:45:48,400 --> 01:45:54,719
to residents, tourists, and first
responders. In areas without reliable

1138
01:45:52,639 --> 01:45:59,760
service, vehicle breakdowns, accidents,
and medical emergencies can result in

1139
01:45:57,520 --> 01:46:05,840
dangerous delays in assessing
assistance, particularly in remote and

1140
01:46:02,320 --> 01:46:09,840
hightra tourism regions. Announcement
through build Nova Scotia include

1141
01:46:07,840 --> 01:46:15,440
planned improvements at Cape Smokeoky
and a new tower in Oregon are positive

1142
01:46:13,040 --> 01:46:19,199
steps. However, current timelines
indicate that these projects may not be

1143
01:46:17,440 --> 01:46:24,080
completed before the upcoming tourist
season, raising concerns about continued

1144
01:46:21,920 --> 01:46:29,040
safety risk and potential delays in
delivery. Improving cellular coverage

1145
01:46:26,880 --> 01:46:33,679
along the cabbage trail and in rural
communities is a shared priority across

1146
01:46:32,159 --> 01:46:38,159
municipalities.
It supports coordinated emergency

1147
01:46:35,840 --> 01:46:42,639
response. It strengthens Nova Scotia's
tourist in economy and advances

1148
01:46:40,639 --> 01:46:47,520
equitable access to essential
infrastructure. Victoria County is

1149
01:46:45,040 --> 01:46:52,800
initiating a coordinated advocacy effort
in inviting municipalities across Nova

1150
01:46:50,000 --> 01:46:58,239
Scotia to support a unified call for
timely delivery of critical cellular

1151
01:46:55,760 --> 01:47:02,080
infrastructure. This isn't just about
Victoria County. We're asking

1152
01:46:59,920 --> 01:47:06,800
municipalities across Nova Scotia to
join us in a coordinated effort with

1153
01:47:04,800 --> 01:47:13,440
support from Nova Scotia Federation of
Municipalities, Destination Cape Breton,

1154
01:47:09,679 --> 01:47:18,480
and the Cape Breton Partnership.
So, I move that council direct chief

1155
01:47:16,480 --> 01:47:22,800
administrative officer to take the
following steps. First to draft a formal

1156
01:47:20,639 --> 01:47:26,719
advocacy letter requesting improved and
reliable cellular service along the

1157
01:47:24,960 --> 01:47:31,440
cabbage trail and in rural areas of
Victoria County and across Nova Scotia

1158
01:47:29,199 --> 01:47:35,600
for signature by the warden on behalf of
council. The letter should clearly

1159
01:47:33,360 --> 01:47:40,239
outline public safety risk, economic and
tourism impacts, and the need for

1160
01:47:37,280 --> 01:47:44,719
equitable rural telecommunications
infrastructure and request confirmation

1161
01:47:42,800 --> 01:47:48,960
of timeless
timelines and commitments to announce

1162
01:47:47,119 --> 01:47:54,719
projects including consideration of
advancing the Oregon Tower to the 2026

1163
01:47:52,000 --> 01:47:59,040
tourist season. It should also invite
municipalities across Nova Scotia to

1164
01:47:56,639 --> 01:48:04,639
endorse and co-sign the letter creating
a coordinated provincewide advocacy

1165
01:48:01,920 --> 01:48:08,000
effort with support from the Nova Scotia
Federation of Municipalities,

1166
01:48:06,080 --> 01:48:11,000
Destination Cape Breton, and Cape Breton
Partnership.

1167
01:48:13,199 --> 01:48:20,000
There's a motion on the table. Do I have
a seconder? Second by Councelor Dunovan.

1168
01:48:17,679 --> 01:48:25,040
Any discussion?
All in favor of this motion?

1169
01:48:24,000 --> 01:48:27,920
Motion is carried.
>> Thank you.

1170
01:48:25,920 --> 01:48:32,400
» Thank you, councelor Bourne. Deputy
Warden,

1171
01:48:28,560 --> 01:48:37,199
» thank you. Um just want um either in cow
council if we can invite Steve

1172
01:48:34,400 --> 01:48:44,560
McDonald's from public works to just
attend uh give us some um the spring

1173
01:48:40,159 --> 01:48:50,480
projects and about the how the bud is to
the Kim and give us any projects ahead

1174
01:48:47,280 --> 01:48:56,360
for this year. either
in console or cow, whatever it works for

1175
01:48:53,040 --> 01:48:56,360
for him.

1176
01:48:56,480 --> 01:49:02,320
» Okay, that's written down. Okay, that's
and that's it.

1177
01:49:00,159 --> 01:49:10,639
» Okay, thank you, Deputy W.
>> Councelor Mat Lefort.

1178
01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:15,040
» Thank you, Warden. Um, for the Legion
and Iona, the Wednesday Legion work

1179
01:49:12,560 --> 01:49:19,760
parties resume. So, weekly work parties
at the Legion will resume on Wednesday,

1180
01:49:16,800 --> 01:49:24,320
March 25th at 10:00 a.m. Participants
will gather to set priorities for 2026

1181
01:49:22,080 --> 01:49:28,400
before continuing the ongoing tasks and
community upkeep efforts. This weekly

1182
01:49:26,880 --> 01:49:32,800
sessions provide an opportunity to
address small projects, share ideas, and

1183
01:49:30,719 --> 01:49:36,159
work collaboratively in support of the
community. All residents who are

1184
01:49:34,400 --> 01:49:41,280
interested in contributing are welcome
to attend and lend a hand.

1185
01:49:39,119 --> 01:49:45,360
There will be a family dance night.
Residents are invited to the family

1186
01:49:43,040 --> 01:49:49,520
dance on April 4th from 7:30 to 10 at
the Little Ner Community Hall. The

1187
01:49:47,360 --> 01:49:53,679
evening will feature live music by youth
musicians from around the island. This

1188
01:49:51,920 --> 01:49:57,199
all ages event offers a fun and
welcoming atmosphere for families and

1189
01:49:55,440 --> 01:50:01,600
community members to come together and
enjoy live entertainment. Admission is

1190
01:49:59,360 --> 01:50:06,000
$5 and attendees are encouraged to bring
their dance shoes for a lively

1191
01:50:03,199 --> 01:50:09,520
familyfriendly night.
Today there's a very important thing

1192
01:50:07,760 --> 01:50:13,119
happening in Wadma Cookook. They're
opening their lifelong learning center.

1193
01:50:11,600 --> 01:50:17,679
So, they're having their grand opening
today. The community is invited to

1194
01:50:15,280 --> 01:50:24,320
attend the grand opening at Wadmakook
Lifelong Learning Center today at 100

1195
01:50:20,880 --> 01:50:28,960
p.m. at the Wadmakook Learning Center.
This new space will provide residents

1196
01:50:26,320 --> 01:50:33,119
with access to free Wi-Fi, public
desktop computers and MacBooks, as well

1197
01:50:31,199 --> 01:50:37,280
as printing services and a range of
learning resources. Designed as a

1198
01:50:35,360 --> 01:50:41,600
comfortable and quiet quiet environment,
the site aims to support adult learning

1199
01:50:39,280 --> 01:50:45,600
and skills development. The facility
will be available for residents seeking

1200
01:50:43,440 --> 01:50:49,920
to build new skills, access online
services, or simply use a quiet space

1201
01:50:47,600 --> 01:50:53,520
for focused work or study. Light
refreshments, including tea, coffee, and

1202
01:50:51,760 --> 01:50:57,600
snacks will be provided today. Again,
that's 100 p.m. that the grand opening

1203
01:50:55,520 --> 01:51:04,400
starts.
And regarding spring flooding in on the

1204
01:51:01,280 --> 01:51:08,080
Wabuk Peninsula, there's spring flooding
is affecting parts of the Wabuk

1205
01:51:06,000 --> 01:51:12,880
Peninsula where two properties are
currently experiencing significant

1206
01:51:10,000 --> 01:51:19,199
impacts. The situation has been brought
to the attention of the area manager via

1207
01:51:16,719 --> 01:51:22,639
the MLA and site evaluations are
expected to take place this week,

1208
01:51:20,800 --> 01:51:26,880
weather permitting. Updates will be
provided as more information becomes

1209
01:51:25,199 --> 01:51:32,639
available.
That is it for my district update. The

1210
01:51:29,600 --> 01:51:36,639
one other item that I have that I had as
a motion, but I was told it doesn't need

1211
01:51:34,080 --> 01:51:41,599
to be a motion, is that I will be
attending and participating in the basic

1212
01:51:39,119 --> 01:51:47,040
income guarantee Nova Scotia 1-day
conference in Halifax on April 17th as a

1213
01:51:45,360 --> 01:51:51,520
panel speaker representing the
municipality.

1214
01:51:48,639 --> 01:51:58,880
So, I'm just putting that to the council
to say that I will be going and

1215
01:51:55,760 --> 01:52:04,719
my travel I'll be expending my travel
will be covered.

1216
01:52:01,440 --> 01:52:07,040
» Okay, that's for information and it's
okay approved.

1217
01:52:06,080 --> 01:52:11,760
» Thank you.
>> Thank you, counselor.

1218
01:52:09,280 --> 01:52:16,480
Ah, District 7.
Once again, the Young at Heart Social

1219
01:52:13,840 --> 01:52:21,840
was a great success with a St. Patty's
Day

1220
01:52:18,239 --> 01:52:27,760
uh meal of bangers and mash and they had
chair yoga. This Wednesday, uh Victoria

1221
01:52:25,199 --> 01:52:33,119
County recreation coordinator Chris
Woodford will be there for fun and games

1222
01:52:30,080 --> 01:52:37,520
and a meal uh will be hamburger
casserole. All come on out and enjoy.

1223
01:52:35,440 --> 01:52:41,119
That's on Wednesday.
Uh I had h I did have the pleasure of

1224
01:52:39,599 --> 01:52:44,639
having breakfast with counselor Bourne
and her husband in the English town

1225
01:52:42,560 --> 01:52:48,880
hall. It was it was really nice. We had
a we had a great morning. Um roads

1226
01:52:47,280 --> 01:52:53,920
weren't that great going up, but going
home were better. Uh fish and chips

1227
01:52:51,280 --> 01:52:57,119
supper was held uh yesterday for a
fundraiser for the Neils Harbor New

1228
01:52:55,520 --> 01:53:03,360
Haven Volunteer Fire Department. It was
a great turnout from both volunteers and

1229
01:52:59,599 --> 01:53:07,760
people uh buying the meals. Uh once
again, like Councelor Henick said, the

1230
01:53:05,360 --> 01:53:14,800
reminder for the uh deadline for the
municipal grants is March 31st and your

1231
01:53:11,840 --> 01:53:18,960
survey is due today. Um, I think so far
it's been a a really good turnout for

1232
01:53:16,960 --> 01:53:23,840
our surveys.
Um, I'd also like to remind the

1233
01:53:20,880 --> 01:53:30,080
residents of District 3, I am acting as
your counselor. Um, I can be reached any

1234
01:53:26,960 --> 01:53:38,080
time uh via email.
Um, and I will be at this the courthouse

1235
01:53:34,880 --> 01:53:42,480
here on the first Monday of May uh
between 12 and 1. But if you need to get

1236
01:53:40,239 --> 01:53:50,800
hold of me before then, please please
reach out to my email. Um, and that's it

1237
01:53:46,480 --> 01:53:56,760
for district 7 today.
Um,

1238
01:53:53,760 --> 01:53:56,760
break.

1239
01:54:00,560 --> 01:54:08,920
At least we can keep. Okay.
So, we're going to do uh

1240
01:54:18,719 --> 01:54:29,199
Sorry. Got it. Word. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. So about the drones talking um you

1241
01:54:26,480 --> 01:54:33,520
say the amount could be in the air in
the area funding, right? Will we cover

1242
01:54:31,920 --> 01:54:38,320
it?
>> No, it's not. It's not going to be

1243
01:54:35,760 --> 01:54:43,280
funded through EMO funding, but it could
be a Remo funding. It could be a Remo

1244
01:54:40,960 --> 01:54:45,599
priority. That seems to be where all of
our emergency management things are

1245
01:54:44,800 --> 01:54:50,000
heading. Okay.
>> So, once our Remo is formed, that will

1246
01:54:47,679 --> 01:54:54,400
be something that we'll talk about. Um
cuz we're then talking regional and I

1247
01:54:52,800 --> 01:54:58,560
heard this morning that there is one
over in Valley Mills, I think, already

1248
01:54:57,119 --> 01:55:04,480
at a fire department. So, there may be
one to use. Also, we had a police

1249
01:55:01,119 --> 01:55:09,119
advisory meeting on last week and we
spoke with uh the RCMP officer that was

1250
01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:15,280
there and he said that the RCMP here
have one. So, that it has to be an has

1251
01:55:13,440 --> 01:55:22,320
to be licensed, has to have an operator
work it and so we do have people that we

1252
01:55:19,679 --> 01:55:27,679
could draw on at this time. Um, we just
have to figure out how. So that will be

1253
01:55:24,960 --> 01:55:31,199
something that we'll be I'll be taking
to the Remo uh committee.

1254
01:55:29,760 --> 01:55:36,239
» Yeah. Just to check it out for the
amount maybe if we do you think we have

1255
01:55:33,679 --> 01:55:40,159
to put it in a budget talk about that in
case

1256
01:55:37,599 --> 01:55:46,719
» there's going to be remo items coming to
the budget. So okay

1257
01:55:41,920 --> 01:55:51,679
» um you can you certainly can um but I'm
thinking it's more of a of a regional

1258
01:55:49,040 --> 01:55:53,199
approach. However, you guys, you
certainly can take it to your own

1259
01:55:52,880 --> 01:55:57,840
budget.
>> So, regional, you you think you're

1260
01:55:55,199 --> 01:56:02,239
talking about
uh just Victoria County or Inber?

1261
01:56:00,480 --> 01:56:06,400
» No. So, I've been talking about that
we've been that we're setting up a

1262
01:56:03,599 --> 01:56:13,840
regional emergency management. There's
the province is making us have Remos.

1263
01:56:10,000 --> 01:56:19,840
So, we are in a Remo with Inesse,
Victoria, Richmond, and Port Hawkberry.

1264
01:56:16,400 --> 01:56:26,159
So this regional emergency management
organization is taking over emergency

1265
01:56:22,560 --> 01:56:29,760
management. So and fire service could
possibly be fire services as well.

1266
01:56:28,000 --> 01:56:36,719
» You say you we have one in Victoria
County at least with the RCMP

1267
01:56:32,800 --> 01:56:39,840
» are there's an RCMP drone currently that
service Yep. services here and in

1268
01:56:39,119 --> 01:56:43,360
Ganesh.
>> Okay.

1269
01:56:40,960 --> 01:56:49,119
Um so did you say in the reusal center
you're thinking about um two weeks

1270
01:56:46,639 --> 01:56:55,520
instead of three weeks for the reusable
application? So for the reuse center it

1271
01:56:51,760 --> 01:57:02,639
was um we were thinking since there is
so since there was cuts to

1272
01:57:00,239 --> 01:57:09,040
most organizations from the provincial
funding that is that is uh happening. We

1273
01:57:05,520 --> 01:57:15,920
thought maybe we would like to give um
some more groups an opportunity.

1274
01:57:11,760 --> 01:57:21,440
» So we thought maybe if if the time that
each group got was two weeks rather than

1275
01:57:18,080 --> 01:57:26,800
three weeks, it might spread out the
funding the fundraising. So wondering

1276
01:57:24,320 --> 01:57:31,239
what council's thoughts are on that and
if council is okay with that.

1277
01:57:31,280 --> 01:57:36,880
Um, councelor Matson Lefor,
>> have we thought of a hybrid model where

1278
01:57:35,119 --> 01:57:41,320
you can have a standard three weeks but
groups may opt into two week voluntarily

1279
01:57:42,560 --> 01:57:49,040
» just because some might have staffing
issues with the shortened two weeks.

1280
01:57:47,360 --> 01:57:53,360
» I think you're getting into operational
stuff there. So, all we're asking of

1281
01:57:51,520 --> 01:57:58,639
council is do you want two weeks or
three weeks and then we'll figure out

1282
01:57:55,119 --> 01:58:04,719
we'll figure out the the how to get it
done. But wondering if council is open

1283
01:58:01,520 --> 01:58:09,360
to it being
proposed as a two week time frame that

1284
01:58:07,599 --> 01:58:12,400
each group could go there. Councelor
Bourne.

1285
01:58:09,920 --> 01:58:16,080
» Yeah, I think two weeks would spread it
out a bit more and to have more

1286
01:58:14,000 --> 01:58:20,480
nonprofits have an opportunity to be
selected because it is a random

1287
01:58:17,840 --> 01:58:25,840
selection every year and some may not
get it for several years. Um, so I think

1288
01:58:23,360 --> 01:58:31,440
it would be great and just what the CIO
CIO reminded us with the some of the

1289
01:58:28,239 --> 01:58:35,679
provincial funding changes that it would
be a good opportunity for some

1290
01:58:32,719 --> 01:58:39,840
nonprofits to get um in on it.
>> Yeah. And then like the scheduling of

1291
01:58:37,920 --> 01:58:46,159
two weeks versus 3 weeks if they wanted
the option it gets into more of

1292
01:58:44,560 --> 01:58:52,560
getting in touch with the groups and get
like it's it's easier to just say it's

1293
01:58:48,960 --> 01:58:55,840
two rather than three just because we're
getting to the time when we have to

1294
01:58:54,159 --> 01:59:04,719
start opening it as well. We want to get
the names out. So I think

1295
01:59:00,480 --> 01:59:09,920
I'm proposing we change it to two weeks.
see how that works. Then we can look at

1296
01:59:07,679 --> 01:59:13,199
a debrief if we need it afterwards.
>> Okay. So,

1297
01:59:11,360 --> 01:59:17,599
» you need that in a motion or
>> No, I just think so.

1298
01:59:14,159 --> 01:59:20,960
» I need council just to be aware and
supportive of that.

1299
01:59:18,880 --> 01:59:26,760
» So, can I just get a show of hands if
councils uh would like two weeks instead

1300
01:59:23,360 --> 01:59:26,760
of three?

1301
01:59:27,360 --> 01:59:33,040
Okay. Would like three weeks instead of
two. Perfect. Okay. So, we're going to

1302
01:59:32,080 --> 01:59:38,080
go with the two weeks.
>> Okay. Great. Thank you.

1303
01:59:35,040 --> 01:59:41,080
» And yeah, and then um the senior safety
um

1304
01:59:41,679 --> 01:59:50,560
after the cuts that the province is
given and we have that launches every

1305
01:59:47,920 --> 01:59:55,280
Thursday or every once a week, do we
have to be considerating some money for

1306
01:59:52,639 --> 02:00:00,960
in the budget
to keep it going? We haven't heard yet

1307
01:59:58,880 --> 02:00:03,840
what is happening with that uh
department.

1308
02:00:01,760 --> 02:00:08,880
» Okay. I think estimates are happening
this week with the province. So that's

1309
02:00:06,480 --> 02:00:14,560
one area that we have not heard if there
is or isn't cuts to it.

1310
02:00:11,599 --> 02:00:19,040
» So not sure at this time. However, um
the projects that you are funding, so

1311
02:00:17,520 --> 02:00:21,840
projects that you are funding through
senior safety officer is something that

1312
02:00:20,719 --> 02:00:24,320
will have to come to the budget for
sure.

1313
02:00:22,400 --> 02:00:25,280
» Okay. Just to make sure when we talk
budget.

1314
02:00:24,800 --> 02:00:30,560
» Yep.
>> And for the trails, I just want to check

1315
02:00:27,920 --> 02:00:37,840
it out if uh spring is coming. So what
is we have to put the signs in the new

1316
02:00:34,320 --> 02:00:42,080
so how it's going and the gate for it is
a problem

1317
02:00:40,320 --> 02:00:46,719
» Dan
can you come to the mic there please so

1318
02:00:44,239 --> 02:00:53,679
people at
can hear you thank you

1319
02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:57,280
» sorry about that um yeah the we I've got
a meeting scheduled with Kelly on the

1320
02:00:54,960 --> 02:01:00,960
gate and what we'll be doing for that um
and then the signs will come up after

1321
02:00:58,960 --> 02:01:04,400
that It's I think it's April 1st before
they can get into that as well. So,

1322
02:01:03,360 --> 02:01:07,440
they'll be going out soon.
>> I receive some phone calls and I say

1323
02:01:06,320 --> 02:01:12,639
just wait until
>> Yeah, they at the end of the day they

1324
02:01:09,280 --> 02:01:15,840
can't use the trails right now. Um
tired vehicles wouldn't be allowed on

1325
02:01:14,239 --> 02:01:19,440
the groomed snowmobile trail. So, as
long as there's snow, there's no ATV

1326
02:01:17,360 --> 02:01:23,520
use. So, those signs would be not useful
until the snow is gone.

1327
02:01:20,639 --> 02:01:29,199
» Okay. Thanks, Nick.
>> Is that it, Deputy? I think we're on the

1328
02:01:25,920 --> 02:01:37,280
same same wavelength today. my items for
me drone reuse center senior safety.

1329
02:01:34,400 --> 02:01:43,199
So just another one um just want to make
everyone aware tomorrow there is a tax

1330
02:01:39,440 --> 02:01:47,840
sale um at
where at the inverary being held uh

1331
02:01:45,520 --> 02:01:53,280
there's six properties remaining on it
that is that updated there might be five

1332
02:01:50,639 --> 02:01:58,080
okay so there's there's a handful of
properties that are on that um our

1333
02:01:56,159 --> 02:02:01,920
website not I think you got an email
letting you know that the website has

1334
02:01:59,440 --> 02:02:11,119
changed the meeting records page is now
live there it has the live streams and

1335
02:02:05,599 --> 02:02:16,800
the um uh meeting minutes, the agendas,
the package. Um Jessica did her magic

1336
02:02:14,560 --> 02:02:22,719
behind there and got all those things uh
in there. So um that page is new and

1337
02:02:20,880 --> 02:02:28,800
hopefully uh we have people folks
visiting that site. Uh yeah, the the

1338
02:02:25,199 --> 02:02:34,080
deadline for reuse uh applications
coming in is March 31st. The donation

1339
02:02:31,280 --> 02:02:38,239
drop off is now available. So if folks
have some things, gently used items, um

1340
02:02:36,800 --> 02:02:47,040
please drop them off.
>> Uh can I ask about the water line repair

1341
02:02:42,400 --> 02:02:51,679
in Pingwall and somewhere else? When
does that have to be done and has

1342
02:02:49,360 --> 02:02:58,480
somebody looked at it for a cost yet?
So, it's a public works that are um

1343
02:02:56,560 --> 02:03:04,400
public works is doing work on the side
of their bridge and they will require

1344
02:03:01,119 --> 02:03:10,320
our water lines to be moved. I don't
think it's an if. I think it's a when.

1345
02:03:07,280 --> 02:03:17,199
Uh we are looking at different costs for
it. It is going to be extremely costly.

1346
02:03:14,320 --> 02:03:21,119
Uh upwards of $100,000
and we're looking at different options

1347
02:03:18,719 --> 02:03:27,679
on it currently. But I think we are
holding up public works's

1348
02:03:24,880 --> 02:03:33,679
replacement of some bridges because
they're waiting for us to figure out how

1349
02:03:31,040 --> 02:03:38,520
or where our water lines are going to
go. 100,000 each.

1350
02:03:40,080 --> 02:03:49,119
Okay. Um we need more users on the
systems.

1351
02:03:44,719 --> 02:03:51,520
Yeah. Um senior safety updated. Are we
doing that now or?

1352
02:03:50,239 --> 02:03:56,800
» No, that's just for information
purposes. She sent that out to

1353
02:03:53,119 --> 02:04:02,080
» Can we get her um I'd like to know when
is her report going to come in for the

1354
02:04:00,239 --> 02:04:09,440
24-week
um program that she had? Um will we be

1355
02:04:06,080 --> 02:04:16,560
seeing um
how it was ran during all the districts?

1356
02:04:12,800 --> 02:04:18,800
uh how the budgets were spent and so we
can make a decision whether

1357
02:04:18,239 --> 02:04:23,920
» Yep.
>> you know if if it's going to continue or

1358
02:04:21,040 --> 02:04:27,520
» Yeah. So she's um she's away right now,
but when she comes back we will

1359
02:04:25,520 --> 02:04:34,360
certainly have her give an update, a
final report on how things went on that.

1360
02:04:29,520 --> 02:04:34,360
» Okay, that would be great.

1361
02:04:36,000 --> 02:04:43,320
So next we have committee reports. Any
committee reports?

1362
02:04:44,320 --> 02:04:53,719
Nope.
Um, correspondence.

1363
02:04:48,880 --> 02:04:53,719
Um, everybody read their correspondence.

1364
02:04:54,960 --> 02:05:03,520
Anybody have any?
Okay. Um,

1365
02:04:59,679 --> 02:05:08,639
I would like to talk about the
letter

1366
02:05:05,119 --> 02:05:16,320
um that we received. Um, we also had one
from the town of Digby on the letter of

1367
02:05:11,199 --> 02:05:23,960
support for uh coalition to end poverty.
Um, I think we should uh also jump on

1368
02:05:20,080 --> 02:05:23,960
board there. Um,

1369
02:05:26,000 --> 02:05:32,000
councelor Lefork.
>> Wink wink nudge.

1370
02:05:29,920 --> 02:05:36,639
Uh, yes. I move that the municipality of
Victoria County support ASAP's call for

1371
02:05:34,960 --> 02:05:42,000
a meaningful increase to social
assistance and disability support rates

1372
02:05:39,360 --> 02:05:46,400
and the letter and the support would be
I'm assuming the same thing that they

1373
02:05:43,679 --> 02:05:53,440
did via a letter of support um to
Premier Houston

1374
02:05:49,840 --> 02:05:59,040
» at the CEO to uh
to get that letter um and I will sign

1375
02:05:57,280 --> 02:06:04,000
it.
Yeah, we're going to that's kind of in

1376
02:06:01,280 --> 02:06:09,119
the motion, too. So, there's a motion on
the table. Do I have a seconder? Second

1377
02:06:06,320 --> 02:06:15,119
by councelor Bourne. All in favor?
Your motion is carried. Thank you for

1378
02:06:12,480 --> 02:06:20,760
one for that.
Um, any questions

1379
02:06:17,760 --> 02:06:20,760
online?

1380
02:06:20,880 --> 02:06:30,320
No. Okay. Um, we have a in camera for
real estate and personnel.

1381
02:06:28,719 --> 02:06:33,679
So,
I'd like a motion to go into camera,

1382
02:06:31,920 --> 02:06:41,199
please.
Moved by councelor Dunovan, second by

1383
02:06:37,119 --> 02:06:45,000
councelor Matford. All in favor? Okay.
In camera we go.

1384
02:07:44,800 --> 02:07:51,440
Can I get a motion to come out of
camera, please? It's moved by councelor

1385
02:07:48,880 --> 02:07:55,560
Dunovan, second by
Deputy Wharton. All in favor?

1386
02:07:55,679 --> 02:08:03,920
Motions carry.
Can I get a motion to accept

1387
02:08:01,840 --> 02:08:08,239
the recommendation that was in camera on
the options to pursue a potential

1388
02:08:05,920 --> 02:08:12,639
opportunity?
It's moved by councelor Mat Lefort,

1389
02:08:10,719 --> 02:08:20,480
second by
councelor Henik. All in favor?

1390
02:08:16,239 --> 02:08:25,560
Motion is carried. Thank you everyone.
U and now we're we will adjourn.