Councillor’s Column – January, 2010

We are well into January, so I would like to start by wishing all of our residents of District 2 Best Wishes for 2010; it certainly promises to be an extremely busy year as we move forward with many area projects.

Before getting into whats underway I would like to pass on some richly deserved thanks to the following:

• To the design and re-build Board of the BBK Community Centre, a special thanks for a continuing huge effort; as of our meeting on Jan 14th we have a project design to take to HRM for approval and this includes significant additional space.
• Thank you to the Fall River & Beaver Bank Lions clubs for your continuing great work on the Christmas Parades – great floats, tremendous community support and perfect weather made it so wonderful for our families and kids along the routes, and I would like to personally thank our Mayor for attending the parade in Beaver Bank.
• To co-chairs Stephanie Dube & Bill Horne of the Fall River & District Lions Christmas Express, as well as to the many volunteers, sponsors, schools and Lakeview Homeowners who took part, this was the most successful year we have ever had – close to 100 families received the spirit of Christmas because of you.  To the Scotiabank ladies who came and packed food boxes and gave us a matching donation grant, thanks so much.
• We cannot thank Kathie and her group of dedicated volunteers with the Woodbine Family Association enough, another wonderful Christmas Dinner at the Brown hall which is quickly becoming a tradition.
• Finally, to all those who put on the New Years Levee’s (Waverley Legion, Beaver Bank Lions, Wellington Fire Hall, LWF Community Hall), thanks for the invite, its a great way to bring in a New Year with friends and family.

As we ended 2009, December was a hectic month. A few of the events that went on were:

• Our Marine Drive, Valley & Canal Community Council had its December meeting in Oyster Pond  and the Development Request for two new Maintenance/equipment Buildings for the Oakfield Golf Course was approved.
• Along with two other HRM Councillors I was able to attend a Biomass Tour & Presentation at the Agricultural College in Truro.  As a member of the HRM’s Energy & Underground Services Committee I was very impressed with the experimental work being done there on renewable energy ideas such as wood chip and grass pellets to be used in a mass scale hopefully here in N.S. soon.
• Our Parks & Rec Dept working with Public Works were able to move hundreds of loads of fill (donated by Ramar Construction) to Delaney Park in Beaver Bank. Land there is now being levelled and prepared and we are on target to build a new playground, park, and small trail this coming Summer, a long 5 year wait is getting close.
• For some of us that have been working for 10 years to build new ball fields in this District, Christmas this year brought an extra special present.  The Waverley Sports Park Board finally received the “Letter of Authority” from the Dept of Natural Resources. This was the final piece required and HRM surveyors are currently in the Park getting ready for a late Spring tender.
• Christmas also brought great news to the residents of Sunnylea Road in Wellington as we have finally worked out an agreement with HRM Planning to allow the developer to extend the road a few hundred feet and in return he will build the badly needed turning T at no cost to taxpayers.  Once this is completed in the summer, trucks, plows and buses will all be able to turn around in a safe and easy manner.

There were a number of projects that were advanced, finished, or started in December, here are some of those:

• COMPLETED – the process & approval for paving streets in Brookhill Estates in Grand Lake is now complete.  After Public Meetings and a 75% successful vote the HRM has given its approval and the letter to the Province giving the go ahead has been sent.
• ADVANCED – after Public Meetings and over 70% approval in a vote the Kings Road in Wellington request to have the HRM take over collection of Road Maintenance fees is officially on the HRM Council agenda for Jan 19th for approval.
• ADVANCED – after a series of Public Meetings and votes of over 80% approval in the Monarch/Rivendale areas of Beaver Bank on the installation of City Water the Dept Reports are done and the matter is scheduled to come to HRM Council for First reading on Jan 26th.
• INITIATED – On Dec 21st I attended an open Public Information Meeting with residents & reps from the River Bend & River Court Associations in Enfield to begin the process of bringing those private roads under the HRM’s Road Maintenace Fee collection program.  As of this week the Association has passed the 66% of votes required and this process is now underway.
• ADVANCED – as stated above, the re-design of the BBK Community Centre is mostly complete and ready to go to HRM for approval, this will add approximately 4000 sq feet to the building.
• SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HARBOUR EAST COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS
• At a meeting on Jan 14th, the 6 Dartmouth Area Councillors voted to donate $12,000.00 from their Capital District Funds to the rebuilding effort for the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre.  This is a tremendous show of support and I will be thanking every one of them personally on your behalf at Council next week.
• DELAYED – sorry folks, the miserable, wet, fall prevented our efforts to get the bike park done at the Beaver Bank Commons but this is only a delay.  I have the funding in place and reserved for next spring.  Big congratulations to Wesley McNiel and friends who have raised another $4,000.00 for additions to the Skate Park in Beaver Bank, I have matched that with $4,000.00 from my Capital Fund and additional equipment will be ordered for the spring.
• ADVANCED – After many months of meetings with various HRM Depts, the HRM has admitted an error back in 1996 and has agreed to sell the Waverley Ratepayers/Museum building back to the Association for $1.00.  A letter of agreement is being drawn up and will go to Grants Committee and to HRM Council for approval asap.

The first 10 days in January have been busy, I am enthusiastic it shows a big year for this District; last week alone there were three Public Meetings on various topics:

• On Jan 11th the School Board held an Open House and presentation at Lockview High School on the plans to date of new proposed boundaries for Elementary School children for when the new Waverley Memorial School opens.
• On January 13th at Ash Lee School the HRM held a Public Information Meeting on its proposed policies in regards to future use of Wind Turbines in the HRM
• On January 14th the Province’s Dept of Natural Resources held a Public Meeting at Grand Lake on the re-development of Laurie Park.  I am getting a flood of calls & emails in this regard and just want to make you aware – this is a Provincial Park and this process falls under the mandate of the Provincial Dept of Natural Resources, the HRM has no authority or mandate in this matter.

HRM Council Meeting on January 12th
There were two important issues that were passed at last weeks Council meeting involving this District that you should be aware of:

• On my recommendation Council has agreed to start a Public Consultation process on the future use of lands in the fly paths of the Halifax International Airport.  I want this process so I can hear from you on your thoughts as to future development in these areas, for far too long we have failed to plan into the future, Public Meetings will be well published in local media outlets.
• ouncil also passed a Motion put forth by the North West Community Council (Sackville/Bedford) so that both myself and the Councillor for Hammonds Plains will join the 3 Counillors currently on this Community Council.  I will also remain on the Marine Drive, Valley & Canal Community Council so in effect will now be on two of them.  While it means twice the amount of meetings and extra preparation work etc the benefits and opportunities for residents of this District are large, I want to thank the Councillors from that Council  for this acceptance.

I realize this column is getting very long but I do want you to know what is happening in your community.  In a separate column I will be reporting to you with updates on the current state of Tax Reform within the HRM and on the District Boundary Review Committee and process, both have huge impacts on our area.

URGENT INFORMATION
In past years the HRM puts out a lot of its information material at its Service Offices in Alderney gate and Scotia Square, I have advised them over & over that does residents of District Two no good whatsoever.  To try to mitigate that I have grabbed boxes of important forms and information and I am bringing them to you.

On Monday night, January 25th at 7:00 pm I will be at the LWF Community Hall at 843 Fall River Road for an Open House, amongst other things I will be bringing with me:

• 2010 HRM Grant qualification packages and application forms
• 2010 HRM Volunteer Recognition Application forms

I am on both the HRM Grants Committee and the HRM Volunteer Awards Committee and can answer your questions, if you are a Community organization, Minor Sports Group or Not for Profit group please have someone from your group there.

In closing I want to urge everyone to support our local Legion in Waverley, did you know that every Friday from 11:30am to 12:45pm our Legion Ladies Auxiliary makes a fantastic Fish & Chips lunch and everyone is welcome, you will find me there most Fridays.  Happy New Year everyone.