Cumberland County’s CAO expresses concern as vandalism at transfer stations continues
The Municipality of Cumberland is growing increasingly frustrated with continued vandalism at transfer stations in the county.
Speaking during Cumberland municipal council’s December committee of the whole meeting, Dec. 20, 2023, chief administrative officer Greg Herrett said the vandalism may reach a point where the municipality has to look at other options.
Earlier this month, a compost bin at the Joggins transfer station was set on fire while vandalism is continuing at the transfer station on the Irishtown Road in Pugwash.
“While there has been some improvement with the level of vandalism in Pugwash, it is continuing,” Herrett told council. “Sometimes it’s the lock being cut off, sometimes it’s the chain being thrown away or the chain stolen. It’s happening multiple times.”
The CAO said the municipality is in discussion with the RCMP on the continued vandalism.
“Those facilities are only open during the posted times and they’re not for trespassing when they are closed,” Herrett said.
Upon investigating the fire at the Joggins transfer station, it was also noticed the bin was mostly filled with unsorted garbage.
“That’s equally unacceptable,” Herrett said. “That’s not sustainable and to those people who are using it to dump unsorted garbage it has to stop or we will have to take other action to control that.”
The CAO is also urging residents to “step up their game” when it comes to separating waste into the proper streams after an audit found too much contamination in recyclables with garbage items and/or compost being included in the recycling bags.
Herrett said the municipality intends to work with GFL Environmental, the owners of the Little Forks landfill, Miller Waste and the Town of Amherst to better educate residents on the waste streams and better source separation of garbage, compost and recyclables.
“We’re going to work with our partners to put forward an education campaign to give people some advice on sorting and prompt folks to up their game when it comes to recyclables,” the CAO said. “It’s not only an education campaign but beginning in February GFL will be rejecting loads at the landfill if they don’t meet an acceptable level of contamination.”
Herrett said residents will likely begin to see more rejection stickers on their recyclables placed at the curb. That doesn’t mean it’s to be left there until the next collection day, said Herrett, adding it means they must correct the issue before it will be collected.
“We’re urging people not to look at those as failing grades, but an opportunity for improvement,” Herrett said. “The information is out there now and we’re encouraging people to refer to them now and take that extra step to sort their recyclables.”
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Council to consider first reading of bylaw to establish, regulate fire departments
Cumberland municipal council will consider first reading of a bylaw to establish and regulate fire departments at its Dec. 20, 2023, regular meeting.
Allen Cole, director of protective services, spoke about the proposed bylaw during municipal council’s December committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
As a result of the fire service review, council mandated a review of the delivery of fire services and an assessment of changes proposed. Council approved the formation of an ad hoc committee to complete the task.
The committee is composed of representatives from the four support hub fire stations, councillors from the non-support hub districts, the mayor, CAO and director of protective services.
A preliminary report was presented to council in September, providing an update on the recommendations of the committee up to that point, which included support for a modified version of the hub model recommended by the fire service review and drafting of bylaws.
The bylaws, unanimously approved by the committee, include the creation of two positions – manager of fire services and an administrator.
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Council to consider U13AAA tournament bid at its regular meeting on Dec. 20
Cumberland municipal council has voted to forward a request to its Dec. 20, 2023, regular meeting to provide free ice for a provincial hockey tournament in early April.
Council forwarded the request during its December committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
Truro Bearcats U13AAA are planning to host the 2023-24 provincial tournament April 4-7 at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill.
The team is made up of players from both Colchester and Cumberland counties with seven players and a coach living within Cumberland County.
The tournament will include the top six U13AAA team sin Nova Scotia and is a qualifier for the Atlantic championship tournament later in April.
Truro’s ability to host is impacted by ice time in Truro with Colchester Legion Stadium continued to be closed following damage experienced during post-tropical storm Fiona in September 2022.
It’s felt the tournament would help promote the facility and provide further economic spinoffs within Springhill and Cumberland County.
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Council to consider Water Leak Adjustment Policy at Dec. 22 meeting
Cumberland municipal council has voted to forward a recommendation to its regular council meeting on Dec. 20, 2023, to offer a one-time adjustment to provide relief to residents when their metered water bill is impacted by an unknown leak on their property.
Council forwarded the request during its December committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
If approved by council, the new policy will be retroactive to April 1, 2023.
The Water Leak Adjustment Policy will apply to current and future customers of the Cumberland Water Utility.
Aimee Hirtle, director of finance, said there have been instances where residents’ utility bills have increased significantly from one billing period to the next because of an unknown leak.
A customer would be eligible if the volume of water used by their property during a billing period is at least twice the average of the volume used during the same billing period the previous year and is the result of a leak on the property. They also have to be advised my the municipality of a leak detected by their property’s meter.
As well, they must repair the water leak within 14 days of being notified or learning of the leak and must apply for the adjustment within 14 days of repairing the leak.
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Springhill Ground Search and Rescue request to be considered Dec. 20
During its Dec. 20, 2023, regular meeting, Cumberland municipal council will consider a request from Springhill Ground Search and Rescue for $10,000 to support the purchase of a new command vehicle and a vehicle for transporting members and a support trailer.
Council forwarded the request during its December committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
The organization has a 1989 vehicle for use by the search manager, logistics officer, radio operator and RCMP incident commander. Its physical upkeep and maintenance are a significant draw financially on the organization.
Springhill Ground Search and Rescue has a utility trailer members use for transporting equipment and to use their own vehicles to keep warm or finding other means of shelter from inclement weather.
Council supported a similar request from Pugwash Ground Search and Rescue in the spring as part of its Grants to Organizations process.
If approved, the funding will come from the municipality’s operating reserves.