The Municipality of Cumberland is joining a growing number of municipalities across the country to express concerns with the federal government’s decision not to absorb retroactive costs associated with the RCMP’s collective bargaining agreement.
This despite several months of advocacy led by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, provincial-territorial associations and local leadership.
Council passed a motion to write a letter to Cumberland-Colchester MP Dr. Stephen Ellis.
“The federal budget further confirmed that communities across Canada that are dependent on RCMP services for local policing, including the Municipality of Cumberland, are expected to cover these costs – a decision falling well short of the call from municipalities to fully absorb the costs,” Municipality of Cumberland Mayor Murray Scott said.
The resolution from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities says these one-time costs will cause significant hardship for communities and residents across the country and were negotiated without meaningful consultation with the municipalities responsible for paying the bill.
Council agrees to Southampton, Fundy Winds funding requests
The Municipality of Cumberland Council has agreed to a request from the Southampton Community Centre to its April 26 meeting to disburse $20,000 from the Christie Community Foundation to assist with the costs of the development a playground.
The total budget for the project is $125,148.
Interest in the playground was determined by a survey in August 2022. The accessible playground will have a rating for ages 18 months to 12 years and be located in the green space in front of the community centre.
It is also forwarding a request from the Fundy Winds Marsh Society to the April 26 meeting to receive money from the Christie Community Foundation.
The society is looking for $7,400 to assist with the costs of site improvements.
Council agrees to mural location at Pugwash library
Cumberland municipal council has agreed to a request to place artwork from the Pugwash Open Air Gallery on the new library.
Council has selected Option 1 with the artwork on the rear of the building facing the harbour.
Representatives of the Pugwash Open Air Gallery recently appeared before council to ask permission to place artwork on the library, which opened in February.
Council passes first reading of Noise Bylaw amendment
Cumberland municipal council voted to accept first reading of an amendment to the Noise Bylaw.
The municipality has received complaints regarding noise caused by snow removal equipment operating before 6 a.m.
The current bylaw restricts activities to between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily, but there are times when services to residents of the municipality need to be provided during nighttime hours or early in the morning.
For example, snow removal will likely begin before 6 a.m. so that roads and sidewalks are safe for travel for residents going to work or school, while the repair of water mains, or electrical or telecommunications infrastructure can also be required to be conducted outside normal business hours.
Council changes Fire Department Registration Policy, amends Fire Service Review Terms of Reference
Municipal council has agreed to recommended amendments to the Fire Department Registration Policy.
Changes to the bylaw include substituting the word fire services coordinator with the director of protective services in Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the policy and substituting municipal council with CAO in Section 8 while deleting the words “by motion” in Section 8 and adding Section 8a to provide for a review by council of the decision to register a fire department and to substitute the registration form in the policy with a new registration form.
Under Section 294 of the Municipal Government Act, the municipality may not refuse to register a fire department that meets the act’s criteria.
Council also agreed to amend the Fire Service Review Committee Terms of Reference to replace the named fire hub departments as set forth in the terms of reference.
At a meeting of the committee the four fire chiefs, who were members of the committee, all requested that one of the hubs be replaced with an alternate.
Due to the way in which the Terms of Reference were originally drafted substituting a Hub requires an amendment to the Terms of Reference.
Council passes new Advertising and Promotions Policy
Municipal council has passed an Advertising and Promotions Policy.
Throughout the year, the municipality receives requests from community organizations and businesses to advertise and promote the municipality in various ways.
The municipality is committed to supporting local organizations that provide services to its residents. The objective of the policy is to provide a framework for receiving requests and the distribution of funds for advertising and/or promotional initiatives that benefit the municipality.
Council appoints Alan Webb, Robert Barnes to Sunset Community board
Cumberland municipal council has appointed Alan Webb and Robert Barnes to the Sunset Community Board with their terms ending May 1, 2026.
The municipality received correspondence from the Sunset Community Board requesting council ratify two board members.
Council re-appoints Alison Lair to Poverty Reduction Action Committee
Cumberland municipal council has re-appointed Alison Lair as the municipality’s citizen representative on the Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee.The municipality appointed two citizen representatives on the committee in 2022.
They were Hannah Landry and Alison Lair.Landry had to resign from the committee and council appointed Rachel Sovka, whose term expires in 2024.