Cumberland municipal council approves $910,854 in grants to organizations
Cumberland municipal council voted to approve $910,854 in grants to organizations throughout the municipality.
The decision was made at a special meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
The municipality is providing $699,854.50 in general grants as well as $144,240 in annual grants.
There are $90,000 in district grants ($10,000 per district plus the mayor) and $7,000 in bursaries to seven county high schools.
The municipality received approximately $1.8 million in requests for financial assistance from this year.
Council agreed to increase the tax rate, in part, to provide more funds for this program. Still, not all requests could be granted in full.
Council approves opt-in service model of implementing EPR in Cumberland
Cumberland municipal council has approved the opt-in service model of implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
EPR regulations shift the financial and operational responsibility for recycling from municipalities to the organizations that produce and sell packaging and paper.
Circular Materials was established by producers. It is responsible for implementing and managing the EPR recycling system in Nova Scotia.
The municipality has provided data to Circular Materials. The data details its contract and administration costs to provide curbside recycling collection and the number of stops collected from.
Circular Materials has provided a financial offer to the municipality that would be compensation for the opt-in service model.
This offer is valued at just over $1 million per year. The Circular Material offer will be escalated by CPI each year.
Approximately $300,000 of the initial year’s funding was recognized in the current year’s budget to help offset various price increases.
It’s anticipated that the municipality will use additional funds going forward to help fund infrastructure needs, particularly in the fire service.
Council approves motion to purchase new rescue truck for Parrsboro Fire Department
Cumberland municipal council has approved a motion to purchase a rescue truck from Fort Gary Fire Trucks for the Parrsboro Fire Department.
The cost is $289,879.52
The purchase of fire apparatus was approved in the 2025-26 capital budget.
Black and Woodlock appointed to water utility source water advisory committee
Municipal council approved a motion to appoint Michael Black and Maureen Woodlock to the Cumberland Water Utility Source Water Advisory Committee.
The Cumberland Water Utility Source Water Advisory Committee was established in April 2025.
This committee combines the previous three source water advisory committees into one.
Committee membership consists of the councillors from District 3, District 8 and District 5 or 6 and a representative of the Pugwash village commission.
Council urging province to pause granting licences for uranium exploration
Cumberland municipal council has passed a motion to write a letter to Premier Tim Houston to pause the granting of licences for uranium exploration until consultations are held and a rigorous science-based evaluation of the risks and benefits before deciding whether exploration can proceed in Nova Scotia.