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Public Council Sessions
In December, Municipal Council will hold their public council meeting on Wednesday, December 11th at
6:00 p.m.
To view the upcoming Council agenda, or to view minutes from past Council sessions, please visit our website or click here:
Council Minutes
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Service Centre(s) Hours of Operation
Our Service Centre(s) located in Parrsboro, Springhill and Upper Nappan will be closing at 4:30 p.m. on December 24th and will re-open on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.
For any problems with municipal services, i.e. water and or sewer please use our after hours number: (902) 667-2358. We wish you a safe and happy Holiday season!!
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Notice has been shared re: two upcoming Municipal Tax Sales. They will be held on December 5, and December 10, 2019.
Both Tax Sales will be held at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre located at 6 Main Street, Springhill, Nova Scotia.
Bidder registration will begin at 9:00 am and the sales will all begin at 10:00 am.
For more information on specific properties, follow the links below.
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CUMBERLAND FIRE SERVICE NEWS
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Cumberland County Fire Service Update
On the 18th of November a Fire Chiefs meeting was held in Council chambers with ten topics discussed and on November 23rd there was another meeting with Fire Chiefs, Council and some staff.
Training
Four training sessions were held in November. The basic firefighter group participated in training on ladders, ventilation, forcible entry, water supply, fire hose and streams, while the Officers group had sessions in fire investigations and station training officer.
Volunteer!!! Being a volunteer firefighter for one of the Municipality of Cumberland's fire departments isn't something you do; it's something you are. If you have a desire to contribute to keep your community safe, you could be a volunteer firefighter. We need women and men who respond to fires and emergencies, and those who can assist with community education, fundraising and administration.
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Ernest Gilbert Elected Deputy Warden
At the November 13th, 2019 Council session Ernest Gilbert, Councillor for District 8 was elected as Deputy Warden for the period of November, 2019 to October, 2020.
Deputy Warden Gilbert was elected as a Councillor in October of 1997 and is the longest serving Councillor on this current Council.
The Deputy Warden has served on many committees and has previously held the position of Deputy Warden. We wish Deputy Warden Gilbert a rewarding and successful year!
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MUNICIPAL ELECTORAL BOUNDARY REVIEW
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Council votes to change to Mayor
The Municipality of Cumberland was incorporated in April of 1879 and since that date has always had a Warden. At a public Council session held on November 4th, 2019 our Council voted to change from the long standing Warden system to a Mayor system.
The differences between the two systems can be summarized as: a Mayor is elected at large by all voters in a municipality and acts as a chairperson of council meetings. While the mayor presides over council meetings, this position has the same single vote as other councillors. The mayor is often considered the leader of a council and has a few additional responsibilities. It is important to remember, however, that the mayor is another member of council with no extra power on decision making.
A Warden has a similar position to a Mayor but is a member of council elected to the position of warden by their fellow councillors instead of directly by the voters. The warden has all of the same powers of a mayor. The position of warden is mostly found in rural municipalities although a municipality may still opt to use general voting to elect a mayor.
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Electoral Boundaries
In the 2016 dissolution Order of the Town of Parrsboro, the NS Utility and Review Board ordered a boundary review of our Municipality prior to 2020.
At a meeting of Council held on November 27th, 2019 staff presented Council with options regarding district boundaries. The Municipality currently has 13 municipal districts and voted recently to decrease this number to 8.
For further information on the process, and it's next steps please visit:
Learn More
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HOLIDAY GARBAGE COLLECTION
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Holiday Collection Guide
Is your regular solid waste collection day on Wednesday or Thursday?
Be prepared for a schedule change over the holidays. (date changes listed above)
Any questions, contact CJSMA via their website or download the app.
**REMINDER**
Holiday gift bags and wrapping paper are not recyclable and they should be treated as garbage and sorted into clear non-coloured bags.
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Grants that were approved by Council in November 2019
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Organization
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Amount
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Parrsborough Shore Historical Society
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$1181.00
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River Hebert District Christmas Hampers
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$2000.00
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Open Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Tenders
T-MCC-1909
Closing December 3, 2019 at 2:00PM
RFP-MCC-1908
Closing December 4, 2019 at 2:00PM
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Five new solar projects announced in the Cumberland region
Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Karen Casey announced approval from the Solar for Community Buildings Program for three new projects in Cumberland and two in Amherst. The Solar for Community Buildings Program enables eligible community groups and organizations to generate solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity on their roofs or properties and sell it to their utility under a 20-year contract.
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Learn 2 Lead is a series of workshops organized by Cumberland area municipalities (Cumberland County, Oxford, Amherst) to offer their residents opportunities to train locally, rather than needing to travel. The goal is to provide additional training to leaders in our communities - volunteers, coaches, and leaders of all backgrounds.
We have been running this program for a number of years now, and we are in the midst of planning a winter/spring 2020 series.
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FUNDY SHORE WINTER CARNIVAL
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Second Annual Fundy Shore Winter Carnival
The Fundy Shore Winter Carnival was celebrated for the first time in 2019 and it was a great success for its first year!
The carnival was created out of a desire to see communities along the Fundy Shore connected and to get people outside in the coldest month of the year. The depths of winter can be challenging for many to get out for anything more than necessary. We wanted to provide some reasons to brighten up the options and get everyone out for some solid winter fun!
Our committee consists of representatives from both Cumberland and Colchester counties. This includes municipal representatives, Community Health Boards, the Fundy Geological Museum, and more!
If you would like to participate in the planning OR if you would like to host an event along the Fundy Shore, please
contact us.
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Tiny Homes and the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations
It is not unusual, from time to time, for the construction industry to produce new products for different applications that have not yet been accepted by the building code. This is true for some types of construction methodologies and their proposed requirements as well. Insulated concrete forms, or ICFs for short, come to mind. ICF's were just introduced to the building code in the last few editions, even though they had been around for some time previous. Another example is the relaxing of some barrier free requirements for home-based businesses.
Several such changes have occurred over the 2019 construction season and further changes will be introduced in January of 2020. The introduction of Recreational cabins and their respective code requirements became part of the provincial building regulations as of May 1st, 2019. New and additional requirements for adaptability were introduced to the regulations in September 2019. Upcoming in the new year, will be the first time that the regulations will attempt to attain some consistency and compliance in the area of Tiny Homes. Tiny Homes have experienced great popularity in recent years, and as of January 2020, the Provincial Building Regulations will incept requirements for their construction and use.
With all the new, ongoing changes and increased information to meet compliance it is becoming more and more of a challenge, not only for the Building Official to stay proficient in the application of the code, but for contractors and the public to keep current and respond to these changes on a day to day basis, as well.
Remember, compliance is the responsibility of the owner and the construction is subject to the building code regardless if a permit is required or not. For the latest changes in the Nova Scotia Provincial Building Code Regulations, you may download or review a copy of the text at this link
. If you have further questions contact one of your municipal Building Officials at 902 667-1142, we would be happy to help.
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JOIN THE CUMBERLAND REGION TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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CUMBERLAND REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
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'Tis the season . . . for road closures
CAR EMERGENCY KIT "MUST HAVES"
(Edit: Some of these are pretty self explanatory, but after fielding a number of great questions about specific recommendations, we've included links below so you can easily look through them on Amazon to get a better idea of what we specifically look for. Of course, quite a few are dependent on the type of vehicle you own and the climate you are in etc., so always use discretion.)
- Durable canvas bag to store supplies
- No-spill gas can (2-5 gal.)
- Jumper cables (12-20', be sure to get the right gauge for your vehicle)
- Roadside flares/glowsticks (4, check out these reusable LED flares)
- Flat tire inflation canister (non-explosive)
- Spare tire and jack
- Spare car fuses
- First aid supplies kit
- Bottled water (2-3 gal.)
- Granola / energy bars
- Small tool kit (screwdrivers, pliers, vise grips, adjustable wrench, tire pressure gauge, etc.)
- Flashlight and extra batteries or flashlight that doesn't need batteries
- Small, foldable shovel
- Car escape tool (incl. seatbelt cutter and window breaker)
- Road maps
- Blankets
- Extra gloves, boots, wool socks, stocking cap (for colder climates)
- Car fire extinguisher (ABC type) [Read our article on how important a car fire extinguisher can be here]
- Antifreeze (1 gal.)
- Two quarts of oil
- Roll of duct tape
- Paper towels / rags
- Washer fluid
- Pen and paper
- Multipurpose tool
- Seasonal supplies (rain gear, umbrella, ice scraper etc.)
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Age-Friendly Communities Grant
The Age-friendly Community Grant Program provides funding up to $25,000 for projects that lead to more age-friendly communities. Projects funded through the program help advance the goals outlined in Shift: Nova Scotia's Action Plan for an Aging Population.
Projects must fall into one of two broad categories:
- Age-friendly community planning: Consultation and community planning initiatives that result in robust action plans and age-friendly communities. These planning initiatives must be in partnership with local government and include consultation with and engagement of older adults, the broader community, and key stakeholders.
- Community projects: Innovative projects (could be collaborative) to develop and/or implement programs, services, resources or events that support active, healthy living; help older adults stay connected to community life; maximize the economic and social contributions of older adults; and increase social interaction and community involvement among older adults.
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until 20 January 2020.
Learn More
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Community Development Grants
Our Community Development Grants
help qualified donee organizations develop
or sustain sports and recreational programming
for
kids
aged 4 - 18 in financial need. Funding can cover registration, equipment, and transportation.
Eligible programs should meet the following requirements:
- Run for a minimum of 5 hours total
- Consist of at least 5 sessions
- Include a minimum of 25 participants aged 4-18 years old
- Remove barriers to participation for kids from families in financial need
Proposed programs must start between
May 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020
Application deadline: February 1, 2020
Learn More - Community Development Grants
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Jumpstart Accessibility Funding
These Accessibility Grants support the capital costs of construction and renovation projects aimed at helping kids of all abilities enjoy sport and play.
In 2020, Jumpstart will accept grant applications for projects valued up to $500,000 (i.e. renovations, retrofits or construction of community facilities and venues) designed to enhance existing or new building plans for sport and recreation spaces with uniquely innovative solutions for inclusion and accessibility for children of all abilities.
Application deaedline: February 12, 2020 at 11:59PM EST
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Festival and Community Event Development Program
Festivals & Events can help create vibrant communities and provide an opportunity to showcase our unique culture.
The new Festival and Community Event Development Program was revised to better align with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage's mandate and Government's Culture Action Plan. The objectives of the program are to improve the sustainability and event hosting capacity of unique community events and to support home-grown events that promote or strength the unique character of the community. Eligible expenses will cover activities like marketing, sponsorship, governance, and capacity building.
Deadline: February 28, 2020
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Apply for a heating assistance rebate: Heating Assistance Rebate Program
The Heating Assistance Rebate Program helps low-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Rebates range from $100 to $200. You can apply until 31 March 2020.
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The Emergency Repair Program helps low-income homeowners in rural areas pay for emergency repairs so they can continue to safely live in their homes. You can receive a grant of up to $7,000 for eligible repairs (e.g. heating systems, chimneys, doors & windows, foundations, plumbing, electrical systems, etc.)
This additional program administered by Housing Nova Scotia helps homeowners make emergency repairs to their homes. Eligible homeowners can receive a forgivable loan up to $6,500 to help cover the costs of materials and labour.
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The Senior Citizens Assistance Program
If you are a Nova Scotian senior and would like to stay in your home but can't afford the necessary repairs to roofing, plumbing, or heating, Housing Nova Scotia is ready to give you a grant of up to $6,500 to cover these costs.
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Designed to help with the rising cost of home energy, this Service Nova Scotia rebate is automatically applied to your power bill for most people (those homes fueled by home-delivered oil, propane, firewood, and natural gas).
Those with homes powered by other energy sources, such as kerosene, coal, and wood pellets need to
apply. The rebate you receive is equal to the provincial portion of the HST on your bill.
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Register Your Winter Guided Hikes
Winter Guided Hike Series 2020 Event Registration
Hike NS invites groups across NS to partner with it on delivering winter guided hikes in January, February and March of 2020. The purpose of the event series is to:
-Get more people in NS hiking and snowshoeing
-Highlight local trails and increase their use
-Promote Hike NS and local trail/hiking groups
Hike NS will help promote events and provide a how-to guide and trail prizes to giveaway. If you organize a winter hike or snowshoe event (or already plan to host one), please REGISTER YOUR EVENT BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW by DECEMBER 13, 2019 for events between January 10 and March 15, 2020.
Register Your Hike Here
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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Our Social Media Platforms
The following social media pages are maintained by the Municipality:
MUNICIPALITY OF CUMBERLAND
CUMBERLAND ENERGY AUTHORITY
CUMBERLAND REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PLAN CUMBERLAND
SPRINGHILL RECREATION
PARRSBORO RECREATION
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Never forget your garbage day again!
The Cumberland Central Landfill has made it even easier for residents to stay connected with waste management collection and programs.
Download the free Solid Waste Mobile App by searching for
Cumberland County Solid Waste
in the App Store. Use your mobile phone to view collection schedules, receive collection reminders and
service alerts for any interruptions to waste collection such as cancellations due to weather. Residents can also sign up online by visiting
www.cjsma.ns.ca
.
Wondering what goes where? Visit
www.cjsma.ns.ca
to use the new Waste Wizard and search our
database of over 300 items for disposal options.
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CJSMA also provides sorting guides, information about upcoming Household Hazardous Waste events, FAQs, and information about provincial solid waste programs available to residents.
For more information about Solid Waste Collection Schedules and Routes in your community, please visit Cumberland Joint Services Management Authority. |
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NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS FOR NEXT MONTH
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Send us information about your community events and programs!
If you know of an upcoming program or event in your community that you would like to see included in our municipal monthly newsletters, please
contact us
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Use our online tax payment system:
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