Minutes Village of Westport Commission
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
1. Call to Order:6:33pm
2. Additions to the Agenda:None
3. Adoption of Agenda:Shelley motioned to adopt the agenda and Gordie seconded. Motion carried.
4. Minutes of Tuesday, November 8, 2022:Gordie motioned to accept the minutes of Tuesday
November 8th 2022 and Trevor seconded. Motion carried.
5. Correspondence:Clerk read the correspondence.
– Emails between Clerk and Crystal Clear Water re: UV Water Filter installation
– Email from the Dept of Municipal Affairs re: Payment of invoices from Regional Centres
for Education
– Email from Clerk Jeff Conrad re: Village insurance options
– Email from Clerk Mitchell Bell re: Village insurance options
– Email from Heritage NS re: Completion of Community Hall work and grant cheque
– Email from Clerk Brock McDougall re: Village insurance options
– Email from Municipal Finance re: “Ask the Expert” virtual series about Asset Retirement
Obligations
– Emails between Clerk and Miranda Pyne re: Village Levy Rate for 2023
– Email from the Community Health Board re: Peer Support Phone Service
– Email from Building Inspector re: Community Hall and Library Ramps inspection
– Email from Sou West Glass re: Quote for new Community Hall doors
– Letter from Heritage Trust of NS re: Support of the repairs of the Westport Oddfellows
Hall – the Community Hall
– Email from the Accessibility Directorate re: Goods and Services Accessibility Standard
Development
– Email from Property Valuation Services re: Sale of the schoolhouse property
– Emails between the Clerk and Oliver Janson re: Request to have incorrect information on
the schoolhouse sale corrected
– Email from Dept of Municipal Affairs re: A new fund for the recruitment and retention of
healthcare professionals
– Email from Employment and Social Development Canada re: Extension Request for
Federal Accessibility Grant
– Email from Brokerlink re: Broker Feedback Survey
– Email from Dept of Municipal Affairs re: Municipal Awareness Week
– Email from Digby Building Dept re: Community Hall and Library Wheelchair Ramp
inspections
– Email from ANSV re: Updated ANSV contact list
– Email from ANSV re: Quarterly board meeting Jan 20, 2023
– Email from ANSV re: Quarterly board meeting April 21, 2023
– Email from ANSV re: Quarterly board meeting June 16, 2023
– Email from Scotiabank re: Steps to get online access to the accounts
– Email from Safety Branch Engagement re: WHMIS Feedback requested
– Email from Community Health Board re: Vaccine Outreach Digby Nov 28, 2022
– Email from Brokerlink re: Strong winds alert
– Email from Dept of Municipal Affairs re: Hurricane Fiona Food Reimbursement Program
closing Dec 16, 2022
– Email from Nick Barr Dept Mun Affairsre:New Fund for Recruitment & Retention of
Healthcare professionals Villages are able to apply
– Email from Nicole Robbins Mun. of Digby re:2023 Village Supply List
– Email between clerks re: Grant writing
– Email between clerks re: Asset Retirement Obligations
– Email from Municipal Finance re: Asset Retirement Obligations Training
– Email from Grant Thornton re: Asset Retirement Obligations
– Email between Chynell Shade re: Wheelchair grant extension
– Email from Nick Barr Dept Mun Affairs re: NS Environmental Climate Change Plan
– Email between Greg Amero Electric & Clerk re: Library heater & emergency light
– Email clerk Mitchell Bell re: Code of conduct consultation session available
– Email between clerk & Brokerlink re: Insurance documents for upcoming year
– Email Brokerlink re: New toll free contact number and website for service
– Email from Weber Electric re: Delays in work completion
– Email from Clyde DeVille re: Covid Clinics
– Email from Mitchell Bell re: New procurement online portal updates
– Email from Brokerlink re: Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2023
– Email from Clyde Deville re: Wellness Fund Deadline Change
– Email from Paul Wills re:2023 Municipal Finance Spring Debenture Issue
– Email from Buildings at Risk re: Uncashed Heritage Grant Check
– Email from Matt Delorme AIMs re: Assessment of assets for ARO
– Mail to Jill Balser re: Health Practitioner Petition mailed
– Mail HST rebate statement
– Mail Property tax assessments received
6. Monthly Financial Statement
a. November Financials:Gordie motioned to accept the November financials and Trevor
seconded. Motion carried.
b. December Financials:Gordie motioned to accept the December financials and Shelley
seconded. Motion carried.
7. Old Business:
a. Website: Website is up and running. Minutes and Finances will be posted to the website
instead of facebook groups going forward. Shelley will send out a reminder in facebook
groups to use the website for events. Shelley will also have Monica remove Kayaking
photos from the website.
b. Asset Retirement Obligations Assessment: Clerk has spoken to Grant Thornton reps in
regards to requirements and deadlines. Grant Thornton would like to have the ARO plan
in place by Fiscal year end but the Provincial requirement is July 2023 and that the report
must be assessed and prepared by a certified assessor or engineer. Grant Thornton also
advised penalties for not meeting provincial deadlines is questionable due to the lack of
funding received from them. Contact info for AIMs, a non-profit group who helps with
assessments and plans for ARO’s, was provided by Grant Thornton rep and clerk emailed
for further information including timeline and costs. Clerk contacted Cora Lee with the
Municipality of Digby regarding ARO education sessions. Cora Lee advised she has only
attended 3 sessions so far and will check to see if the sessions are available for viewing
online. Cora Lee advised based on the sessions she has attended she believes we can
write our own plan but must be prepared to justify our report with the reasons for actions
or costs. Clerk emailed the Clerks in Tiverton and Freeport (Donna East & Mary
Cossaboom) to see how they are handling the ARO. Donna was not aware of the ARO
and Mary has not responded. Clerk to follow up with Province regarding late filing
penalties, follow up with AIM’s and with other clerks regarding their processes and
findings.
c. Comm Hall doors and locks repairs/replacement: quote received from Sou’west
Glass. Gordie motioned to have both doors at the Community Hall replaced. Shelley
seconded. Motion carried. Clerk to contact Sou’west Glass to arrange installation and
check to see if there is any grant money leftover to help with costs.
d. NS Environment Contamination Notice 21 Second St: Tabled from last meeting:
Gordie will contact Jacqueline at Environment Nova Scotia.
e. Park Driveway erosion: Gordie advised driveway was repaired and seems to be holding.
Future plans to mark off driveway with Jessica Titus.
f. Petition for Nurse Practitioner: Petition has been collected and mailed to Jill Balser to
present to Michelle Thompson Minister of Health and Wellness so she can advocate on
our behalf. Gordie is going to contact Jill Balser regarding the situation with Ambulance
services.
g. Capital Reserve Investing: Investment has been made and first statement received. No
further action is required at this time.
h. Cover for Comm Hall Heat Pump: Gordie is going to look into purchasing a prebuilt
cover or see if one can be made for us by Jeff Thompson.
i. Insurance changes: Questions from our insurance provider have been answered and the
requested documents completed. Waiting on updated 2023 quote.
j. Audit Committee Posting: Audit committee post had zero response. Will repost until
March 13th. Clerk to confirm if the requirement is for 1 or 2 residents.
k. Christmas Funds: Eleven Christmas hampers, and $100 towards hydro, was
provided to families over the Holiday season. Clerk will send Thank You
cards to those who donated and will post a thank you to the website.
l. Veteran’s Signs:Norma did not have a list but names for signs/flags are available through
the local legions. Clerk to check with Digby Print & Promo and JR Signs to see if they
can make and the cost.
m. Beach Access Stairs:Steps down to the beach need to be built. Gordie will reach out to
Russell D’entremont and follow up to see when he can build them.
8. New Business:
a. Change meeting night back to 1st Tuesday of every month:The idea is to move the
meetings back to the first Tuesday of every month in the hopes that more people will
attend the meetings. Gordie motioned to move the meetings and Trevor seconded. Motion
carried.
b. Bank card for new clerk to provide online access to statements and make deposits:In
order for the clerk to access online bank statements and research
deposits/payments/withdrawals a bank card is needed. This would also allow for the clerk
to make deposits at the bank. Gordie motioned for the clerk to receive a bank card and
Shelley seconded. Motion carried. Clerk to contact the bank and arrange.
c. Wharves:The Lower wharf needs repairs due to damage caused by hurricane Fiona. The
Harbour Authority is struggling to find out who could/would do this work. Wharves are
not the jurisdiction of the village but Shelley feels it is an important part of the islands
prosperity and would like to see us do a letter to Small Craft Harbours for funding.
Shelley will reach out to Small Craft Harbours. Gordie will meet with Jeff Nickerson
with Cook Aquaculture and see if he can find someone who would be able to do the
work. Jimmy Outhouse is currently in the process of getting certified to do work on
wharves.
d. Discontinue Listing Correspondence in Meeting Minutes:The clerk has recommended
discontinuing listing correspondence in the meeting minutes. Correspondence is not
required to be listed under The Municipality of Digby’s MGA which is what Westport
follows. The clerk feels it would be better to post correspondence that would potentially
benefit the residents, such as personal grants or covid clinic availability, on the official
website and/or at the local post office/store so that they are informed in a timely
manner.Gordie Motioned to discontinue the listing of correspondence in meeting minutes.
Shelley seconded. Motion carried.
9. Floor Opened. Questions/Concerns:
-Is the water in the halls safe to drink? Gordie replied that it is supposed to be.
-Are the Hospital beds in the Rec Hall going to be moved? Gordied advised one will be moved to
community hall where it was previously stored and the other will be donated.
10. Next Village Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023
11. Adjournment:8:04pm