SETTLED 1765 – INCORPORATED 1946
Minutes for the Village of Westport Commission, 7 October 2025
- Call to Order: Meeting started at 6:43pm and Commissioner O’Neill will be Head Commissioner.
- Attendees: Commissioners O’Neill, Lonergan, and Outhouse; Village Clerk and Village Treasurer; and 8 Community members.
- Additions to the Agenda: (1) Administration; (2) Mid-Year Budget review; (3) Ratepayer’s request for information; (4) Heat pump; and (5) New Business item b moved to last item in New Business.
- Adoption of Agenda: Commissioner O’Neill moved to adopt the Agenda and Commissioner Lonergan seconded the motion.
- Adoption of the September Village Minutes: Commissioner Lonergan moved to adopt the September minutes, and Commissioner Outhouse seconded the motion.
- Adoption of the September 2025 Financial Statement: Commissioner O’Neill moved to adopt the September Financial Statement.
- Old Business:
- Village Community Hall Door: all work is completed.
- Village Road repairs: nothing from Public Works. It was noted that an area near the corner of Wellington and Water street needs attention.
- Village Hall Rental Policy 05: see chart below for rental rates:
SUMMER: 1 May – 31 October HEAT OFF
Westport Community Organization Monthly Meeting: No Charge
Funeral Reception: No Charge
Recreation Hall Monday Sport Night: $30.00
FOR PROFIT NON-PROFIT / INDIVIDUAL
Rec Hall Com Hall Rec Hall Com Hall
Full Day no kitchen $50.00 $30.00 No Charge No Charge
*with kitchen usage $75.00 $50.00 No Charge No Charge
Damage deposit/Cleaning Deposit may be refundable and is $100.00
WINTER: 1 November – 30 April HEAT ON
Westport Community Organization Monthly Meeting: No Charge
Funeral Reception: No Charge
Recreation Hall Monday Sport Night: $30.00
The Community Hall is not used between 1 November and 30 April
FOR PROFIT NON-PROFIT / INDIVIDUAL
Rec Hall Rec Hall
Full Day with no kitchen $50.00 $50.00
*with kitchen usage $75.00 $50.00
Damage deposit/Cleaning Deposit may be refundable and is $100.00
c. continued: There was no decision on who will pay for Sport Night.
- Garbage Collection at NCC property: Commissioner O’Neill did not speak with the NCC steward in Halifax.
- Training Day for Clerks/Treasurers/ Commissioners in three Villages: Saturday, 18 October, Freeport Community Hall from 10:00 – 12:30 with BrokerLink.
- Pool Table: two inquires, but no takers. Clerk to contact Randy Durling.
- Municipal Fire Inspections: all three Village Buildings are complete and will be inspected in three years.
- New Business:
- Remembrance Day Banners: village to pay for two more banners.
- Request for Breakfast Program Funding: an email from the Islands Consolidated School requested emergency funding for the Breakfast Program as funding is delayed until November. Commissioner O’Neill moved to donate $300.00, and Commissioner Lonergan seconded the motion.
- By Law for Village Commission: ongoing. By Law will include number of days to give public meeting notice; length of meetings; day and time of meetings; location of meetings; number of Village meetings; stipend; number of Commissioners; etc. The By Law will require approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
- Administration: (1)Village meetings will not be held in December, January, February; (2) Beginning with the November meeting, only three copies each of the agenda, unapproved previous minutes, and financial statement will be printed, and all documents will be emailed to community members who have provided their email address. (3) Paper towel dispenser in Library washroom needs repairing. (4) Village water test came back negative. Next water test is March 2026. (5) Clerk to contact Western Counties Regional Library CEO to request Library heat pump be turned down for weekends.
- Mid-Year Budget Review: for November’s Village meeting.
- Rate Payer’s request for information: A ratepayer requested the following information about the Multipurpose Court: fence height; shed location; hours for Multipurpose Court use; lighting; and if the fence be locked or not. Commissioners to have a meeting with real estate agent, ratepayer and Westport Auxiliary members.
- Heat Pump: Commissioner O’Neill moved to pay the remaining $9,320.03 owed for the Community Hall heat pump, and Commissioner Lonergan seconded the motion.
- Suggestions to reduce expenses and increase revenue: Commissioner O’Neill stated that the Commissioners could raise the Village Mill rate or sell Village property (Community Hall; property behind the school). The group who made suggestions to the Commissioners were not present, but the Clerk read their suggestions outloud. The cleaning contract is set until next year. Clerk will speak with the Director of Finance at Municipality for financial information on an increase of $0.70 or $1.00 with the Village Mill Rate. Commissioner O’Neill asked the Fire Department Treasurer and the Village Clerk and Village Treasurer to meet to discuss issues for the Fire Department separating from the Village. Commissioners discussed the idea of an Area Rate instead of an increase in the Mill Rate but need to determine what would be the Area Rate or Milll Rate increase per house (property owner). Commissioners noted that that there would be a public meeting to discuss this issue.
- Date for next Village meeting is 4 November at 6:30pm
- Adjourned at 9:08pm
Approved: signed and approved 4 November 2025
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Commissioner O’Neill, Head Commissioner Commissioner Lonergan
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Commissioner Outhouse Jacqueline Journeay, Village Clerk