Melissa Thiele-Smale, treasurer of the Brooklyn Recreation Committee, spoke to Queens regional council in January. (Region of Queens YouTube channel)

The Brooklyn Recreation Committee will be reimbursed $1,150 by the Region of Queens for the cost of a financial review.

In 2023, the committee was granted a community area rate of four cents per $100 of assessment to fund its operations. The rate provides $32,000 in revenue. 

Certain community groups can apply to the region to levy an area rate on their behalf. The group sets a proposed rate, which is calculated at cents per $100 of assessment or a lump sum.

An area rate request is subject to public consultation and a non-binding vote by those in the communities served by the group.

Queens is one of the only municipalities in Nova Scotia to offer an area rate to community groups to cover expenses. Other municipalities levy rates for assets owned by the municipality.

“There are many who apply different rates to different areas for different purposes. These rates are used to cover costs that are more specific to an area such as: fire protection based on fire service area, sidewalks, local recreation facilities, etc.,” Joanne Veinotte, director of corporate services, said in her Jan. 9 report to council.

“Staff could identify very few municipal units that use this method to support community groups that operate independently from the municipal units.”

The region changed its community area rate policy on Jan. 23, and the financial reporting requirements for community groups. 

Under the old policy, groups had to submit a financial review by a qualified chartered public accountant. 

In the new policy, only those generating revenue over $50,000 have to submit a financial review. Those groups generating revenue from the area rate over $100,000 must submit audited financial statements.

The Brooklyn Recreation Committee had a financial review done by Belliveau Veinotte, which cost $1,150. District 4 Coun. Vicki Amirault asked council at their Jan. 9 meeting to consider reimbursing that cost.

Councillors voted on the motion at this week’s meeting. It passed by a vote of 5 to 3. 

Some councillors were concerned that the group knew it would have to pay for the financial review before the policy changed, and that taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Hank Snow Playground. Photo courtesy Brookyn Recreation Committee

Kids in Brooklyn no longer need to worry about losing their playground.

The Brooklyn Recreation Committee announced they are receiving funding from the province to help refurbish the Hank Snow Playground.

Funding through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage will cover roughly a third of the approximately $20,000 it will cost to refurbish both swing sets, replace the maypole (spinning rings), and install a new merry-go-round.

The remainder will be paid through money raised by the local area rate.

The playground had been in danger of closing after community members raised concerns the equipment may no longer be safe.

Board member Wendy Vissers says the committee checked with their insurers and performed inspections on the equipment after reaching out to the Canadian Playground Safety Institute.

Vissers says through those conversations the board learned that playground doesn’t need to be shuttered just because equipment doesn’t meet the most up-to-date standards.

“The way it was described to me is OK if you build a house in the 40’s you build it to the code of the day which is the same as with the playground, and then as building codes change you don’t tear down your house and start fresh,” said Vissers. “You just, any work going forward is done to the new code.”

The board presented what they learned to the community at a public meeting.

A motion to close the playground was unsupported and died on the floor, keeping the playground open.

The only question now for Vissers and her team is when they can expect to see the new equipment on site.

“We’re in the queue so the equipment is officially, the order is in but it’s looking like some of the swing parts will be here in in August. So, hopefully you know, sort of as soon as that stuff arrives within a week or two, we could get that project done,” said Vissers. “The other larger pieces of equipment unfortunately, it’s looking like it’s probably going to be December by the time they arrive.”

Once it arrives, the Brooklyn Recreation Committee will be installing the new equipment themselves as the only certified installer in Nova Scotia is booked up.

The committee has confirmed they can perform the work without voiding the warranty or jeopardizing their insurance.

Vissers says when they are ready to install, they will be putting a call out to the community to lend a hand.

She’s confident there will be no shortage of volunteers.

“An announcement like this, yeah we’ve had nothing but positive feedback and suggestions from community members like, hey can we do any sort of fund-raising activities to help offset the cost and people coming forward to say yeah we’ll help, you know, donate some time to make it happen, and so you know it’s been very positive.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Photo Ed Halverson

Residents in the Brooklyn area will have their say on how much more they will pay in area rate on top of their annual property taxes.

The Region of Queens describes area rates as special tax rates over and above the normal tax rates which are applied specifically to one or more assessment districts only. Property owners in other districts do not have to pay this charge.

Brooklyn Recreation Committee has requested that Municipal Council levy a 4 cent per $100 of assessment area rate in the Brooklyn area across Assessment Districts 5 and 6 for the upcoming fiscal year. That would provide the recreation committee with the $32,000 they’re looking to raise to cover some of their costs.

Brooklyn Cemetery Committee is asking the Region to levy a 1.5 cent per $100 of assessment area rate in the same area for repairs and maintenance of the grounds of the First Brooklyn Cemetery, Seaside Cemetery and Brooklyn Community Cemetery.

Residents will cast ballots on the area rates in a non-binding vote which will be considered by Region of Queens council when they are preparing the 2023/2024 budget.

A Public Area Rate Meeting will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Liverpool Fire Hall from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Residents can vast their vote on the proposed area rates Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Brooklyn Community Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Region of Queens Council is reviewing the budget in March and will set tax rates, including area rates for the upcoming year in April.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.