Region of Queens Administration Building. Photo Ed Halverson

Region of Queens Council was back with a jam-packed agenda in the first meeting after summer.

Council meets just once a month during July and August and have now returned to their regular twice monthly schedule.

Council heard from the public to start the meeting. A question was raised whether water utility customers would receive a refund from the municipality considering they haven’t had drinkable water in over a month since the treatment station was struck by lightning.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the Region of Queens won’t be providing a refund as the utility is its own legal entity and rates are set by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Next council awarded the South Shore Multicultural Association $3,000 from the Community Investment Fund to assist with National Day of Truth and Reconciliation events being held at the Hank Snow Museum at the end of the month.

Council then heard from finance staff who reported the municipality had a $1.6 million operating surplus last year. Mayor Norman says the surplus can be attributed to a number of factors including: $1.2 million in unexpected income from deed transfer tax and investment returns, as well as $400,000 that went unspent on staff positions the Region has been unable to fill.

Two contracts were then awarded following request for proposals involving an evaluation of the Region’s Information Technology systems as well as a staff and council compensation review.

Mayor Norman says it’s been many years since either was properly assessed and the municipality needs to know which IT systems work and why.

The compensation review will be undertaken to determine if staff and council pay are in line with what other municipalities and the private sector are offering.

Council went on to discuss Queens County Rails to Trails and the Queens County ATV Associations’ request to redesignate the trail corridor from West Street, behind the municipal offices building to Silver Rock Road to multi-use. Currently that trail only permits pedestrians, and the organizations would like it opened for off-highway vehicles and bicycles.

The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities will be hosting their fall convention and Region of Queens decided to send five members of council.

Finally, the Region will be applying for intervenor status at an upcoming hearing at the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Board regarding a site expansion at the salmon farm in Liverpool Bay.

The next council meeting will be held September 26 in council chambers beginning at 6:00pm.

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E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Queens General Hospital. Photo Ed Halverson

The provincial government is providing almost $35,000 to the South Shore Multicultural Association to help attract and retain healthcare workers in Queens and Lunenburg counties.

The association will use the funding for settlement materials and to support events to integrate and connect new healthcare professionals in the community.

A list of proposed events includes activities such as family and beach days, canoeing, biking, tai chi, nature walks, cooking, painting and more.

The South Shore Multicultural Association is one of 28 groups across Nova Scotia that will benefit from the new $2 million Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund.

In a statement on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, Queens MLA Kim Masland said, “Creating a connection between healthcare workers and their community is key.”

She goes on to say, “The warm and welcome environment that the South Shore Multicultural Association is providing in its communities will be invaluable in the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers.”

Executive Director, of the South Shore Multicultural Association Anne Fownes said, “Participation in recreational and leisure activities is a wonderful way for newcomers and their families to have fun, make meaningful connections, and settle into their new communities.”

The new fund is part of the recruitment and retention initiatives outlined in the government’s Action for Health, the Province’s plan to improve healthcare.

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

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