Region of Queens Administration Building. Photo Ed Halverson

Rezoning of an area to accommodate to construction of co-op housing topped the latest meeting of Region of Queens council.

No one spoke in favour or against the proposed multi-unit co-op development at a public hearing ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting.

Council approved the rezoning to allow the construction in the Lawrence Street/Amherst Street part of Liverpool.

Also receiving council approval was a request from the Medway Head Lighthouse Society to allow liquor to be served at the opening night of their annual art show.

Council then approved the $314,700 + HST purchase of a front-end loader for the Queens solid waste facility. The purchase came in over $70,000 less than the budgeted amount of $385,000 + HST.

Next up was the appointment of Miles Harlow as Fire Inspector for the municipality. Harlow is a building inspector for the Region and will continue in that role as he takes on the responsibilities of fire inspector alongside the municipality’s current sole fire inspector Tim Clattenburg.

In the discussion portion of the meeting, a question was asked during the Council Implementation Report as to what progress is being made to sell off some the Region’s surplus properties.

Planning staff had been tasked with developing a policy for the equitable sale of surplus lands but say there hasn’t been time. They are processing a high number of permits which need to take priority over the policy development.

Next council tasked staff with cleaning up graffiti on municipally owned property in Port Mouton.

The first quarter financial review continues to show high deed transfer tax payments. The deed-transfer tax puts 1.5 percent from the sale of any property in Queens into municipal coffers. Staff had predicted $720,000 in tax revenue for the entire year but has taken in $321,905 in just the first three months of the year, almost half of what they were expecting for all of 2023/24.

Finally, council is looking at installing security cameras in the recreation areas at Queens Place after vandals have been leaving broken glass and graffiti throughout the campus. Staff will explore options and bring a report back to council at the next meeting that will outline possible solutions and costs.

The next council meeting will be held in council chambers on September 12 beginning at 9:00am.

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Security camera photo of vandal. Photo courtesy RCMP

Queens District RCMP continues to investigate mischief at the Liverpool tourist bureau.

Between the evening of January 8 and early morning hours of January 9, someone had vandalized the building with various forms of graffiti.

A photo of a person believed to be involved in the incident was released to the public in the hopes of identifying them.

RCMP investigators have since learned that, later that morning, on January 9 a dark-coloured sedan with Ontario license plates parked at the tourist bureau. The driver exited the vehicle and met with another man who approached on foot. RCMP say the two people had a discussion, expressing the same hateful language that had been spray painted on the tourist bureau.

The driver of the vehicle is described as being in his early 20s with dark hair.

The man who was on foot had a beard.

Investigators say this act of mischief is consistent with being motivated by bias, prejudice or hate against an identifiable group.

Anyone with information, or dash camera footage of the area on January 10, is asked to contact the Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

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

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Liverpool Visitor Information Centre. Photo courtesy Region of Queens Municipality

The 2SLGBTQ+ community has been targeted by vandals in Liverpool.

Sometime Sunday evening someone spray painted hateful graffiti over the rainbow painted steps at the visitor information centre along Henry Hensey Drive.

Mayor Darlene Norman is disappointed anyone would deface a symbol of inclusion and welcome with hate.

Norman said it’s, “horrible that member or members of our community or people within our province or country would publicly display their hatred toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community is simply a sign of hatred and that is definitely what we are not in our community.”

The vandals also etched hateful graffiti in the panes of glass at the VIC.

Norman says RCMP have been informed of the vandalism and are investigating.

Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are calling for more action for instances such as this.

Commenting to QCCR, Chair of Lunenburg Pride Steve Ellis said, “These acts of vandalism are disgusting and need to be investigated by the RCMP as a hate crime; full stop. The stairs are beautiful and a shining example of visibility for our community. We at Lunenburg Co. Pride condemn these acts. We will continue to speak out against any hateful actions or words against our community and this only motivates us to be even louder in our vision of an inclusive space for everyone on the South Shore and beyond.”

Mayor Norman says the offending graffiti has already been painted over and staff are looking into whether the glass can be repaired or will need to be replaced.

She is more concerned about the impact this act will have on the community.

“We can expend money to put in new windows, replace glass, fix glass, scrub paint but what we cannot fix is the damage that has been done by people in our community who have seen this or know of it or have been exposed to this,” said Norman.

She says the Region of Queens has prioritized diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and will continue to do so.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Queens RCMP.

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

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