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January 2012 e-Newsletter
President’s Message
 Deputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpine
I hope everyone had a relaxing and joyful holiday season and best wishes for 2012!
I want to update you on the many activities and initiatives that have taken place since the last e-news bulletin.
The Province and the UNSM are in the process of setting up a Fiscal Review Committee which will assess the efficiency and effectiveness of provincial grants and programs that assist municipalities. The Committee will be represented by the UNSM Executive and a number of Deputy Ministers. A working group of UNSM, AMA and SNSMR staff will be established to conduct the necessary research. The terms of reference for this project are currently being developed.
The Towns Task Force is close to completing its initial draft discussion paper. This paper will be presented at the regional meetings as well as the UNSM Spring Workshop taking place May 8-9 of 2012. The Task Force and its sub-committee have done an excellent job in looking at alternative ways to promote viable municipalities. I look forward to the input from our members on this extremely important issue.
UNSM's Women in Local Government Committee will be hosting five municipal campaign schools for women across the province beginning in the Spring of 2012. The schools are open to women who are looking at running in the 2012 municipal elections and who have never been a municipal elected official. The schools will be hosted on Saturdays and run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Dates and locations include the following:
• April 21 - NSCC Strait Area Campus, Port Hawkesbury
• May 5 - Berwick & District Lions Club, Berwick
• May 26 - NSCC Burridge Campus, Yarmouth
• June 9 - NSCC Waterfront Campus, Dartmouth
• June 16 - NSCC Cumberland Campus, Amherst.
On January 25 I met with Premier Dexter to discuss a number of key municipal issues. Also in attendance was SNSMR Minister John MacDonell and Deputy Minister Kevin Malloy. Issues discussed included revisiting the MOU, Fiscal Review, Towns Task Force, potential expansion of the COMFIT Program including tidal power, LED streetlights, UARB costs downloaded to the PVSC, municipal input into the creation of a new infrastructure program including a separate program for water and wastewater, and the idea of creating advocacy days similar to FCM where municipal elected officials would meet with a number of MLA's to discuss the municipal agenda. I found this meeting to be beneficial and successful meeting; Premier Dexter was receptive to hearing our issues. I will be writing a follow-up letter to the Premier outlining our key discussion topics.
On January 16, I was interviewed by CTV on assessment. I indicated that the PVSC did an excellent job in getting the assessment notices out to municipalities in a timely fashion. As you know, assessment figures are paramount for municipalities in the budget deliberation process.
On January 11, I and Vice President, Councillor Jim Smith, had a positive meeting with Minister MacDonnell. During this session we discussed the roll-out of the Fiscal Review and the creation of the Municipal Auditor General's Office. We also discussed the importance of two-way communication between the UNSM and provincial departments that have municipal mandates.
On January 10, I presented to CBRM council on the benefits of UNSM membership. I am pleased to report that the presentation was well received and strong support for the UNSM was conveyed by the overwhelming majority of CBRM council. Also representing the UNSM were Past President Mayor Billy Joe MacLean and Executive Director Betty MacDonald.
On December 22 myself, PVSC Vice Chair Councillor Russell Walker, and senior staff from the PVSC met with Minister Steele to discuss downloading UARB costs onto the PVSC. While the Minister indicated there will still be a cost to the PVSC, we argued that costs should be based on actual costs and not a three-year rolling average which the province is planning to impose. The PVSC is making great strides in reducing the reliance on the UARB to resolve assessment disputes; this should be reflected through reduced costs over time.
On December 22, I wrote Minister MacDonell, requesting that municipalities be granted the same powers as HRM with respect to Bill 112. This legislation allows HRM, through their Charter, to install solar panels and other energy-efficiency equipment on private property with the consent of the owner. It also enables HRM to pass a bylaw to recover project costs directly from the home owner.
Efficiency Nova Scotia recently wrote to the UNSM indicating it will discontinue its program effective January 1, 2012 to reimburse municipalities $100 per installation of LED streetlights. The agency indicated the program is no longer economically viable. Given municipalities are in the process of the LED streetlight conversion process, the timing of this announcement is unfortunate.
Congratulations to Councillor Mervin Hartlen, Region of Queens and Mayor Billy Joe MacLean, Town of Port Hawkesbury, who were appointed to the PVSC Board for a three-year term.
The UNSM will be once again set up regional meetings which will bring together members of the various caucuses. These meetings will take place in the spring with one meeting per region per year. Meeting agendas will be set by the UNSM and the host units.
The Board approved a Municipal Awareness Project that aims to increase municipal voter turnout rates and number of candidates running in the 2012 elections. It also aims to increase awareness among citizens of the importance of municipal government. A project committee will be established to oversee the project.
A planning committee will be struck to develop the first Ken Simpson Municipal Lecture Series to be offered in the Fall of 2012. The lecture series will take place at Dalhousie University and be open to both municipal officials and the general public.
The Board approved the establishment of the Ken Simpson Awards Program which provides an annual opportunity for the UNSM to recognize an active or former mayor, warden or councillor whose actions and demeanor demonstrates: a) exceptional community leadership, statesmanship and commitment to good governance, b) efforts that improve the quality of life for residents in the municipality, c) personal qualities of integrity, intelligence and vision, and d) respect for others’ views and treatment of municipal colleagues, employees and other stakeholders with courtesy, openness, patience and fairness. The inaugural award will be given out at the 2013 UNSM Fall Conference. Program guidelines will be sent out to all municipalities.
Until next month!
Next Page: Municipalities in Kings County Sign MOU to Cooperate on Sustainable Development
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e-Newsletter--January 2012