Canso council notes
Noise by-law referred to committee
Canso - First reading of a new noise by-law for the Town of Canso was scheduled for the regular monthly meeting of town council Monday night, but the development of a new by-law was referred to committee instead.
Councillor Paul Horne, chairperson of the security committee, was to present the proposed by-law, but was unable to attend the meeting. The subject was discussed anyway, and it was determined that the by-law before council was not near ready for first reading.
Council has been dealing with the noise by-law issue for a number of months. A previous proposed by-law was discarded because the town's solicitor said it would not hold up in court. The solicitor recommended the town model a by-law after the Town of Antigonish's by-law. Instead, what councillors found before them Monday night was the actual Town of Antigonish by-law.
"The Town of Antigonish by-law was specifically brought in for residential purposes. It refers to 'dwelling units,'" said councillor Jean Bond, expressing concern that this by-law would not address concerns about noise from commercial establishments.
"You could never have first reading on this," added councillor Joe Walsh, with regards to the Antigonish by-law. "This is nowhere near what we want."
Mayor Ray White said that before a by-law is brought forward for first reading, the protection committee should work on it and get input from the public.
"I don't think we need a noise by-law at the time being," commented councillor Finn Armsworthy. "How can you have a first reading on something that has 'Town of Antigonish' on it?"
Councillor Buzz Lumsden agreed that the by-law issue should go back to committee. "The by-law has to be worked on extensively by the committee and by a lawyer and then taken to the public to see if it flies," he said.
Council agreed to refer the matter to committee and seek public input on a proposed noise by-law before proceeding to first reading in the future.
In other council business, some time was spent discussing who should attend Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM) meetings and who should pay the associated costs. Councillor Armsworthy noted that he recently attended UNSM sessions at his own expense. He said he doesn't think councillors should have to pay to attend meetings aimed at helping them do their jobs better, adding that in Canso's case, the money just isn't there to pay for travel and accommodation costs. Council had decided to send mayor White to the next UNSM meeting in Digby, as a representative of council, with costs covered by the town. Estimating the cost of the trip at between $700 and $1000, Armsworthy argued that this isn't feasible for the town.
"I'm thinking right now of going on my own (to the Digby meeting)," said Armsworthy. "And I don't think I should have to go on my own…If we don't have the money to do these things…maybe we should just stay home."
Joe Walsh said he doesn't see an advantage to everyone on council going to UNSM meetings. "The mayor can handle it quite well," he noted.
Councillor Buzz Lumsden agreed. "He'll come back and inform us very well."
"I don't think the mayor should have to pay his own way," added councillor Bond. "If it's the decision of council that the mayor should attend on my behalf, then I support that."
Mayor White said he would respect the decision of council on the matter, noting that he has taken steps in the past to cut such costs by staying with relatives and doubling up with other scheduled meetings when possible, where expenses were paid by other levels of government. Council voted to send mayor White at the expense of the town, with Armsworthy as the lone dissenting vote.
In the RCMP report, it was noted that Cst. Jamie Parsons will be leaving the local detachment in July. His replacement is a native of the Sydney area who will be coming from Newfoundland. Cst. Parsons is relocating to Montague, PEI.
Some council discussion focused on local representation on the Antigonish - Eastern Shore Tourism Association (AESTA) board. Elizabeth Measures, owner/operator of Whitman House Bed and Breakfast on Union St. in Canso, is currently an active member of the organization's board of directors. It was noted in the past that the Canso area had two representatives on the board. Measures noted that there are now only two members of the organization from the Canso area, and it would be a good idea for the town to encourage more memberships from the community.
