Monthly Executive Meeting
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007
Community Hall
Executive in attendance: Faye Langille, Jane Rathbun, Sandra McKenzie, Charles Schafer, Charles Wagner, Bill Lockhart, Kevin O’Halloran, Steve Saunders, Dave MacDonald(Chair).
Regrets: invited guest Councilor Krista Snow sent her regrets of not being able to attend.
Meeting called to Order by Chair at 7:30pm
The Chair tabled the minutes of the previous executive meeting held Sept 13/07 for noted changes and omissions, none were noted . Acceptance of the minutes as presented was moved by Charles Schafer and seconded by Charles Wagner.
No business arose from the last meeting.
Item: Discuss result of vote to change the use of sidewalk area rate at the Special Meeting on Oct 4/07.
The Chair asked that the approved motion from that special meeting be read aloud as
recorded by Charles Schafer. It was recorded as“ to defer any action on the sidewalk rate
until the Executive puts forward a definitive plan for the community”.
The chair then requested an open discussion to bring forward comments and ideas as to
what would be included in the plan the Executive has been charged to develop by the
members at the special meeting.
The following comments were mentioned during the discussion period.
At the meeting residents expressed a great deal of concern over lack of sidewalks and for
need of improvements to pedestrian safety
especially along
They wished to know what funding scenarios are available using an area rate.
Residents want to
know what are the estimated costs to construct sidewalks in
Charles Schafer
offered to conduct a walking survey to identify pedestrian safety problems
spots along the
Bill Lockhart recalled a similar type of survey was done
several years ago by some residents living near the south end of
Sandra McKenzie acknowledged she is new to the WRA and was
interested to know what are the alternative uses for the sidewalk fund if it
were changed to a community fund. Also, she wished to explore where sidewalks
could be built and at what cost and what area rate would be necessary to
undertake this work. She also suggested exploring ways to ‘calm traffic’ on the
Charles Schafer noted the Exec has already identified a
planned use for a portion of the fund to do necessary repairs to the
After considerable discussion and debate the Executive agreed
the requested ‘definitive plan for
The ‘ definitive plan will include:
-WRA conduct a walking survey to identify needed improvements
to the shoulders on the
-Seek strategies from Provincial DOT and HRM Traffic staff
for means to ‘calm traffic’ on
-Obtain sidewalk construction cost estimates for various
sites within
-Obtain financial projections as to what various area rates would be needed to generate the funding necessary to undertake the construction of sidewalks.
-Identify the needed repairs to the community hall /heritage museum building.
-Improvements to the Village Green
-Obtain resident input into the planning of the routing of the new
Item: Use of WRA website to provide communication to residents
It was agreed to attempt to utilize the current website to enable hardcopy information to be regularly put on the website. To do this a webmaster should be assigned to oversee the inputting of information. Charles Schafer will attempt to have Andrew Whitlock, (CAP Intern who worked this summer) to come in and instruct those Executive who would be willing to participate in entering information.
Item: Renewal of WRA liability insurance coverage.
Faye reported that both the Director’s coverage and the Property Liability insurance has been renewed for another year.
Item: Up-date on NSCC Volunteer Labor Day Oct 17
Kevin reported the Gazebo repairs and new ramp are scheduled to be done on Oct 17. Bill will assist Kevin in arranging for obtaining the needed materials.
Item: New Deputy fire Chief
Charles Wagner was pleased to announce that Tim Rand is the new deputy fire chief.
Item: Request for funding assistance by Lockview High Student
Charles Wagner read a letter addressed to the WRA from a Lockview High Grade 12 student ,Laura Waterfield requesting possible assistance to defer the cost of a her attendance at the Canadian student Leadership Conference in London ,Ont. this past Sept.; her cost was $850. The WRA agreed to consider a contribution up to $250; however, the Treasurer was asked to verify if the WRA bank account is able to undertake this amount.
Item: Up-date of Inland container Terminal (ICT)
Steve Saunders reported he heard the ICT was a recent topic a local radio talk show on 96.5FM , he called in and asked the CN guest spokesperson “ how long before this project was undertaken ? ; the response said within 3-5 years. Steve considers this to be more realistic than the 10-20 year timeline put forward by the HRM staff person, David McCuster who spoke at our recent Oct 11 meeting. Steve will attempt to obtain the name of the radio guest. Steve also recommended we join forces with residents from the other affected communities ; they are Lakeview, Ridge vale, Stone Mountain and Silversides.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:50 pm