Council Highlights – Regular Meeting, December 10, 2024
Council Highlights provide a brief overview of the latest Regular Council Meeting. For complete details, please refer to the official minutes, which will be available once approved at the next Regular Council Meeting.
Regular Council Meetings are where important decisions are made to guide our community’s development and future. Here’s a snapshot of the key discussions and decisions from this meeting.
Public Presentations:
- Garth Zwicker – Veteran Banner Campaign: Garth gave an update on the beloved 2024 Veteran Banner campaign. Garth spoke upon the campaign’s development throughout the years and thanked staff and council for their ongoing support.
- Susan Gourley – Tax Rebate Apartment Buildings: Susan Gourley voiced her opinion on landlords allowing pets in rental units and architecture designs.
Council Motions
- Rezoning on Kirk Street: Council approved starting the process to rezone property on Kirk Street from R1 to R2 to allow for new medium-density housing. A public hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2025.
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan: Council approved applying for funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan in collaboration with EOS Eco-Energy.
- Planting and Maintenance Contract: Council awarded the 2025-2026 flower planting and maintenance contract to The Yard Guyz with additional stipulations, ensuring continued beautification of downtown and public spaces.
- Reserve Fund Transfers: Council approved transferring $1,200,000 into various reserve funds to support future capital projects and reduce the need for borrowing.
By-Laws
- Downtown Building Height Amendment (By-Law No. 244-R): First and second readings passed to increase the maximum building height in the downtown business district to 75 feet.
- Freshwinds Housing Rezoning (By-Law No. 244-S): First and second readings passed to rezone property on Fairfield Road to Urban Residential 3 (R3), enabling a new housing development by Freshwinds Eco-Village. Both by-laws will return for third readings in January 2025.
Celebrating Community
- Dorchester Parade of Lights: Councillor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell commended the organizers and participants for a successful and festive event that brought joy to the community.
- Celebrating a Local Athletic: Mayor Andrew Black highlighted a major achievement by local swimmer Ruben Smith, who represented Tantramar at an international event and reached the finals in all six of his races. Well done, Ruben!
- Shepody IODE Milestone: Congratulations to the Shepody IODE Chapter on their 85th anniversary, marking decades of service and dedication to the community.
Notice of Motion
Councillor Wiggins-Colwell proposed new initiatives:
- Converting the Dorchester ball field into a dog park.
- Enhancing school zone safety in Dorchester.
Councillor Goguen proposed an amendment to municipal by-laws to allow accessory building units (ABUs).
Electing a New Deputy Mayor
At this meeting, Council elected a new Deputy Mayor through a nomination and voting process. Any Council member can nominate a colleague for the role, and nominees must confirm their willingness to serve. Once all nominations are made, Council members vote, and the candidate with the majority is elected.
Councillor Matt Estabrooks was elected as the new Deputy Mayor, succeeding Councillor Greg Martin. Councillor Estabrooks expressed gratitude for the trust of his colleagues and acknowledged the exceptional work of Councillor Martin during his tenure. Councillor Martin fondly reflected on his two years of service, highlighting the opportunities he had to represent Tantramar across Canada.
Stay Updated:
Join us for the next Regular Meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM in person or via live stream on our YouTube Channel to stay engaged with municipal progress and decisions.
Missed the last meeting? Catch up here! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for live streams and updates.