Annual General Meeting

Q. How can we improve or supplement the emergency services we now have?

It was pointed out that we have one of the best equipped fire departments, and that we have good ambulance coverage. As well, we have access to every service in the province at our fingertips. Work is ongoing to get clear communication in the Tarbot area. What is needed are more young volunteers.

Lack of cell phone coverage throughout this side of the harbour and bay is a problem.

ACTION: Loreto will continue to lobby Aliant for cell phone coverage.

As well, there is still an area in the North River/Tarbot/West Tarbot area that can not receive high speed internet service.

ACTION: Ernie will put pressure on Aliant, and will develop a petition for this area to send to the appropriate authorities.

Although there is an Emergency Plan in place, devised by Nova Scotia Power, there is no easy-reading plan for every household. It was mentioned that the Mormons have a plan for households that we might like to have a representative present, although this is more along the lines of how to stock your house in case of an emergency.

ACTION: Aaron will contact NS Power to see if they have something available, and will read the available plan to consider digesting it for household use.

Q. What changes do you think are needed to improve existing education programs?

Promoting courses on practical things like small-engine problem solving, chain saw maintenance, GPS were seen as useful. It's possible the Men's Club might sometime offer such courses, but meanwhile a notice might go in the Community Events bulletin to ask if anyone is interested in volunteering to teach such a course.

ACTION: To be discussed at the January meeting.

Q. What social services are needed in the community?

Transportation came up both here and elsewhere in the Survey. The practicality of a system of volunteer drivers who would be paid a set mileage fee was questioned, and a market survey to determine who would use such a system, as well as finding out what resources are available, was suggested.

ACTION: Ruth will put together a small survey to be distributed through the Health Centre to the Seniors' Group and others, to determine whether such a system would be used.

A comprehensive lecture on what home care services are available and how to access them for all ages might be provided by the Health Centre.

ACTION: Ruth will contact Lisa to see if she can arrange a community lecture.

The lack of people available to do casual work for payment was highlighted. The suggestion was to put a notice in the Community Events sheet to see if anyone would be willing to do such work.

ACTION: To be discussed at the January meeting.

Q. What possibilities do you see for the growth of commercial services and retail enterprise?

The problem of getting people to buy locally was discussed, as was the hope that with rising gas prices and increased awareness, people might be reconsidering the need to travel for daily needs.

Increased marina use of the Little River Wharf was discussed. It is already listed in the Cruising Guide, but various suggestions were made for increasing awareness of its value and for adding services and information that might help sailors get into the community.

ACTION: Carol will draft a letter to the Harbour Authority Board listing some of the suggestions and asking what services might be expanded and how SABDA might be able to help.

Q. How can we get more value out of our fishery, woodlots, and land?

It was suggested that a community talk about the N.S. Coastal Plan would be useful.

ACTION: To be discussed at the January meeting.

Q. What input and control do you have over allocation and use of natural resources?

Discussion focused on down-facing lights—the need to focus lighting on the ground rather than at the sky.

ACTION: Andy will talk with Conserve Nova Scotia, a provincial government agency, about what actions are being taken, and what this community might do to improve lighting.

Q. What problems do you see with existing infrastructure? What can be done to fix them?

Cell service and high speed internet were covered in the earlier discussion (see above), and the Friends of the Cabot Trail, headed by Jim Allen, remain active in lobbying for Trail improvements, and should be contacted by those who want to get involved.

Q. Any other concerns?

The need for communities to be informed about each other's issues and supportive of each other was highlighted, particularly around mining concerns. Plans for uranium mining in Nova Scotia were discussed.

ACTION: Aaron will stay on top of mining issues and be available for updates.

As many of the actions mentioned above seem to lead to letter-writing to government, it was suggested that letters be written when issues arise, and taken to community events for people to sign so that there is more than just one organization writing on behalf of everyone.

8) Next Quarterly Board Meeting: Tuesday 13 January  2009.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Addendum

Chair's Report

Our Board of Directors and St Ann's Bay community members met three times throughout the year, as is usual, in January, April, and September. There were decisions made and actions taken, such as: