St. Ann's Bay Development Association

Meeting of 13 January 2009

In attendance:
Loreto Doyle, Harold Frizzell, Marcelle Lavoie, Ernie MacAuley, Jennifer MacAuley, Chrissie MacEachern, Keith MacEachern, Merrill MacInnis, Yvonne Megens, Aaron Schneider, Ruth Schneider

Regrets:
Carol Kennedy, Angelo Spinazzola, Andy Watt

1) Agenda
Approved with additions (moved: Loreto; seconded: Ruth)

2) Minutes of September 23, 2008:
Approved (moved: Ruth; seconded: Loreto)

3) Financial Report: Chrissie

$6,776.34 in the SABDA account. Two cheques issued and not yet cashed.

Accepted (moved: Chrissie; seconded: Aaron)

4) New Business:

a) Concerns arising from the Community Survey:

• Cell Phone Coverage—Loreto is still working to get cell phone coverage improved; this will be an ongoing effort.
  
  
• High Speed Internet—Ernie has written to Aliant, and has received a letter advising us that high speed customers must be located within the footprint, and they can't give us a date regarding when service might be available in our area. However, their communications confirm that high-speed delivery plans are driven by volume of demand, which is not a helpful measure in sparsely populated rural communities. Meanwhile, Ernie is passing around a petition.
  
  ACTION: Ernie will finish passing the petition around and then send it in.
  
  
• Emergency Plan—Aaron has called Nova Scotia Power about an Emergency Plan for the community, and spoke to a Mr. Muise in Sydney who has yet to get back to him.
  
  ACTION: Aaron will call Mr. Muise again.
  
  Discussion occurred around other kinds of emergency preparedness.
  
  ACTION: Aaron will try to contact Barry Campbell, EMO Coordinator, to see if he can and will give a presentation and will coordinate with Lisa Finney about coordinating it around a Seniors' Lunch.
  
  
• Education Programs—Discuss potential education programs: small engine repair, chain saw maintenance and safety, GPS, etc.
  
  ACTION: Ruth will draft a notice for the Community Events bulletin inviting anyone who might be interested in leading a workshop to contact Harold Frizzell (929.2673 / montfriz@ns.sympatico.ca); she will send the draft to Harold for approval before putting it in the bulletin.
  
  
• Transportation Survey—The Health Centre is sending the survey out in the Health Centre newsletter, and has already distributed it at the last Seniors' Lunch.
  
  
• Lecture on Homecare Services—Lisa is going to get a Continuing Care speaker for a Seniors' Lunch.
  
  
• List of people available for casual work.
  
  ACTION: Loreto will put a notice in the Community Events sheet offering a listing on the SABDA web site for people who want to do casual labour in this area.
  
  
• Expanding Services at the Marina—Carol was to draft a letter to the Harbour Authority concerning expanding the Marina at Little River. She did so, and sent the letter to Jeff Brownstein. There has been no response as yet.
  
  
• Community Talk About NS Coastal Plan.
  
  ACTION: Ruth will research this and report at the next meeting.
  
  
• Down-facing Lights—Andy was to contact Conserve Nova Scotia. He has contacted Brian Hayes again, and has received a second response. So far, resources have been concentrated on converting traffic lights to LED, and they are now working on street lights. The four areas of interest they have identified include street lights that are focused down. Andy is following up.
  
  
• Mining Issues—Aaron to track mining issues and provide updates. Nothing new, but after the next provincial election, there may be an end to the moratorium on uranium mining which we would need to oppose. A call to the Premier's office encouraging maintenance of the moratorium is a good idea.
  
  ACTION: Aaron will draft a letter to the Premier's office from SABDA for Marcelle to sign.
  
  

b) Earlene Busch would like to move the annual mushroom event from the Chanterelle Country Inn to the North River Hall, if the community would see it as an opportunity to create revenue.

ACTION: Marcelle will contact Earlene to get her to draft a support letter for SABDA to sign, and to offer our umbrella support.

Earlene also presented an idea for re-learning skills that existed prior to the age of cheap energy. There was no certainty about what steps might be taken at this point. One suggestion was to look at building a ship the way the Margaret was built. There is a boat-building workshop in the Fire Hall this winter. As well, it was noted that people will pay to come and learn to build something.

ACTION: Loreto will draft a possible addition to the web site and submit it to the Board.

c) Support for immigrants to our community:

Yvonne and Ton Megens are having difficulty immigrating. Mark Eyking's office has been contacted.

ACTION: Aaron will talk with Mark Eyking regarding what the community can do to encourage movement on this file.

Carol Kennedy sent us a draft of a letter in support of the immigration of Barbara Weinberg of Cabot Shores.

ACTION: Marcelle will sign and send this letter to Sandy Hudson of Victoria County, per Barbara's request. (moved: Merrill; seconded: Aaron)

5) Next Board Meeting: Wednesday 15 April 2009, 7:00 pm.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:15 pm.

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