Committee recommends council accept donations for youth groups
Amherst town council’s committee of the whole is recommending donation requests from two organizations be approved by the town council at its Oct. 25, 2021, meeting.
The first request was from the Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Foundation, which asked the town to accept a $10,000 donation, with the condition it be forwarded to the Cumberland County Minor Hockey Association.
The second came from CIBC Wood Gundy, which asked the town to accept a $20,550 donation, with the condition it be forwarded to the Amherst Little League Association.
Provincial regulations, in both cases, prevent the two associations from accepting funds directly from the donating organizations because the associations are not registered charities. However, because the town is a registered charity, the regulations do allow it to accept the donations and pass them on to the respective associations.
The town has done this in the past, and like previous occasions, the transactions will provide Amherst and area youth with improved access to programs that provide physical activity.
Community Support Grant amendments
The committee is recommending town council approve amendments to its Community Support Grant Policy when it meets on Oct. 25, 2021.
The most significant amendment would result in the ‘A’ Fresh Start Initiative grants being offered once a year instead of twice annually. This change was recommended after the town received few applications during the first round of the grant in 2021 and no requests in the second round.
Other amendments will help streamline the process of applying for a community support grant.
Green bin resupply
The committee is recommending the town council approve the transfer of up to $47,000 from its reserves in order to purchase replacement green bins when it meets on Oct. 25, 2021.
The committee’s decision was made after staff reported it was time to restock the supply of green bins, used to hold compostable materials, because the current supply is running low.
Staff also indicated the purchasing a three-year supply of green bins would provide the town with savings of about $17,500 over the three-year period.
Noise bylaw
The committee directed staff to suggest some changes in order to simplify a proposed noise bylaw before bringing it to the council session for second reading sometime in the future.
Similar to bylaws in other Nova Scotia jurisdictions, such as the Municipality of Cumberland, Truro and New Glasgow, the proposed Noise and Disturbances Bylaw was initially presented to council in December 2020 and received its first reading in June 2021.
