September municipal news - Victoria-by-the-Sea
See below for your September news for the Village!
Most importantly: there are 2 vacancies on Council. If you would like to serve the community at this important time, please nominate, by 2pm on October 13. Speak to current or past Councilors, if you would like to learn more about what the role entails.
Note that the Municipal office will be closed on Monday October 2, as well as Monday October 9 (Thanksgiving).
Note: residents can always drop paper correspondence or cheques in the municipal mailbox at the door to the schoolhouse outside of office hours, but please never leave cash payments, which should always be made in person with a staff member, who will give you a paper receipt as proof of payment.
In this edition:
1 - From the Mayor’s desk
2 - Notice of Nominations
3 - Note from Jamie-Lee Brown, to residents
4 - Capital Projects Update
5 - Upcoming Council Meetings
6 - Changes to Water & Sewer payments from BMO accounts
1 - From the Mayor’s desk - September 2023
First, I would like to acknowledge and thank Jamie-Lee Brown, who resigned from Council earlier this month. I certainly appreciate everything that she brought to Council: her positive energy and kindness to all fellow Council members, her sensible questions and comments, and her willingness to take on more responsibility as Chair of the Water & Sewer Commission. Please join me in wishing her and her young family well, and see the rest of the newsletter for information on October’s byelection, now for 2 Council vacancies.
Secondly, I would like to thank our CAO for the terrific work she did to get ready for the recent threat that Hurricane Lee posed to the Municipality. We heard from many residents who were very pleased to get information in advance of the threat. In preparing for this event, Anna was able to create an interim emergency preparation and response plan that will provide the basis for the development of a municipal emergency measures plan for future events of this nature. I would like to thank Chief Boulter, Kent Cooke, and the other members of the fire department for their work in getting ready for any emergencies that fortunately, did not arise. Finally, I would like to thank the residents who came out in support of the planning work that went on in the days prior to Lee’s arrival on the Island.
Early fall is a time of transition and transformation, a period when nature puts on a spectacular display of colors before settling into the colder months of the year. It is a season that invites us to embrace change.
The concept of change is what I want to talk about in my remarks this month. In 2017, the provincial government passed the Municipal Government Act (MGA) that changed how municipalities must operate in the province. There were many new requirements for municipalities; and to meet those requirements, there were additional costs that had to be incurred and significant limitations on the role of council members with regard to their role in the administration and delivery of services. The improvements to the MGA governing the operations of municipalities were made necessary by the need for better municipal services while providing greater transparency and accountability for the expenditure of public funds. The committee that suggested the changes to the law made other recommendations, including one that was not acted upon by the provincial government: for the provincial government to restructure municipalities to have at least 4,000 residents within five years of passing the law. The committee recognized that the intent and objectives embedded in the law could only be met by having municipal governments in PEI that are adequately funded through property taxes and other revenue sources.
Unfortunately, it is the lack of follow-through by the provincial government that has created the situation we find ourselves in. For example, our municipality has not been able to hire a full-time CAO and pay a salary and benefits that is commensurate with the position. This has resulted in several individuals flowing through the position over the last four years. We have been unable to adequately fund the operations of the fire department. Our municipality has been unable to access funding opportunities because of the pressure on our limited human resources. Since the MGA was passed, the Municipality has only recently been able to put in place more rigorous administrative practices that have reduced the risks of legal costs for the processing of development applications.
The previous council in 2022 recognized the limitations for the Municipality to be operating without sufficient revenues and commissioned a report prepared by the consulting firm MRSB that is on our website. That report made several recommendations, including options for restructuring, that would provide the necessary resources for the Municipality to operate effectively.
Several other municipalities have been dealing with the same issues as Victoria. In 2021, the Rural Municipality of Crapaud lost their ability to make local decisions and was ordered by the Minister to operate under a trustee. High rates of CAO turnover is a significant issue in many small municipalities. In July of this year, a trustee was ordered to operate the Municipality of Murray River. Other municipalities have already amalgamated while others have chosen to dissolve.
In her August CAO report to council, our CAO Anna Keenan was very clear on challenges administrative staff are having to fulfill their roles. The note, entitled “The Deep Un-Sustainability of the role of the CAO” lays out a clear description of the issues faced by Anna and previous CAOs. Her note discusses the sensitivity around municipal restructuring and the misconception that a sense of community is defined by the boundaries of a municipal government. If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to read Anna’s report.
Our municipal auditor informed the Council in July that based on current expenditure trends and operating losses being incurred, we have about two to three years before the municipality will find itself unable to keep up with costs. At that time, we could be forced to make decisions such as selling off assets or dissolving. This is not the kind of conversation I was hoping Council would have to have with our auditor.
With just less than 3 ½ years left in our term, I hope to lead the current Council to deal with the question of sustainability, as a priority. The loss of either one of our administrative staff would result in significant limitations to our municipal operations and our ability to provide the services currently available. There would also be significant risks to our finances such as the lack of oversight by the municipality of the water and sewer major capital projects, and our ability to collect revenues, etc.
I anticipate that our council will again discuss this matter at our regular council meeting now scheduled for October 16th. It would not be in the interests of our residents to lose municipal government services. All your current council members are dedicated to providing the best possible municipal government services with the resources available. Therefore, I urge residents to contact me or the other members of council to voice their opinions and concerns regarding options that will need to be considered, including for example, the sale of municipal assets, restructuring of our municipal boundaries, the sharing of resources between municipalities or the choices we may face between increasing municipal taxes, or reducing the municipal services currently being provided.
- Mayor Martin Ruben
2 - Notice of Nomination Proceedings, Pursuant to the Municipal Government Act
Public notice is hereby given to the electors of the Rural Municipality of Victoria that a Municipal By-Election will be held on Monday, October 30, 2023 to elect two Councilors,
for the term of office terminating on December 1, 2026.
The nomination period commences on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 and closes on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2pm.
A candidate must file their completed nomination form at the Victoria Schoolhouse (730 Victoria Road, Victoria), with the Municipal Electoral Officer or their Deputy:
Tues Oct 3, Weds Oct 4 - 9am-4pm
Tues Oct 10 - 9am-6:30pm
Fri Oct 13 - 9am-2pm
The deadline for correcting elector information shall be no later than 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. If you are not sure if you are eligible/registered to vote, contact the Electoral Officers.
Municipal Electoral Officer: Marsha Empson
Deputy Electoral Officer: Anna Keenan
Phone: 902 658 2541 Email: marsha.victoriamunicipality@gmail.com
For more information on municipal elections: www.peimunicipalelections.ca
3 - Note from Jamie-Lee Brown, to residents
Former Councilor Jamie-Lee Brown, elected in November 2022, shared the following resignation note with Council on September 20, and also addressed it to residents:
Dear Council, RMV Residents, Anna and Marsha
I’ve taken the opportunity over the weekend to reflect on my time on Council. We have accomplished so many important tasks–big and small since December. As a council we have already been through many changes–changes in leadership, changes in staff, changes in councillors, changes in priorities.
Through all of these changes we have done good things! We should all be proud of ourselves. I have been feeling like I’m being pulled in too many directions. My career, my family, my personal well-being are all suffering and I need to make some changes. It was with this realization that I decided I needed to tender my resignation from Council.
We have such a beautiful community and the people are what make it so special. Whatever direction Council decides to take the municipality I’m sure will be the right one. Nothing will take away the magic we have in our little corner.
I look forward to contributing to the community in many ways in the future. To teach my daughter the importance of community, friendships, and kindness between neighbours. To embrace the natural beauty we have here–the beaches, restaurants, shops and our rich history.
I encourage any residents who have the time and want to do something good to run for council. The next steps the municipality takes will shape our future. Changes need to be made–just remember that while change can be scary, it is often good.
See you around, neighbours
Jamie-Lee Brown
4 - Capital Projects Update
Here is the status-update for the municipality’s Capital projects this financial year (which ends in March):
Replacement of water line across the Causeway Bridge: Island Coastal has submitted shop drawings to the Engineer, who has reviewed them, and is procuring the materials from their suppliers. Only once they have dates secured from their suppliers, will they be able to schedule the work. There is not expected to be any significant interruption to water supply.
Installation of Generators to provide backup power to the water pumphouse, the schoolhouse, and the wastewater treatment facility: Council and the Water & Sewer Commission has accepted a bid for this work, and in October the supplier and engineer will visit the site. It is expected that excavation, concrete pouring and installation of electrical wires and switches, and propane lines, will occur before the ground freezes, and the generator itself, and propane tanks, will arrive and be connected by February.
Replacement of the sewage lift-station on the Wharf: WUnfortunately, this project is again delayed by a season, after DFO (who approve all changes to the wharf infrastructure) requested changes to the engineering designs presented last month. We are now focusing intently on moving the redesign work forward so that the installation can occur before lobster season and the opening of restaurants in spring of 2024.
Heatpump installation at the Community Hall (Victoria Playhouse) and Fire Hall: We expect hearing installation dates for both of these facilities in the coming weeks. Electrical panel upgrades were required before the heat pumps could be installed.
5- Upcoming Council Meetings
Meetings currently scheduled in September include:
Council - Monday October 16, 6:30pm
Planning Board - Wednesday October 11, 4pm. This will be a closed session for discussion of legal advice - and perhaps the last, or second-last such closed session: the planning board is nearing the end of its review of the substantial legal advice received.
Water & Sewer Commission - No meeting is currently scheduled.
As per our Procedural Bylaw, Agendas and packages for meetings will be published on the website 2 days in advance, at www.rmvictoria.com/agendas-and-minutes
6 - Changes to Water & Sewer payments from BMO accounts
For residents who generally pay their water & sewer bill from a BMO bank account (based on 2022 & 2023 payments received), please keep an eye out for an email from Marsha regarding changes to payment options, as we'll be closing our BMO service in the next few weeks and that payment option will no longer be available. If any resident would like more information on the current payment options, please reach out to Marsha at the office during public office hours, or shoot her an email at marsha.victoriamunicipality@gmail.com.
That’s all for this month!
Questions? Feedback? Info for a future newsletter? Photos you’re willing to share?
Contact Anna & Marsha at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com
Regular office hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30am-12noon & 1-3:30pm.
Rural Municipality of Victoria, 730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE, C0A 2G0, Canada