Town of Amherst public meetings in 2023

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole will discuss several council direction requests, including amendments to the substance use policy and a review of the PACE program. The meeting also features a presentation from the Cumberland Homelessness and Housing Support Association.

• Water utility dump truck purchase
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program review
• Substance Use Policy amendments
• Appointment of Development Officer Torben Laux
• Transient Automobile Vendors Bylaw review

Regular Council

The Amherst Council will review requests for decisions regarding a water utility dump truck purchase and Nature Challenge Fund land acquisition. The agenda also includes the appointment of a Development Officer and amendments to committee terms of reference.

• Nature Challenge Fund land acquisition
• Water Utility dump truck purchase
• Appointment of Development Officer
• Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee terms of reference amendments

Special Council

The Town of Amherst Council will meet to discuss a request for decision regarding the Municipal Capital Growth Program. This item involves an infrastructure funding application for Fawthrop.

• Municipal Capital Growth Program Funding Application - Fawthrop

Special Council

The Town of Amherst Council is holding a special meeting to conduct an appeal hearing regarding a taxi license. Following the staff presentation and appellant presentation, the council will set a meeting date to render a decision.

• Taxi License Appeal - Kyle Chiasson

Police Commission

The Amherst Board of Police Commissioners will discuss the 2024-2025 capital budget. The meeting also includes a discussion regarding the purchase of an armoured vehicle from GardaWorld.

• 2024-2025 Capital Budget
• Purchase of an armoured vehicle from GardaWorld
• Staff updates
• Chief's Report

Regular Council

The Amherst Council will consider several requests for decisions, including development agreements for 105 South Albion Street and Russell Street. The agenda also includes second readings for companion animal by-law amendments and first readings for local improvement by-law amendments. Additionally, the council will review capital budget amendments and the appointment of an auditor.

• Second reading of 105 South Albion Street Development Agreement
• Second reading of Companion Animal By-law Amendments
• Local Improvement By-law Amendment first reading
• Capital Budget Amendments review
• Community Support Grant Application for Amherst Community Christmas Dinner

Public Hearing

The Town of Amherst is holding a public hearing regarding a development agreement for 105 South Albion Street. The meeting includes a staff report and opportunities for council and public comments.

• 105 South Albion Street Development Agreement

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee will review the second quarter financial report and capital budget year-to-date. The meeting also includes the appointment of the municipal auditor for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

• Appointment of Municipal Auditor for 2023-24 Fiscal Year
• Second Quarter Financial Report review
• Capital Budget Year-to-Date report review
• Approval of September 20, 2023 minutes

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole will review several council direction requests and information items. Discussions include budget amendments, policy updates, and various community presentations.

• Capital Budget Amendments
• Amherst Youth Town Council Policy Amendments
• Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee Terms of Reference Amendments
• Community Support Grant Application for Amherst Community Christmas Dinner
• APD Armoured Vehicle - Gardaworld MOU

Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Committee

The Accessibility Committee will review a presentation from the Community Health Board. The meeting includes discussions regarding accessible language guidelines, the Annual Accessibility Report, and the Playground Committee Term of Reference.

• Presentation by Colleen Dowe from the Community Health Board
• Discussion on accessible language
• Review of the Annual Accessibility Report
• Discussion on Playground Committee Term of Reference

North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee

The committee will elect its leadership and review its Terms of Reference. Agenda items also include discussions on the North Tyndal Wellfield Management Plan, distribution system updates, and Challenge Fund properties including an Irving land trade.

• Election of Chair and Vice Chair
• Review of Committee Terms of Reference
• Discussion of North Tyndal Wellfield Management Plan
• Distribution System Update
• Review of Challenge Fund properties and Irving land trade

Regular Council

The Amherst Council meeting includes the election of a Deputy Mayor and various committee appointments. The agenda also features first readings for a development agreement at 105 South Albion Street and companion animal bylaw amendments. Additionally, council will consider grant requests and policy changes regarding community support and waste collection.

• Election of Deputy Mayor
• 105 South Albion Street Development Agreement first reading
• Companion Animal Bylaw Amendments first reading
• Creative Pathways Society Community Support Grant request
• Lighting retrofits for municipal buildings

Committee of the Whole

The Amherst Committee of the Whole is reviewing several policy updates, including amendments to the Companion Animal Bylaw and Community Support Grants Policy. Members will also discuss a community support grant request for the Creative Pathways Society and potential playground accessibility improvements. Additionally, various departmental monthly reports will be presented.

• First reading of Companion Animal Bylaw amendments
• Amendments to the Community Support Grants Policy
• Creative Pathways Society community support grant request
• Review of Employment Equity Policy
• Discussion of Solid Waste Special Collection Policy

Police Commission

The provided document contains only procedural software information and no meeting details. There are no specific topics, discussions, or decisions listed for the Town of Amherst Police Commission.

Committee of the Whole

The provided text for the Town of Amherst Committee of the Whole meeting contains only procedural boilerplate. No specific topics, discussions, or decisions are recorded in this document.

Special Council

The provided text consists only of procedural software interface elements and boilerplate information. No specific topics, motions, or decisions are documented in this record.

Planning Advisory Committee

The Planning Advisory Committee is reviewing a staff report and application briefing regarding 105 South Albion Street. The meeting also includes updates on demolitions and public participation opportunity summaries.

• 105 South Albion Street staff report and application briefing
• Public Participation Opportunity Summary - June 21, 2023
• Public Participation Opportunity Summary - October 4, 2023
• Demolitions Update

Public Participation Opportunity

The Town of Amherst is holding a public participation opportunity. The meeting includes a staff report or presentation concerning 105 South Albion Street.

• Staff report/presentation for 105 South Albion Street

Committee of the Whole

The provided text contains only procedural boilerplate and software interface elements. There are no specific topics, discussions, or decisions recorded in this document.

Special Council

This special council meeting contains procedural items. The agenda includes a request for decision regarding the meeting dates for October 2023.

• Request for decision on October 2023 meeting dates

Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee

The Inclusion Diversity & Equity Committee will review several internal town policies, including the Diversity Strategy and employee leave policies. The meeting also includes discussions regarding a public apology for the RCMP in Bristol and updates on community events.

• Public apology regarding RCMP - Bristol
• Review of internal policies (Diversity Strategy, Leave, and Technology Usage)
• 2nd Construction Battalion Memorial update
• Acadian Festival update
• Museum Community Support Grant Application update

Regular Council

The Town of Amherst Council will consider several second reading requests for development agreements. The meeting also includes reviews of audited financial statements, budget adjustments, and community support grants.

• 106 Church Street Development Agreement Second Reading
• Electric Street Development Agreement Second Reading
• Lot 22-2 Prince Arthur Street Development Agreement Second Reading
• Audited Consolidated Financial Statements review
• Adjustment to Capital Budget Funding

Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee

The committee will review several presentations regarding youth resilience, substance use, and the strategic plan. Discussions also include food security topics and a count of rural homelessness in Cumberland County.

• Youth Resilience presentation by Hallie Tattrie
• Food Security and Mount Allison discussion
• Food Security Summit update
• IOAD Substance Use presentation by Landry
• Rural Homelessness in Cumberland County Service Based Count

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee will review the 2023 audit findings report and management letter. The committee is scheduled to receive audited consolidated financial statements for acceptance. The agenda also includes reviews of the first quarter financial report and capital budget actuals-to-date.

• Presentation of Audit Findings Report
• Presentation of Auditor's Management Letter
• Review of Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
• Recommendation to accept Town financial statements
• First Quarter Financial Report review

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole is reviewing several council direction requests, including updates to the mobile vending bylaw and salary administration policy. Discussions will also cover community support grants and year-end capital financing adjustments. The meeting includes presentations on social enterprise networks and various departmental reports.

• Mobile Vending Bylaw review
• Salary Administration Policy amendments for minimum wage revisions
• Community Support Grants applications and policy updates
• Year-end operational reserve transfer for solid waste deficit
• Presentation by 'In the Works' social enterprise network

Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Committee

The Accessibility Committee is reviewing several items related to town accessibility. Discussion topics include accessible playground reports, a built environment accessibility standard, and an update on stadium accessibility.

• Accessible Playgrounds report
• Public review of Proposed Built Environment Accessibility Standard Phase 2
• Stadium Accessibility Update
• Communication Disabilities Access Canada Training

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from March 7, 2023. The committee appointed Robb Small as Vice Chair for the 2023 calendar year. Members received an audit engagement presentation and a fourth quarter report.

• Approved July 18, 2023 agenda
• Approved March 7, 2023 meeting minutes
• Appointed Robb Small as Vice Chair for 2023

Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee

The Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee reviewed a grant application from the Cumberland County Museum and Archives for an Oral History of the Cumberland region. The committee voted not to recommend support for the $9,891.55 funding request.

• Approved meeting agenda
• Denied recommendation to fund $9,891.55 grant for Cumberland County Museum and Archives Oral History project

Planning Advisory Committee

The Planning Advisory Committee recommended that Council enter into a development agreement for 105 South Albion Street. The proposed project includes 20 three-bedroom townhouses and two 4-storey apartment buildings with 64 units.

• Recommended Council enter into Development Agreement for 105 South Albion Street (Carried)
• Approved July 4, 2023 agenda (Carried)
• Approved June 5, 2023 meeting minutes (Carried)

Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Committee

The committee approved requests for staff reports on making one town park fully accessible and addressing non-visible disabilities at town events. Members also requested a presentation on the wood carpet installed at Beacon Street Park.

• Elected Councillor Dale Fawthrop as Chair and Deputy Mayor Leon Landry as Vice Chair
• Approved agenda and November 9, 2022 minutes
• Approved request for CAO to direct staff to report on non-visible disability for town events
• Approved request for CAO report on requirements to make one park truly accessible, suggesting Amherst Lions Park first with community consultation
• Approved request for Operations staff presentation on Beacon Street Park wood carpet
• Recommended forwarding the Enabling Accessibility Fund Youth Program to the Amherst Youth Town Council

Planning Advisory Committee

The Planning Advisory Committee recommended that Council approve development agreements for two apartment buildings and a clay studio. The committee recommended against amending the Land Use Bylaw for a driveway installation at 55 Victoria Street East.

• Recommended Council enter Development Agreement for clay studio at 106 Church Street (Motion Carried)
• Recommended Council not amend Land Use Bylaw for driveway at 55 Victoria Street East (Motion Carried)
• Recommended Council enter Development Agreement for 24-unit apartment at 22-2 Prince Arthur Street (Motion Carried)
• Recommended Council enter Development Agreement for 24-unit apartment at Electric Street (Motion Carried)

Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee

The committee approved forwarding the updated Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan to the Committee of the Whole for June 19, 2023. Members also set dates for upcoming multicultural and community celebrations.

• Approved forwarding the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan to Committee of the Whole on June 19, 2023
• Scheduled Ancestral Drive Multicultural Event Celebrations for June 24, 2023, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Agreed to use the Pan-African flag (traditional flag) for Emancipation Day and other occasions
• Approved agenda for June 1, 2023 meeting
• Approved minutes from March 2, 2023 meeting