Tyler Pulley

Key decisions from the Municipal Council meeting included providing financial support to the Digby Harbour Port Association ($50,000 over two years) and approving the Digby & Area Health Services Charitable Foundation funding request ($49,000 annually for three years). The Council also approved the salary scales for 2026-27 and granted a $2,500 community grant to the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry. Further actions involved agreeing to purchase a booth for the Digby Home & Lifestyle Expo, deciding on correspondence regarding a Brinleytown Cemetery monument request, and agreeing to issue letters of support for the Digby Area Recreation Commission's accessible playground grant application. The Council approved the first reading of the amended Sewer By-Law #2007-01, followed by multiple second readings concerning the amended Fees Policy #FIN-2500-14, the Emergency Management By-Law #2026-01, amendments to the Tax Exemption By-Law #2002-02, the five-meter riparian setback in the Land Use By-law, Wind Turbine amendments, and an update to the Mount Pleasant Map. Support was also agreed upon for DARC's application for a feasibility study for the Digby Area Recreation Centre. Finally, the Council agreed to write letters of thanks/congratulations to Aaron Kelly, Commanding Officer Dennis Daley, and Dr. Prince Dan-Jumbo.

The Council meeting addressed several key administrative and procedural items, including amending the agenda and reviewing capital project updates. Financial matters involved the approval of the November and December 2025 Income & Expense reports. The agenda featured numerous Standing Committee items, resulting in multiple motions. Key approvals included the first reading of the Emergency Management By-Law #2026-01 and the Property Tax Exemption By-Law #2002-02, which involved additions and name changes for specific properties. Several policies were amended or repealed, such as the Coastline Policy, Free Ridership for Special Events Policy, and the Computer Purchase Program Policy. The Council decided to decommission airport fuel services and agreed to host the African Heritage Month Proclamation event. Planning recommendations involved approving the first reading for a five-meter riparian setback and Wind Turbine amendments, while concerns were raised regarding Recreational Vehicles amendments. Business items included the appointment of Cory Rice as a Fire Inspector and the approval of a property tax reduction due to fire damage. The Council also agreed to write a letter of support for the Digby East Fish & Game for their barrier-free washroom grant application. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss personnel and contractual matters.

The meeting agenda was approved as amended, including additions regarding a letter to the Department of Environment and feedback from the Island's Budget Meeting. The Chief Administrative Officer's report included a review of the October 2025 Income & Expense reports, which were subsequently approved. Committee recommendations included contributing up to $10,000 towards a fire training facility and approving up to $1,500 to host a New Year's Levee on January 1, 2026. Key business items involved agreeing to write a letter of support for Université Sainte-Anne's grant application for pool repairs, donating $50 to the Youth Wellbeing Network for the Youth Summit, and rescinding a previous motion regarding the disposal of sharp objects to the Department of Environment. Feedback from the Island's Budget Meeting was discussed. During an in-camera session, Council executed collection, transfer station, and small quantity non-residential generators contracts with Circular Materials, and appointed Christopher Kingston as the Development Officer and Christopher Thibodeau as the Alternate Development Officer.

The Municipal Council approved the first reading of the Emergency Management By-Law #2026-01 and amendments to the Tax Exemption By-Law #2002-02. Several policies were acted upon, including the approval of amended Coastline Policy #COM-1500-06, Free Ridership for Special Events Policy #AD-1000-13, and Health and Wellness Policy #HW-3000-01, while the Computer Purchase Program Policy #AD-1000-03 was repealed. The Council agreed to decommission airport fuel services due to capital costs for environmental compliance and decided to forward the topic of New Builds from Natural Disasters to the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. Key personnel decisions included making the Fire Services & REMO Coordinator position permanent and appointing Cory Rice as a Fire Inspector. The Council approved the first reading of amendments to the Land-Use By-Law concerning a five-meter riparian setback, wind turbines, and the Mount Pleasant Map, scheduling a public hearing for February 24, 2026. Additionally, a property tax reduction was approved for fire damage, and the Council agreed to send a letter of support for a barrier-free washroom project.

The meeting addressed several key issues, including a presentation on the Bear River Waterfront Stabilization project and a request for the municipality to cover the costs for the engineering study on the Digby side. Council discussed the implementation of a water voucher program to assist residents during a declared water shortage, including the logistics of voucher distribution and retailer participation. An application for funding through the GRID program to support accessibility improvements to the Municipal Office kitchen was authorized. Council reviewed a request for tax relief from the Community Housing Management Network but determined that the municipality could not grant it. A funding request for the Digby Area Tutoring Pilot was approved. The council also discussed a letter from the Town of Digby regarding cost-sharing for shower facilities but decided not to participate at this time. The meeting moved into an in-camera session to discuss a legal and contractual matter, and upon resuming regular session, approved the Western Regional Enterprise Network Inter-Municipal Agreement and appointed a member to the Digby Area Recreation Commission Board.