Press Releases

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF GUYSBOROUGH
DATE: APRIL 13, 2010

Guysborough asks court to overturn decision of RRFB

The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) has gone to court to fight for a tire recycling plant that it says should be located at the Guysborough Waste Management Facility. In a Notice of Action filed today, the MODG asks the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to declare a decision awarding the tire recycling contract to Halifax C & D Recycling Ltd. “null and void.” It is also seeking damages and costs in the action.

The Notice of Action states that Resource Recovery Board Fund Board (RRFB) committed “serious errors” in awarding the contract to Halifax C & D Recycling Ltd. and in rejecting the MODG’s proposal to site the recycling plant at its existing waste management facility, which is located between Boylston and Lincolnville.

It says the RRFB failed “to correctly and fairly evaluate” the business plan and job creation strategy included in the MODG’s response to a 2009 Request for Proposals for Processing and Recycling tires. The court action also states the RRFB “breached its duty of fairness” in awarding the contract to Halifax C & D Recycling Ltd., which plans to site the facility in the Goodwood area of Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).

MODG Warden Lloyd Hines said the decision to take the matter to court was made after the District tried and failed to get information about the RRFB’s decision through the Freedom of Information process. “We think the RRFB’s decision will result in the needless loss of millions of dollars over the next five to ten years, and taxpayers will end up footing the bill. We think Guysborough had the best bid, and we know we had the lowest bid. We want to know why we didn’t win, and we want this decision reversed.”

Councillor Sheila Pelly said most people across the MODG, and in the African-Canadian communities Sunnyville, Upper Big Tracadie and Lincolnville, support the MODG’s bid to attract the tire recycling facility. “We need the jobs and we deserve to win this contract. This is an important part of our overall economic strategy in MODG,” said Ms. Pelly, who has represented her area since 2004 and is chair of the municipality’s Landfill Liaison Committee.

The Municipality of the District Guysborough owns and operates the Guysborough Waste Management Facility, a 350-acre complex which is strategically located on Mainland Nova Scotia between Cape Breton Island and HRM. The award-winning facility provides waste management services to 230,000 people and is monitored and maintained to strict environmental standards.

For further information, contact:
Marie France LeBlanc
1-902-430-6619

Media Release April 13 2010.pdf



MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF GUYSBOROUGH
DATE: JUNE 4, 2009

Municipality of the District of Guysborough approves 2009/2010 Budget

On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, a special Council meeting was held to approve the 2009/2010 budget of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough. The Municipality is keeping the residential tax rate at last year’s rate of $0.59 per $100 of assessment while the new commercial rate for 2009/2010 will be $2.35 per $100 of assessment, which includes the business occupancy tax. The projected 2009/2010 operating budget for the Municipality is $13,017,216 and the capital budget is $8,419,450 for a total 2009/2010 budget of $21,436,666.



MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF GUYSBOROUGH
DATE: JANUARY 15, 2009

Council of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough Adopts Code of Conduct

The Council of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough adopted a Code of Conduct at its meeting on January 14, 2009.  The Code of Conduct established guidelines for ethical and interpersonal conduct of members of Council.  Warden Lloyd Hines and Deputy Warden Vernon Pitts agreed to place the matter on the agenda to reflect sentiments to establish a positive environment around the function of Council expressed on election night in October.

Warden Hines said, "The adoption of the "Councillor's Code of Conduct" by Council signals that the Municipality's elected officials have agreed to conduct themselves in accordance with an expected level of behaviour."  Deputy Warden Vernon Pitts agreed.  "It's our New Year's resolution.  It signals our commitment to provide good government".