The Madawaska Valley Council meeting on October 15 covered a wide range of topics, including the following:
Lifetime dog tags issued in 2020
The municipality will amend the dog tag licencing process to a lifetime dog tag starting in January 2020. CAO Suzanne Klatt recommended this because it will be more efficient and cost-effective in achieving the goal of dog licensing which is to ensure Animal Control Officer can return stray dogs to their owners and not have to take stray dogs to the pound. Lifetime licenses will fulfill this goal without requiring staff time to update dog licence and owner data every year. Council approved a fee of $20 for a lifetime tag in 2020, with a $5 charge for replacement tags; fees to be reviewed along with other MV charges.
When compared with the present $10 annual tag fee and assuming a typical dog’s lifespan of 10 to 15 years, the new system will likely be more cost-effective for most MV dog owners as well.
November 21 is Madawaska Valley Strategic Planning Day
Council has hired MDB Insight as consultant to coordinate a Community Based Strategic Economic Development Plan at a cost of $8890+HST, the funds to come out of the modernization fund announced earlier this year by the province. At the Oct. 15 meeting, Council established November 21 as the Strategic Planning Day. The coordinator will meet for a half day with council, and in the evening there will be a public meeting open to all members of the community. The planning will happen on one day for all three communities in the municipality.
Planning and Development
Council approved several Zoning Amendments, some involving variances relating to setback requirements without the need for Environment Impact Assessments. Mayor Kim Love in her address announced the hiring of Andrew Peplinski as Planning Building Administrative Assistant and welcomed him back to the MV staff team.
