Municipality not interested in acquiring former Springhill school properties
Cumberland municipal council has approved a motion directing the chief administrative officer to advise the province that the municipality has no interest in acquiring the former West End-Memorial and Junction Road elementary school properties.
The two former schools were replaced by the new Springhill Elementary School in 2024.
Nova Scotia Department of Public Works had advised that the properties are surplus to their needs. They have canvassed all provincial government departments and agencies, and no interest has been expressed in either property.
As the next step in their process, they had offered the properties to the municipality.
All municipal operating departments have been canvassed and none have expressed an interest or a viable potential use for the properties. Given the age of the buildings, the unknown environmental condition and the likely significant cost of demolition and/or redevelopment the municipality would be assuming significant financial, operational and environmental risk by agreeing to reassume control of the properties.
Council approves amended Pole Banner Policy
Cumberland municipal council has approved an amendment Pole Banner Policy.
The municipality currently installs graduate banners in Springhill and Parrsboro, and veterans banners in Springhill, on municipally approved utility poles.
Due to increasing requests from community groups and organizations for banner installations, council adopted the Pole Banner Policy last September to provide clear and consistent
guidelines for the use of municipal infrastructure.
The policy was developed to support community engagement and promotion while ensuring safety, fairness and consistency in the use of municipal infrastructure. It outlines application procedures, installation periods, responsibilities and banner limits.
In Springhill, the current limit of 140 banners was based on a practical installation route along: 166 Junction Rd. to Main Street and 170 Main St. to 210 McGee St.
The route was selected to maximize visibility while ensuring installations remain safe, appropriate, and manageable within existing municipal resources.
Increasing the limit to 169 banners required an amendment to the Pole Banner Policy and would result in additional operational and financial impacts. Estimated annual installation and removal costs for 169 banners are approximately $16,340 (excluding benefits).
In addition, the municipality would be required to purchase and install 27 new banner brackets at an estimated cost of $2,025, bringing the total estimated cost for 2026-27 to $18,365.
These costs are charged to the Springhill area rate.
Council approves large, small and large operations and maintenance grants
Council has approved the 2026-27 Large Capital, Small Capital and Large Operations & Maintenance grants totalling $534,995.
The municipality annually grants funding to organizations across several categories.
For 2026-27, following the revisions to the Grants Policy, council has deliberated and made recommendations for three grant categories:
- $263,000 in Large Capital grants
- $46,995 in Small Capital grants
- $225,000 in Large Operations & Maintenance grants
The municipality received approximately $1.4 million in requests for financial assistance across all grant categories. This exceeds the overall budget. In these three categories alone, requests totalled over $1 million.
Recipients include:
Large Capital Grant Applicants
Chignecto Glooscap Snowmobile Association - $24,000
Cumberland Trails Association - $8,000
Joggins Improvement Committee - $18,000
King Seaman Church Society - $15,000
Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter - $5,000
Oxford Agricultural Society - $28,000
Oxford Arena Association - $10,000.00
Oxford Community Centre - $87,000
Parrsborough Shore Historical Society - $17,000
Route Six Snowmobile Club - $2,000
Southampton Community Centre - $14,000
Sutherlands Lake Trail Groomers Association - $5,000
Wentworth Learning Centre - $30,000
Small Capital Grant Applicant
Cumberland County Museum & Archives - $3,000
Diligent River Community Hall Association - $6,620
Fundy Winds Marsh - $3,000
Joggins Fossil Institute - $5,000
King Edward Lodge #86 - $6,000
Oxford Marksman Association - $8,550
Spencer's Island Community Association - $5,000
Springhill Heritage Group - $6,075
Wallace and Area Recreation - $3,750
Large Operations & Maintenance Grant
Amherst Food Assistance Network Association - $5,000
Cliffs of Fundy - $75,000
Cumberland County Transition House - $5,000
Greville Bay Shipbuilding Museum Society - $7,500
Joggins Fossil Institute - $29,240
Maggie's Place - $8,000
Oxford Arena Association - $10,000
Parrsboro and Area Lions Club - $28,000
Pugwash Farmers Market - $2,260
RHJAJA - Community Centre - $40,000
Ship's Company Theatre - $15,000
Council approves appointments Accessibility Advisory Committee
Municipal council has approved the appointments of Christie Blackie, Dave MacEwan, Amanda Purdy, Helen Sims, Samantha Heffernan, Paul Williams and Melissa Thompson as members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee’s main role is to monitor the implementation of the Accessibility Plan and advise council on identifying, preventing and eliminating barriers for people with disabilities in municipal programs, services, initiatives and facilities.
The committee plays a pivotal role in helping the Municipality of Cumberland become an accessible community and meet its obligations under Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.
Council approves appointments to Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee
Council has approved the appointments of Michelle Parsons, Rachel Smith, Kumari Giles, Amanda Mollon and Kris Reid as members of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.
The Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee’s main role is to monitor the implementation of the Equity and Diversity Plan and contribute to the annual report on progress, advise council on the creation of a refreshed Equity & Diversity Plan for April 2028, advise council on the impact of municipal services, policies and procedures on the public as it relates to equity, diversity and inclusion, as directed by the municipality.
Municipal council approves second reading of amended Public Sewers By-Law
Cumberland municipal council has approved second reading of a by-law to amend the Public Sewers By-Law.
The Public Sewers By-law establishes contaminant discharge limits to protect municipal infrastructure and the environment.
The Municipality’s current Public Sewers By-law discharge limits are based on the Model Sewer Use By-law, a scan of other Nova Scotia municipalities’ sewer use by-laws and the requirements of the municipality’s sanitary sewer infrastructure.
Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) now requires Surrette Battery to enter into an agreement with the municipality to discharge wastewater from its pre-treatment system into the municipal wastewater collection system.
Previously, Surrette Battery reported test results directly to NSECC and no municipal agreement was required.
Reviewing the wastewater quality testing shared by Surrette Battery, there is general compliance with the discharge criteria in the Public Sewer By-Law. Surrette Battery’s results for the sulphate discharge criteria are routinely above the by-law’s limit.
The current version of the Model Sewer By-Law has removed sulphates from their substances list. Sulphates can potentially cause corrosion of concrete infrastructures under the correct conditions. Based on the removal of sulphates from the Model By-Law substance an amendment to the municipality’s Public Sewer By-Law was recommended.
Council approves second reading of by-law amendment for Pugwash proposal
Municipal council has approved second reading of a by-law amendment to rezone a Pugwash property from Institutional to Commercial General.
The Durham Street property is the former site for the Pugwash Fire Hall. It was vacated in 2009 when the fire department moved to its new location on Highway 6.
The owner is proposing to retrofit the building to create commercial and residential uses. The intent would be to establish one rentable commercial unit and a short-term rental unit on the second floor of the building.
First reading approved for Springhill property by-law amendment
Council has approved first reading of a by-law amendment to rezone a Springhill property from Lower Density Residential to Multi-Unit Residential.
A public hearing will be held prior to second reading.
The property, located on MacFarlane Street, is 1,576 square metres of vacant land located in a primary residential area, adjacent to various other residential zones.
The proponent wants to development two three-unit buildings totalling six dwelling units.
Each unit is intended to be one-bedroom, approximately 37.2 square metres in size.
Each unit will have a seven-foot by seven-foot resin shed and a small deck on the front and back end of the units.
The proponent is proposing designated parking stalls for each unit. The stalls are designed intentionally large as the units are intended to accommodate senior living. While the units are not exclusively designated for seniors, the units are designed especially for senior living.
Council approves first reading of by-law amendment for Southampton properties
Council has approved first reading of a by-law amendment to the Land-Use By-Law to rezone a pair of Southampton properties to County Commercial while adding abattoir as a permitted use and adding a special requirement limiting the scale of the abattoir and requiring its use to be as an accessory to a butcher shop.
There will be a public hearing prior to second reading.
The property is currently zoned Country Residential.
The proponent is looking to reopen a previously existing abattoir in Southampton to serve a community need for local abattoirs and works to help address food security issues.
The proponent intends to sell the processed meat to locals as well as to sell the meats on a commercial/wholesale basis. The operational set is becoming increasingly common and popular among local butchers, as it allows for a more ethical and humane killing of animals.
Municipal council approves appointment of Tanya Mills as Building Official
Council has appointed Tanya Mills as a Building Official and Fire Inspector for the Municipality of Cumberland.
Mills has worked for the municipality for three years, starting as administration for the Permits and Inspections group and most recently completing her training as a Residential Inspector.
She received her qualification from the Nova Scotia Building Code Training and Certification Board on May 11, 2026.
Council directs staff to complete report on mobile vendor/food trucks in Springhill
Council has passed a motion directing staff to provide a report, including a jurisdictional scan and recommendations regarding permitting and fees for mobile vendor/food trucks operating within the former town of Springhill.
There continue to be several mobile food trucks setting up and operating on an increasing basis in Springhill. At present these operators pay no property taxes or fees to the municipality.
In contrast, the five remaining local eating establishments pay significant commercial property taxes each year and employ dozens of people – contributing to the local economy. These businesses also give back to the community by supporting many sports teams, local events and organizations throughout Springhill and Cumberland County.