HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Advisory Committee Minutes November 24, 2021 Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
Wednesday,
November 24, 2021
5:30 p.m.
Council Chambers
City Hall
320 Esplanade, Sydney, N.S.
The Municipal Clerk called the meeting to order.
Present: Councillor Eldon MacDonald, Chair
Councillor Glenn Paruch
Councillor James Edwards
Councillor Ken Tracey
Councillor Darren O'Quinn
Thomas Ashford, Citizen Appointee, Vice-Chair
Allie MacInnis, Citizen Appointee
Saul MacNeil, Citizen Appointee
Spyro Trifos, Citizen Appointee
Staff. Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning & Development
Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer
Angela Ross, Recording Secretary
Absent: Eric Macdonald Keys, Citizen Appointee (Regrets)
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 1
Summary of Decisions
1. Election/Selection of Chair and Vice Chair:
Councillor Eldon MacDonald was declared Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
Citizen Thomas Ashford was declared Vice-Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
Roll Call
The Chair then went around the table and the Committee members introduced
themselves.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve the Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes of:
➢ January 20, 2020
Carried.
3. Approval of Agenda:
Motion to approve the November 24, 2021, Heritage Advisory Committee agenda as
presented. Carried.
4. Orientation Presentation:
An orientation presentation on the CBRM Heritage Advisory Committee was provided to
the Committee.
For Information Only.
5. Municipal Heritage Registration Requests:
5.1 Menelik Hall (88 Laurier Street,Whitney Pier):
Motion that a recommendation be made to Council to initiate the process for registering
the Menelik Hall (88 Laurier Street, Whitney Pier) as a Municipal Heritage Property.
Carried.
Continued...
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 2
Summary of Decisions
Municipal Heritage Registration Requests (Cont'd):
5.2 The Cedars Club (30 MacKenzie Street, Sydney):
Motion that a recommendation be made to Council to initiate the process for registering
the Cedars Club, 30 MacKenzie Street, Sydney (PID 15866437, PID 15866445, PID
158664542, PID 15866460, PID 15087125, PID 15087133, and PID 15087166) as a
Municipal Heritage Property. Carried.
5.3 8399 Grand Narrows Highway, Christmas Island:
Motion that a recommendation be made to Council to initiate the process for registering
8399 Grand Narrows Highway, Christmas Island as a Municipal Heritage Property.
Carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 3
The Municipal Clerk called the meeting to order.
1. Election/Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
Ms. Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk, advised that as this was the first meeting
of the Committee since Council member appointments, the first order of business was to
call for nominations for Chair.
Councillor Edwards nominated Councillor Eldon MacDonald who accepted the
nomination for Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
The Municipal Clerk asked if there were any further nominations. Hearing none,
Councillor Eldon MacDonald was declared the Chair of the Heritage Advisory
Committee for the upcoming year.
Roll Call
Councillor Eldon MacDonald called for nominations for Vice-Chair.
Councillor Ken Tracey nominated Citizen Thomas Ashford who accepted the nomination
for the Vice-Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
Hearing that there were no further nominations, Citizen Thomas Ashford was
declared the Vice-Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
The Chair then went around the table and Committee members introduced themselves.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Tracey, to approve the Heritage
Advisory Committee Minutes of:
January 20, 2020
Motion Carried.
3. Approval of Agenda:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor O'Quinn, seconded by Councillor Tracey, to approve the
November 24, 2021 Heritage Advisory Committee agenda as presented.
Motion Carried.
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 4
4. Orientation Presentation:
Ms. Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer, reviewed her presentation and
discussed the following:
• Powers of Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC)
• Request for Registration
• Registered Property
• Registered Properties in the CBRM
North End Sydney Heritage Conservation District
• Heritage Incentive Program
• Travel Policy for Citizen Appointees
For Information Only.
5. Municipal Heritage Registration Requests:
5.1 Menelik Hall (88 Laurier Street,Whitney Pier):
Citizen Spyro Trifos removed himself from his seat due to a Conflict of Interest.
Ms. Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer, provided background information on
the property, noting that the Menelik Hall was constructed between 1935 and 1936 by
people of African descent and became the focal point for the social life of the community.
Ms. Neville advised that the value of the hall is not in its architectural design, but rather
the impact it has had and the continued role it plays in the social fabric of the African
Nova Scotia Community in Whitney Pier. She noted that based on a score of 85 and its
cultural significance it is reasonable for the property to be registered.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Paruch, that a recommendation
be made to Council to initiate the process for registering the Menelik Hall (88 Laurier
Street, Whitney Pier) as a Municipal Heritage Property.
Motion Carried.
Citizen Trifos resumed his seat.
Continued...
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 5
Property Registration Requests (Cont'd):
5.2 The Cedars Club (30 MacKenzie Street, Sydney):
Ms. Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer, advised that around 1910, the St.
Joseph's Lebanese and Syrian Benevolent Society was organized, and their original club
was located on the site of the present Cedars Club. The Society has fostered a pride and
awareness of Lebanese and Syrian culture in Cape Breton. While the building is not an
exceptional example of a particular architectural style, the Cedars Club scores high on
historical and cultural significance.
In response to a question, Heritage Officer Neville advised that there are a number of
PIDs associated with the Cedars Club, however only those that include the building will
be registered.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, that a recommendation
be made to Council to initiate the process for registering the Cedars Club, 30 MacKenzie
Street, Sydney (PID 15866437, PID 15866445, PID 158664542, PID 15866460, PID
15087125, PID 15087133, and PID 15087166) as a Municipal Heritage Property.
Motion Carried.
5.3 8399 Grand Narrows Highway, Christmas Island:
Ms. Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer, advised that based on information
from the community and family members, it is estimated that the house was built
between 1870 and 1890 by a local ship builder turned merchant and farmer and it is
believed that the property was once owned by Nova Scotia's eighth Premier, George
Murray, but it is unclear if he ever lived on the property.
The Heritage Officer advised that at the time of the request, the property was vacant and
in need of repair. She discussed the characteristics of the property as outlined in the staff
report dated November 15'', 2021
Continued...
Heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
November 24,2021 Approved October 12,2023 6
Property Registration Requests 8399 Grand Narrows Highway, Christmas Island (Cont'd):
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Citizen Ashford, that a recommendation be
made to Council to initiate the process for registering 8399 Grand Narrows Highway,
Christmas Island as a Municipal Heritage Property.
Discussion:
In response to a question, Heritage Officer Neville advised that liability insurance on
vacant buildings is up to the property owner, however proof of insurance is not required
for registering a heritage property. Further, it is her understanding that the owners intend
to occupy the subject property.
Motion Carried.
Meeting Adiourned at 6:06 p.m.
Councillor Eldon MacDonald Deborah Campbell Ryan
Chair Municipal Clerk
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