Summer Update

For those not aware, we welcomed a new baby girl into our family at the end of March! We have adjusted well and so has the infrastructure around us. Both the Province of Nova Scotia and Kings County have evolved legislation and policy to make life with a baby around the Council table a bit easier. 

https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20180406002
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/parental-leave-halifax-workplace-1.4750796

The reaction to this news has been mostly positive. I have tried to keep up with Council business from home and have been attending almost full time since the beginning of May.  My infant has and will continue to accompany me to meetings until we can sort out a more permanent child care arrangement. My fellow Councillors have been extremely accepting and supportive as we change diapers and move in and out and around the room trying to encourage naps. 

The biggest consumer of my energy the last few months has been the Planning Advisory Committee, which has been meeting almost weekly to deal with reviews of our draft Municipal Planning Strategy. The pace has been glacial but we have made it to the final section (Section 5) which we plan to review on the last day of July. August will be meeting free in order to give PAC members and staff a well deserved break.

Council will also be taking a break in August, with an extra meeting planned for July 26th at 6pm in order to wrap up some outstanding issues before we go. My plan is to be away the first 2 weeks in August to rest and recharge before things pick back up in the fall.

Happy Summer, all!