Public Info Meeting: New Chester Fire Station Design Concept

The Chester Fire Services Committee is holding a Public Information Meeting to share the new Chester Fire Station design concept, to be located at 4070 Highway 3. Come and learn about the plans for a new fire station to improve safety and effectiveness in our area!

Residents and businesses from the entire Chester Volunteer Fire Department service area are invited (Municipality Districts 3, 7 and part of 1).

When: Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 at 6:30pm

Where: St. Stephen's Community Centre (Tuck Hall), 54 Regent Street, Chester

Light refreshments provided.

Livestream: Zoom Meeting or YouTube Live

Follow the Fire Services Committee on Facebook or Instagram for up-to-date news and information on the new station and more. A new website launches soon!

2024/25 Fire Services Budget Approved

The Chester Fire Services Committee's 2024/25 CVFD Budget (233 KB) has been approved by all parties: by the Committee on March 6, 2024; and by the joint owners of the Committee: the Village of Chester on March 20, 2024 and the Municipality of Chester on March 28, 2024.

Having the budget passed before the start of the fiscal year on April 1st is a condition of the Intermunicipal Fire Agreement that governs the Village-Municipality partnership, and sets the Chester Volunteer Fire Department up with the support they need to both operate and plan for the future. All residents in the CVFD's services area (Districts 3, 7 and part of 1) pay the same fire rate, which has seen a small increase this year to 0.094 to enable greater investment in reserves for equipment replacement and for the proposed new fire station which is currently in the pre-design phase. This fire rate is still the lowest in the Municipality.

For more background on the Committee and the budget, see the materials posted under "Chester Fire Services Committee -- Annual Meeting" on this page.

Chester Fire Services Committee - Annual Meeting 2024

THANK YOU to all of you who came out to the Chester Fire Services Committee's Annual Public Meeting last night (Feb 15th). It was an informative evening, focused on the 2024/25 Draft Fire Budget and the new fire station design concept project. 

The video archive of the meeting is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/u_u_9GIZ0Lk?si=ygDPsAhhFBfBfSEx

Document links from the meeting:

•   Agenda (205 KB)
•   Meeting Presentation (2.03 MB)
•   2023/24 Draft Fire Budget (445 KB)
•   Acre Architects Presentation (15.46 MB)

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TAKE NOTICE THAT an annual meeting of electors is being held on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at St. Stephen’s Community Centre, 54 Regent Street, Chester and livestreamed.

The Chester Fire Services Committee is a partnership between the Village of Chester and the Municipality of the District Chester, to oversee the Chester Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD).

The agenda will include a presentation on the proposed new fire station conceptual design project, a 2023/24 Q1-Q3 financial report, and the 2024/25 draft budget. All ratepayers of the CVFD service area (1.18 MB) in Districts 3 (including the Village), 7, and part of 1 are invited. The agenda is available here (205 KB) ; the 2023/34 Draft Budget is now available here (445 KB) .

Livestream links:
   -  Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83797589506
   - YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@villageofchesterns

 Notes:
- The Chester Fire Services Committee is a corporate body created jointly by the Municipality of the District of Chester and Village of Chester to oversee the Chester Volunteer Fire Department.
- The members are appointed by the Municipality (3) and Village (3):
Colin MacDonald, Chair; Norm Countway, Vice-chair; Kirk Collicutt, Treasurer/Secretary; Jim Barkhouse; Nancy Hatch; and James Robert
Ex-officio: Fire Chief Cody Stevens and Deputy Chief Greg Conron

Chester Volunteer Fire Department - Celebrate our Heroes

These dedicated men and women donate their time to train, practice, and fight fires. Just because they believe it's important to our community. THANK YOU to these extraordinary neighbours and their families for sharing them. Chester wouldn't be standing without them.

New CVFD Fire Station - Design RFP

The Request for Proposals is out for "Conceptual Design and Cost Estimates for New Chester Fire Hall / Station" for our Chester Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD).

The RFP is seeking outside architectural and engineering expertise to work with the CVFD and Chester Fire Services Committee in the development of conceptual plans for the new fire station.

The work will include:
• Site analysis
• Programming for the CVFD’s current and future needs, including community consultation
• Conceptual designs for the new fire station, including feedback and revisions
• Design presentation
• Preliminary cost estimate and project schedule

The deadline to respond is Friday, August 25, 2023 at 3:00pm Atlantic time. The procurement is being managed by the Municipality of the District of Chester.

The Committee will continue to update the public as the work progresses, especially on opportunities for public input.

To view the tender and/or register to bid, visit: https://chester.bidsandtenders.ca/Module/Tenders/en/Tender/Detail/1820b58b-b119-4f26-ac79-6ad882702267

Background

• The CVFD provides fire protection and emergency services for Municipality of Chester’s Districts 3, 7, and part of 1.
• The Committee is a partnership between the Village of Chester and the Municipality of Chester for the delivery of fire and emergency services via the CVFD.
• For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions, see the FAQ (331 KB) .

Community Update on Windjammer Motel Demolition June 6, 2022

Community Update June 6, 2022 is now available   Community Update on Windjammer Motel Demolition June 6 2022 (83 KB)

Membership Recruitment - Fire Services Committee

Membership recruitment - Fire Service Committee (127 KB)

Community update june 6 2022 (83 KB)

Signed Fire Agreement May 12 2022

A new Intermunicipal Fire Agreement has been signed between the Municipality of the District of Chester (MODC) and the Village of Chester to provide fire and emergency services or the next 20 years to MODC Districts 3 (which includes the Village), 7, and part of 1 via the Chester Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD). What was a service agreement is now a partnership agreement.

Oversight of the CVFD will now be provided by a new body, the Chester Fire Services Committee. This Committee is incorporated under the Municipal Government Act and jointly owned by MODC and the Village. The Committee consists of three members appointed by the Municipality and three members appointed by the Village. The assets of the CVFD, which were paid for by ratepayers both in the Village and the so-called "Outside Area", are considered jointly owned. Administrative support continues to be provided by Village staff. For more details, see the legal documents below.

Signed Intermunicipal Fire Agreement May 12 2022 (498 KB)

Signed Revising Agreement July 31 2023 (800 KB)