Town finances in good shape as Sackville socks away $1 million in reserves
At Monday’s meeting of Sacvkille town council treasurer Michael Beal told council that the town is ending 2021 in a good financial position, and recommended depositing just over one million dollars into the town’s reserve funds.
The town spent less than budgeted in certain areas due to staffing vacancies, the cancellation of the Fall Fair, and last minute extra funding under the federal Safe Restart program that was unbudgeted in 2021.
Council approved the transfer of $100,000 to its operating reserve, and $900,000 to its capital reserve.
The operating reserve is now sitting at about $300,000 which may be used to cover the backpay for RCMP officers as a result of their first ever contract signed with the federal government this year.
The town’s capital reserve fund will grow to $2.7 million with this year’s deposit. That money will be used for some projects already planned but not executed this year, and also the town’s portion of the Lorne Street Phase 3 project, should funding come through from the provincial and federal governments.
The town’s capital reserve fund will grow to $2.7 million with this year’s deposit. That money will be used for some projects already planned but not executed this year, and also the town’s portion of the Lorne Street Phase 3 project, should funding come through from the provincial and federal governments.
The town’s water and sewer capital reserve fund is also growing by $200,000, thanks to a $100 per user flat fee charge for severe treatment.… Continue
Horizon officials commit to hospital future, say recent cuts were necessary
There were some unexpected guests at Monday’s Sackville town council meeting. At the invitation of Mayor Shawn Mesheau, Horizon CEO John Dornan and three other senior staff attended the meeting via video conference, to address concerns raised in a letter from the Rural Action Health Group sent that same day.
The letter was itself a response to an announcement on Friday from Horizon, that they would be converting the acute care unit at Sackville Memorial Hospital to beds for people waiting placement in long term care facilities. The letter from the Rural Health Action group outlined three demands:
● quick action and public commitment to return the Sackville Memorial Hospital to 24/7 ER services and 21 acute care beds, as before
● Horizon budget commitments in line with ours, to continue our collaboration on recruitment
● honest staffing numbers, needs and predictions, so our recruitment efforts will be honest and successful.
At the Monday meeting, Dornan immediately gave re-assurances that Horizon was committed to reopening services at Sackville Memorial.
“I’m going to start things off by saying that we are, as a healthcare corporation, nothing but supportive of Sackville Memorial Hospital,” said Dornan, and promised to deliver in written form a “commitment to supporting 24/7 care at Sackville Memorial, as well as active inpatient care, operating room services, specimen collection and emergency room care.”… Continue
Sackville axes skatepark study, mayor votes no in tie-breaker
Sackville town council has refused to pay for a feasibility study to look at options for a new concrete skatepark in Sackville.
Councillors Matt Estabrooks, Michael Tower, Bruce Phinney and Mayor Shawn Mesheau axed the proposal at council’s meeting Monday night.
The study would have cost $12,500, and was to be conducted by Newline Skateparks. Newline was to consult community members and develop a rough idea of design features and cost for permanent concrete skatepark at the current Dufferin Street location. Recreation director Matt Pryde told Tantramar Report that the study, if approved, could have been completed by Christmas.
The proposal originated in a community budget meeting request back in 2020, when resident Alex Thomas pitched improvements to the current skatepark, focusing on more entry level features for younger kids to develop their skills on skateboards, scooters, and bikes. Thomas told council at the time that a skateboard park, ”offers accessible recreation, regardless of income.”
“It’s really great for kids who might not have families who can drive them all over the place,” said Thomas, “or might not be able to work out the big bucks for some of the more expensive sports. It’s really awesome in that way. It’s just super inclusive.“
The decision against the skatepark study comes in the same year that Sackville town council approved $60,000 per year for at least two years to help subsidize certain sports through a fee rebate for youth.… Continue
Town lays case for increased spending, flat tax rate
Mayor Shawn Mesheau won’t say explicitly if he backs the plan proposed by Sackville town staff to keep the tax rate flat this year in Sackville.
Other municipalities with significant average property assessment spikes are considering lowering tax rates to help ease tax payments for their residents. Both Saint Andrews and Moncton have discussed reducing their rates, though even with rate reductions, both would still see increases in taxes paid by residents in the neighbourhood of 4-5%. That’s because Moncton and Saint Andrews are both looking at average increases over 10%. The rise in Sackville’s average assessment sits closer to the middle of the pack provincially, at 6.9%.
Treasurer Micheal Beal pointed out in a budget presentation on Monday, that although Sackville is looking at 6.9% increase in its tax base for 2022, the average increase over the past five years is 2.5% per year, due to a drop in values in 2018, and a slow growth year in 2021.
“It’s Council’s decision how they want to see this roll out,” said Mesheau in an interview for Tantramar Report on Tuesday. Mesheau said there were some things he feels the town should be tackling if they decide to keep a flat tax rate.
“One of the things is housing,” says Mesheau.… Continue
Public invited to weigh in on budget priorities Monday, including an extra $372k in gas tax funding
Monday, September 20 will be more than just election day in Sackville. Town council will gather for a special meeting to hear from local residents and groups about priorities for the 2022 budget.
Unlike council meeting question periods where residents can just show up to make comments, the town is asking that anyone planning to present at the meeting register to do so with the town clerk by end of day Tuesday.
Last year, town council heard from a number of groups who had received funding from the town previously through its community development grants program. Renaissance Sackville, Sackville Minor Hockey, the Sackville Skate Club, Rural Rides, Live Bait Theatre, Sappyfest and Levee on the Lake all presented, mostly reporting on what they had done with their previous grants. Applications for the community development grants program are due on October 15.
Two residents also presented their ideas for new or continued budget priorities at last year’s meeting. Wendy Alder called for beautification of the area around Exit 506, and Alex Thomas made a pitch for further investment in the town’s skate park.
During budget deliberations this year, Sackville town council will be considering how to spend an additional $372,387 in gas tax funding. The money can be spent on a number of different infrastructure projects that must be approved by the province.… Continue
Tantramar Report: Amherst family killed in fire; COVID cases surge in NB; council approves lifting skateboard ban
On Tuesday’s Tantramar Report:
A family of six from Amherst were found deceased on Monday evening after a fire in a camper trailer in Millvale, Nova Scotia. The victims have been identified by family as 30-year-old RJ Sears, 28-year-old Michelle Robertson, and four children, eleven-year-old Madison, eight-year-old Robert Ryder, four-year-old Jaxson, and three-year-old Colin.
Sears’ father told the Canadian Press that the family had been at the trailer for a short stay. It’s not clear when the fire happened.
Police say preliminary investigations do not indicate the fire is suspicious in nature, though the fire marshall is investigating.
The Town of Amherst, in conjunction with Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, have set up a memorial in Victoria Square in Amherst where people can come and pay their respects to the victims and their family.
New Brunswick’s COVID-19 cases surged over the weekend, with 122 new cases reported and five more people admitted to hospital since Friday. The surge has prompted new rules for schools province-wide. As of Tuesday, students of all ages must wear a mask in school and while on school buses. Masks may be removed when students are eating, drinking or engaged in sports or physical education classes, says the province.
Skateboards are no longer banned on the streets of Sackville. In a 4 to 3 vote Monday night, council passed second and third reading of a revised streets bylaw that will allow people to ride skateboards on streets with certain restrictions, such as wearing helmets, yielding to cars, and refraining from tricks.… Continue
Sackville council squeaks by first step towards lifting skateboard ban
In a tight 4-3 vote, Sackville town council approved first reading of an amended streets bylaw that would lift the ban on getting around town on a skateboard.
Four councillors voted in favour: Allison Butcher, Andrew Black, Bill Evans and Sabine Dietz. And three councillors voted against: Ken Hicks, Michael Tower, and Matt Estabrooks.
Bruce Phinney was absent for yesterday’s meeting, and had been expected to vote against, since he also opposed a motion in April to pursue changes to the bylaw. Phinney’s absence on Monday prevented a draw, which would have meant a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Shawn Mesheau.
That tie-breaking vote might still be needed next month, as the revised bylaw comes back to council for second and possibly third reading in September.
BALANCING RISKS AND BENEFITS
Councillor Bill Evans spoke about balancing the safety and liability risk associated with having skateboards on streets with other considerations, like freedom and fairness.
“We need to be prudent about telling others what they can or cannot do,” said Evans. “There’s a big difference between regulation for the public good, and regulating people for their own good.”
“As Councillor Hicks said at our last meeting, the most dangerous thing most of us do is drive a motor vehicle. But we don’t usually ban things that people want to do because they’re risky, we usually regulate them to manage the risk,” said Evans.… Continue
Tantramar Report: Bill Casey makes his case for Cumberland North, town council to discuss skateboards and rink subsidies tonight
On Tuesday’s Tantramar Report:
Journalist Bruce Wark brings us another instalment of his coverage of the Nova Scotia election as seen from Cumberland county. This time Wark speaks with former MP and Liberal candidate Bill Casey.
The town of Sackville meets tonight for a discussion meeting covering a number of topics first brought up before the last election. Skateboards on town streets and rink subsidies for the Civic Centre are both on the agenda. Up to 20 members of the public are invited to join the meeting in person and people can also participate online.
New Brunswick has 37 active cases of COVID-19, with 24 of those in Zone 1. Those numbers are as of Sunday, when the province announced 18 new cases, all but one of which was in Zone 1. When asked about the spike in cases as the provincial public health order ends, Premier Blaine Higgs said he felt the rewards outweighed the risks.
The Sackville Food Bank is looking for help packing lunches for a Tantramar High School transition camp, a special week of activities for at-risk students making the move from middle school to high school this September.
The Joggins Fossil Institute is looking for visual and performing artists who want to “explore the myriad relationships between the human experience and the natural world,” as part of their 2022 Artscape Artist-in-Residence program. … Continue
Sackville town council elects Andrew Black as deputy mayor
The town of Sackville has a new deputy mayor.
At their meeting Monday night, Sackville town council elected Andrew Black to the position, in a five to three vote. Councillor Micheal Tower was also nominated for the position.
The deputy mayor can chair council or otherwise act as mayor if the elected mayor is unable to attend or fulfill duties. Most recently, former deputy mayor Ron Aiken served as acting mayor for about eight months after the elected mayor, John Higham, resigned.
Andrew Black will be deputy mayor for at least a one year term, after which council will hold another vote for the position.
Last month, mayor Shawn Mesheau appointed the new slate of councillors to their roles as liaison councillors, who are responsible for meeting with staff monthly. In recent years, there have been two councillors for each portfolio, but this year Mayor Mesheau opted to appoint one each, and also requested that meeting dates with staff be circulated so that other councillors could attend any liaison meeting.
Here are the new assignments, which are for a period of one year:
Finance and Administration – Councillor Bill Evans
Tourism and Business Development – Councillor Kenneth Hicks
Public Property and Facilities – Councillor Matt Estabrooks
Recreation Program and Events – Councillor Allison Butcher Public Safety – Councillor Andrew Black
Policy By-Law – Councillor Bruce Phinney
Human Resources – Councillor Sabine Dietz
Corporate Affairs and Strategic Development – Councillor Michael Tower
There are also a handful of boards and committees that mayor and councillors sit on.… Continue
Sackville council to hear from firefighter at Monday meeting
Sackville town council meets tonight for their second meeting as a newly elected council.
The meeting starts with a closed door session at 6pm, and opens up to the public online via YouTube and Microsoft Teams at 6:30pm.
On the agenda is a presentation from Sackville firefighter Laura Thurston regarding the workplace assessment of the Sackville Fire Department by Montana Consulting of Moncton.
The town asked for workplace assessment after allegations of bullying and sexism in the department were published by warktimes.com. Earlier this year, Thurston told journalist Bruce Wark that she is treated differently than her male counterparts in the fire department, being asked to hand off duties to male firefighters, and being prevented from driving the rescue truck for which she is qualified. Other firefighters have also shared stories of bullying and harassment with Warktimes, including former Sackville volunteer firefigher Kevin Scott who spoke to CHMA in April.
There are some other items on the agenda for tonight’s meeting, including:
- a presentation by the local RCMP;
- the Fall Fair, which is slated for September 23 to September 26;
- a street closure for the Sackville Chalk Festival;
- the Environmental Trust Fund agreement which will allow the town to hire a climate change coordinator for a short period of time;
- an item related to the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick;
- and two public works equipment items.
The meeting will include a 15 minute question period, and one more closed door session after the public meeting to discuss a human resources issue.… Continue