Community News Archives » Page 25 of 178 » CHMA, Voice of the Marshes

RCMP recommends single municipal contract with 3 more officers for amalgamated Tantramar

The RCMP detachment at Sackville. Photo: Erica Butler

Tantramar council will soon decide on the future of the municipal and provincial policing service agreements–the MPSA and PPSA–that govern how the RCMP police the region. Currently, the RCMP are under an MPSA with the former town of Sackville, and a PPSA with the former village of Dorchester and local service districts.

“The federal government has advised us that we cannot have two [contracts],” treasurer Michael Beal told council on Monday. “So we do need to have one contract, either an MPSA or PPSA.”

Beal shared some analysis done by the RCMP ultimately recommending that the town move to an MPSA covering the new area, with an increase in the number of officers in the contract.

Currently the Sackville MPSA calls for ten officers to patrol the former town of Sackville, which had a population of about 6,100 as of the last census in 2021. After amalgamation, Tantramar’s new population was just over 9,000. The physical area of the municipality expanded to a much greater degree, going from about 74 square kilometres to 704 square kilometres.

Councillor Allison Butcher wondered about why the RCMP recommended only increasing their complement by three officers. “A 50% increase in our population, almost 10 times the land mass, yet they think only three more officers will be enough?” wondered Butcher.

Councillor Matt Estabrooks also raised the issue of the ‘cop to pop’ ratio, which would go from 1.64 officers per 1000 people in the Sackville contract, down to 1.44 officers for 1000 people in the new MPSA.… Continue

Police release sketch of ‘person of interest’ in Salem Street stabbing

Composite sketch released by Sackville RCMP (506-364-5023)

The Sackville RCMP are following up on tips received from the public since releasing a composite sketch of man believed to have stabbed another man on Salem Street in Sackville in early October.

According to an RMCP release, a man stabbed a resident of Salem Street in the wee hours of October 7, 2023, after an altercation outside the victim’s house. The victim had confronted the man, who was stealing from inside of a vehicle that was parked outside of his residence. A physical altercation ensued in which the man stabbed the resident.

The victim’s injuries were non-life threatening and he has recovered, according Sackville RCMP Sergeant Eric Hanson.

Officers from the Sackville detachment received the report of an aggravated assault at approximately 1:30am on Saturday, October 7. Before police arrived, the man fled the scene in a white SUV, travelling towards Queens Road.

Police are asking for help from anyone who may recognize the individual in the sketch, who lives in the area and may have witnessed the incident, or who has security camera or dash camera footage from the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Sackville RCMP at 506-364-5023, or go through CrimeStoppers online or at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).… Continue

Public invited to see and hear about Dorchester Penitentiary in open house next week

Dorchester Penitentiary. Image: Verne Equinox at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

If you’ve ever wondered what life is like inside the walls of the Dorchester prison, you’ll have a chance next week to see inside the institution and hear from people involved with it. The Citizens Advisory Committee attached to the Dorchester Penitentiary is hosting an Awareness Day event next Wednesday, November 8.

CHMA called up committee member and Sackville barber Jerry Hicks to find out more:

Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) are attached to every prison in the country, says Hicks, on mandate from Correctional Services Canada. “We work with the inmates, we work with staff, we sometimes do mediation, and we find out what’s going on within the system,” says Hicks. “We’re just there almost as an advisory body or a watchdog,” says Hicks. “To be that sort of community voice.”

Hicks says the different members of the CAC are on different subcommittees tasked with keeping in touch with various aspects of the prison. “Part of my subcommittee work is to work directly with the inmate committee,” says Hicks, “so I meet with them regularly. I meet with the chaplain, I meet with the school, the teachers… Others would meet with the seniors at the prison, some would be with the Aboriginal group, the Black group.”

The idea behind the Awareness Day is to simply inform more people about what goes on at Dorchester Penitentiary. “I think what we’d like to see is for the public to have a better view of what what a prison looks like,” says Hicks.… Continue

5-cent increase proposed for LSD tax rates in 2024, with slight decreases for Sackville and Dorchester

Tantramar council meets for its first time ever on January 10, 2023 at Sackville town hall. Photo: Erica Butler

Town treasurer Michael Beal laid out the proposed 2024 operating budget for Tantramar at a special meeting on Wednesday. Beal is recommending five cent increases in tax rates for the three former local service districts (LSDs) of Sackville, Dorchester, and Point de Bute, and small decreases in the rates for the former town of Sackville and village of Dorchester. The former town rate would go down by .7 cents, and the village rate would go down by 2 cents.

Recommended tax rates for Tantramar sub-units (updated as of Nov 6, 2023)

Former town of Sackville: 1.5389
Former village of Dorchester: 1.5415
Former Sackville LSD: 0.5625 (0.974 including provincial tax)
Former Point de Bute LSD: 0.7637 (1.1752 including provincial tax)
Former Dorchester LSD: 0.6411 (1.0526 including provincial tax)

The tax rate is only part of the equation that determines how much tax property owners pay. That amount is calculated by multiplying the tax rate with the assessed value of a property, and assessments in Tantramar, like the rest of the province, have increased across the board. According to figures published by the province, property values went up by 9.2% on average across Tantramar between 2023 and 2024. The combined tax base for the amalgamated municipality (the total of property values taxable by the town) topped $1 billion this year.

This is the first Tantramar budget created by staff, and to be approve by council.… Continue

Tantramar water and sewer rates may go up 6.7%, lagoon upgrade planning could begin next year

Tantramar kicked off budget season last week when treasurer Michael Beal presented the proposed water and sewer utility budget at a special meeting on October 24.

The costs to run Sackville and Dorchester water and sewer services are separate from the town’s general operating budget. Both services are funded by utility bill payments, in Sackville according to metered water use, and in Dorchester with a flat sewer and water tax rate. For both the village and the town, Beal is proposing a 6.7% increase in those fees for 2024.

Increased fees are not as high as they could be, considering some $72,000 savings in administration costs, thanks to the amalgamation of Sackville and Dorchester utility operations.
That savings is balanced out with a cost increase for water services in Dorchester. In August, council approved a move to hire Veolia Water Technologies to run the Dorchester water treatment plant. The global water services company is also on contract to operate the Sackville and Moncton water treatment plants. Beal told council that change accounted for an increase in water services costs of about $110,000.

Without the amalgamation savings, hiring Veolia in Dorchester “would have resulted in a straight rate increase for those in Dorchester,” Beal told council. “But because of the combined the savings we had, in certain areas, we were able to do this with a minimal increase in rates.”… Continue

Pickard Quarry: a ‘little pocket’ of wilderness in the middle of residential Sackville

Richard Elliot stands on one of the trails he helps maintain overlooking the south pond of the Pickard Quarry. Photo: Erica Butler

Hear this story as reported on Tantramar Report:

Living beside a rock quarry is not typically considered desirable. And for the twenty or so years of its heaviest operations, the Pickard Quarry (as its now known) was probably not the best of neighbours. But these days, after many decades of being left alone, the old stone quarry is a re-naturalized gem, located at the end of Quarry Lane, between York and Charlotte streets in Sackville.

Richard Elliot has been a neighbour of the Pickard Quarry since moving to Sackville in the 1990s, and he knows more than most the value of this pocket of wilderness in the middle of residential Sackville.

“We’ve always considered it part of our backyard,” says Elliot. “Our son walked to Salem School through the quarry every day and back, and learned to like wildlife… It’s not just us. Lots of people think of it as their private backyard.”

Elliot has spent many days cutting and pruning the trails in and around the quarry, to keep the dreaded invasive multiflora rose bushes at bay. And now he is heading up an effort to make some slightly more impactful trail improvements, with backing from the Tantramar Outdoor Club, South East Regional Service Commission, and hopefully, Tantramar council.

Elliot is hoping that council will choose to fund some improvements to make the Quarry trail safer and a bit more accessible.… Continue

New owner of Uncle Larry’s hopes to bring more live music and events to downtown Sackville bar

New owner Matthew Bugley behind the bar at Uncle Larry’s, October 2023. Photo: Erica Butler

Uncle Larry’s Bar on Main Street in Sackville has seen some changes in the past few months, ever since new owner Matthew Bugley took over in May.

CHMA stopped by to hear about Bugley’s plan for the Main Street drinking establishment:

More live music and events are in the future for Uncle Larry’s Bar, says Bugley. “I’m looking for something that we can kind of make our own,” he says. “And I really want to focus on more live music… Everybody seems to enjoy it.”

Bugley has been working with a DJ group out of Moncton, and also local musician Kevin Christopher to host open mic nights. Bugley says he is “definitely open to suggestions on what we should do for theme nights, or any suggestions at all whatsoever.”

Bugley has refreshed the interior with some new equipment and a new paint job. The old pool table is gone, with space going to more seating when new furniture arrives. “We’re looking forward to making new renovations moving forward as well,” says Bugley. A name change is even a possibility, says Bugley and he’s open to ideas. “The overall atmosphere we’re looking for is friendly, fun, clean, and good spot just to hang out,” says Bugley.

Bugley is an Amherst resident who returned to the east coast a few years ago after working for a decade out west, and deciding to stay home to see his young son grow up.… Continue

EV charger proposal for Dorchester back at council this week, after delay

Proposed location for two new Level 2 EV chargers at the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre on Main Street. Location marked in green stripes.

A project that was delayed by council at their meeting on October 10 will be back up for consideration at a special meeting on November 1. Councillors voted to add the item to this week’s special budget meeting agenda in order to make sure it can be completed before the end of this year’s fiscal year on December 31.

At Tantramar council’s October 10 meeting, town staff brought forward a proposed project to install two Level 2 EV chargers beside the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre (DVCC), something which climate change coordinator Brittany Cormier said would be a “cost efficient, timely and effective way of increasing Tantramar’s electrical vehicle charging infrastructure.”

Detail from Tantramar council package for October 23, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

The project would be partially funded through NB Power’s Plug In NB program, and cost the municipality about $9500 on top of the rebates available. Cormier told council that staff saw the DVCC as a “valuable location” for the chargers based on access to a power connection, ownership by the town, and “high visibility for both accessibility and security.” Cormier also cited “the proximity to amenities, restaurants, shopping, museums, the public library and gorgeous green spaces right on the valley, seeing the river and the train passing by.” The DVCC is on Main Street, near access to the Station Road Marsh Loop Trail and about a 5-minute walk from the village centre.… Continue

Wastewater COVID-19 tracking could come to Sackville in 2024

Sackville may soon join the list of 62 communities in Canada who are having their wastewater tested regularly to spot trends in COVID-19. At Tantramar council committee of the whole on Monday, town engineer Jon Eppell told council about a recent offer from NB Public Health to participate in the growing surveillance program.

“This is a COVID-19 initiative that several communities across New Brunswick have been invited to participate in,” said Eppell. “We think this is a really good thing, and that after a couple of months of data collection, Sackville would appear as one of the communities on the national COVID-19 dashboard.”

Wastewater testing involves taking samples of sewage and testing for viral loads of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Sewage surveillance has been used as an early warning system for infection levels, because COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater even before symptoms develop in people.

The city of Moncton has participated in a testing program with Dalhousie University through much of the pandemic, and has been reporting to the national dashboard since the summer of 2022. Starting at various points in 2023, results from Bathurst, Campbellton, Fredericton, Miramichi, Saint John and Edmundston are also featured on the dashboard.

A detail from Canada’s dashboard on COVID-19 monitoring of wastewater (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/wastewater)

Department of Health spokesperson Sean Hatchard did not answer a question about how many new sites in New Brunswick would be added along with Sackville. Hatchard says the province has received federal funding to help develop its wastewater surveillance program, and is “hopeful that Tantramar will join the program in the new year.”… Continue

Dorchester man arrested and charged with assault with a weapon

A 46-year-old man from Dorchester has been charged with assault with a weapon and a number of other charges. Cory Kevin Lucci was arrested by Sackville RCMP on October 19 in Dorchester, and has appeared in court twice since, but remains in police custody. Lucci is due back in court on November 2, to set a date for a bail hearing.

In addition to assault with a weapon, Lucci is charged with uttering threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of fentanyl, oxycodone and cannabis for the purposes of trafficking, and impaired driving.

In a news release, the Sackville RCMP say they executed a search warrant at a residence after they arrested Lucci. Police says they seized a firearm, knives, ammunition, a prohibited weapon, and quantities of what is believed to be cannabis, fentanyl, oxycodone, and contraband cigarettes.

Police says the investigation continues.… Continue

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