Hantsport public meeting Jan.23/13

Although the weather outside was frightful with a temperature in the minus digits and the wind chill factor even lower, the temperature at town council’s public meeting in the Hantsport Fire Hall was warm, sometime hot, but amiable. Mayor Rob Zwicker chaired the meeting which all six councillors attended. More than 60 people attended the meeting on January 23 at the Hantsport Fire Hall. 

  The budget was the major topic. CAO Rob Frost is estimating a shortfall of $240,000 (note blog's correction) due to the closing of Fundy Gypsum and Minas Basin Pulp & Power. The 2012 / 2013 budget was $2.4 million. The 2013 / 2013 budget is $2.2 million. Of that, the town is currently committed to paying $1.1 million to fixed expenses including RMCP, education, garbage pick-up, and Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC). The mayor pointed out that this is the final year of the agreement with Fundy Gyspum which will pay the town $75,000. 

  Residents questioned PVSC’s reduction in its assessment of the MBP&P building from $6 million to $1.5 million. Council did not appeal this. Jamie Simpson questioned this decision. “We have a duty to appeal”.  According to both the mayor and CAO, PVSC and the town’s lawyer advised against this. If the town loses the appeal, it was lose more on the assessment. The mayor stated that this could endanger the town’s relationship with Scotia Investment. 

  The MBPP building is now assessed at $8 a sq.ft. and is considered to be an obsolete production facility. Peter Murray recommended that the town hire a consultant to review the loss. Th mayor said he would look deeper in to this with MLAChuck Porter and a consultant. 

  Leah Winter reminded council of Chronicle Herald article in the Saturday paper which stated that an electric motorcycle company was looking for a building to produce the motorcycles. The CAO stated that he and the RDA would handle this. Currently the RDA is being reorganized.   
  Qnswering a question, the mayor stated that he has never known council to look for waste in its budget. Grant Thornton audits the books annually. The mayor stated that everything will be examined. 

  Rick King stated that there is waste in Public Works. He suggested a schedule starting November 1st anually to drain the ppes at the Tourist Bureau, the cemetery building, the pool washrooms, and the tennis building. It also needs a schedule for preventative maintenance of PW buildings and equipment.

  When asked where the town stands financially today. the CAO stated at he is projecting a slight surplus. Joe Foy asked how much new money did the town borrow? He felt that the amount the town borrows for capital works should be included in the budget. “10% of the budget goes to the bank to pay borrowing charges.” 

  A second hot topic was the doctor and his six month contract. Brian Bishop introduced the subject by telling a true story. He was delivering pallets which had been in the Food Bank building to a local person who wanted them. When Brian arrived at the house to make the delivery, the owner’s dog jumped into the back of the truck, and was sniffing at the pallets. The owner asked  why the dog was doing this. Brian replied, “I had to wipe some rat droppings off the pallets before I came. Can we borrow your dog when we hire the new doctor?” The audience at the public meeting roared with laugher and agreement. 

  One woman commented that she has no respect for the doctor who would leave patients who needed him after promising to stay “for the long haul”. When she takes her ailing husband to the clinic, she refuses to see the doctor even if he is available. “I chose Dawn.” 

  The mayor stated, “It is absolutely terrifying not to have a family doctor.”  The CAO was unable to state why no doctor wants to come to Hantsport. Councillor Faye Hill stated that she knows that a GP is interested in coming and is currently asking questions in serious discussion with Capital Health. An unidentified woman stated that rather than wait for results, the town should be taking action now. 

  David Old strongly suggested that if council impliments a deed transfer tax, it would discourage buyers from chosing to live in town. He suggested with the town’s dwindling population, it consider village status. 
  Councillor Harrold Bulger stated this would be done only as a last resort. The mayor agreed and stated that as long as the town is viable, this should not be considered. Brian Bishop agrued that Port Williams and New Minas are vaiable communitites and are village. “Is it a pride thing?” The mayor stated that the town has large and expensive infrastructure problems. He asked if West Hants want to unite with us with these expenditure? Probably not. 

  New resident Toni Huntly moved here from HRM. “Living in Hantsport is like living in the tme of the Waltons TV show. Hantsport’s population is not shrinking as much as in some other communities. And we have a greater proportion of young people than other communities, 

  Heidi King, tired of the criticism at the meeting, suggested promoting the town and new businesses. “Think positively and positive things will happen.”  Home Hardware owner Tom Miller agreed. “As a small business, we need to think positively.” 

  The meeting closed at 9 PM with a round of applause from the audience. That never happened before at other public meetings where the members of council and town staff often outnumbered the audience. 

  

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 21 INC ATTENDED THE MEETING 

21Leaders – a 10-month advanced leadership and entrepreneurship skills building initiative – is expanding across Atlantic Canada. Forty-two participants from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will participate in the program, which provides new and emerging leaders with the tools, networks and confidence to make a significant impact in their careers and communities. Plans are also underway to introduce the program in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013. 

The future prosperity of our region depends on ensuring that our dynamic business leaders of tomorrow have the skills and opportunities they need to contribute, innovate and succeed, said Minister Valcourt. 

Throughout the program, participants will meet with and learn from provincial and national leaders, design and implement community service projects and new business ventures, and join a network of young leaders dedicated to finding solutions to the region’s demographic, economic and social challenges. 

Support for the project is being provided by the Government of Canada, through ACOA, as well as by the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments. Business partners also supporting the program include RBC Foundation and longtime supporter, Bell Aliant. 

  
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