Who will evaluate town status for Hantsport?

The town is facing a shortfall of $215,000 in 2014.  Fundy Gypsum's agreements of payments to town will end. Mayor Rob Zwicker chaired the November 14 meeting. "This is a further 10% reduction in an already tight budget." He added that Hantsport was a well-kept mill town until last year when Minas Basin closed.

Council will consider all its options including

• dropping Kings Transit and saving $30,000;
• mothballing the pool and saving $25,000; 
• paying only its minimal payment of $8500 to any form of library. 
• considering village status. Rob said it might be better to choose to become a village rather than to have it forced on Hantport.

Town residents are aware of the town's financial situation. They are talking about village status. But no one has the facts - the advantages and disadvantages of town and of village status.

A fact-finding committee of town residents should be formed to look at the town's options, according to resident Joe Foy. Not to make decisions. But otherwise who compiles the list of advantages and disadvantages  of town vs village status? Government officials? The CAO? Citizens? Mark Peach of Service Nova Scotia will speak in town on Nov.19 at 7 PM at the Committee of the Whole Meeting.

The Kings Partnership Steering Committee (KPSC) made up of municipal councillors is investigating closer co-operation among the municipal units in the county. It is not a decision-making committee but will gather information and take it back to the all units.

The Kings Citizens Coalition is also going to make recommendations. It will look at grievances and amalgamation. LINK It has asked for KPSC to meet 8 times a year. It currently meets 4 times a year. According to CAO Frost, nothing that meets 4 times a year can move forward. Town council voted that the KPSC meet 6 times a year.

Hantsport is a mug-wump caught by the Kings County and West Hants County boundary. Does it participate in the Kings County or in the West Hants County study?

Council's choices are to increase taxation, to cut services, or to combine both.  CAO Rob Frost showed a slide of the tax rates in various town. Not all the tax rates include all taxes - e.g. some do not include fire protection. Hantsport's does.

Nova Scotia Town Property Taxes
		Residential	Commercial
Towns		2012/13	2012/2013
Antigonish		1.00	2.53
Mahone Bay		1.15	2.88
Lunenburg		1.21	3.19
Mulgrave		1.28	4.42
Kentville		1.36	3.47
Wolfville		1.43	3.55
Berwick		1.59	3.88
Oxford		1.59	4.98
Port Hawkesbury		1.62	4.27
Bridgewater		1.65	3.99
Clark's Harbour		1.65	5.58
Amherst		1.66	4.55
Hantsport		1.69	3.85
Annapolis Royal		1.70	3.15
Stewiacke		1.70	3.41
Yarmouth		1.75	4.52
Truro		1.76	4.44
Middleton		1.78	4.26
New Glasgow		1.82	4.40
Stellarton		1.82	4.15
Pictou		1.86	4.39
Digby		1.94	3.99
Windsor		1.96	4.08
Trenton		1.99	5.49
Parrsboro		2.00	4.15
Shelburne		2.06	3.81
Westville		2.09	3.80
Bridgetown		2.10	3.90
Springhill		2.25	5.53
Lockeport		2.28	5.36
AVERAGE		1.72	4.13
Median		1.73	4.12

Did anything come of Imagine Hantsport? Deputy Harold Bulger stated that as a result of that event, people are now taking action to establish a long-term care facility in town.

A draft agreement drawn up by the CAO and the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre outlines that the town will collect recreation fees. The agreement can be reviewed annually at the request of either party.

Seventeen people from Hantsport and area attended the Hantsport town hall. Questions were asked about the amount of publicity the meeting received. For example, it was not on the town sign. It was not on a sandwich board at town hall or at the fire station. Five councillors were present. Councillor Bureaux sent her regrets.

New Year's Levée will  be held at the town hall.