Wednesday 13 August 2014

Candidate Phil Zamor's interpretation of last night's meeting

Good meeting tonight with about 78 citizens in attendance. Mr John Heseltine who represents Santec Consultants (formerly Jakes-Whitford) was the presenter. It was a very good presentation with a lot of information about the governance issue (one of three outside studies being undertaken by the Province) with respect to the possible dissolution of the Town of Hantsport.

Mr Heseltine has been hired to propose (to the UARB) the new district boundaries, should Hantsport be dissolved, within the guidelines for electorate distribution. Two scenarios will be proposed depending on which county Hantsport decides to go with. That decision is in the hands of Council and Mayor Rob Zwicker and is due by Sept 30, 2014.


Four more meetings are planned for the governance issue (see the Town newsletter and/or webpage) at various West Hants and Kings Co. locations.

If Hantsport is dissolved, the district lines will be adjusted no matter which county is chosen. However, Mr. Heseltine reassured the audience that the new potential district lines will not split Hantsport as was the case in Canso. Hantsport, as it now stands, will not be a district of its own, but will be joined with parts of districts in either Kings or West Hants.

These adjustments will need to be made even if Hantsport becomes a Village. To become a Village, Hantsport would still need to go through the dissolution process. A Village would have some authority and more of a sense of identity than it would by being a part of the municipality. As a village it would still be subservient to the municipality and represented by a councilor to the municipality (however, that councilor does not need to be from Hantsport but can be from anywhere in the county.)

After the meeting I asked Mr. Heseltine if he felt that a town would have even more of a sense of identity than a Village. He said that he thought so. With a town comes more responsibilty as well as more authority.

Option 1 : Dissolve and be engulfed by Kings/West Hants

- become part of a new electoral district
- have little or no authority or responsibility
- be represented by a councilor who may live anywhere in the county
- have an identity that is shaped by the above

Option 2 Dissolve and become a village which reports to Kings/West Hants

- become part of a new electoral district
- have some authority and responsibility
- be represented by a councilor who may live anywhere in the county
- have an identity that is shaped by the above

Option 3 Remain a town

- maintain the electoral district we now have
- maintain the full authority we now have
- elect our own mayor and Council who will administer that authority
- have an identity that is shaped by the above

Respectfully
Phil Zamora, a Citizen of the Town of Hantsport

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