9 New Business

9.1 Consolidation

It was moved by Councillor Trevor Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Patty Durkee to approve the following resolution:

A Resolution Proposing Municipal Consolidation in Yarmouth County

Nova Scotia Whereas the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth has considered, and benefited from municipal collaboration with the Town of Yarmouth including various forms of agreements and governance structures, and;

Whereas, to a significant extent, said agreements no longer meet the needs of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, and; Whereas the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth seeks to foster municipal governance which promotes successful outcomes in large scale,

regional infrastructure projects as well as traditional municipal service delivery, and;

Whereas the Municipalities of the Districts of Yarmouth and Argyle and the Town of Yarmouth are in stable financial conditions, and;

Whereas the Municipality of Yarmouth sees an opportunity for celebrating the Acadian culture in a consolidation with TOY, and;

Whereas Municipality of the District of Yarmouth has considered other examples of municipal consolidation resulting in models with taxation based on level of service and electoral representation by district elections,

therefore;

Let it be resolved that the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth and TOY make a request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (DMAH) facilitate the consolidation of the municipal units in Yarmouth County through special legislation, and further;

Let it be resolved that the Minister of DMAH, in his consolidation legislation, provide for the preservation of existing fiscal reserves for use in the respective communities where those reserves were generated, and further;

Let it be resolved that a set of guiding principles be agreed upon between the consolidating units

On a motion of 2 in favor, Councillor Patti Durkee and Councillor Trevor Cunningham, and 5 opposed, Warden Leland Anthony, Councillor Gerard LeBlanc, Deputy Warden John Cunningham, Councillor Loren Cushing, and Councillor Daniel Allen, motion defeated.

Each Councillor spoke on the issue noting their concerns.

Note – Deputy Warden Cunningham left the meeting at 7:39 pm and returned at 7:40 pm.

It was moved by Deputy Warden John Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Loren Cushing to invite the Minister of Municipal Affairs Chuck Porter and Mark Peck Executive Director – Policy Planning & Advisory Services to a meeting to discuss ways to move forward on consolidation and further, to extend an invitation to the 2 other Municipal Councils of Yarmouth County to attend said meeting.

Motion carried unanimously. Council agreed that conversation regarding timelines should be discussed.