Input sought on Baddeck future
Baddeck residents encouraged to offer feedback on governance issues
BADDECK — Residents of the Village of Baddeck are encouraged to check their mail for an important letter regarding the future of their scenic locale on the Bras d’Or Lake.
The correspondence is the part of the village governance sustainability review and residents are asked to add their input to it. The review comes as the village commission anticipates fiscal challenges ahead due in part to the impact of COVID-19 on the community.
“We are trying to generate some conversation, some interest with the village residents to see if we can get some feedback for what the residents think or what their opinions would be moving forward,” said Brian Morrison, chair of the village commission.
“It comes down to finances and we have sent out our water bills and our tax bills and we are trying to be proactive but we also have to be aware of what may or may not happen with remittance of these dollars that are … basically the village revenue.”
Previously, Morrison told the Post that the COVID period has affected some major planning for the village, especially regarding the village budget and financing. He said the village’s $600,000 annual budget depends on the full collection of revenues raised through water, sewer and fire protection services.
In the past, this revenue was almost guaranteed, but issues around the COVID-19 pandemic this year has the village commision expecting a shortfall. A clearer picture of those revenues will be available in September when tax and water bills start to return.
“We run the village finances on revenues received and, once again, given that we are a tourist town, it’s seasonal so we are not going to see the same revenue this year as we have in the past. Realistically, likely next year we’ll still be feeling the effects of COVID so it is a concern here with the village as to what happens if you can’t generate enough revenue to cover the costs of providing the services to the residents of Baddeck.”
By letter, the commission has notified Baddeck residents that it expects to see recommendations on a go-forward plan emerge from discussions with key parties at the provincial level.
As an immediate result of the COVID-19 pandemic limitations regarding public gatherings and hearings, any responses, input, questions, or concerns should be submitted via email for review.
Discussions with provincial entities will come after feedback is received from residents.
“We’ve kind of looked at this as a three or four-step process,” said Morrison. “The idea would be to give the residents of Baddeck, since we actually represent the residents of Baddeck, give them time for feedback, see what the ideas, recommendations are. We will likely address that at our Aug. 12 meeting. We would like to wait until we have our monthly meeting on Aug. 12 and have a look to see what the feedback is and then go from there.
An annual general meeting for the village was set for late June but was bumped until October due to a state of emergency across the province. Morrison said the issue will likely be discussed at length when the AGM happens.
The issue of Baddeck governance was on the July 27 agenda of Victoria County Council when it was noted that a letter was received from the village addressed to Mark Peck, Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Warden Bruce Morrison.
Warden Morrison indicated that approximately one month ago a Zoom online meeting was held to discuss village issues and at that time the village was to draft a letter to start the process.
“This is that letter,” the warden said during the council session. “They were also to notify their village residents, which they did (July 27). The options are in the village’s hands and they are to address what their options are. It is their decision, not ours. More clarification is to be requested.”
A motion was moved and carried at the council session that the matter be referred to the CAO to obtain a clear definition of what the village is looking for and indicating that council is open to meeting with them.