Move to consolidate appeals to many Yarmouth County councillors
When discussions about consolidation came again up at recent council meetings of the Town of Yarmouth and Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, councillors were overwhelmingly supportive of the issue.
However, many questions remain.
Streamlining three municipal units to one – the Municipality of Argyle is the third unit invited to discuss the matter – was seen by many around the two council tables as an advantage when it comes to municipal agreements and partnered projects.
At the Feb. 13 town council meeting, Coun. Don Berry said the number of partnerships that have developed over the years has caused stress in getting all three units to work together.
“It’s hard when you’re looking at the policies, trying to make them work for everybody and to come to a consensus.”
Coun. Wade Cleveland said he finds being a councillor can be very fulfilling but also very frustrating. An enormous part of that frustration comes from trying to get things done together with separate municipal units.
“Together we are strong, it’s just that simple. Divided, we’re not as strong," he said. "Ultimately, the writing is on the wall and consolidation within the next 10 years is inevitable. It’s a much safer and easier process when we’re in the driver’s seat, all of us, to make this work.”
Steve Berry says he’s heard a lot of discussion about consolidation, with people wanting to know what it is they’ll be losing.
“It’s not what you lose, it’s what you gain," he said. "Don’t look at it with blinders on. If we stay open-minded about it we can see the advantages."
Town council member Cliff Hood cites the Yarmouth airport as an example of multiunit complications.
“The funding agreement ran out March 31, 2019. It has been extended and extended and extended, agreements almost reached and then backed out of at the last minute. This is what goes on and we have to bring it to an end,” he said.
“We’re stuck on all kinds of projects. The Mariners Centre expansion is stuck. It is not going anywhere. How do we handle this as a community? We handle it by joining together.”
At the Municipality of Yarmouth’s
Feb. 12 committee of the whole meeting, Deputy Warden John Cunningham said representation by population, as well as taxation, has to be addressed with all three municipal units if they consolidate.
“There are so many other things, but for me, these are the core things that I would have to see.”
Warden Leland Anthony is for consolidation, but he has an issue with the timeframe.
“The three municipal units have been given a deadline by the end of February, the first week of March. As the representative for my constituents, that’s a very hard item to deal with at this time.”
Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood, meanwhile, noted the first thing that comes to mind for most people when the words amalgamation or consolidation are mentioned is financial savings.
“I want to be very clear, the Town of Yarmouth does not need to do this for financial reasons. As a town we continue to be in great financial condition," she said. "Benefits of consolidation include greater efficiencies, better political representation through the governance changes.”
She added the Town of Yarmouth is 26 per cent of the population of Yarmouth County – one quarter of the population.
“If any one municipal unit is going to consolidate and get swallowed up, or lose that perceived power, it’s the Town of Yarmouth, and yet, we know it’s the right thing to do," she said.