‘Now is the time’ for municipal reform

Windsor, West Hants councils vote to consolidate municipal units by next election

After decades of boundary disputes and various squabbles, Windsor and West Hants councils are looking to bury the hatchet for good and join together as one municipal unit.

After nearly a two-hour private session of joint council, elected officials representing Windsor and West Hants agreed to pursue municipal reform.

On July 19, after the respective councils came out of the in-camera — or private — session, it was moved that the municipalities would contact the provincial Municipal Affairs minister to enter into negotiations to consolidate the municipalities through special legislation.

The process is to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020.

Both councils then individually ratified the motion.

Councillors Tanya Leopold and David Keith, both representing areas in West Hants, voted against the motion, indicating they didn’t have enough information.

“I just wanted to state that I’m not comfortable supporting this motion. I don’t feel that I have enough information at this time, certainly not to convey it to my constituents,” said Leopold during the joint council meeting.

Windsor Mayor Anna Allen said it was a historic moment for the area while West Hants Warden Abraham Zebian said it was a first step towards positive change. “People say we can’t get along. We do alright; it’s not bad. But sometimes it was and other times it was better. So, it’s time to get rid of all that, to get rid of the history and say we are moving forward. We’re not doing battle, we’re making plans for a very positive future for our residents — and for all of us too,” said Allen.

‘Bigger is better’

In an interview following the meeting, Allen said Windsor has long been in favour of some kind of municipal reform and praised Zebian for leading the charge on the latest initiative.

He started the process by suggesting they have a private meeting, which featured the two elected officials and the two chief administrative officers. Then a private meeting with both councils was proposed.

Allen said she strongly ports becoming one unit.

“It hasn’t worked being single or working on our own. I think, in this case, bigger is better. I think it’ll make it more streamlined for our service to our residents,” she said, adding all the details will have to be worked out within the next two years.

“All the questions and doubts and criticisms about amalgamation will be clarified and we will know for sure exactly the impact it would have before election 2020,” she said, adding the public will have a chance to provide input into the process as they iron out the details. sup-

West Hants’ warden said consolidating the municipal units is the way forward.

“We were elected a little over a year and a half ago. We’ve come together as joint councils. We’ve tried to work through issues pertaining to both units, and as much as we do make progress, it seems as if it’s going to be a very long road,” said Zebian.

“The longer we wait, the further behind we fall from other units who are roaring ahead.”