Annapolis recommends status quo

Utility and Review Board to make final decision on council size, boundaries

Annapolis County councillors are recommending the size of its council remain the same.

The municipality is submitting its application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) following a regular review of its districts and boundaries.

Currently, there are 11 councillors for 11 districts with a warden and deputy warden being elected for two-year terms by their peers.

“Generally speaking, we want 11 districts with 11 councillors,” Warden Alex Morrison said. “Part of the reasoning is it has functioned well.”

Another reason is the municipality went from 16 to 11 councillors during the last review eight years ago. Prior to that term, Bridgetown became part of the county after the town’s dissolution.

Municipalities must review their district boundaries every eight years and make a recommendation to the UARB. The board will make a final decision on how many districts the municipality will have, which will be used for the 2024 election.

The board will host a hearing on the application before rendering its decision. The public will have an opportunity to make submissions to the board as well.

During the recent review, council received maps showing what seven, nine and 11 districts would look like. They also held public meetings in each district and provided residents with the opportunity to complete a survey. About 400 of the 18,000 county residents responded to the online survey and few people attended the public sessions.

While not part of the UARB submission, the county also looked at changing to a mayoral system where the residents choose the top elected municipal leader. They voted in January to continue with the warden system.