Town of Shelburne hoping to keep the conversation going

The Town of Shelburne is hoping to keep the conversation going with their municipal neighbours on the possibility of consolidation.

The Town has extended an invitation to the Municipality of Shelburne and the Town of Lockeport as well as to a representative from the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs for a joint council meeting to talk about the stumbling block that stopped the consolidation talks that were started last year.

Coun. Nolan Young, when introducing a motion pertaining to the invitation at a Feb. 3 council meeting, noted the District of Shelburne said it would no longer take part in consolidation discussions without confirmation of provincial funds for town assets, and the province had stated there will be no funding without all units coming together to discuss these specific assets.

“This invitation could lead to amicable funding and an amicable consolidation,” said Young.

With projected operating deficits estimated at $180,000 a year for the town over the next five years, coupled with a breakdown in previous consolidation talks, the Town of Shelburne announced on

Jan. 23 they were left “in a position to decide between dissolution and significant cuts in service.”

The Municipality of Shelburne has stated with financial support from the province consolidation discussions could continue.

The consolidation process is a “long journey,” noted Town of Windsor Mayor Anna Allen, a member of the Windsor West Hants Transition Committee, who moderated a public question and answer session hosted by the Town of Shelburne on Feb. 6.

The Town of Windsor and the Municipality of West Hants are consolidating to create a new regional municipality through special legislation. The two municipal units will officially be amalgamated April 1.

Allen said one thing the two units did was create guiding principles.

“We came up with eight to guide us through the transition,” she said. Boundaries, regional planning, equitable development opportunities, administrative structure, regional service strategy community engagement and debt were among the guiding principles.

“One thing about debt. We both had debt” and both units are “responsible for their existing debt going into the transition. Whatever debt you bring to the table, that’s your debt,” said Allen, which can be paid with an area tax rate, for example.

Allen said the two units signed a $1.5-million funding agreement with the province to move the consolidation forward. The Department of Municipal Affairs was “extremely supportive” during the process, she said. “They know we can’t continue the way we’re going. We needed to do something.”

Allen said there will be some cost-efficiencies with the consolidation of the two units, and the larger population statistic will carry more clout when applying for project funding.

“It’s not all about money,” she said. “It’s about service to our customers.”

Numerous questions were asked at the public session, but with no firm direction set yet few solid answers could be given.

“It’s very difficult and challenging,” said Shelburne Mayor Karen Mattatall.

“Nobody is sitting here because they don’t care about the best interests of the town and eastern Shelburne County,” she said. “That’s why we’re having this discussion. For us to be successful we need to do it together. If the town fails, eastern Shelburne County fails. We are joined at the hip.”