‘We have a job to do’
Transition committee kicks off consolidation for Windsor, West Hants
The newly established transition committee, made up of members of Windsor and West Hants councils, as well as a transition co-ordinator, held its inaugural meeting inside West Hants council chambers Dec. 13.
“I understand those concerns. Any time you go to do something new, there are going to be those who are enthusiastic, those who are on the fence, and those who are opposed,” he said.
“I think that knowing those voices are there is important, and I think it’s important that these voices are heard,” he said.
“Having said that, the province has passed the legislation, the outcomes and the result of the project are clear. As a committee we have a job to do.”
The transition committee approved an RFP as well, granting Stantec $37,000 to conduct a boundary review study, which will be submitted to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
Those funds will come from the transition funding from the province, with work beginning in January and ending by April of 2019.
That study will include at least eight public meetings, where residents will be able to have input on what they’d like to see the boundaries look like.
“The more public participating there is in the process, the better a position this committee will be in,” he said. “We’ll come up with a product at the end of the day that will meet the interests of the citizens.”
Future meetings will likely deal with other RFPs that the committee regards as top priorities, including a communications plan, an inventory of the two units’ assets and human resources analysis.
Those RFPs are already in the draft stage, according to chief administrative officers (CAOs) for both units.
“I know we have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited to be a part of this,” he added.
The committee agreed to meet on a fairly regular basis, possibly twice a month. Schedules will be coordinated by the two CAOs.
The next transition committee meeting is slated for Jan. 10.
The transition committee also approved the municipality’s purchase of several parcels of land from the province, however, Zebian remained mum about the reasoning behind the land purchase.
Zebian said, due to Bill 55, the transition committee had to approve the purchase as it deals with the operational reserves.
However, the PIDs in questions appear to be adjacent to the existing landfill site.