amalgamation

Three municipal units in Shelburne County want the facts around amalgamation.

A steering committee featuring members from the towns of Shelburne and Lockeport and the Municipality of Shelburne was formed last year.

They’ve been continuing the conversation around what shared services may look like, including amalgamation.

The committee heard presentations from a successful amalgamation in Windsor/West Hants, and from Pictou County where it was talked about, but didn’t happen.

The committee chair is Lockeport mayor Derek Amalfa, who says all three units face similar challenges.

“Rising service delivery costs, aging infrastructure pressures, staffing recruitment challenges, and regulations that are getting passed down to our units,” said the mayor.

The committee asked the province for funding to explore things like tax consideration, representation and infrastructure.

Amalfa says no decisions have been made, but they remain open minded.

“Right now we’re exploring the concepts of amalgamation, now we’re looking for the facts to see amalgamation can or can’t be supported. We need to look at better and different ways of doing business.”

He says the Town of Lockeport is a passionate community.

“They have a lot of questions, like we do. There is some hesitation because they don’t have the information yet. That’s up to this committee and councils to get the information and take it to residents, so we can make a decision.”

Amalfa says the committee is taking its time to make sure the best options are presented.

Committee meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at the municipal office in Shelburne, the public is welcome to attend.