Provincial Funding for infrastructure projects to go exclusively to $1.3 million over budget Fire Hall construction project.
After a packed first half of last week Tuesday’s Tantramar council meeting focused on NB Power and ProEnergy’s proposed natural gas and diesel plant near Centre Village council turned their attention to the 2026 budget and a series of infrastructure and funding decisions.
Regional Service Commission budget highlights
Council began with a presentation from the Southeast Regional Service Commission (SERSC) on its 2026 budget. SERSC’s Stephanie Thorne highlighted how the organization has been stacking provincial and federal funding to ease financial pressure on municipalities. Mayor Andrew Black said that approach has been paying off.
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“We found out at that conference that some of the RSC funding that’s there for RSCs to access was left vacant. That’s free funding for municipalities to be able to bring their costs down,” said Black.
Dorchester Fire Hall to receive entire amount of provincial capital funding
The funding theme continued with a major investment decision for the new Dorchester Fire Station. Council voted to allocate about $525,000 from the province’s new Capital Renewal Fund toward the fire hall project. The fund is part of a 10-year provincial program meant to help municipalities replace or upgrade existing infrastructure.
The motion, introduced by Councillor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell, passed unanimously. Of that $525,000 nearly half will go toward upgrading the building with a standing-seam metal roof and snow-retention system at a cost of just under $240,000 plus HST, awarded to Rice Contracting Limited.
Deputy Mayor Matt Estabrooks said the higher-quality roof is worth the investment.
“We have to look at it as an investment. Standing seam metal is definitely the way to go,” said Estabrooks. “I’m glad this made itself available. Makes sense.”
The remaining provincial funding will help cover construction overruns on the $6-million fire hall, which went $1.3 million over budget. Some councillors questioned the added expense, but the motion carried without opposition.
Council divided on sewer repair work in Bayview Estates
Council next addressed an unexpected sewer issue in Bayview Estates near Queens Road. During subdivision work, crews uncovered a brittle section of concrete sanitary line lying unusually close to the surface. Town Engineer Jon Eppell told council the pipe had deteriorated severely.
“The sewer was found to be closer to the surface than anticipated, with only about a foot of cover in places,” said Eppell. “As a result, it’s suffered from freeze-thaw cycles, and the concrete pipe is quite brittle. When touched, it’s fallen apart.”
Staff recommended replacing 47 metres of pipe at a cost of about $24,000 plus HST, with a $5,000 contingency, to be completed by MacArthur’s Paving and Construction.
The decision quickly turned into a debate about whether Tantramar should continue outsourcing this kind of work. Councillor Barry Hicks opposed contracting it out, arguing that municipal staff could handle the repair.
“I do not agree with tendering it out. I feel we’re tendering stuff out that we can do in-house,” said Hicks. “I’d sooner see it done in-house, and I’ll be voting against it.”
Councillor Josh Goguen added that if staff don’t have the capacity to take on projects, council should consider reviewing staffing levels instead of defaulting to contractors.
“We spent, what, sixty thousand to do culverts on Walker Road and another almost thirty thousand. That’s almost a full-time employee,” said Goguen. “Maybe we should be looking at staffing levels.”
Despite the criticism, the motion passed, with Hicks, Phinney and Wiggins-Colwell voting against.
Pedestrian safety review coming for Dorchester
Council also approved a motion from Wiggins-Colwell requesting a pedestrian safety study in Dorchester. The study will focus on Route 106, including intersections at Woodlawn Road and Cape Road, and will examine crosswalk access and sidewalk conditions. The motion passed unanimously and will return to council once staff develop recommendations. No timeline has been provided.
A vote towards transparency
Before adjourning, council revisited the proposed ProEnergy and NB Power gas plant near Centre Village. In a follow-up to last week’s split vote on whether to take an official stance, councillors voted this week to formally petition the province to conduct a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Supporters emphasized that the request was not about opposing the project, but about ensuring transparency and access to information for residents.
That decision came just two days before another development: according to CBC, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board rejected NB Power’s attempt to avoid a regulatory review, meaning the project will now undergo financial scrutiny and public input through the board’s process.
To contact council or view meeting documents visit www.tantramarnb.ca. For story tips email news@chmafm.com or clintondavis@chmafm.com.
