Fire services, growth and accessibility among key issues
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Tantramar’s newly-elected council was sworn in last week in the council chambers of its municipal office building in Sackville.
Among those taking the oath were three councillors returning for four more years on council.
CHMA news spoke with each re-elected councillor – Allison Butcher, Barry Hicks, and Josh Goguen – following Tuesday night’s swearing-in ceremony about what they’ll be focused on going into their second term.
Fire department remains a focus
Ward 3 councillor Allison Butcher said she was grateful for the support she received from voters in what she described as a close race.
“It feels really good. It was a very tight race. We had fabulous people running for council. I feel really, really fortunate the people put their trust in me again to continue to work for Tantramar. I feel like we’ve got a lot of unfinished business, so I’m really glad that their faith was put in me for me to see things through.”
Butcher said one of the issues she plans to focus on during the new term is the municipality’s fire department.
“This time I can truly say that a priority is to continue to look towards repairing some issues that we have within our fire department and make sure that we get some closure there, and some things repaired.”
Growth, accessibility and taxes
Hicks said there are still projects from the previous term he would like to see completed.
“I’m happy to be reelected for a second term. There’s still a lot of things that I’d like to see done and work towards, and some of the stuff we’ve been working on haven’t been completed.”
Hicks said economic development, fire services, the fire station and growth in Sackville will be among his priorities.
“Some of the priorities are economic development and getting our fire department back online. There’s the fire station, like to see that finished, and growth in Sackville.”
He also pointed to accessibility improvements as an ongoing concern.
“The elevator for the civic centre, the accessibility for everything in town, not just the elevator, for every part of town.”
Goguen says residents want change
Goguen said the election results suggest residents are looking for a different approach from council.
“It feels great. I want to thank the public for putting that confidence in me. Obviously by what we’ve seen with the results, the municipality is wanting a change, and I did campaign on wanting to bring that change to council.”
Goguen said he hopes to meet the expectations of the voters who supported him.
“Hopefully I can make everybody proud with their vote, that they voted for me.”
Regular council meetings resume tomorrow night
Tantramar council has already held its first special meeting of the new term. According to the agenda, the closed session dealt with human resources matters.
Council is scheduled to hold its first regular public meeting tomorrow evening. The agenda package is 59 pages long and includes four public presentations, reports from municipal departments, and a section titled “Reports and Recommendations from Committees and Private Meetings.”
Residents interested in the politics that help shape their region are welcome to attend, watch on YouTube, and follow the process for requesting an opportunity to address council through the municipality.
Comments, concerns or a story lead? Reach out to news@chmafm.com
About the reporter
Clinton Davis is a PT journalist/producer with CHMA News covering Tantramar (including Sackville, Dorchester, Port Elgin, Midgic and surrounding communities). He reports on municipal government, public safety, community events, local business, regional issues and ideas across Tantramar.
