Proposals will be reviewed by UMNB member municipalities in the fall
Tantramar council has taken four locally developed proposals to the next stage of the provincial municipal advocacy process, following months of discussions on issues councillors say extend beyond the authority of local government.
During a special meeting Thursday, council unanimously approved four resolutions for submission to the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB). The organization represents municipalities across the province and each year considers policy resolutions submitted by its members. Resolutions adopted by UMNB’s membership become part of the organization’s advocacy agenda with the provincial government.
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The proposals were not new ideas.
Councillor Alyssa Green said they reflected conversations council has been having over recent months.
“I feel that they captured the conversations that we had and the concerns that we had, and what we wanted brought forward in motions.” Green said. “I think they (staff) really captured the spirit of what conversations were.”
Months of discussion
Over the past several months, Tantramar council has debated residential property assessments, vacant land taxation, emergency service agreements with neighbouring municipalities, and the municipal implications of projects such as the proposed RIGS Energy Atlantic natural gas-fired generating station.
Although each discussion focused on a different issue, many centered on questions of responsibility, where municipal authority ends and where provincial oversight, regulation or funding begins.
The first resolution asks the province and the Local Governance Commission to assume responsibility for municipal code of conduct complaints and establish one standardized code of conduct bylaw for municipalities across New Brunswick.
Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Borne said municipalities are placed in a difficult position under the current system.
“Part of the challenge that we’re running into is that it is very difficult for council to police internally for code of conduct,” Bourne said. “Your ask as a council is for UMNB to lobby the province and Local Governance Commission to assume responsibility for code of conduct complaints involving municipal councillors.”
The remaining resolutions call for stronger oversight of residential property assessments; greater verification of assessments on provincially-owned or provincially-funded properties; and changes to the distribution of federal payments in lieu of taxes so municipalities receive the full payment for services provided to federal properties.
Borne said receiving the full municipal share of those payments “would certainly make a difference in our revenue sources.”
The next step
The resolutions now move into UMNB’s review process. They may be revised or combined with similar submissions before being presented to delegates from municipalities across New Brunswick at the organization’s annual meeting this fall.
Councillor Allison Butcher both explained, and confirmed, to council that the approval is only the first step.
“So when we send these on, they will look at them and perhaps give us some feedback about whether or what viability they think it has. Sometimes it may end up being combined with another municipality that has a resolution that is similar to ours or connected. So we would be putting them forward to UMNB to consider bringing forward to the greater membership.”
If UMNB members adopt the resolutions, they would become part of the organization’s advocacy priorities and be advanced to the provincial government on behalf of New Brunswick municipalities.
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.
