1. As candidates, what would be your key priorities over the next four years in your community?
There are and will be many issues with which Council will deal. For me three key issues are: 1. Continuing with the wharf and it’s repairs to make it safe. 2. Completion of the new municipal plan and by-laws. 3. To have Council do everything it can to assist the board with completion of the new Passamaquoddy Lodge.
2. How would you achieve those priorities within your mandate?
We need to build upon the work of the previous Council and develop strategies to involve more public consultation to complete both the wharf and the municipal plan. Council needs to rally around and continue to support all aspects of completing the new Passamaquoddy Lodge.
3. How will you ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions and communication with residents?
In regards to transparency and accountability council should limit the number of closed sessions to those that involve employee confidentiality (not Council members) and any economic deals where privacy may be necessary to complete transactions as well as any other legal matter that may arise under the Governance Act. Council should use every aspect of communication at their discretion to reach the public. The residents must also avail themselves of the information and be proactive in regards to the ongoing issues by reading, watching and contacting councilors with questions and concerns.
4. What is your approach to managing growth and development while preserving the character of the community?
This is one area where the municipal plan can play a role. It is supposed to be a help and guide for any kind of development and how our town moves forward. For example heavy industrial development would not fit into the current and I assume in the new plan. Continued growth in tourism, especially eco area would fit within the plan. When I was on a previous council we opened up the sub division. This gave people affordable lots to build on eventually establishing many families living here and turned undeveloped land into developed and increase the tax base. It fit within the guide lines of the municipal plan and did not affect the historic town plat. This would be my approach.
5. What is your position on property taxes, and how would you balance affordability with maintaining services?
Council needs to lobby the Provincial Government to change the way property assessments and ultimately how property taxes are done. A better method may be to increase property assessment by the cost of living and at the time of resale a new assessment will be done. Total assessment for a community would be similar to the previous year with the over all increase being made up by the property sales and a modest increase for home owners. Council can then set a mil rate to help meet the budget for a given year; that would be a more fair way to assess property values.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward, and what experience do you bring to the role?
I am a long term resident with deep family roots going back over 150 years which allows me to appreciate what is special and unique about Saint Andrews. Being a retired teacher with Thirty-Two years experience and some time spent in guidance and counselling I spent the majority of my career at Sir James Dunn Academy. I have served previous terms on saint Andrews town council and on PAC, holding positions of Chair of Finance and Administration and also Chair of PAC. These diverse skills, abilities and education allow transference to serve the public in our community by shaping me into an effective listener, supporter and a strong advocate to help the town residents. I may be only one vote at the council table but I have and will bring your issues and concerns to council.
