1. As candidates, what would be your key priorities over the next four years in your community?
My key priorities over the next four years include restructuring the municipal by-laws as a result of the recent community amalgamation. Collaboration with the community will be key for success in this endeavor. Additionally, the market wharf continues to be a concern and as such will be an important priority of the council moving forward. I’m excited to also promote existing initiatives of council, namely parks/trails and mental health related. Finally, I would like to support opportunities to enhance meaningful dialogue between community residents and town council. It is critical for council to understand the priorities and perspectives of residents and for the community to have timely access to discussions and decisions of council
2. How would you achieve those priorities within your mandate?
In order to achieve the priorities within our mandate, I think there are three essential characteristics; Information, transparency and collaboration. In order to make informed decisions, we as a council must be as informed as we can be, from as many perspectives as possible. Collaboration is key to this. Council must work in collaboration with residents to efficiently and effectively make decisions on behalf of the community. Council must also work collaboratively with one another, in an environment where members support each other respectfully through our strengths & weaknesses. Finally, transparency is complementary to information and collaboration, where council needs to be transparent with the residents so the efforts of the council are easily understood by the community members.
3. How will you ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions and communication with residents?
Effective communication is a pillar to success, and is complementary to transparency & accountability. Enhancing communication channels enables the community to better understand the work of council, and for council to better understand the priorities of residents. One initiative I would like to promote is more effective messaging with respect to topics discussed in meetings, to build on the work that has already begun in this regard. While council has made efforts to add more descriptive titles to online postings advertising meetings, I would like to work to further this initiative. Adding more descriptive titles for council meetings, timestamps and/or brief summaries to online posted council meetings would help community members better access specific information they are seeking. Additionally, assessing the town website for opportunities where information can become more user friendly could also work towards the goal of effective communication, transparency and accountability.
4. What is your approach to managing growth and development while preserving the character of the community?
My background in biology has taught me that things are ever-changing. This can be beneficial and also in some cases detrimental. I think in this circumstance (community growth & development alongside preservation) the focus should be intentional actions. When faced with a given opportunity for growth, we must consider how an idea or initiative will move us forward as well as how it will allow us to preserve our historic character. Ideally, there are solutions where both are present with minimal detriment. For example focusing on promoting the maintenance of historical fixtures and characteristics such as the market wharf, & ensuring the new Municipal Plan and By-laws address the needs and priorities of all residents in the amalgamated municipality are both critical to managing growth and development.
5. What is your position on property taxes, and how would you balance affordability with maintaining services?
While my background is not in finance & I do not own property/land, I see this as a great learning opportunity to become more educated on these types of important topics that affect all the residents of Saint Andrews. While home/property owners feel the direct effects of property tax rates, local renters will also feel the effect of changing mill rates. Cost of living is increasing while fixed incomes and many wages have not increased to mirror the inflation. While I understand that the funds from property tax are put towards community services and those are important services, cost of living must be considered for everyone in our community. As I understand it, the goal is to keep the mill rate as low as we can to support residents to be able to live affordably, while still enabling the municipality to both maintain required services and improve existing infrastructure.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward, and what experience do you bring to the role?
I am an excellent candidate for a few reasons. I’m driven, hardworking & passionate about this community. I have lived in Saint Andrews for most of my life; I grew up here, went to university in Fredericton & have since gained local employment in my field and am thrilled that I can continue to build my life here. As a young female professional, I would be adding to the variety of representation on the council; something that I view as a benefit. I thoroughly enjoy engaging in conversations with people who have different opinions and are able to share and discuss their points of view respectfully. I’m solution focused, team oriented and excited for the opportunity to be involved in working collaboratively with residents and the incoming council to shape the future of Saint Andrews.
