‘Tough to watch:’ Council engages in heated discussion amid budget approval

Saint Andrews council saw two of its councillors vote against the budget this year in a heated debate over fiscal responsibility. 

The budget, which has been discussed over a series of roughly six to eight meetings, was highly debated as the council looks to refurbish the wharf, begin to make payments on a new ladder truck for the fire department, and seek to update infrastructure. 

While all four budgets passed, it saw Coun. Mark Bennett and Coun. Darrell Weare voted against all.  

A discussion began with the community grants – which was about $40,000 to several organizations in the town. The largest grant was to Katy’s Cove Inc. for $15,000. 

Bennett said the grant allocation was too much given the significant infrastructure needs of the communities they represent. 

“I think $40,000 is excessive, we’re moving into a time when we’re borrowing tremendous amounts of money,” he said during the meeting. “Our CAO just said we’re borrowing $1.1 million yet we’re taking $40,000 and giving it away.”

The second highest grant given out was roughly $5,000 to Dial-A-Ride – but only if the two other municipalities match that donation. 

Coun. Darrell Weare also spoke out against the amount of grants that were provided. Both voted against it  – with the motion ultimately passing. 

Heated budget discussion 

Both Weare and Bennett have been vocal about the possible increases to the mill rate in Chamcook and Bayside – the newly amalgamated areas to Saint Andrews.

The province proposed steeply increasing the mill rate of those areas to fall in line with Saint Andrews. In the end, the council voted to decrease both mill rates – but both Chamcook and Bayside are subject to a DTI fee. 

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but going back to being fiscally responsible,” Bennett said during the meeting. “At this time, I don’t feel I can support this budget as presented.” 

Bennett took issue with the wellness clinic the town is subsidizing and providing free space to, but also the tourism accommodation levy – saying taxpayers living outside Saint Andrews proper shouldn’t be paying for tourism in the town. 

But he felt the debt was beginning to “spiral out of control.”

“Fiscal responsibility… is important,” he said. “The only way to solve that issue with debt is if we tackle it, get tough with the numbers, and we start spending our money fiscally responsible.”  

Weare also aimed at the overall budget – saying it lacked fiscal responsibility, but also contained errors. 

“We cannot pass on this lack of infrastructure on to the future councils and the youth that is growing up in this town,” he said. “It is our responsibility to pay for it and do it in a fiscally responsible manner without putting taxes out of line.”

Weare also accused the staff of structural bias toward the Town of Saint Andrews – and the old wards that don’t include Chamcook and Bayside. 

“That’s why I’m having a real problem with the budget,” he said. 

Coun. Annette Harland asked several questions in response to Weare’s comments, which included the structural bias mentioned by Weare. She said she understands there are further discussions to be had about allocation, but she was confident in the budget as presented.

“This budget, currently presented, is a good iteration–not perfect, we will continue the discussion,” she said. 

Those questions prompted a swift and heated response from Weare. 

“Well, this is the third or fourth time in the last two months I’ve been told I’m out in left field, I really don’t know how to deal with it,” he said. “This is not my first rodeo.” 

Weare is an accountant by professional trade and has worked with other municipalities in the past, adding he felt he had been dismissed by at least two other councillors on separate occasions. 

“I’m always getting reprimanded, predominantly by Coun. Heenan or Coun. Harland, for my views and I guess I’ve reached the point where I’m not going to put up with it anymore,” he said. 

Harland apologized to Weare if he felt her comments were directed at him, and clarified she simply wanted a better understanding of the things he mentioned.

“In no way was that directed at you, I was expressing my opinion and getting clarification from Mr. Spear, so if that felt personal, my apologies.”

Coun. Lee Heenan also addressed Weare’s accusations.

“In light of what has been said here this evening, I will assure council that I will not be hushed by fear of anyone threatening me with the way that I’ve spoken or what I’ve said,” Heenan said at the meeting. 

Deputy Mayor Kate Akagi tried to remind the council to stick to the debating motion – the budget.

Coun. Jamie Hirtle tried to diffuse the situation – adding he feels the budget is the best given the situation.

“I’m very hesitant to walk into this minefield right now,” he said. “What I’m seeing is you’ve been forced into a partnership under an amalgamated community that you didn’t necessarily want or at least you’re going to fight your best to represent the people that you represent as fairly as possible.”

Hirtle said he thinks they should consider themselves members of the community, regardless of the geographical boundaries – while continuing to fight for what best represents their constituents. 

In the end, Mayor Brad Henderson, who attended the meeting virtually, said it was tough to watch. 

“Most municipalities in New Brunswick have been dealt a tough hand of cards with municipal reform,” he said. 

Henderson said he doesn’t think anyone is in left field in their arguments and said the conversation of allocation must be had moving forward – to bring equity to what is being paid for by taxpayers.

Budget highlights

The town’s capital budget is $8,018,161, with about $6,436,880 in tax revenue.

It set the mill rate for the town of Saint Andrews at $1.0506 per $100 of assessment. While Chamcook and Bayside saw a mill rate of $0.5395 per $100 of assessment. However, Chamcook and Bayside also face a DTI fee, bringing the total mill rate up to $0.9610 per $100 of assessment. 

Council did decrease both mill rates, with Chamcook and Bayside seeing about a 4 cent decrease. 

The town will undertake the wharf refurbishment in October 2025, with funds from the federal and provincial governments – pending new mitigation details. It is a rough expense of about $2.5-million for the town’s share of the cost. 

It will begin payments on a new ladder truck for the fire department – which cost the town nearly $1 million. 

About $470,000 is being spent in the paving program, with the Prince of Wales refurbishment costing an additional $847,000. 

There is a vehicle replacement for the public works department to the tune of $555,000 – with the investments totalling to $5.3-million.