At Monday night’s regular council meeting for the Town of Saint Andrews, a debate emerged over the future of the Market Wharf and Market Square refurbishment project, which aims to upgrade the town’s aging infrastructure to withstand climate change. The wharf and market square are critical spaces for both local marine traffic and tourism.

At the heart of the discussion: whether to move ahead with the tendering process—an essential step required to unlock time-sensitive federal and provincial infrastructure funding.

Councillor Steve Neal, an Aquaculture Technician with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, raised red flags about environmental risks, citing a lack of expert analysis on sedimentation and erosion.

“It is definitely an oversight, but we have not had that expert consultation,” said Neal. “Now, again, I have worked in the marine environment for almost 30 years myself, and I did take it upon myself to consult with a few local experts, some of whom are world-leading oceanographers and a sedimentologist from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. And both of them raised grave concerns...”

Rather than rushing to tender, council opted for a compromise—commissioning a coastal study by engineering firm Gemtec to better understand the potential impacts of the proposed wharf design on sediment transport, wave action, and the shoreline. The move delays tendering by eight weeks, but keeps the town in the running for funding while councillors await more environmental data before making a final decision.

The meeting was also Brad Henderson’s final meeting as Mayor. His three children, Hunter, Tristan and Luke, formally removed his civic regalia in his final moments in office. With the deadline for a by-election having passed in April, Deputy Mayor Kate Akagi was officially sworn in as Acting Mayor. No by-elections are scheduled ahead of the next municipal election, set for the spring of 2026. Councillor Steve Neal was then elected by the council to serve as the new Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Akagi says she was surprised by Henderson’s decision to step down but feels honoured to take on the role and continue serving the community.