The conversation opened with a focus on the town's budget. "The budget is getting close," Mayor Brad Henderson said. "Council has looked at even some proposed mill rates, and it seems like we've got to a place where everyone seems like it's a compromise that everyone can live with."

Nathalie Sturgeon – Local Journalism Initiative

The council is considering a proposal to lower the mill rate across all wards, acknowledging that property assessments have been rising significantly. "By lowering the mill rate, it brings it back to a lower level," Henderson explained.

The mayor also addressed the challenges posed by municipal reform and the reliance on property tax as the primary source of revenue. "What we're seeing is more and more services that were before paid for by the province of New Brunswick are now being put onto municipalities," Henderson said. This shift places additional pressure on the town's budget, especially as costs continue to rise.

A significant topic of discussion was the refurbishment of the town's wharf, scheduled for the fall of next year. Henderson noted, "The federal government said that you're taking away fish habitat by extending market square. So in order to do that, we have to basically save fish habitat somewhere else." This requirement has led to conversations with environmental organizations to offset the impact, a process that has caused some delays.

Another key issue was the introduction of a surveillance camera program across the community. Henderson highlighted its success, stating, "We have over 80 new cameras in our community that's all spread out throughout Chamcook, Bayside, and St. Andrews." The initiative aims to enhance public safety, although Henderson acknowledged it does not replace the need for a robust police presence. "It doesn't supplement policing, but it does make police's job a little easier if they're looking for somebody," he said.

The meeting also covered the town’s infrastructure, including discussions about Prince of Wales Street. The potential need to remove trees to widen the road has sparked controversy. "It would require us to potentially cut down up to nine trees," Henderson noted. While acknowledging the trees' aesthetic value, he mentioned the financial implications, stating, "Those trees are now worth over $30,000 a tree when you do the math."

Public safety was another focal point, with Henderson discussing the arrival of a new ladder truck for the fire department. "The last date I heard was December 20th, so in reality, it should be getting to us early in the new year," he stated. The acquisition addresses safety concerns raised by the volunteer fire department, especially following challenging incidents at local landmarks.

The mayor also touched on the town's growing off-season tourism, attributing it to community efforts and creative events. "The Ice Dogs, which are the county Ice Dogs, they put on an example on Remembrance Day Weekend, a thing called Veterans Cup," he mentioned, noting the event's success in boosting local businesses. Henderson expressed optimism about future opportunities, saying, "I think that we're really going to see a transition where more and more businesses have an opportunity to be open year-round."