PORT HAWKESBURY: Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton says town officials are working with their municipal counterparts in Richmond County to provide fire services in Point Tupper.
Point Tupper had previously been served by the Louisdale and District Volunteer Fire Department.
Following the regular monthly council meeting on June 11, Chisholm-Beaton said the town’s fire department will be the new service provider on a trial run, while a third party helps figure out what the service is worth.
“We entered into a one-year service agreement, during the year of service we’ll be providing services to both the industrial park and residential area,” she said. “There will be further research done with regard to the value of that service being provided so we can look at continuing discussions for a long-term contract.”
Chisholm-Beaton said geographically, the Port Hawkesbury Volunteer Fire Department is the closest to Point Tupper and they entered into negotiations to determine, for one year, a value placed on the fire service.
“The history has been the Town of Port Hawkesbury had been providing fire service for Point Tupper businesses, industrial park, and residential area for decades but the town felt the service that was being provided was under-valued.”
Town officials want to come up with something that Chisholm-Beaton said would work for them, for elected officials, as well as members of local fire departments.