MULGRAVE: With the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) set to host hearings regarding the dissolution of the Town of Mulgrave, council is looking to stay on top of things.
The UARB set aside March 20-23, and scheduled evening sessions for March 20 and 21 for Mulgrave and Guysborough respectively.
The deadline for formal intervenors to file evidence is November 29. Anyone wishing to speak at the evening sessions must notify the board in writing of their intention no later than March 7 by forwarding a letter to the clerk of the board.
Mulgrave interim CAO Kevin Matheson said if no one wants to speak at the evening sessions, they will be cancelled.
Last May, the Municipality of the District of Guysborough passed a motion opposing the dissolution of the Town of Mulgrave “on the terms set out in the letter of intent proposed by the province,” with the motion also stating council is not opposed to the dissolution in principle, but that the proposed letter of intent provided insufficient funding to bring the infrastructure in Mulgrave to acceptable standards and to support Guysborough in assuming Mulgrave’s obligations.
If there is any further movement on the letter of intent between now and the dates of the hearings, the provincial cabinet would have to make changes to the letter.
“Because the original letter of intent was approved by cabinet, it came from the province, no changes can be made to that unless cabinet approves the changes,” he said. “If there is some movement between the parties, it would have to go to cabinet to be approved, to be authorized.”
Matheson said Mulgrave officials are looking to meet with Guysborough representatives as early as February 1.
“Since there was no agreement on the letter of intent, we stopped having transition meetings back in April,” said Matheson.
“We made a request that it would be valuable for the mayor to sit down with the warden… just so that everyone understands where both parties are going at this time. They extended an invitation for [February 1].”