MULGRAVE: There is still an empty seat on town council but it might remain vacant.
As of 5 p.m. on November 8, the Town of Mulgrave did not receive any nomination papers from prospective candidates looking to fill the one remaining seat on town council.
When contacted for comment, Mulgrave’s new Mayor Ralph Hadley said council is contacting the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs to discuss keeping council as is.
“I don’t think council wants to re-advertise because we can’t get anybody,” said Hadley.
This is the second time in as many elections Mulgrave ended up without a full council after a municipal election.
The 2012 election saw Lorne MacDonald acclaimed as mayor, with Ralph Hadley and Anne MacDonald acclaimed as town councillors, leaving two vacancies at the table. That November, Evangeline Breen was acclaimed after a call for nominees, which still left another vacancy. In February 2013, Sheila Brophy defeated Joanne Reddick for the final spot at the table.
However, in September 2013, Anne MacDonald announced she planned to resign her council seat, forcing a November by-election in which Ron Chisholm defeated former Mulgrave Mayor Marney Simmons.
At the moment, Mulgrave is looking to dissolve and join the Municipality of the District of Guysborough. Following the swearing-in on November 7, Hadley said there are a few items he would like to see council take care of before the dissolution takes place.
“I’m hoping that we can get our water treatment plant up and running,” said Hadley.
Should the municipalities get the dissolution green light, Hadley would automatically become the representative for Mulgrave on Guysborough municipal council.
On November 4, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board released the dates for the Mulgrave dissolution hearings, which are set for next year. The board set aside March 20-23, and scheduled evening sessions for March 20 and 21, for Mulgrave and Guysbrough respectively, if necessary.
The deadline for formal interveners to file evidence is November 29, and the deadline for filing comments from the public and requests to speak at the evening session is February 21.
Guysborough Warden Vernon Pitts said the municipality is prepared to take part in the hearings.
“What we’re looking for, first and foremost, is reasonable governance for the Town of Mulgrave,” said Pitts. “Secondly, we want fair services, fair value, at a fair price. Thirdly, the road. That’s a contentious issue.”
Pitts referred to a 6.2 kilometre section of Route 344 which runs through Mulgrave. The section is in need of upgrades, which Guysborough CAO Barry Carroll priced at around $6.7 million. Because the route is a provincial road, council feels residents shouldn’t be responsible to pay for the upgrades.
Pitts said the municipality is still in talks with the provincial government.