Town of Barrhead has officially started the process of amalgamation after making a special motion at their Town Council meeting on Tuesday, September 9.
Councillor Don Smith made a request at the beginning of the meeting to add an item to the agenda, which was a special motion to request the Town start amalgamation talks. Councillor Smith read from a prepared statement while making the motion.
“I would like to move that the Town notify the County of Barrhead and the Minister of Municipal Affairs to initiate the negotiation for amalgamation,” said Smith.
The motion formally read “that Council initiates amalgamation proceedings with the County of Barrhead in accordance with Section 102 of the MGA (Municipal Government Act) and further that Council direct Administration to prepare the necessary documentation and research to prepare our submission to the Minster of Municipal Affairs.”
Smith explained his decision to make the motion at the latest Council meeting.
“The reason for contacting Municipal Affairs is that the County of Barrhead, at that time, will have to work with us in good faith. The Minister will give some sort of direction on how they want to us to proceed. That may be mediation or whatever the Minister requests,” said Smith. “By doing that, it brings both of us to the table. If I had just asked the County of Barrhead to enter into negotiations for amalgamation they may have just laughed at us as they have told us before they don’t think amalgamation may work. (County of Barrhead) Reeve Bill Lee has said to our Mayor that amalgamation just won’t work between our two municipalities.”
Smith went on to explain that he made this motion due to “years of frustration and lack of cooperation with the County of Barrhead.”
“There is frustration over the pool issue but this is almost 13 years for me, of not being able to get along and cooperate with the County over many issues not just the pool,” he said. “After making this motion, they (the County) will have no choice. They will have to join us at the table to discuss possible amalgamation options.”
Town of Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre shared his thoughts on Councillor Smith’s motion.
“I really commend Councillor Smith for stepping up to the plate and taking the initiative he did regarding amalgamation. Whatever it results in, it will be a positive step towards an improved working relationship between the two municipalities,” said St. Pierre.
St. Pierre explained why Council elected to pass this motion with a unanimous vote.
“We went his way because, in my conversations with Reeve Lee, I was absolutely convinced that they would not consider amalgamation. They wouldn’t agree with it and they wouldn’t even consider it,” he said. “We already knew the answer and we knew the County would not even entertain discussions about amalgamation. I was convinced they wouldn’t be interested in amalgamation and I knew the Reeve would definitely be opposed to it.”
Lee discussed his immediate reaction after hearing Town Council’s motion to proceed with amalgamation talks.
“I laughed because their decision didn’t make sense to me. I thought it was quite comical until it settled in and I realized how bad this is. This is going to set the two communities back for a year or more while this process goes on,” said Lee. “The trouble is we don’t know what the total impact will be because this is all news to us. We are still trying to get some more information from Municipal Affairs regarding the process and how it will affect us. Does this mean we can’t borrow any money? Does it mean we have to hold off on any future development? Their motion left us with more questions than answers. The biggest question we have for Town Council is why now? Why do this now?”
Smith said that amalgamation has to be the right step for the two municipalities.
“We can no longer continue to subsidize County ratepayers for the facilities that we are providing for the region. We don’t have the resources or the tax base to provide curling rinks, arenas, swimming pools and ballparks. We have the stats that say over 60 per cent of the users are coming from the County. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the County of Barrhead doesn’t believe that 40 per cent of the operating costs of these facilities isn’t a fair deal. I always believe the County will do the right thing and then they don’t do the right thing. I am obviously kidding myself by thinking that,” he said with a laugh.
Lee admitted that the Town’s point of view regarding amalgamation is all new to County Council.
“In general discussion, this has been talked about but we have never received a letter or any information from the Town that they wanted to head down this road so this is a real shocker for us,” Lee said.
Lee admitted that due to the Town’s motion, amalgamation talks have officially begun, which the County may be forced to take part in.
“I don’t think we have a choice. If they are going to the Minister of Municipal Affairs with this request, we are in it. The amalgamation process has officially begun. Once the town writes the letter and sends it to Municipal Affairs, I presume that it’s done unless I find out otherwise. This changes the whole dynamics of everything,” Lee said.
Lee discussed his thoughts on the amalgamation of the two municipalities.
“Amalgamation is not the right thing for the region. What do the two municipalities bring to the table that makes it better for the entire community as a whole? You bring two poor municipalities together, all you have is one, big poor municipality. We are collectively working together on a number of different projects but if you put us together we will be working on common ground and uncommon ground,” he said. “We all have different residents with different needs. It is just like mixing oil and water. Our philosophy in the rural is very different from the Town’s philosophy. It is just like putting the NDP and Conservative parties together. They could share the same ideas, but they don’t. When you have independent Councillors those specific needs could be fulfilled because the people that are interested in those needs aren’t paying for them. When you put them all together, you are collectively mixing oil and water together. It just won’t work. All you are going to have is a watered down system where no one will be happy because no one will be getting their needs fulfilled.”
Lee admitted that the Town’s motion to move forward with amalgamation might have a negative impact on the current pool situation.
“We were involved in negotiations for the pool but now one proceeds over the other. How can we go ahead with the pool project if amalgamation is part of the discussions on the other hand?” said Lee. “By reading the motion they had they said we weren’t getting along but we are getting along with the Town. We have lots of joint things we do from the Library to the Landfill, to FCSS, Recreation, and the Fire Department. We have lots of things we get along with. If we could find common ground, we got things done. The pool was just one thing we didn’t see eye to eye on.”
According to St. Pierre, one of the things that will be discussed during the amalgamation process is the potential for a new governing body structure.
“This would be where we would seek guidance from Municipal Affairs and other experts in the field. I would like us to lay all of our cards on the table, find out what works and what doesn’t, the advantages and disadvantages to see what is the best option for all of the residents,” said St. Pierre. “My vision is we would have nine people elected at large, eight councilors and one mayor. The reason I don’t like the ward division system is that person tends to make decisions that is in the best interest of their own ward. Where people who are elected at large, will look after the interests of the community as a whole. There may be people on the County Council and my own Council that are afraid of losing their jobs. If that’s the reason and their concern, then they are not doing their job and they are not looking at the best interests of the people in the community.”
St. Pierre went on to explain the benefits of amalgamation.
“Decisions will be made. We will all be on the same page and have one voice. Once a decision is made, whether it is unanimous or not, the Council has to support that decision.
The biggest benefit is that decisions will be made in a timely manner,” added St. Pierre.
St. Pierre then discussed the fact that the Town forced the County’s hand to come to table in regards to amalgamation talks.
“Some of the County Councillors will probably be belligerent the first time we meet with a mediator to discuss amalgamation talks but I am okay with that. I didn’t take this job to make friends with everyone. Hopefully, I can, but that wasn’t my objective. If it means having an abrasive relationship to begin with fine but I know after doing that (going through the process), eventually relationships will improve. I am not here campaigning for next election; I am here to get things done.”
St. Pierre shared his final thoughts now that the process has begun.
“Ultimately, we should become one vibrant, prosperous and progressive community. We can only do that if we have one governing body representing the best interests of the citizens of this community,” concluded St. Pierre.
