Municipality Of St. Andrews, NB First Regular Meeting For October 2023

The first regular council meeting for the Municipality of Saint Andrews for the month of October 2023 took place in the Council Chambers at the WC O'Neill Arena. 

The council meeting kicked off with a special presentation recognizing community volunteers by presenting a select group of individuals and groups with annual Town Appreciation Awards. The Spindrifters, the local seniors activities group, received the Service Award for their active participation and contributions to the community. 

After the special presentation, the regular council meeting began starting with the approval of the minutes from the last meeting.

Council went on to approve a lease agreement amendment for the Heather Curling Club, ensuring the club's continued operation for the next five years inside the WC O'Neill Arena. Council recognized the important work the club does involving the community and also hosting major curling events and competitions.

Under public works, funds were allocated from the Canada Community Building Fund for two projects. The first project involved installing heat pumps, aiming to enhance the functionality of the Bayside Community Hall. The second project focused on restoring the parking lot of the Community Hall.

In the recreation and community services section, a proposal was made to establish a new dog park at the St. Andrews Water Tower. The project is set to begin in the fall of 2023, following extensive research and collaboration by the dog park committee.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included refurbishing the wharf and conducting a study on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Council also reviewed the operations budget for 2024, expecting a 5% growth in tax revenue.