Three Charlotte County municipalities are divided on hiring a local development officer to share

Three municipalities in Charlotte County are considering hiring a local development officer. Councils are divided on whether to accept a joint economic agreement for the region. The proposal would see Eastern Charlotte, the Municipal District of St. Stephen, and St. Andrews hire an economic development officer. That idea didn't sit well with St. Andrews Councillor Darryl Weare.

Nathalie Sturgeon – Local Journalism Initiative

“We've got the Regional Development Commission, which has identical workforce development and housing responsibilities. We saw the enterprise organisations for many years, which were barely competent. I'm just wondering what magic bullet we have that is going to make us successful,” Weare said.

Weare noted that organisations have come and gone, many of which were unsuccessful. He also took aim at the Regional Service Commission (RSC), which is responsible under new reforms for economic development, workforce development, and housing. Councillor Annette Harland said she believes this more local position could create opportunities.

“I feel like we are just a tiny pin on the map for them. What I like about this is that it has the potential to be more focused on our specific needs. I think there's potential for success with this model,” Harland said.

Eastern Charlotte Council voted in its August meeting to table the motion until October, citing concerns about duplication of services with the RSC and awaiting buy-in from the other two councils. The Municipal District of St. Stephen has voted yes to the agreement but voiced concerns about overlap with its existing economic development agency, Future St. Stephen. The Department of Local Government and Local Governance Reform says it supports the RSC through the Regional Service Commission Support Fund, which funds up to 50% of its activities. In 2024, it provided $190,000 to the Southwest region. St. Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson said he believes there may be a benefit to a local officer, but added that many organizations have tried and failed in the past. He wants to see evidence of the RSC’s accomplishments before committing more funds.

“Just give me the top three or five wins you've accomplished over the last year. Something to take back to the community and council to say, ‘Is this something we should be investing more in, or should it stay as it is, or even be decreased?’” Henderson said.

Henderson also stated that he sees the RSC as another branch of government, but the department says it is not meant to replace services already provided by local governments, and is there to complement the efforts already underway in the region.

Controversy over Charlotte County Courthouse

Back in St. Andrews, there is controversy over the historic courthouse and the costs associated with its maintenance and repair. One of St. Andrews' councillors said he wants to hand the old courthouse back over to the province. This comes after a significant price tag was revealed to remove old lead paint from the exterior of the centuries-old building.

“Before we acquired the courthouse, it had been painted with lead paint. Now, there are regulations surrounding the proper disposal of lead paint. The budget for its removal came in at $312,000,” Councillor Kurt Gumushel said.

Gumuchel noted that he was on the original council that decided to enter into an agreement with the provincial government to take over the courthouse.

“We did that in good faith, and I don’t remember what we got—maybe $50,000 a year for four years to take care of it. There was no mention of lead paint or a bad roof. I feel like we got ourselves a lemon with the courthouse. Maybe we should just hand it back to the province, say ‘Thank you very much,’ and return their money, because I really feel like we were misled,” Gumushel added.

The province of New Brunswick requires a specific removal and disposal process because of the toxicity associated with lead paint. The council also reported that the roof is in need of work, which would add another $50,000 to the cost. The courthouse is still home to the St. Andrews Civic Trust, whose mission is to help restore, preserve, and maintain buildings of historical or cultural value. Mayor Brad Henderson said he would like to wait and see what the Civic Trust can contribute to the situation. He noted that council has given the group time to respond.

“All of these expenses add up, and the question is, how many cultural assets can a small community like ours afford? It's fantastic that the courthouse is so well-preserved, but if we're putting tax dollars into a building, it needs to serve a real community purpose,” Henderson said.

Council voted in favour of replacing the roof to avoid any further damage to the interior of the building.