Media Releases

Council gives first reading to amendment, development agreement

The Amherst town council gave first reading to a bylaw amendment and a development agreement when it met in regular session on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

The development agreement will allow a group home to be established at 27 West Pleasant St.

Before coming into effect, the development agreement will be the subject of a public meeting scheduled for June 13, 2022. It must also be given a second reading by council.

The approval of the development agreement is being recommended by the town’s Planning Advisory Committee and town staff do not anticipate any significant impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood.

The amendment is to the town’s Bylaw Respecting the Board of Police Commissioners. It will insert a statement in the membership section of the bylaw that states Amherst is an inclusive and equitable organization that values inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, including the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners.

The police commission has recommended the approval of the amendment.

Council Size

During the meeting, the council approved maintaining the status quo of six councillors elected at large and directed staff to forward an application containing the decision to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, which has the final say in determining the size of council. The board will hold a public hearing on the matter prior to rendering its decision.

The council indicated the status quo should be maintained because there has been no significant change in the town’s population or geographic size.

Street name change

Council also approved beginning the process of changing the name of Lord Amherst Drive to Ancestral Drive, as recommended by the town’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee.

All affected property owners and/or residents on the street will now be given six months notice of the name change, which goes into effect in November.

Solid waste agreement

In addition, council approved a new Northern Region Solid Waste agreement. The only change to the intermunicipal agreement is the removal of references in the document to the Cumberland Joint Services Management Authority.

Steering Committee 

The terms of reference for the creation of a Community Centre Steering Committee were approved by the council, which also appointed Coun. Hal Davidson as the town’s representative on the committee and Coun. Leon Landry as an alternative council representative.

Asphalt Patching Tender 

Council awarded the 2022 asphalt patching tender to Costin Paving and Contracting, the lowest compliant tender, in the amount of $292,100, plus non-refundable taxes.