Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bedford Community Council Association concerned with Mayorality Candidates Position on Amalgamation!
Bedford, N.S. - September 24th, 2008 - A recent Chronicle Herald article (A. Pugsley - September 18, 2008) indicated that one of the mayoralty candidates was willing to entertain the idea of a plebiscite on de-amalgamation, with the other two candidates indicating that there is nothing wrong with the way the Municipality is being run.
It is clear to members of the Bedford Community Council Association that all three candidates for Mayor do not quite understand the concerns raised by thousands of their constituents.
BCCA was formed because of Bedford residents' dissatisfaction with the present structure of Halifax Regional Municipality. Other concerned citizen groups are also becoming more active throughout HRM. Obviously, something is wrong!
It should be a concern to everyone that, under the present structure, decisions affecting the very fabric of community life are made by a Regional Council, which consists of representatives that are not accountable to the residents of the individual communities.
Items such as the Chebucto Road widening, where cats can roam, and a Sackville Drive-In Theatre should be dealt with by the individual communities. At present, the area Councilor can vote for or against a project or a development in their District but can be out-voted by other Councilors from other Districts. How can this, in the 250th year of Democracy, be perceived as democratic?
The Provincial Government needs to make changes to the existing governance structure of the Halifax Regional Municipality to ensure that communities have a say in issues directly affecting them and have the financial resources to implement programs and services within the community.
Our Association believes that the fundamentals of amalgamation can work; however, not as presently executed by the Municipality. Discussions need to be undertaken NOW to determine whether we require a reduced Council, Councillors elected "at large", Community Council's with decision-making and funding capabilities, or all of the above!
The Bedford Community Council Association believes that all regional areas deserve a greater voice in local issues while, at the same time, preserving the economies of scale benefits of the Halifax Regional Municipality's management of regional issues.
Support for change comes from many sources. The most important source is that of a voter. At this time of municipal elections, residents should not hesitate to make their voices heard by the candidates. It DOES matter.
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Monday, June 2, 2008
Bedford Community Council Association - Residents for Bedford Council - Continues to Move Forward for CHANGE!
Bedford, N.S. - May 29th, 2008 - The Legislature closed its spring session without dealing with Bill 179 (Halifax Regional Municipality Charter). Notwithstanding, the Bedford Community Council Association will continue to move toward implementation of effective and positive changes for the community of Bedford and, ultimately, the Halifax Regional Municipality, with the aim to have a revised governance model enacted.
"We strongly believe that a Regional Council should be dealing with issues of regional significance, not with issues of individual community concern. Community issues should be dealt with at the community level, best left to Community Councils that are directly accountable to the people of that community," states Brian Lugar, Chair of the Bedford Community Council Associations Governance Committee. "Since amalgamation, our community's population has grown considerably yet there has been little new infrastructure or re-investment back to this community and issues of vital concern to this community are being overshadowed."
The Bedford Community Council Association - Residents for Bedford Council - was formed with the intent to petition the Province of Nova Scotia for changes to the Municipal Government Act which would provide the residents of the community of Bedford, and others, with a more effective municipal governance model. This is a grass-root, non-partisan, initiative that has the support of 800 plus community residents and growing. The intent is to see implementation of an effective municipal governance model whereby community issues would be addressed by an elected accountable community body freeing up Regional Council to effectively deal with issues of a regional concern. It does not wish to see a duplication of responsibilities nor a second level of bureaucracy. Nor does it want deamalgamation.
The Bedford Community Council Association - Residents for Bedford Council believes that if a community has the initiative, size, and resources to create a Community Council (within defined parameters), this should be applauded by Regional Council, as it reduces Regional Council's workload, enabling them to concentrate on broader issues affecting the region as a whole and gives the community a say in issues directly affecting its residents. Bedford is presently represented by one councilor who sits on Regional Council with twenty-two others and Northwest Community Council with two other councilors who represent the Sackville area. The needs of this community are overshadowed by the needs of others. In addition, the Community Council's have little jurisdictional control, are limited in scope of responsibilities, and lack direct accountability to the residents they serve. Regional Council is attempting to deal with community issues from a regional perspective. It is irrelevant, from a regional perspective, whether peninsula Halifax allows or disallows residents to have chickens in its backyard but may be important to that community. What is good for one area may be irrelevant or counter-productive to another. If a Community Council was empowered, the community could decide its community wants and needs and the Community Council would be accountable to those that they have jurisdictional control over. Montreal and Vancouver have recognized the importance of communities.
"We cannot stand back and let the current governance model continue to erode our community. Our, and all communities, should have the right to determine its requirements for recreation and community facilities, main street programs, etc., and the ability to access funds raised from the community tax base to implement those requirements - it is time to allow communities to have a say in issues that affect them and give them the tools needed to ensure that they can address issues. We are not looking to burden regional Council, but to complement it. We want to enable the community to control community issues, not rely on a disparate Regional Council who has competing interests," stated Lugar. "Bedford is one of the least represented communities in Nova Scotia, with the highest number of people per representative at 1 per 20,000. We have one of the highest tax bases in Nova Scotia. This community has suffered through lack of programming and a diminishment of services and facilities. The current model does not work."
For 75 years prior to Amalgamation Bedford built a very successful and strong self-governance structure, which allowed the community to grow and flourish. Residents were given the opportunity to have a voice in their community, along with the allocation of their tax dollars. Population of Bedford in 1991 consisted of approximately 11,000 residents and in 2007 it had nearly doubled at over 20,000. Assessment has seen a 95.7% increase from 1997-2007 with 1997 being $877,000,000 and in 2007 assessment was $1,717,000,000.
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Monday, April 21, 2008
New Governance Model to be Presented to Community of Bedford
The Bedford Community Council Association - Residents for Bedford Council will be holding a community meeting to propose a NEW governance model for Bedford. It will include recommended changes to tax dollar allocation, policy, by-law and planning related to community and recreational facilities. For 75 years prior to amalgamation, Bedford had a strong self-governance structure with a Mayor and a 6-person Council. Today, Bedford is represented by one Councilor. The current model does not work. Assessment has seen a 95.7% increase since 1997.
Along with the proposed governance model, the Community Council will also be giving updates on the progress at the Rocky Lake Commons, which includes the rink, soccer field and children's village. There will be a "Call from the Floor" for nominations for residents to serve on the Executive of the Community Council.
This is an important meeting for the community of Bedford.
When: Thursday, April 24th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bedford Legion (1772 Bedford Highway)
