Municipality to consider booting development authority

By Kathy Johnson

THE COAST GUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The possibility of severing ties with the South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA) and creating a stand-alone economic development body for Shelburne County has been put on the table for discussion by the Municipality of Shelburne.

Municipal council unanimously approved a recommendation to “encourage discussions amongst municipal partners to create a Shelburne County economic development body” when they met on June 22. “This is not a decision to leave SWSDA at this stage,” said Warden Sherman Embree. “This is an examination of options… about whether or not we’re getting the service we deserve” through the current economic development body for the area.

Most councilors around the table spoke in support of an economic development body dedicated to Shelburne County. “Even if we have to pay a little more money and get something out of it,” said councilor Ardith VanBuskirk. “Right now we’re flushing our money down the toilet as far as I’m concerned.”

Shelburne municipality contributes $20,000 a year to SWSDA, which is the regional development authority for Yarmouth and Shelburne counties, as well as Clare.

Although Shelburne municipality has been a member of SWSDA for 14 years “… there has been very little substantive discussion about its (the municipality’s) relationship with SWSDA,” states a municipal staff report prepared to provide a look at the SWSDA mandate in the municipality.

The report noted that from a recent presentation by SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson to municipal council, “Clearly a majority of their accomplishments were of little benefit to the area and there were very little upcoming priorities for the area. “”The current SWSDA activity list contained in their annual business plan shows that they have had limited involvement on most projects in the area. Most of the projects were successful because of the work done by local community organizations and municipal officials.”

The report also noted that although the municipality has notified SWSDA about its’ goals and objectives, “Staff at the Municipality of Shelburne have very little communication with SWSDA staff regarding our strategic priorities,” and that the municipality “is developing the capacity to complete these projects internally. Recently we have received approval from the Build Canada Fund for the sewage treatment plant and we are progressing on a series of other projects without the assistance of the SWSDA.”

During discussions it was noted that other municipal units in the county have also been talking about the delivery of economic development services for the area and the need for a dedicated county organization. “I think it would be a good move,” said councillor Cathy Holmes. “It think we need to establish our own economic development body but we have to be sure we have something that will take the place of SWSDA before we act.”