Allen looks back with pride on political achievements

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

With a shuffle around the council horseshoe looming, Mayor Anna Allen says she is confident council will continue to serve the community well, with or without her.

“I'm not worried about council. The one bit of comfort I have is knowing how strong our staff and CAO are. I know the right things will be done.”

As she prepares to end her term as mayor, Allen says she can’t help but reflect on council’s accomplishments, such as the state-of-the-art water treatment plant and addition of a public transit service.

Add to that list new facilities such as the library, curling club, Aquatic Center and Valley Community Fibre Optic Network and Windsor has become a place where people want to live in and contribute to, she said. “We are no longer a have-not community.

“I predicted five years ago that no one would recognize the face of Windsor and that has happened,” Allen said. “We now have a new and vibrant community that people take pride in.”

She said Windsor has also become a key destination for entrepreneurs. “We have so many amazing new businesses here now.” She cited as an example the Super 8 Hotel. “That is something we’ve needed here for years and it’s great to see they’ve been successful.”

The recently finalized town planning document has designated Wentworth Road as a commercial development area that will be people-friendly and offer a diversity of development options.

She noted the four-way partnership the town has built with the RDA, Chamber of Commerce and Windsor Business Enhancement Society. It will ensure the downtown core and waterfront areas are maintained and developed as well.

During her tenure as mayor, Allen has also encouraged partnerships with neighbouring municipal governments through the implementation of Joint Council.

“Our council now works closely with West Hants and Hantsport,” she said. Allen said Joint Council has been a big step in building strong regional cooperation and shared service delivery. “There are things we’ve learned we have to do together or they won’t work.”

Although she will soon step out of politics, Allen will always be a supporter of local government. “I still feel municipal government is critically important. Every decision council makes will have an effect on those things that people can touch, feel and see on a daily basis.”