News & Announcements

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Category: Press Releases

Published: 14 November 2023

 PRESS RELEASE - November 14, 2023

For Immediate Release

 Richmond County and St. Peter’s Village Commission Hold First Ever Joint Public Meeting

Arichat, NS – Early November marked a first for the Municipality of the County of Richmond and the Village of St. Peter’s with an official Joint Meeting between the two levels of government on November 2^nd at Council Chambers in Arichat; the first time the two levels of government have formally met in public session.

The Village of St. Peter’s is a recognized municipal unit with elected Village Commissioners.  They operate independently of the County and provide a variety of municipal services to residents within the Village area.   Historically, the relationship between the Village and the County has been primarily limited to taxation collections and special projects.  

“Building stronger relationships with other local governments is a priority for Municipal Council,” noted Warden Amanda Mombourquette.  This work is part of the County’s larger effort to lead and engage stakeholders according to their Strategic Plan which was refreshed through community consultation last year.   

The agenda included mutually agreed upon items related to special projects, capital projects, the Canada Community Building Fund, and asset management.  All parties agreed that the discussion was productive and should be continued regularly in this public format. 

“The Village of St. Peter’s is Richmond County’s most densely populated commercial, service, and retail centre,” explained Commissioner Esther MacDonnell, Chair of the Commission.  “Residents from all areas of the County rely on us for everything from medical services to banking to groceries, she explained. Warden Mombourquette agreed, “It’s in the best interest of all residents that both levels of government plan for and invest in continuous improvement of the Village core area.”

The joint meeting was a first for the Municipal Council and the Village Commission in an effort to increase understanding and awareness of the opportunities and challenges faced by both parties. The agenda and draft minutes can be found at https://www.richmondcounty.ca and https://villageofstpeters.ca.

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 Left to right: Meghan Hayter, Village Clerk, Shelley David Municipal Clerk/Communications Officer, Warden Amanda Mombourquette, Pam Martell, Village Commissioner, Deputy Warden Shawn Samson, Esther MacDonnell, Chair of the Commission, Councillor Michael Diggdon, Donnie Mariner, Village Commissioner.
Photo Credit: Troy MacCulloch, CAO

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Category: News & Announcements

Published: 07 November 2023

The purpose of a housing needs assessment is to understand the current and anticipated housing conditions across a given geography, in the case of
this and accompanying reports, the conditions across the province of Nova Scotia and its municipalities. Generally, this work strengthens the ability of local
stakeholders and governments to:
• Identify current and future housing needs and
• Identify existing and projected gaps in housing supply

To view the report, click here:  pdf Municipality of the County of Richmond Municipal Housing Needs Report(922 KB)

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Category: News & Announcements

Published: 24 October 2023

For Immediate Release

Richmond County, NS – On October 4, 2023, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board issued its written decision to maintain a Council size of five Councillors for Richmond County.  They also agreed to the changes suggested by Council that made slight changes to the five districts to accommodate for communities of interest.

Every eight years, municipalities are required to conduct a study of the boundaries of polling districts in the municipality, their fairness and reasonableness, and the number of councillors. The last boundary review process in 2014 reduced the number of Councillors from ten to five, representing a major shift in the local governance of the County.

The final decision in a boundary review process is made by the Utility and Review Board, often based on the recommendation of municipal councils.  The Board prioritizes voter parity, contiguous geography, communities of interest and community consultation in its decision.  In January 2023, Richmond County Council made a unanimous recommendation to maintain a 5-member Council with minor changes to the boundaries of each district following a period of public consultation and research that spanned seven months.

Council considered all of the input received from surveys, conversations, and information sessions. “Voter parity is a fundamental principal in a democratic society, but had to be viewed through a lens of what makes the most sense for the people living in each district.  It’s about more than just numbers – it’s about ensuring that people are represented and connected to communities that make the most sense, and doing so in a financially responsible way,” noted Warden Mombourquette.

The boundary changes will take effect in the 2024 municipal election and will primarily impact some residents in District 2 in Arichat who will move to District 1, residents of Lennox Passage who will move to District 3, some residents in Thibeauville and Grande Greve who will move to District 4, and residents in Lynches River who will move to District 5.  The changes will mean that Isle Madame retains two councillors, and that Grande Greve will no longer be split between two districts along the Grande Greve Road which had caused some confusion in the last election.  “These are small changes that we feel will make a difference to the constituents in these areas who have expressed feeling disconnected from communities in which they vote,” explained Warden Mombourquette.

More information and details on the adjusted boundaries in Richmond County can be accessed at: www.richmondcounty.ca.

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Media Contact:

Warden Amanda Mombourquette
902-631-0690

pdf Governance and Boundary Review - 2023 Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board Decision with District Maps English(28.03 MB)

pdf Governance and Boundary Review - 2023 Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board Decision with District Maps French(8.04 MB)

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Category: Announcements (Public Works)

Published: 22 September 2023

NOTICE
The Municipality of the County of Richmond Public Works Department advises residents of Richmond County that the deadline for the submission of Water and/or Sewer Connection Applications for 2023 is Friday, October 6, 2023.

Applications are available by clicking on https://www.richmondcounty.ca/documents/forms/1915-water-sewer-application-2022/file or by visiting the Municipal Administration Building in Arichat.