James Ness, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, River Valley Sun

Council looks ahead to 2027 budget while approving age-friendly initiative, grant changes and new municipal rules

Hartland council tackled a packed agenda on Sept. 8, with discussions ranging from major changes to New Brunswick’s property-tax system to garbage collection, senior services, and its first look at the 2027 budget.

Council also revised its municipal grant program, approved an agreement for the Day & Ross Community Centre canteen and advanced changes to its procedural and conduct bylaws.

Preliminary budget shows $87,000 gap

Hartland’s first look at its 2027 budget leaves the municipality about $87,000 short of projected needs, though Treasurer Tina Pelkey stressed the numbers are still preliminary.

Pelkey and CAO/Clerk Julie Stockford walked council through changes to the provincial property-tax system that will affect how municipalities calculate tax rates beginning in 2027.

Under the new system, increases in property assessments will no longer automatically bring the same increase in municipal revenue.

A provincial rate stabilizer will first adjust the municipal tax rate based on assessment growth. A Local Government Cost Index will then account for pressures such as inflation, wages, construction costs and population growth.

Council will continue setting Hartland’s budget and tax rates, but increases above the provincial reference rate must be tied to municipal spending and service decisions.

Pelkey said the figures presented to council were based on planning assumptions because final assessment information will not arrive until October.

The example used by staff assumed an eight per cent increase in residential assessments, a three per cent increase in non-residential assessments and a 3.1 percent increase under the Local Government Cost Index.

“Where we stand today with the information we have today, staying with the rates that we have, we are $87,000 short of goal,” Pelkey said.

She said about $40,000 in additional revenue or expenses translates into roughly one cent on Hartland’s tax rate.

The municipality is still early in its budget process, with several departmental meetings remaining and other major figures still outstanding.

Pelkey said Hartland also expects its fiscal capacity funding, formerly called an unconditional grant, to drop by about $25,000 in 2027.

Council also discussed the non-residential multiplier applied to commercial properties. Hartland has traditionally kept its multiplier below the maximum available to municipalities, with councillors noting the decision helped limit pressure on local businesses.

Despite the $87,000 gap, Pelkey cautioned against reading too much into the early figures.

“No, there are no alarm bells yet,” she said.

More reliable numbers are expected in October after provincial assessment information and other costs become available.

Hartland commits to age-friendly initiative

Council formally committed Hartland to pursuing recognition as an age-friendly community following a presentation by Talia Briggs, program coordinator with Nursing Home Without Walls – Hartland.

Briggs told council the local program, which began last October, already has more than 130 seniors enrolled.

Nursing Home Without Walls helps older adults remain in their homes by connecting them with services and community programs. It also offers social activities, wellness checks, educational sessions and transportation assistance.

Briggs said Hartland already has many of the pieces needed to become an age-friendly community, but “the transportation piece is one that is constantly coming up.”

The program uses an accessible bus for some events, but Briggs said seniors regularly request transportation to medical appointments.

The problem can be especially difficult for people without a family doctor who may have to travel farther for care.

Briggs said accessibility also means looking beyond whether a building technically meets accessibility requirements.

“On paper, a building might be wheelchair accessible, but there might be other barriers and little things along the way that prevent people from getting out and using the spaces that we have,” she said.

She pointed to seating without adequate lumbar support and difficulties moving mobility equipment through buildings as examples of smaller barriers that can keep seniors from taking part in community activities.

Briggs said Nursing Home Without Walls can help Hartland gather feedback directly from seniors during the age-friendly process.

“We would like to be a partner with you guys and be a bridge to bring older adults and their perspectives to the table,” she said.

Council approved a formal commitment to pursue age-friendly recognition and also approved terms of reference for a steering committee.

The municipality will establish the committee, complete a community assessment and develop a three-year action plan.

The committee will include older adults, residents, community organizations, and service partners, and will identify strengths, gaps, and priorities.

Information requests raise concerns

Coun. Lee Patterson raised concerns about the workload created by large Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests municipalities receive.

Patterson said the issue came up during a recent meeting hosted by the Western New Brunswick Service Commission.

He told council some communities are receiving unusually large and complicated information requests.

Patterson said one municipal official described an approximately 80-page request containing numerous individual demands for information. The official estimated it could take one employee six or seven months to handle.

He said council heard about another New Brunswick municipality receiving a massive request generated using artificial intelligence.

“It’s a real problem,” Patterson said.

He said much of the requested information is already publicly available.

Patterson pointed to Hartland’s practice of posting proposed bylaw and regulatory changes for at least 30 days as an example of council making information accessible.

“It shows that we are open and transparent and that the information is in the public domain,” Patterson said.

New waste bylaw gets first reading

Council gave first reading to a new waste collection and disposal bylaw designed to reflect changes to garbage and recycling service.

Stockford said Hartland’s existing bylaw predates automated cart collection and no longer reflects the new system.

The new bylaw establishes requirements for placing carts on level surfaces and positioning them so automated collection trucks can reach them.

It also adds provisions dealing with illegal dumping.

Municipal residential cart collection would apply to properties containing four residential units or fewer.

Larger multi-unit properties, nursing homes, special care homes, boarding homes and similar properties would be required to arrange private dumpster service.

The bylaw also separates residential garbage from waste generated through farming and other commercial activities. Farm materials such as silage wrap would not be accepted as ordinary household waste.

Councillors raised concerns about how the changes could affect small or hobby farms that produce more waste than an ordinary household but may not be able to justify the cost of a commercial dumpster.

They also questioned what recycling options will be available to people living in larger apartment buildings.

Staff agreed to seek more information.

Council gave Bylaw B-30.01 first reading by title.

Municipal grant program revised

Council adopted an updated municipal grant policy creating three streams for financial support.

One stream provides annual operating support for designated community halls. Council will determine the amount available during the municipal budget process.

The halls will be expected to report by the end of August on how they spent the money.

A second stream deals with larger funding requests of more than $2,500. Organizations seeking that level of support will generally be required to apply in advance so council can consider the request during the following year’s budget process.

Smaller or unexpected requests of less than $2,500 will continue to be considered during the year.

Council also discussed safeguards intended to prevent organizations from receiving funding through more than one stream for the same purpose.

Canteen agreement approved

Council ratified an agreement with Daphne Stokoe to operate the canteen at the Day & Ross Community Centre during the 2026-27 season.

The agreement follows a request-for-proposals process that received one submission.

Stokoe will operate the canteen primarily from October through March based on ice schedules, including tournaments and practices.

Council was told she may also open the canteen for ball tournaments and other special events. The agreement can be renewed annually if both the municipality and operator agree.

Deputy mayor changes move forward

Council gave second reading to amendments to Hartland’s procedural bylaw dealing with the deputy mayor position.

The new bylaw clarifies how a deputy mayor may resign and how the municipality fills a vacancy. Resigning as deputy mayor would not affect that person’s position as a councillor.

The current deputy mayor’s four-year term will remain in place, with two-year deputy mayor terms beginning following the 2030 municipal election.

The amendment also identifies Robert’s Rules of Order as the procedural authority for matters not otherwise addressed in legislation or Hartland’s procedural bylaw.

It establishes a clearer regular council agenda structure and makes related housekeeping changes.

Conduct bylaw passes third reading

Council also gave third reading to Bylaw A-029.01, which deals with council conduct.

The bylaw addresses expectations surrounding respectful behaviour, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, public communications and the respective roles of elected officials and municipal administration.

Next meeting

Regular council meetings are normally held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall, 31 Orser St. The public is welcome to attend.

Learn more about our News Monitoring here.

---