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Home Amherst Meetings February 27, 2026

Council · Budget

February 27, 2026

Amherst Town Council

09:30
7 present · 0 absent
Robert Small Mayor — Charlie Chambers Deputy Mayor — Dwayne Ripley Councillor — Hal Davidson Councillor — Kathy Wells Councillor — Nic Furlong Councillor — Terry McManaman Councillor —
Staff & officers present
Andrew Fisher Director, Planning & Economic Development — Angela Ryan Bourgeois Director, Operations — Cindy Brown Administrative Assistant — Denise Smith Finance Manager — Dwayne Pike Chief, Police Services — Greg Jones Director, Fire Services — Jason MacDonald Chief Administrative Officer — Kim Jones Deputy Chief Administrative Officer — Krista Crossman Director, Human Resources — Natalie LeBlanc Municipal Clerk — Sarah Wilson Director, Finance — Sean Payne Marketing & Communications Officer — Sharon Bristol Director, Community Living —

Revisions

  1. First published Substantive fetched Jun 22, 2026
    • · Motion 1 added: That Council approve increasing the Deed Transfer Tax rate from 1.25% to 1.5% in 2026/27 effective July 1, 2026, as previously recommended by staff.
    • · Motion 2 added: That Council include an allowance for additional funding to the LA Animal Shelter from $10,000 to $25,000 annually in the 2026/27 operating budget as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is currently being reviewed; a final decision to be…
    • · Motion 3 added: That Council approve $160,000 in the 2026/27 operational budget from the operating reserve to continue to provide funding to address staffing shortages in the Police Department.
    • · Motion 4 added: That Council approve the addition of the following summer students in the 2026/27 operating budget, which were previously funded from the Operating Reserve in 2025/26: 1. Three programming summer student positions for a total of 8 weeks, 3…
    • · Motion 5 added: That Council approve the addition of $30,000 to the 2026/27 operating budget for Marketing and Communications.
    • · Motion 6 added: That Council approve a new economic development term/casual position in the 2026/27 operating budget for a total cost of $16,500.
    • · Motion 7 added: That Council increase the proposed 2026/27 operating budget for snow and ice management by $75,000 to expand salting operations to include the salting of all streets not on the designated salt route, after all other snow and ice operations…
    • · Motion 8 added: That Council forward the proposed amendments to the User Fee Policy #03470-03 to the next Council meeting for approval, including a further amendment to change the line in the Off Season Stadium Rentals table for Extra Employees from $25.0…
    • · Motion 9 added: That staff be directed to consult with the Cumberland County Minor Hockey Association, the Amherst Skating Club and the Municipality of the County of Cumberland about free ice time, how the funds provided for this program can be better all…
    • · Motion 10 added: That Council decrease the Uniform Charge Solid Waste from $278/year to $250/year.
    • · Motion 11 added: That Council increase the sewer rates as follows:
    • · Motion 12 added: To forward to a future Council meeting, an amendment to the Tax Reduction Policy to increase the income level from $30,000 to $32,000.
    • · Motion 13 added: To go into closed session.
    • · Motion 14 added: That the general operating budget as presented, including the motions above for any changes, be forwarded to a future Council meeting for approval.
    • · Attendance added: Kim Jones (present)
    • · Attendance added: Sarah Wilson (present)
    • · Attendance added: Denise Smith (present)
    • · Attendance added: Sharon Bristol (present)
    • · Attendance added: Sean Payne (present)
    • · Attendance added: Natalie LeBlanc (present)
    • · Attendance added: Cindy Brown (present)
    • · Attendance added: Robert Small (present)
    • · Attendance added: Charlie Chambers (present)
    • · Attendance added: Hal Davidson (present)
    • · Attendance added: Nic Furlong (present)
    • · Attendance added: Terry McManaman (present)
    • · Attendance added: Dwayne Ripley (present)
    • · Attendance added: Kathy Wells (present)
    • · Attendance added: Jason MacDonald (present)
    • · Attendance added: Angela Ryan Bourgeois (present)
    • · Attendance added: Andrew Fisher (present)
    • · Attendance added: Dwayne Pike (present)
    • · Attendance added: Greg Jones (present)
    • · Attendance added: Krista Crossman (present)