Town Councillors in Port Hawkesbury are frustrated they have not received a response to concerns raised about changes made to Reeves Street.
Town council has decided to send a letter to the Minister Public Works Kim Masland reiterating
issues that were raised when they met with officials overseeing the Destination Reeves Street Project back in June of 2022. The motion also requested a meeting with the minister about the concerns that were raised.
During last night’s regular monthly meeting, Town Councillor Blaine MacQuarrie said he and other elected officials made suggestions about the turning lights, repainting the lines in a timelier fashion, and erecting advanced signage to warn motorists about changes made to the town’s main thoroughfare.
After 18 months, MacQuarrie asked why the town has not received a response from the department, noting that the pilot project started back in 2019.
MacQuarrie asked that CAO Terry Doyle contact the new engineer hired to oversee the project requesting a meeting with him and other provincial officials to follow up on the concerns raised by elected officials.
Doyle responded that after a motion was made last May by town council, staff sent a letter to the province on June 27.
The CAO said that process identified 17 issues raised by town councillors, and since that time, both engineers assigned to the project left for other jobs and a new engineer has taken over permanently.
Doyle said he reached out to the deputy minister and others in the department to get an update with no response after three months. He said he will continue trying to contact officials in the Department of Public Works.
Town Councillor Jason Aucoin said this lack of response is “becoming very frustrating” and with the CAO unable to get answers, he suggested elected officials directly contact the minister to ask for a meeting.
Deputy Mayor Hughie MacDougall disagreed, stating that the CAO, as well as town councillors, should be involved.
Doyle replied that the letter that was sent on June 27 to the minister was from the mayor, “politician to politician,” which is the usual practice for such a request. He explained that town staff interacts with department staff.’
After this long without a response, Town Councillor Mark MacIver asked whether town staff can provide provincial officials with the results of the survey of town residents about changes to Reeves Street to “refresh their memories after 18 months.”