Council also revisits regional policing plan, moves ahead on climate planning, waste changes, fire-truck financing and waterfront work
Hartland council is taking another run at a major Route 105 infrastructure project, approving a $2.29-million application that would combine road work with replacement of aging water and sewer lines.
The Sept. 22 meeting also brought the municipality’s long-running regional policing proposal back to the table, advanced its new waste bylaw, approved financing for a new fire tanker, and moved ahead with a climate-change adaptation plan that could eventually open the door to additional infrastructure funding.
Council also heard updates on finance, public works, recreation, and the fire department, and approved additional financing for the downtown waterfront revitalization project.
$2.29-million Route 105 application targets 2031
One of the evening’s biggest decisions came near the end of the meeting, when council agreed to submit a $2.29-million application under the province’s Provincial-Municipal Highway Partnership Program (PMHP).
The project would address the remaining section of Route 105 left out of an earlier partnership project and would include road reconstruction, along with water and sewer work beneath the route.
Treasurer Tina Pelkey told council the municipality has been advised to continue submitting the project even if funding is unlikely in the immediate future.
The application will target the 2031 fiscal year.
Hartland receives provincial support for eligible work on its designated highway, but sidewalks and municipal water and sewer infrastructure cost much more locally.
Pelkey said completing the paving and sidewalk work alone was estimated at roughly $1.2 million. Hartland’s share would be about $408,000, and the municipality would look to reserves, capital-renewal funding, and borrowing to cover its portion.
Adding replacement of the water and sewer infrastructure pushed the estimated overall project to $2,294,246.
The problem, council heard, is that much of the area’s underground infrastructure dates to the 1950s. A newer section was installed in 2006 when Walton Court was developed, but much of the remaining system is considerably older. Resurfacing the road without addressing what is underneath it carries an obvious risk, the treasurer warned.
“If we decide that all we’re going to do is the paving and the sidewalks, then something goes wrong with the water and sewer, and we’ve got to dig up everything we just paid for,” she told council.
The municipality is also waiting to learn whether other funding programs could help pay for some of the underground work.
Hartland is developing a climate-change adaptation plan, and council heard there may eventually be opportunities to connect infrastructure improvements to climate-resiliency funding.
That could include changes to drainage, water and sewer infrastructure or features such as permeable sidewalks, but no such funding is guaranteed. The municipality is also waiting for the outcome of another infrastructure application to bring additional water capacity to the community complex and Rockland Road development area.
That leaves council trying to plan several major projects without knowing which funding programs will ultimately be approved.
Council unanimously authorized administration to submit the $2,294,246 PMHP application.
Regional policing proposal goes back for another look
Hartland’s years-long review of policing services is moving again.
Council considered a resolution involving the regional police proposal previously developed with the District of Carleton North.
The original wording discussed during the meeting would have authorized the police committee to resubmit a proposal to the Minister of Public Safety to form a regional police service covering Hartland and Carleton North.
After closed-door discussion, the motion authorized the police committee to revise the proposal and return it to Hartland council for review of a possible regional police service involving Hartland and the District of Carleton North.
The two municipalities have been examining alternatives to their RCMP service for several years. A joint police review committee previously developed a municipal-force model and held public meetings in Hartland and Carleton North in 2023.
That proposal envisioned a regional force serving both municipalities and depended heavily on provincial approval and assistance with start-up and infrastructure costs.
The Sept. 22 decision does not approve a new police force and, by itself, does not send a new proposal to the province. It returns the proposal to the committee for revision before it goes back to Hartland council.
Climate adaptation committee established
Council also approved terms of reference for a new climate-change adaptation plan steering committee and appointed Coun. Lee Patterson as council’s representative.
CAO/Clerk Julie Stockford said Dillon Consulting is working with the province and municipality on the planning process.
The local steering committee is expected to include municipal administration, along with representatives from public works, finance, emergency services, and other municipal operations.
Stockford said the committee will largely provide information and answer questions as the consultants develop the plan. She did not expect it to become another permanent committee requiring regular meetings.
The committee will be advisory only. It will not have authority to make financial commitments or approve spending. Once completed, the climate adaptation plan will return to council for consideration and approval.
Council approved the terms of reference before unanimously appointing Patterson.
The plan is expected to be completed in 2027.
Financial picture improves heading toward year-end
Hartland’s financial position appears stronger than the August figures initially suggest.
Treasurer Pelkey reported that the general operating fund showed an approximately $161,000 deficit at the end of August, but the municipality was still awaiting roughly $297,000 in funding and other receivables.
With those outstanding amounts, she said the municipality was trending toward an approximately $83,000 year-to-date surplus.
Among individual departments, council heard that protective services and transportation continued to show spending pressures, while recreation and culture ran below budget.
Transportation was approximately $21,000 over budget, including additional equipment maintenance and operating costs and about $3,800 in overtime, while fire department expenses were approximately $12,600 below budget, and recreation and culture were about $27,000 under.
Pelkey reported approximately $733,000 in municipal reserves and about $460,000 in restricted cash. The town’s unrestricted cash position represented approximately 43 days of operating expenses.
New fire tanker requires additional financing
Council also dealt with the final financing package for Hartland’s new fire tanker.
The Metalfab truck cost more than the municipality’s original estimate because the purchasing process added equipment specifications and change orders.
The meeting documents list the final cost at about $579,771.47 before tax; the fire department has contributed significant donated money toward the purchase, and the municipality will also use reserves and capital-renewal funding.
Council approved transferring another $50,000 from the fire-truck reserve and authorized borrowing of $190,000 through the New Brunswick Municipal Finance Corporation over 10 years.
Fire department responds to 14 calls in August
Hartland firefighters responded to 14 calls in August, totalling about 172 firefighter hours.
The calls included two medical assists, four motor-vehicle collisions, one brush fire, three structure fires, one vehicle fire and three alarm calls. The department also participated in Covered Bridge community events and a firefighter muster.
Two new probationary firefighters joined the department, while two members obtained their Class 3 licences. The department expects another three recruits to begin in October.
Council also discussed a possible fire department breakfast and activities that would let children participate in firefighting-themed events.
Buried valve found after more than a decade
Director of Public Works Jed Giberson reported an unusual find within Hartland’s water system.
Crews located a buried 10-inch water valve that had effectively been missing from municipal knowledge for more than a decade.
Freddy Roberts and a metal detector helped locate the valve.
Its discovery gives the town another way to isolate sections of the water system during repairs or emergencies.
Giberson linked the missing valve to problems crews encountered during a previous town-wide boil-water event, when staff couldn’t isolate the system as effectively as they wanted.
Road visibility, equipment, beautification work continues
Public works has also trimmed roadside growth to improve visibility, including along Route 575. Crews continue seasonal beautification work, along with improvements connected to the park, waterfront and boat-launch areas.
A Freightliner municipal truck also underwent its motor-vehicle inspection. Giberson said the municipality continues planning to replace the 2007 International truck sold last year, with a replacement hoped for in early 2027.
Waterfront, park projects move closer to completion
Work at Hartland’s downtown park and waterfront continued through September.
The Mayor and Councillors heard the park project is nearing completion, with landscaping work including trees, flowers and grass seed.
The waterfront boat launch is also complete, and council approved $200,000 in authorized interim financing connected to the Hartland Waterfront Revitalization Project.
The downtown waterfront project has been under development for several years and includes improvements to the boat launch, dock, viewing area, access, landscaping and other features around the covered bridge.
Waste by-law moves to second reading
Council gave second reading to By-law B-30.01, continuing changes to Hartland’s garbage and recycling rules first introduced at the Sept. 8 meeting.
The new system is being designed around automated collection. Residential garbage will be collected in 240-litre carts, while recycling carts are expected to be 360 litres. Circular Materials will handle recycling, and the program will not add a direct collection cost to the municipality.
The bylaw provides municipal residential collection for buildings containing four units or fewer. Larger apartment buildings and some institutional or special residential properties must use a private dumpster service.
The second reading carried.
Age-friendly appointment delayed
Hartland is continuing work toward recognition as an age-friendly community, but council delayed appointing a member to the age-friendly steering committee.
Council formally committed to the age-friendly process at its Sept. 8 meeting following a presentation from Nursing Home Without Walls – Hartland. The municipality plans to establish a steering committee, complete a community assessment and develop a three-year action plan.
Council agreed Sept. 22 to bring the councillor appointment back at a later meeting. Administration said it hopes to have the committee established by the end of November.
Nursing Home Without Walls is helping identify potential members, with health-care representatives also being considered.
Recreation shifts into fall schedule
Hartland’s recreation department is moving from summer programming into its fall and winter schedule.
Baseball has wrapped up, while softball tournaments were still expected in October.
Nursing Home Without Walls continues to partner on Tuesday Walk and Talk activities, and council heard about free children’s programming being offered with the Hartland Legion. Planning is also underway for a haunted trail.
The municipality’s after-school programming was scheduled to begin Sept. 30.
The arena ice plant started Sept. 22, with ice expected in early October.
Hartland could also receive ice-rental business from a new team based in the Perth-Andover area, expected to share practice time between communities.
Next meetings
Hartland’s next council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13 at the Waterville Community Centre. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27, but the location is still to be determined.
