Member municipalities will look at amalgamation
Northumberland County
Northumberland County member municipalities will all be asked to consider amalgamation over the next few months before the county moves ahead with studying the possibility
Municipal restructuring will be the agenda of all seven member municipalities throughout Northumberland County, following a motion at this week's meeting of Northumberland County council.
Chief Administrative Officer said the request had been made to consider this and bring information forward for consideration.
“It probably should have the support of all, or at least a majority of, member municipalities before we would proceed with expenditures,” Moore said.
“I anticipate significant effort from county and member municipalities to collect data during interviews and all the work a consultant would need to make recommendations about potential options.”
She said there could be the option of amalgamation or some lesser degree of amalgamation, as in combining certain services.
Asked how long the process would take, she predicted possibly two years.
“If we were to go to member municipalities to seek their endorsement, we would need to give them at least two or three months through their council and committee sessions. Then the RFP for the consultant, then a number of months to gather data and get recommendations. It should be well into 2026 before we would have results.”
“I think the timing is appropriate, and I think it's necessary,” Councillor Lucas Cleveland declared.
“We are two years before a new election cycle, and I think we should have this report ready. Potential candidates at that time can showcase their positions at election time and are given a clear mandate for the next term of government.”
Councillor Mandy Martin asked if it was in the budget, and was told that it is not. Moor clarified that the recommendation at this point is to request input from member municipalities to see if there is interest in pursuing the study.
