LOUISDALE – As the Warden of Richmond County and his colleagues attempt to navigate their way through the new COVID-19 reality, Brian Marchand is feeling the personal impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Marchand and his four fellow elected councilors made the decision to close the Richmond Municipal Building in Arichat on March 16, shortly after meeting with officials from the Port Hawkesbury office of Nova Scotia Public Health. As a result, councilors and non-elected municipal staff are now exploring teleconferencing options and other means of communication as they attempt to determine how to carry out basic municipal business, including regular council meetings, the posting of meeting minutes on the county’s municipal Web site, and the development and approval of a formal municipal budget for the 2020-21 season.

Marchand, who represents much of western Richmond County in council’s District 3 in addition to being the county warden, pledged that the municipality will regularly post its minutes on the Web site www.richmondcounty.ca. He also noted that he and his fellow councilors are currently reviewing several teleconferencing options and will hold meetings “when necessary” to ensure that the regular operation of Richmond County and its various services runs smoothly during the lockdown period.

In terms of such items as municipal taxes, landfill tipping fees and bills for water and sewer services that would often be done in person at the municipal building in Arichat, Warden Marchand confirmed that the municipality is now asking residents to make these payments electronically or by mail. In another landfill-related note, Marchand added that the collection of solid waste is continuing as usual at the municipal site in Martinique, but proper social-distancing protocols are now in place and must be maintained.

He also noted that the Richmond Arena in his home community of Louisdale is now closed to the general public, with the ice taken out in accordance with the cancellation of sporting activities.

On a personal note, Marchand described the onslaught of COVID-19 as “tough” to digest, given that he has two aging parents who are currently living in a nearby long-term care facility. The warden noted that even his own children have to remind him that he cannot safely make regular visits to see his mother and father, for fear of spreading the virus to them or any other residents of their residence.