St. Stephen Council Meeting Highlights: Bylaw Debate, Economic Concerns, and Accessibility

The Municipal District of St. Stephen held its regular May 2025 council meeting with a full agenda, opening with a moment of silence led by Mayor Allan MacEachern in honour of the late Councillor Earle Eastman.

Early in the session, council passed a motion to suspend public comments for the meeting. Moved by Councillor Marg Harding and seconded by Councillor Emily Rodas, the motion passed with minimal opposition. The decision was explained as a way to streamline proceedings due to the volume of items on the docket.

A major focus of the meeting was the review of the municipal plan bylaw M-4. While objections specific to the bylaw were allowed, several residents raised concerns about the lack of broader public consultation on related development projects. Sue Smith, a local resident, expressed unease about a proposed affordable housing development on Boundary Street. “I would hope that there would be a public consultation, a hearing with the residents,” she said, urging the council to include the community in future planning stages.

Another resident questioned the rezoning framework in the proposed bylaw—particularly the provisions allowing multiple dwelling units per property. “This puts a lot of strain on infrastructure, and it also puts strain on the street if you don’t have ample parking,” she said, pointing to the potential impact on public services and neighbourhood logistics.

Economic development and the future of the St. Stephen Business Improvement Area (BIA) also drew attention. Heather Donahue, former BIA Executive Director, raised concerns about the lack of collaboration between the municipality and the BIA. She highlighted the organization’s role in securing over $286,000 in grants and supporting downtown beautification, festivals, and infrastructure. “Without these investments, we risk losing a lot of the momentum we've built,” she warned.

Environmental priorities came under scrutiny as well. One resident questioned the municipality’s spending on a new council chamber while a backup generator for the sewage treatment facility remained unfunded. “I feel like that is far more of a priority over a council chamber,” the resident said, citing the risk of untreated sewage entering the St. Croix River during outages.

Municipal staff also delivered updates on ongoing initiatives. Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Renaud discussed land management and support for entrepreneurs. “We’re now in active discussions about expanding their programme into our region,” Renaud said, referencing a development initiative aimed at boosting local business creation.

The meeting closed with a unanimous motion to declare May 25–31 as Disability Awareness Week. Mayor MacEachern emphasized the significance of the proclamation. “We support the theme, championing Accessibility, Celebrating Diversity,” he said, encouraging residents to recognize the experiences and contributions of people living with disabilities.