Municipality of the County of Annapolis/Town of Bridgetown
Request for Proposals
Governance & District Boundary Review
Background
The Town of Bridgetown has applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) for a Preliminary
Order under section 395 of the Municipal Government Act for Dissolution of Municipal Town status.
One of the studies required by the Transition Committee as part of the NSUARB process is that of governance
and district boundaries for inclusion of the Town of Bridgetown’s geographical area and its population with the
Municipality of the County of Annapolis.
It is noted in the Town’s application that dissolution would occur by March 31, 2015, assuming that this is the
result of the Board’s deliberations after its review of all the evidence in the matter.
Terms of Reference
The terms of reference of this review is attached hereto as a separate pdf document. Please note that the
timeline is not flexible. Furthermore, it is requested by the Town, Municipality and the Transition Committee
that the study be finalized by November 7, 2014.
Proponents should be aware that the NSUARB may amend the terms of reference in order to achieve its
goals. The legislated process for this review is in accordance with Municipal Government Act Rules made
under Section 12 of the Utility and Review Board Act and where applicable; adheres to Section 26(1)
through to section 28(f).
Any questions shall be directed to Mr. Kevin Matheson, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Town of
Bridgetown at [email protected]
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based upon:
A)
B)
C)
Past experience in similar assignments,
Timeline to complete the study,
Pricing. If responding on an hourly rate basis, please provide rates and estimated time for
each component. Please provide separately any costs and expenses that will be in addition
to the rates or fees quoted.
Request Submission Procedure
It is anticipated that the commencement date of September 8, 2014. To provide sufficient time for
evaluation of proposals, the closing date for proposal submission is 12:15PM Atlantic Time, September
2, 2014.
Submissions should be in pdf electronic format. Submissions must be lodged prior to the deadline date to the
attention of Mr. Kevin Matheson, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Bridgetown at
[email protected]
Terms of Reference
Municipality of the County of Annapolis/Town of Bridgetown
Governance & District Boundary Review
1. Background
The Municipality of the County of Annapolis is the second largest (by area) rural Municipality with
an estimated area of 3,177 square kilometres and a population (based on 2011 Stats Canada
Census) of 17,577. The Town of Bridgetown is a small town located in the heart of the Annapolis
Valley with an estimated area of 4 square kilometres and a population (based on 2011 Stats
Canada Census) of 949. On March 31, 2014; the Town of Bridgetown submitted an application to
the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) for dissolution of Town Status.
Representatives of the Municipality, the Town, and the Department of Municipal Affairs have
agreed that dissolution of Town Status in Bridgetown may result in Bridgetown becoming a
community within the Municipality. As a result, the Municipality will require a Governance Study
and District Boundary Review that will incorporate the Town of Bridgetown’s geographic area and
population into the Municipality's jurisdiction. It is evident that a significant decrease in population
has occurred in recent years; therefore, a population count and enumeration must be carried out
within the Town area, so that decisions can be made based on current information.
2. Study Objective
In accordance with Municipal Government Act Rules made under Section 12 of the Utility and
Review Board Act and where applicable; adhere to Section 26(1) through to section 28(f), the
objective of this study is to review the current governance structure in the Municipality of the
County of Annapolis and the Town of Bridgetown. The study will provide options identifying
the number of elected officials and polling district boundaries for the Municipality as a result of
the inclusion of the Bridgetown geographic area and its population.
3. Study Area
The study area will include all property within the municipal jurisdictions of the Municipality of the
County of Annapolis and the Town of Bridgetown.
Consultant's Duties
The Consultant must review the current governance structures in the Municipality of the County of
Annapolis and the Town of Bridgetown and present a minimum of three rated options relating to
the number of elected officials and district boundaries for the Municipality if Bridgetown becomes a
community in the Municipality as a result of the dissolution process.
The Consultant may conduct a population count in the Town of Bridgetown and in the Municipality
of the County of Annapolis in order to determine the actual current population of the Town and the
Municipality prior to dissolution.
The Consultant may conduct an enumeration within the Town of Bridgetown and the Municipality of
the County of Annapolis to determine the number of electors in the Town and the Municipality prior
to dissolution.
Terms of Reference
The Consultant must conduct public consultations within the Municipality of the County of
Annapolis and the Town of Bridgetown including, but not limited to, public consultation sessions in
each of the eleven (11) municipal districts in the Municipality and in the Town of Bridgetown,
individual interviews with each of the municipal elected officials in both the Municipality and the
Town as well as a meeting with the Councils of each municipal unit.
Page 1 of 2
Terms of Reference
Municipality of the County of Annapolis/Town of Bridgetown
Governance & District Boundary Review
The Consultant must provide a minimum of three options for the number of elected officials and
district boundaries which would meet the NSUARB equity requirements and taking the following
into consideration:
Parity between districts
Identifiable boundaries
Geographic size
Existing population
Distinct ethnic characteristics
Communities and areas of interest
Potential future growth or depopulation
The Consultant must develop a rating system based on the criteria to evaluate the options
provided and rate each option.
Meetings
The Consultant shall hold a minimum of two meetings (start-up and submission) with the Transition
Committee.
The Consultant shall hold a minimum of one meeting with each of the two Municipal Councils
(Annapolis County and Bridgetown).
Reporting and Submission
The Consultant shall report to the Transition Committee and shall submit a copy of the final study
to the following:
-
Transition Committee Chair (Allister Surette)
Municipality of the County of Annapolis (John Ferguson)
Town of Bridgetown (Kevin Matheson)
Department of Municipal Affairs (Mark Peck)
Study must be conducted between September 8, 2014 and November 7, 2014.
Page 2 of 2