To strengthen municipal services, address outstanding debt and better position themselves for the future, the towns of Little Catalina and Trinity Bay North have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to share governance and municipal services. The Provincial Government will contribute $4.1 million in support of the agreement to regionalize services.

"The councils of both Little Catalina and Trinity Bay North should be commended for their work to reach an agreement and capitalize on the significant operational and financial benefits that will be realized through sharing services," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This agreement will provide opportunity to improve infrastructure for residents, and write-off financial burdens which will allow the new town entity to take advantage of new opportunities for a bright future."

Funding includes writing off debt for both towns valued at approximately $1.9 million, a commitment to invest $2 million in capital infrastructure over a five-year period to support road, water and sewer upgrades, a grant to develop a town plan, and funding to cover transitional costs to cover the transfer of assets and other associated merger expenses.

Under the agreement, a new governance structure will be introduced with a town council comprising nine members which will include the current seven members from Trinity Bay North as elected in the September 2009 election, one member from Little Catalina and one councillor to be elected at-large. An election for the ward councillor and at-large councillor has been scheduled for October 5, 2010.

"I commend the towns of Trinity Bay North and Little Catalina in recognizing the needs of their communities and agreeing to share services and addressing outstanding debt by regionalizing services," said Roger Fitzgerald, MHA for Bonavista South. "Trinity Bay North and Little Catalina already share services, such as waste disposal and water services, and will now provide the residents of both towns the benefit of improved services and infrastructure through this new partnership and Provincial Government financial contribution."

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday, July 21, by Minister Dianne Whalen; Brendan Peters, Mayor Trinity Bay North; and, Albert Johnson, Deputy Mayor Little Catalina.

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Photo 1:  Brendan Peters, Mayor Trinity Bay North, Minister Dianne Whalen and Albert Johnson, Deputy Mayor Little Catalina sign the memorandum of understanding to share governance and municipal services.