World's Oldest Basketball Court Makes Progress Towards Opening in St. Stephen, NB

The Municipal District of St. Stephen Council met at the Garcelon Civic Centre on February 28, 2024 for their final regular council meeting for the month of February 2024. The meeting featured a diverse range of topics, from public safety and infrastructure to community services and financial matters.

One of the meeting's highlights was a presentation by Richard Fulton, President of Canada First Basketball, Inc., on the World's Oldest Basketball Court project. Fulton provided updates on the project's fundraising efforts, community partnerships, and the potential economic and social impact it could have on St. Stephen and the broader region. 

"It is the oldest existing basketball court in the world--not in St. Stephen, but in the world," said Fulton. "And no one else in the world can say that it is a tourism destination. And we're anticipating 23,000 in excess of tourists to come to this facility. And if you just look at that, you see where the demographics are the eastern U.S. is a hotbed of basketball activity for sure. Also some cruise ship opportunities. The legacy impact: This is going to save an important historic facility within our town downtown. And what's very, very important to us is the youth activation."

Council members expressed their support for the project, recognizing its potential to boost economic development, attract tourists, and create job opportunities while focusing on youth activation and community engagement through basketball programs.

Discussions then moved on to the establishment of the Community Safety and Well-being Committee. Council members deliberated on the committee's priorities, including communication and education strategies, with plans to update their terms of reference and report back on progress. 

The Treasurer's report delved into budget comparisons, financial allocations, and the utility collection procedure, informing residents about an upcoming detailed analysis of the 2023 budget actuals compared to the 2024 budget. Concerns were raised regarding the Accounts Receivable Write Off Policy, prompting discussions on privacy protection, fairness in debt collection practices, and potential impacts on individuals' credit ratings. 

During the meeting, discussions also revolved around public safety and protective services, highlighting an emergency demolition post-fire cleanup, efforts to clean up a covered bridge, and ongoing training programs for firefighters. Infrastructure and utilities updates included activities like patching holes, clearing trees, and improving meter reading and billing procedures. Community services initiatives to address issues at the local pool, extend the outdoor pool's life, and provide recreational opportunities were also discussed.

The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss pending litigation matters and financial issues.