The Town of Essex plans to take a look at its existing ward boundaries in a review that starts next month.
The review will also take a look at whether the town's deputy mayor should be elected. Right now, councillors chose amongst themselves who will serve in the post.
At the cost of between $30- and $40,000, the town has hired Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to conduct the review.
Manager of Legislative Services Robert Auger says the town hasn't had a boundary review since amalgamation in 1999, so it's due. The consultants will also conduct population projections for the next decade.
"Whatever re-alignment of ward boundaries takes place, the Town of Essex should be pretty fit for at least the three municipal elections," he says.
The review starts in November with meetings between the consultants and administration. There will be two rounds of public consultations before the final report comes to town council in August 2017.
"If that feedback is overwhelmingly that there isn't an appetite for this, then that's something to take back to council," says Auger.
Auger says any changes the town makes to the ward boundary system should come in time for the next municipal election in November 2018.
- With files from Ricardo Veneza.