CORNWALL, P.E.I. - Minerva McCourt says there’s more work to do.
The town’s incumbent mayor announced Friday that she will seek a second term in the Nov. 5 municipal election.
Prior to her first term as mayor she served 12 years on council.
She’s actually the second candidate, so far, to declare for the mayor’s chair. McCourt will be opposed by Graham Hicken.
McCourt said she mulled whether to re-offer, but in the end, it was an easy decision.
“My nature is not to jump into things. It’s to think about it, weigh the pros and cons,’’ McCourt said. “I also know that my personality is such that in my position as mayor I dedicate a lot of time and energy to the role. It takes a lot of time, (and) I enjoy all of it.’’
Related: Graham Hicken running for mayor’s job in Cornwall
She said the best part of the past 16 years on council has been the constant learning curve, always looking at new ways that things can be done and working together to accomplish goals.
One of her big goals moving forward will be the development of the town’s main street. Work is currently ongoing on the Cornwall bypass.
“As a result of that, our town is much safer. It’s safer for our children and it’s safer for the seniors. When you look ahead you have the arterial highway but, presently, we have already started (planning) main street and what it is going to look like and after main street comes the Official Plan. How does that all fit into the growth and development of the town of Cornwall?’’
“Some of the things I would look at would be co-op housing, how it can fit into the town (and) where that would fit into the town.’’
Cornwall Mayor Minerva McCourt
McCourt would like to see the town build up commercially, especially once the bypass finishes.
Affordable housing is also on her agenda.
“Some of the things I would look at would be co-op housing, how it can fit into the town (and) where that would fit into the town.’’
Active transportation is another one of her priorities, namely developing the existing trail system.
“Many of our trails are disconnected. One goal would be to connect all the trails, and that way it’s much more worthwhile for the residents.’’
She would also like to see a provincial or federal government building in the town, her point being to offer more employment opportunities for residents who live in the town.
Some of the more recent accomplishments she mentions are the sidewalk on Ferry Road that residents were clamouring for, a new doctor at Murphy’s Pharmacy and the seniors campus complex, which provides various types of living options for seniors.
