(Top Left to right: CAO Jeff Gushue, Councillor Wade Cleveland, Deputy Mayor Steve Berry, Councillor Derek Lesser, Councillor Gil Dares. Bottom left to right: Councillor Belle Hatfield, Mayor Pam Mood, Councillor Kelley Biashara-Lacroix)
Photo: Clifton Saulnier
Your Town Council consists of a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and five town Councillors, each elected for a four-year term. Yarmouth voters elect the Mayor and Councillors, while the Deputy Mayor is selected and appointed through a Council motion. Unlike your provincial or federal representatives, Councillors do not represent specific areas within the town.
On November 12, 2020, the current Council was sworn into office.
Members of Town Council meet for regularly scheduled Council and Committee meetings throughout the year. Our meetings are open to the public (with a few exceptions), and upcoming agendas and reports for Council meetings are published online at least 6 days prior to the meeting date. Archived minutes and reports are available on our website, including videos from livestreamed meetings.
Council members may be appointed to local or regional boards and advisory committees. They also have the opportunity to represent the town on committees for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM).
Role of the Mayor
The Mayor serves as the head of Town Council, with one vote on council and the responsibility to officially represent the council to the world. Along with providing leadership within Yarmouth, the Mayor represents the interests of the town in inter-governmental relations with the provincial and federal governments on a variety of issues affecting our town.
Role of Town Council
Your Town Council is responsible for representing the public and advancing Yarmouth's economic, social, and cultural well-being. This includes developing and evaluating our policies and programs that match our priorities, ensuring accountability and transparency, and giving voice to the issues that matter to you. We encourage you to learn more about how our Council works and join our regular meetings.