By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

There is no better way to get a solid understanding of how things are going than having those proverbial boots on the ground.

And, that is exactly what Town of Essex’s staff and Council did during its special meeting on Monday evening, where everyone laced up a pair of sneakers and walked through Essex Centre to point out the good, the not so good, and new ideas.

Representatives of the Essex Centre BIA were also invited to tag along, and provide insights on what is working or what can be improved based on what the business community has voiced.

The special meeting, hosted annually, allows the Town’s decision-makers and senior administrative staff to see how things are working, especially after the completion of the Essex Centre Streetscape that was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting in August of 2024.

The meeting was hosted in the similar fashion as the Committee of the Whole, where Council is able to speak in a more open format. No formal directions or motions are made, however. They can be placed at a regular meeting if any are to come about.

Several topics were discussed during the meeting, with Councillors voicing concern primarily over the need for more garbage receptacles and where they should be placed. It was discovered over the winter that the trash bins and flower planters look similar, and sometimes individuals mistook the planters as trash bins.

Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais pointed out a couple of areas that would be good spots for an additional garbage receptacle. Director of Infrastructure Services, Kevin Girard, noted Town staff are looking into the best places to put more.

The cost of the trash bins was also discussed, and weighed purchasing cheaper ones against having them all match.

Mayor Sherry Bondy would also like more trash receptacles to keep the downtown cleaner. She also spoke of caring for the trees planted downtown and the need to add more mulch to their bases to help mitigate weed growth.

Girard made note of a street pole near the corner of Arthur Avenue and Talbot Street that will be relocated to inside the adjacent planter. It has been hit twice since the streetscape was completed.

As the Council liaison to the BIA, McGuire-Blais noted the local Business Improvement Area is working to enhance the vacant lot, which was once a parkette, near the corner of Talbot and Wilson Avenue. She pointed out the issue of discarded cigarette butts there.

The group also discussed the handicap parking decals, which are peeling. A new technique will be used next time to extend their lifecycle.

The need for wayfinding signage to direct people to public parking was also noted. They would also like to see municipal parking lots better signed, so visitors are aware of them. The group also discussed existing wayfinding signage and their height.

Another discussion was about the fiber cable sleeves sticking out of the ground and how some could be better tucked away.