Moores says she’s ‘just getting started’ in CBS Ward One

By Mark Squibb

Shelley Moores will be running for re-election in CBS as the representative for ward one in the upcoming municipal election.
Moores was elected to her first term of council in 2021 following an unsuccessful run with the Liberal Party in a provincial election earlier that year. She said she has enjoyed her first term on council, and admits to being uncertain when she first put her name forward for municipal election following her bid at provincial politics.
“I was of two minds, wondering was this for me and was I going to enjoy it?” said Moores. “And I think it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve made. I love interacting with people in the community and having a hands-on ability to make positive changes, which I don’t necessarily think you can do at a provincial level. So, for me, I haven’t regretted that decision one day. I thoroughly enjoy it, and I feel as our current council we’ve done a lot, and I feel there’s a lot more that we can do. In four years, we contributed a lot, but I feel like I’m just getting started. There’s so much more I think we are capable of doing and so much more we can do to improve the town, I don’t want to give up just yet.”
Moores said she would like to work to bring more public transportation to CBS.
“We’ve talked about different things, and we’re trying to get the best thing for CBS,” she said.
Moores is also hopeful the next term of council will see growth in the Gateway commercial park.
“We’ve put a lot of work into our Gateway these past four years, and we’re really hoping that something soon is going to come out of that and we’re going to see some success up there,” she said. “That’s a big one for me, because I feel like one of the things we’re lacking in CBS is an industrial area to bring some more taxes to our community.”
Speaking of the Gateway, Moores said she’s proud of the Town’s decision to partner with the provincial government for the construction of a $16 million domed recreation facility, to be located within the commercial park.
“We made the announcement that we’re doing it, and so I want to make sure that is followed through, and we get the best facility that we can for our residents,” said Moores. “The plan is to have it done within the next year-and-a-half, and I want to make sure we get things done right and it’s the best that it can be.”
Moores said that approval of affordable housing developments ought to continue to be a focus of council — citing an influx of residents along with an increase in seniors looking to downsize, and that affordability remains a concern among residents.
“Our council takes pride in keeping our mil rate as low as we can, it’s been a priority for us now more than ever,” said Moores. “It’s not cheap to live. Everything is expensive. So, we have to keep costs down for residents as much as we can.”
One matter of concern specific to ward one — which runs from the Flume Line on Topsail Hill to Manuels Bridge — is the condition of the beloved gully known as the Frog Pond, which went bone dry in 2022 following water and sewer work which diverted water runoff and underground sources of water from the gully.
Water levels at the gully have varied ever since.
“We have had multiple meetings with the owner, and as everyone knows it’s private property, and so we’ve been keeping all of those conversations quiet at the request of the property owner, but I can say that we’ve done some testing over the last year at the request of the property owner and we’re now working with them to move forward, so other than that there’s not much more I can say as it is a private matter,” said Moores. “But I’m like anyone else, I want to see Frog Pond the way it used to be. It’s unfortunate that what has happened has happened.”
Moores said that within the next year council can hopefully begin the process of restoring the pond and wetland.
Moores, who also stressed the importance of ‘little victories’ such as introduction of International Women’s Day celebrations in recent years, said she believes herself to be a voice residents can count on.
“I’m not afraid to speak up, I’m willing and always wanting to listen to what people have to say and do what I can to make happen what they need to happen,” said Moores. “I find that everyone I speak to say I’m very approachable and that if they reach out to me, I manage to get things done. And we need to keep that momentum going.”