Quispamsis town councillors decided against requesting changes to cost-sharing agreements for regional facilities for the time being.

At a regular meeting last week, councillors discussed the issue of paying operational costs for TD Station and the Trade and Convention Centre.

Coun. Kirk Miller submitted a letter to his fellow councillors prior to the meeting, pointing out this issue has been a topic of discussion for much of this council’s term, but nothing had been done.

In his letter, Miller said he wanted to discuss the possibility of making a motion to formally ask Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy and the Fundy Regional Service Commission to immediately remove TD Station and the Trade and Convention Centre from the regional facilities.

But Mayor Libby O’Hara said council does not have the authority to make such requests.

O’Hara said there is a review underway, and it would be best to allow Kennedy to see that process through before trying to make changes.

“Being the representative for the Town of Quispamsis on (the Regional Facilities Commission), I can tell you that if we start meddling and meandering down that path, we may kibosh what the minister is actually able to do,” O’Hara said.

Legislation enacted in 1998 is behind the shared costs.

The Greater Saint John Regional Facilities Commission Act set up a commission to determine how much the municipalities of Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay, and Grand Bay-Westfield would each contribute to the operation of five facilities: the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, TD Station, the Trade and Convention Centre, the Imperial Theatre, and the Saint John Arts Centre.

Miller said the two facilities he’d like to see removed don’t make sense for Quispamsis in 2025.

“They made sense back in 1999 when there wasn’t a Qplex,” he said.

In his letter, Miller said with new arenas in Quispamsis and Hampton, TD Station is “merely a large rink that has run its course.”

TD Station is the home of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Miller said if Quispamsis is mandated to continue paying for the two facilities, it could force the town to postpone some of its own projects.

Miller’s motion was defeated 4 to 3.