HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Municipal Affairs Minister Mark Furey has appointed Allister Surette to oversee the amalgamation of Bridgetown with Annapolis County.

Surette is president and vice-chancellor of Universite Sainte-Anne, chair of the Western Regional Enterprise Network, and a former provincial cabinet minister.

Bridgetown council passed a motion to apply to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for dissolution of the town on March 31.

At the time Mayor Horace Hurlburt said dissolving the town was necessary in order to ensure its viability.

Surette will oversee the process and guide discussions for the town to become part of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis effective April 1, 2015.

Bridgetown, Springhill and Hantsport all recently voted to dissolve in order to expand their tax bases by seeking amalgamation with neighbouring municipalities.