MINTO – Town council approved a commemorative bench and tree policy during the May 4 meeting.
“Town staff have received inquiries from community members about the possibility of placing commemorative benches and trees on town-owned property,” notes a report from town landscape coordinator Paul Judge.
The report notes the preferred placement locations for commemorative benches and trees include parks, cemeteries and recreation facilities.
The new policy will not apply to Heritage Park in Palmerston as the local Lions Club has placed benches and planted trees in the park in recent years and will continue operating its commemoration program until capacity there is met.
Similarly, downtown areas won’t be offered as locations through the program as “downtown revitalization committees and local businesses in each of our communities have already done great work with the placement of benches and seasonal street furniture.”
Also, the report notes, “the Clifford and District Horticultural Society have planted trees with commemorative plaques in Old Rotary Park and this location would not be an option for placement.”
Judge said bench and tree donors will be given the opportunity to provide some input on possible locations for placement.
“But the ultimate location though is up to the staff because we have a better guide for what future plans for those locations are,” he told council.
Judge said the municipality is approached occasionally with requests to place commemorative items.
“We just wanted to streamline that process for both members of the public and for ourselves so there’s a protocol to follow and things can happen in a more timely manner,” he explained.
The cost for a commemorative bench will be $1,500 and the cost to place a commemorative tree will be $600. Both fees include a plaque and tax receipts will be issued.
