Mapleton council has agreed to continue providing a reduced ice time rate for the Drayton Youth Centre’s fundraising hockey tournament in 2014 and 2015.
The township subsidized the tournaments held in 2012 and 2013 by providing ice time at the same rate charged to Drayton Minor Hockey.
Council received a letter at the Jan. 14 meeting requesting the reduced rate be extended to tournaments planned for Nov. 14 and 15, 2014 and Nov. 13 and 14, 2015.
“The centre is operated entirely by volunteers in the community and it relies completely on the generosity of the community in order to stay open,” states the letter from youth centre chair Calvin Martin. “We feel the youth centre has filled a void that is in our community, that it has met some of the needs that are present, that it has provided a safe and positive environment for youth to excel socially and even spiritually and finally, that it is currently a necessary organization in Drayton.”
While in favor of granting the request, council was split on whether they should be extending the reduced rate into 2015, which is beyond the current term of council.
Councillor Jim Curry didn’t feel that would be a problem.
“Are all contracts null and void once there’s a new council?” he asked.
Curry and councillor Neil Driscoll voted in favour of a motion to approve the reduced rate for 2014 and 2015, while councillors Mike Downey and Andy Knetsch were opposed.
Mayor Bruce Whale broke the tie by voting in favor of the motion, stating, “If the next council wants to come after us …”
