A service club request for a fee reduction for its annual pasta dinner is on the backburner for a few months until Puslinch council finalizes a policy for discounts to volunteer groups.
On May 3 council reviewed the request from the Rotary Club of Guelph South, which is planning its annual pasta dinner at the Puslinch Community Centre on Feb. 9.
The primary beneficiary of this event is Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre in Puslinch. The club has also supported the Parish Nurse Program and the Puslinch Pioneer.
The group noted it has donated a considerable amount of food to the Guelph Drop In Centre and last year’s discounted rental helped raise almost $7,000.
Once again the club request was a 40% discount, the same as the township has approved in the past.
Councillor Ken Roth said the township has yet to finalize a policy. Since the event is over eight months away, Roth suggested waiting until the policy is in place.
“(The new policy) could be something totally different,” Roth said.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer understood the concerns, but suggested perhaps council could consider implementing a new policy on the next booking.
Councillor Susan Fielding agreed with Roth, noting, “It is being asked for very far in advance … we might have a different policy then.”
Fielding asked if the service club could be sent a note explaining the deferral of a decision. “I understand it may affect the group’s bottom line a bit,” she said.
At the same time, she suggested there could be a whole herd of groups coming in with similar requests – and she prefers to wait.
Before accepting a motion to defer, Mayor Dennis Lever asked for an estimate on when a new policy would be looked at by councillors.
CAO Karen Landry estimated it would be a few months.
Councillors deferred the decision until a new policy is approved.
