PUSLINCH – Council here has decided to double the security deposit and have a staff person on duty for facility rentals after numerous incidents of renters damaging the Puslinch Community Centre and leaving the township to absorb the clean-up and repair bill.
A report presented to council on Aug. 10 outlined trends that are “unfortunately becoming the norm in many rentals,” it states.
The report, written jointly by CAO Glenn Schwendinger, director of public works, parks and facilities Mike Fowler, director of finance Mary Hasan, and customer service supervisor Sarah Huether, explained that 70 per cent of renters are from out of the township and Puslinch’s rental rates are low compared to surrounding facilities.
It also noted a change in usage – less for community functions and more for private parties.
The report includes a long list of the kind of damage done recently and the work left for staff to clean up:
- failure to clean the washrooms and kitchen after use;
- removal of kitchen supplies and equipment;
- garbage not in garbage cans or bags;
- using unauthorized areas of the facility that are not rented, both indoors and out;
- damage to cabinet locks;
- damage to the facility, including broken projector screen and holes in walls; and
- using the emergency call number for non-emergencies.
In May, council increased the security deposit required on rentals to $750, but the report indicated that wasn’t enough to cover the actual clean-up costs.
After one particular rental, the actual staff costs for clean-up totalled $1,495, leaving the township $745 in the hole, officials say.
“This is definitely a trend. It’s not just one or two,” Schwendinger said.
Councillor John Sepulis tabled a motion to increase the security deposit to $1,500 and to allow staff discretion on whether a staff person is required to be on duty during the rental.
This would give a break to renters with a proven record of following the rules and decrease the odds of the township being left to foot the clean-up bill, he reasoned.
Councillors Sara Bailey and Matthew Bulmer were against raising the security deposit and voted against the motion, but Sepulis, Mayor James Seeley and councillor Jessica Goyda voted in favour, so the motion passed.
“The security deposit goes back if there’s no damage,” Seeley said.
“But staff can use their discretion if additional staff is necessary.”
