The township will develop a community grant program in an effort to find a consistent method of dealing with requests from groups seeking a reduction in fees to rent municipal facilities.
Council received three such requests at its March 10 meeting and council deferred any decisions to gather more information.
Requests were from:
– the Norwell District Secondary School prom committee, for an unspecified discount amount;
– Gospel Echoes of Canada, to allow an hourly rental rate, rather than a full-day rental being charged for a weekend event using the PMD hall and ice surface (hourly rates are normally only available on weekdays); and
– the Drayton Kinsmen asking for their total fee for use of the PMD arena complex for their annual farm show to be capped at $2,600.
A staff report presented at the March 24 meeting suggested council consider a community grant program through which organizations could submit an application requesting a reduction in fees. The program would also be used for donations to organizations such as the local farm safety association. A line item and dollar amount would then be included in the annual budget.
“This would be used to offset any reductions or waivers of fees approved by council and would not result in further ‘loss’ at year end,” the report states.
“The reduction in fees would be covered through tax revenues in the annual budget, similar to other donations granted by council.”
“I agree with adopting a community grant program and I would like to see more information,” said councillor Lori Woodham.
In regard to the requests from the Drayton Kinsmen and Gospel Echoes, she added, “As much as I hate to see us going over every single one, I recommend we do grant both of these this time.”
“I concur with staff’s recommendation that there be a report,” said councillor Michael Martin. Regarding the Gospel Echoes request, Martin said, “It doesn’t really seem like a rate reduction we are giving there, so much as a policy adjustment.”
Martin also noted the town waived the entire rental fee for use of the PMD arena complex for the 2014 Drayton Farm Show, and he recommended council grant the 2015 request for a reduction.
Councillor Dennis Craven reminded that council funds raised by community groups go back into the community “and we certainly don’t want to do anything to discourage that from happening.”
Councillors Woodham, Martin, Craven and Marlene Ottens all voted in favour of approving the requested rate reductions for the Kinsmen and Gospel Echoes and developing a community grant program.
Mayor Neil Driscoll declared a conflict of interest on the issue based on his participation as an exhibitor at the farm show.
CAO Patty Sinnamon said the Norwell request became a non-issue as the event was switched to a Friday night, thus becoming eligible for normal weekday rates.
