ERIN – Town council has approved an initiative by Mayor Allan Alls that will allow the East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) food bank to operate rent-free at its facility in Centre 2000.
The move also resolves outstanding disputes over hydro costs and rent for the adult day program room.
Council passed a motion on March 19 to charge just $1 for the space during the 2018-2022 term of council, plus four months, and authorized staff to sign a letter of agreement.
The Food Bank has most recently been obliged to pay rent of $580 per month plus HST for about 500 square feet in the municipally-owned complex.
EWCS has argued the town was only able to get an infrastructure grant to expand the Centre 2000 arena by including the food bank in the project.
EWCS contributed $42,000 towards the construction, and other community groups made contributions.
In the two years following the opening of the food bank in 2011, EWCS paid only $2 per year for the space, but after that faced substantial and increasing rent.
Alls noted the town has no mandate to provide social services, but he believes it still has an obligation to assist with vital programs.
Councillor Mike Robins asked if it would be better to charge full market rent and rebate the amount to EWCS.
“It would have transparency value, and make very clear the benefit they are getting,” he said, but there was no support for the idea.
EWCS has also had to pay $350 per month for hydro costs, even though officials say their actual usage was about one third of that.
Council has now approved a motion by Alls to suspend all hydro payments until a new meter is installed to measure actual usage by EWCS.
Alls said EWCS intends to pay its hydro bills up to April 1.
There has also been a simmering dispute over the use of Centre 2000 room for the EWCS adult day program that benefits frail seniors.
EWCS had been getting a $16,000 community grant from the town that used to cover the cost of renting the room. The rent has been going up in recent years, but the grant has not.
Council passed a motion to ensure the parks and recreation rental fee and the grant are the same amount.
Alls said there will be on-going discussions to see if the town can make more use of the room to generate income.
