Amendments to Centre Wellington’s grant application process means more money for some groups – but not all.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj stressed that these were preliminary figures only. “We haven’t gone into budget discussions as of yet.”
Prior to discussion, councillor Mary Lloyd declared a conflict of interest “due to working with potential applicants for such grants.” As a result, Lloyd did not take part in the discussion.
The recommendation before council was that it approve the amendments to the grant application policy. That change would approve a preliminary 2011 grant budget allocation of $53,500 including the following:
– $23,500 for specific annual grants;
– $20,000 for performing/visual arts;
– $5,000 for special events; and
– $5,000 for social/environmental organizations.
The report to council noted that as part of the annual budget process, the grant application policy is reviewed and amended based on the decisions and recommendations of the prior year’s budget deliberations.
Financial manager/deputy treasurer Mark Bradley’s report stated “in preparation for the 2009 budget, council directed staff to investigate alternative processes for allocating township grants. As such, a committee was formed and a new grant policy was developed and approved by council. No changes to the policy were recommended during the 2010 budget deliberations.”
As such, the following are the only revisions to the policy:
– Elora Lions Club (Santa Claus Parade), an increase of $100, from $1,500 in 2010 to $1,600 in 2011;
– Centre Wellington Food Bank, an increase of $1,500 (from $3,500 to $5,000);
– Royal Canadian Legion wreath, increase of $50 (from $400 to $450); and
– CWCC Awards of Excellence, increase of $75 (from $2,550 to $2,625).
Bradley’s report added grants allocated through the 2010 budget process amounted to $52,000.
“It is proposed that the 2011 draft budget include a $1,500 increase (2.9%) in total grants issued by the township.”
However as the matter came before council, councillor Kirk McElwain said that last year applications for grants to both BIAs were denied.
“They were denied even though they were outside the normal BIA work. They were denied because they already both get funding indirectly through work done by public works and parks,” said McElwain.
He added at that time there was discussion it might be reconsidered for this year. He said “it didn’t seem to be applicable to all groups and organizations, just the BIAs.”
Bradley said there was never any further discussion on that at the committee regarding the policy.
“It would be up to whomever reviews the policies this year as to how to interpret the policy as it is. The tricky part this year, is that the committee won’t be struck in time.”
To those new to council, Bradley said he normally collects the grant applications and sends them to the committee, where each one is reviewed individually and recommendations are made and summarized for the budget committee to review.
McElwain said there may not be applications from the BIA; he was more curious about the state of the policy.
“It has not been addressed at this point,” Bradley said.
Ross-Zuj then asked councillor Fred Morris if a committee was struck from the last set of meetings to deal with that question. “We were going to discuss this further,” she said.
Morris did not recall such a committee being formed.
Councillor Walt Visser asked for clarification as well.
“If the BIAs come forward with a project, could they apply for funding?” Visser asked.
“They could,” Bradley said.
However, he said based on the policy, much of it depends on whoever is doing the review.
“I don’t think there is anything in the policy that states BIAs are specifically excluded,” Bradley said.
“But BIAs don’t get any money directly from the township,” Visser responded.
“No, we’re sort of a middleman, collecting the levies and passing them on to them,” McElwain said, adding there is nothing stopping the BIAs from applying.
Morris asked about the math involved, when the report states there is a $1,500 overall increase, “but when I go through the specifics, it is higher.”
Bradley said the township had an emergency/disaster fund, which is where residual funding went in prior years.
Essentially, he said that category is being reduced to offset these increases. He noted the emergency/disaster funding is something which is very rarely used.
Visser asked if there were still options to discuss this in the budget process.
“Of course, absolutely” said Ross-Zuj. “This is still just the preliminary.”
