Centre Wellington councillor Kirk McElwain is concerned the township is not using the Jack R. MacDonald trust fund the way it was intended.
During pre-budget discussions on Oct. 3 CAO Andy Goldie noted that council had approved $1.8 million to be spent on the Victoria Street pedestrian bridge and Elora downtown improvements. He said the township is working on the public process for that, which includes a public meeting held jointly with Wellington County regarding bridges in downtown Elora.
The bridges included in the overall review include the Badley/Metcalfe St. bridge (Wellington County), Victoria Street pedestrian bridge (Centre Wellington) and the proposed Elora Mill pedestrian bridge (Pearle Hospitality).
Goldie anticipated a report of preferred alternatives coming to council by the end of October. At that time, work would get underway for detailed design and costing.
Councillor Kirk McElwain voiced concern about the $1.8-million expenditure. He said he believed the municipality would spend $1 million (from the fund) on the Victoria Street pedestrian bridge and the $1 million previously allocated by the township would be spent on public realm improvements.
That way, only $1 million would come out of the trust fund for capital infrastructure programs, he said.
“If that is not the case, then we are not following the intent of the Jack R. MacDonald trust fund,” said McElwain, who added the fund was meant to go towards legacy projects, not to fill the township’s capital infrastructure budget.
Goldie stated that is not the resolution council has on record and he pointed out the only stipulation was that the fund be spent in Elora.
McElwain agreed but said the money is essentially being moved into the general capital budget of the township – not for projects specific to Elora – and that “is not following the requirements of the trust fund.”
He added, “I would never have voted to spend the whole trust fund on one project.”
He voiced concern that the township could end up using the remainder of the trust fund to undertake routine repairs – simply because the street was in Elora.
Mayor Kelly Linton noted the $1.5 million of additional money received from the trust fund has been put into a reserve and its use will be discussed further by council. He said there is to be a separate community process to determine the allocation of those funds.
Goldie explained the township received $3.4 million of which $1.8 million was allocated the bridge and downtown improvements.
He said there is no intent to spend the remainder of the fund on a routine road project. It will be a council decision on spending the remaining funds, he noted.
Councillor Mary Lloyd asked that the original resolution be sent to council. She said she would be concerned about switching gears at this point because information was already presented at a public information session.
“We need to consider our thoughts and actions, when we have already gone to the public on this,” said Lloyd.
Mayor Kelly Linton said a two-thirds majority would be needed to revisit the issue.
Councillor Don Fisher pointed out the meeting was an information session only, which would give staff time to come up with a resolution to review later.
“For now … park it, move on …” said Fisher.
