Puslinch councillors may take another look at the way deposits are charged to annual or ongoing rental groups.
On June 7, council reviewed a letter by Barbara Murphy regarding rental of the Puslinch Community Centre.
Murphy wrote “on behalf of the Aberfoyle Potters’ Market, a non-profit group of potters that show and sell their ceramic art and pottery once a year at the Puslinch Community Centre.”
Murphy called the centre “a perfect facility for our show.”
In booking for its third year “it came to my attention when I called to verify the dates, and I was informed that policies around payment for the facility booking had changed and that a 50% deposit would be required one week after booking the space.”
Murphy was taken aback as the township had not previously collected such deposits.
“I had to pay the fee from my own personal funds,” said Murphy. “As a senior on a fixed income, this was quite a stretch for me. We have always paid on time, have never cancelled an event and would like to proceed … in the PCC.”
She suspected hers was not the only group to experience this problem.
Murphy asked if the deposit for annual non-profit deposits could be switched from 50 to 15%. Then, with the full amount payable one month before the event the deposit could be retained to hold the next year’s booking.
“The township then has the full amount as well as a deposit,” she said.
A motion before council was to forward the letter to staff for a June 19 report to council as it reviews policies related to rentals of its recreation facilities.
Councillor Susan Fielding said she understood what the renter referred to and asked that the letter be considered within that report.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer expressed similar views.
He said when the deposit policy was initially discussed, he thought of it in terms of single-use rentals.
“I had not considered the impact on continual rentals. I think (Murphy) is making a reasonable suggestion.”
