Township council has agreed to reimburse the Moorefield Optimist Club $3,644 for work done by club members on the Optimist Hall in Moorefield.
On Sept. 22 council approved a motion by councillor Michael Martin to pay the funds to cover the cost of a peak roof addition. The township will also pay the cost of a building permit.
In March, council declined to pay for the work on the municipally-owned building because it was done without a building permit or prior township approval.
The work has since undergone a full inspection and a permit has been issued by chief building official Patty Wright.
“I did speak with a member of the building committee from the Optimists and they were very happy with the interaction they had with the township CBO and are fully prepared to adopt the township’s policy,” said Martin. “Hopefully it’s resolved now.”
Councillor Marlene Ottens asked if the funds for the roof work would come out of $5,000 budgeted for hall maintenance “or is this over and above that?”
“In my mind it comes out of the $5,000,” said Mayor Neil Driscoll.
Public works director and acting CAO Brad McRoberts noted, “because its a township-owned building, the township should procure the services for anything they want done and that should prevent us from ever being in this situation again.”
Martin asked if that would mean going to a request for proposal process in every instance, or if members could volunteer do to the work “as long as permits are done.”
“If members are prepared to volunteer their time and donate the materials we’re prepared to work with them,” McRoberts explained. “If they’re going to hire one of their own to do the work that’s not possible because of our procurement policy.”
The peak roof was installed on the building to eliminate ice build-up along the sidewalks and in front of building doors, which was creating a potential slip and fall hazard.
