Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Greater Napanee is in a ‘reasonably good’ financial position, so says Genie Huffman, a certified public accountant with Welch LLP.
Huffman’s assessment came as part of a high level overview of the town’s 2017 draft financial statements, which she presented to council during the Aug. 22 regular session of council.
According to the report, the town’s operating expenses for last year were $22.8 million, which was offset by an operating revenue of $22.9 million.
“It sounds very positive, but in the grand scheme of things, just a little bit better than break even on operation,” said Huffman.
That slight profit, included with the net capital income of $2.3 million, accounted for the town’s $2.4 million surplus.
“This positive report, when looking at budget versus actual, is due largely to operating revenues exceeding the budget by the same amount,” said Huffman.
During last year the town’s long term debt also decreased $1.4 million, down to $7.6 million by the end of December.
Huffman added the town is also well within its debt capacity.
Council voted to receive her report.
Also from council: Downtown Napanee BIA office manager Tiffany Lloyd received council’s support to look into reviving the Economic Development and Street Smarts Program.
Citing the success of a similar program that was founded some 20 years ago, Lloyd said with council’s support she’d like to approach PELA CFDC about restating a similar project.
“It was the most effective revitalization program ever done in Napanee and had an immense impact on the downtown facades,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd pointed to similar programs in other communities across the province which make funding available to businesses owners for things such as lighting improvements, art murals, improvements to living spaces above storefronts and advertising.
Council voted to support Lloyd in her efforts to revive the program, but noted that it would have to support all businesses in town, not just the ones limited to the downtown core.
-A discussion on whether or not to add a turning arrow to the traffic light at the intersection of Bridge Street and Centre Street was deferred until September. Council had requested that a traffic engineer make a presentation to council about the matter but they weren’t quite ready for the August meeting.
-Council voted to receive for information a report from the town’s CAO in regards to tendering a contract for an integrity commissioner for council. Council is required to have an integrity commissioner in place by next March, per Bill 68.
–Napanee Beaver cartoonist Tim Nimigan was recognized by council for winning the 2018 Canadian Community Newspaper Award for best cartoon in community newspapers with a circulation over 10,000.
As a nod to his work with the town’s pallet’able art program, mayor Gord Schermerhorn presented Nimigan with a miniature pallet.
“I think the reason they were so amenable to giving me an award was when I first started drawing cartoons I decided I would not do politicians or political cartoons, and I lay off you,” Nimigan joked to council.
A special ceremony was also made to members of the Napanee AFW Construction Express, who won gold on home turf during the U19 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championships.
-CP’s famous Holiday Train may make a stop in Roblin this coming Christmas season. Council voted to submit a letter on behalf of the mayor requesting the train, which is illuminated with lights and stops in communities across Canada while raising money for charity and collecting items for local food banks, make a stop in Roblin.