Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
In an apparent about-face from a July 9 resolution, Loyalist Township council voted Monday to move forward with a feasibility study for an integrated administrative and recreation facility in Amherstview.
At its regular meeting two weeks ago, council voted 4-1 to support a deferral motion by Penny Porter to hold off on negotiating with consultant MJMA to complete an integrated concept and site plan at W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre at an estimated cost of $200,000 plus applicable tax. Porter argued it was premature at the time as not enough public debate had occurred, no discussions about how to pay for the project had taken place, and a $10 million grant opportunity was no longer on the table.
“It was of no harm to wait until Dec. 1,” Porter said of the move to defer a decision to the new council.
Mayor Bill Lowry said he was disappointed that motion didn’t allow for further discussion as he said he felt council should look into the needs of the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre and the municipal office staff identified in the report and attempt to give staff means to address them before it hits lame-duck status.
The township’s director of infrastructure services Dave Thompson also told councillors that motion conflicted with one from 2017 ordering the feasibility study, in effect giving “two sets of marching orders.”
Of specific concern, the recreation centre uses 25 per cent more energy than benchmark standards in the province, meaning an additional $33,796 in pool costs annually. Deteriorating plumbing infrastructure means increased water treatment costs of $16,650 annual and maintenance and repairs to the facility’s HVAC system costs $25,000 per year. With those challenges and an estimated $30,000 in staff resources spent annually, continued operation of the 45-year-old pool is costing $105,446 a year.
The municipal office, built in 1978, lacks space for a receiving area for the public, private meeting spaces for staff and the public, and a lack of work space for staff. It is estimated $500,000 to $1 million would be required to address mechanical and aesthetic issue and ensure Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act compliance.
Deputy mayor Ric Bresee moved that staff be authorized to negotiate and enter into an agreement with MJMA to start the feasibility study. Porter objected, however, on the grounds the recommendations were effectively the same as those voted upon July 9 and stated she believed a notice of reconsideration was necessary.
Lowry said he felt the motion was different and stated he thought Porter’s concern was the issue of the community hub facility, estimated at about $14 million, that the feasibility study led to. Porter challenged Lowry’s decision, but councillors voted 4-3 to uphold it, with Lowry casting the deciding vote in favour of moving forward with consideration for the study.
Bresee said moving forward with the study with a timeline to be completed in October would ensure the next council has proper information to take to the public about the concept. He added it was already accounted for in the 2018 capital budget, which includes a $475,000 expenditure toward a new municipal building and a $40,000 allocation for the recreation services portion of the budget. He indicated he agreed with the deferral July 9 because it also included provisions for a Phase 2 of the project, which was beyond the budgeted amount.
Councillor Ed Daniliunas agreed, stating public input is an important part of the project and a feasibility study and concept would offer the public something tangible it could provide input on.
Lowry said didn’t want to see the report buried because of lame-duck season given the cost estimates staff offered and the needs for council to address the problems with both facilities.
“I want to try to have a forecast on what we’re going to do in the next six months, rather than putting it in neutral and waiting for a new council to decide stuff, to me, that is apparent,” he said.
Porter countered there should be no rush to deal with the project as council is allowed to vote on items it has budgeted for. She also contended that the decision is still premature and that council still hasn’t answered the questions of whether it wants a community hub and how it will pay for the building.
“Once you spend $200,000 on a conceptual design, you’re on track to that community hub. If you decide you don’t want that community hub, $200,000 has been wasted.”
Porter also noted the eventual cost will likely come in north of that $14-million estimate. Though staff had suggested a one-per-cent tax increase to pay, she noted taxes were already raised this year with the intent of putting money aside for future infrastructure costs. She acknowledged a concept would be useful, but thought more discussion was necessary first.
“That’s a $200,000 concept. I think we’re putting the cart before the horse.”
Bresee agreed with Porter that the price tag would grow and said in any event, the build represents “likely the biggest single investment this municipality will make in the next many years.” He rationalized, however, he didn’t like hearing about energy bills the township doesn’t need to pay and crumbling facilities. He said he trusted staff found benefits and opportunities to exploring the hub model further.
To find out if the public also wants that model, Bresee said the municipality needs to show the potential for the facility and the potential downside of doing nothing and seeing its pool fall further into disrepair.
“We need a feasibility study,” he said. “Yes, taxes have gone up, they have already gone up to pay for this specifically. It’s already in the budget and compared to millions for this pool, for this hall, and for the community hub that $200,000 feasibility study is not chump change, but it’s an important step that we provide a future council the opportunity to have solid design and ideas to put to the public. Then, let that council or the public itself decide how to move forward.”
In a recorded vote, councillors supported the study. Lowry cast the deciding vote in favour, joining Bresee, Daniliunas, and James Hegadorn in favour. Porter, Duncan Ashley, and Ron Gordon were opposed.
In a subsequent motion, council also directed staff to research options to address space constraints at the Odessa municipal office until a permanent solution can be found and to prepare a report outlining costs of necessary remedial work at the recreation centre as a separate project.
In other Loyalist news…
– Council passed a bylaw naming Steven Silver as interim chief administrative officer and deputy clerk, replacing the recently retired Robert Maddocks. Silver had previously served as chief administrative officer in several municipalities, including Lanark, Frontenac, and Leeds and Grenville counties, Gananoque, and Storrington Township among others.