By Mark Squibb/October 21, 2021
During the first public meeting of the newly minted Bay Bulls council, held October 12, councilor Jason Sullivan made it known he was not impressed with the size of the cheque the town will have to cut to cover the cost of repairs to the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre.
“The town was awarded funding back in late August, we’ve been unable to make an announcement, and still not making an official announcement, to complete upgrades to the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre,” said Town CAO Jennifer Aspell.
She explained the funding was awarded on a 50/50 cost shared basis. The town’s contribution will be $346,765, and upgrades will include roof replacement, installation of a back-up generator, (Aspell noted there is currently no emergency warming centre in town, and that the back up generator would allow the town to offer such a centre), installation of air flow vents throughput the building and heat pumps for energy efficiency, and other upgrades.
Aspell said the Town has received approval from the Community Credit Union, and now just needs to make a resolution to sign the loan agreement.
Sullivan wished to discuss the matter before a motion was made, but Aspell pointed out that under the rules of order, a motion had to be made first in order to have a discussion.
Sullivan then made a motion to discuss the item, but quickly let council know that though he would vote in favour of the motion, he was not really for it.
“We kind of got blind-sided by this, as it is our first meeting,” said Sullivan. “I just want to make it very clear that I’m not really happy about how this building is only 10 years old and we’re pumping a million dollars into it now. So, I just want to make it clear that it’s a lot of money and we don’t take it lightly.”
The loan would be amortized over a 10-year period, with a locked in rate of 3.5 per cent over the first five years. It would be renewable after five years. Payments would by $3,400 per month during the five-year term.
