By Mark Squibb/July 8, 2022
The Town of Witless Bay is saying ‘no’ to two funding streams that have already been approved by the funders.
Councillors rejected both pots of cash during their June 14 meeting.
First off, councillor Alex Troake motioned that council refuse the funding approved from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for Asset Management. Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard seconded the motion.
“Essentially, what this is is a funding program that allow municipalities to bring in experts who look at every asset in the community and prioritize and look at what repairs and upgrades are needed,” explained Troake. “It would be a great thing for us to have, and the amount approved is $46,560. The unfortunate part is until we got the approval, we knew nothing about it. And so, perhaps in 2023 we can apply again and budget for the $11,640 plus tax that the Town would be responsible for.”
Ralph Carey agreed with Troake’s assessment.
“Unfortunately, because of budgeting, we can’t (accept the funding),” said Carey. “It would be a great thing to take advantage of, and I guess we could try again in the future, but right now our hands are tied in terms of the budget.”
Council was unanimous in its decision to reject the money.
The next funding stream to be denied was capital works funding for a new town generator.
Troake motioned that council reject funding for the capital works project, and Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard seconded the motion.
“The Town applied, at least on information from the town planner, I believe it was, that we would be eligible under a 10 percent cost share which was approximately $10,000, but it was approved under 60/40, so, to spend, $80,000 on two generators when we had budgeted $20,000… for now we will reject it,” said Troake.
Yard asked Troake to clarify that the approval was for only one generator, not two. Troake said the funding approval specified that the approval was for one generator at the Puffin Centre.
Councillor Jacob Hayden then spoke briefly to offer a clarification of his own.
“Just to correct one little thing that Alex said, it was the town engineer that issued these applications, not the town planner,” Hayden said.
