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Concerns about liability issues have Kincardine council questioning
whether the Tiverton Reunion organizers should become a committee of
council.
At the meeting Feb. 18, a motion was on the table to establish such a
committee. However, clerk Donna MacDougall had sent a memo to council
with concerns about the proposed shirt-tail parade which has already
been advertised in the reunion's brochures.
Councillor Kenneth Craig requested council discuss the issue in
committee-of-the-whole before approving the motion.
Deputy mayor Laura Haight also had questions about the finances from
fund-raising events already held, as well as souvenirs and grant
funding.
"I'm not really sure where the funds go," said councillor Randy Roppel,
chairman of the tourism committee (CHAT). "The money raised prior to
becoming a committee of council, is theirs to do with as they wish."
"How much has been raised so far?" asked councillor Ron Hewitt. "I have
no idea," said Roppel. "Not $10,000 or $20,000."
"We're not concerned about anything but the $30,000 to be paid back,"
said councillor Guy Anderson. At the previous meeting, council agreed to
set up a budget for the Tiverton Reunion, with a $20,000 grant and a
$30,000 loan for the event.
In committee-of-the-whole, later in the meeting, the clerk explained
that staff is concerned with allowing a shirt-tail parade and how it
would impact on the municipality's insurance coverage, given that it
does not cover such events. Initially, staff had recommended that the
municipality provide a community grant to the Tiverton Reunion committee
and have it operate independently of the municipality.
Citing a case in Port Carling, in which three young men died in a car
accident after leaving the Lake Joseph Golf Club, MacDougall pointed out
that employees, officers and directors of ClubLink, which owns the golf
club, were charged under the Liquor Licence Act. "This has brought to
the forefront the responsibility for ensuring compliance with this Act,"
she said. "At issue, specifically, is the liability associated with some
of the events (at the Tiverton Reunion)."
Of particular concern is the shirt-tail parade which, even though the
reunion committee has said won't be held, is listed in the brochure
provided by the group and has been posted on the municipal website.
"Even if removed from the list of events now, the information has been
publicly distributed," said MacDougall. "It was noted during the council
meeting, in open session, that a parade will probably take place,
although it would not be advertised. The municipality's insurance
coverage could come into question if full details on all events are not
provided." (next column)
24/02/2009 08:07 PM
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She added that the Kincardine Police Services board is on record
asking council not to encourage, approve or endorse a shirt-tail parade
at the Kincardine Reunion last year.
Treasurer Brenda French said if the group is a committee of council and
demonstrates care and control, it is entitled to insurance coverage
through the municipality. "We're not sure if our insured would cover an
event (such as a shirt-tail parade)," she said. "We could have separate
insurance for this event."
"Once the committee is set up, we have to look at that event and go
through the risk management for it," said chief administrative officer
John deRosenroll. "We have to identify each event and follow our
policy."
"I'm a little bewildered here," said Roppel. "We're trying to judge this
event and the people who are running it. It says shirt-tail parade but
anybody with authority has said no to that event. I know the people on
this committee. They'll go the extra mile to make sure it doesn't
happen. This discussion could have poured cold water on the whole event.
We need to sit down with the committee and find out what's going on."
"It's a rare incident (Lake Joseph Golf Club) when charges are laid,"
said Hewitt. "We have rules set up. The committee will be told what they
are and will follow them. Our clerk has pointed out the issues. Now, we
can move on and get this committee up and running."
"We want the Tiverton Reunion to succeed," said Haight. "We need to
clarify a few points and deal with the risk management of this event."
At the end of the meeting, council approved the Tiverton Reunion ad hoc
committee which will include councillors Roppel and Marsha Leggett, five
members of the public and two staff resource people. The reunion
committee will report to the corporate services committee.
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