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Organizers of this year's Tiverton Old Boys and Girls
Reunion, set for July 31-Aug. 3, 2009, are to receive $50,000 to
run their event and will operate under the auspices of the
Municipality of Kincardine.
That is contrary to a staff report which recommended a $10,000
community grant from the municipality and that the group not be
established as a committee of council.
In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Feb. 11), Nancy
Alexander spoke on behalf of the reunion committee, stating the
group was surprised at the staff report which used population
statistics to come up with the $10,000 grant.
In his report, Steve Murray, economic development and tourism
manager, said that based on 1996 Stats Canada figures, the
former Town of Kincardine has 55% of the population, Kincardine
Township, 25%; Bruce Township, 13%; and Tiverton, 7%. Also, he
said the Bruce Township Reunion in 2006 received a grant of
$15,000 plus use of the Underwood Hall for two dinners without
charge. The Kincardine Reunion in 2008 received a grant of
$19,700 and a loan of $22,000 which has been repaid.
"Based on these numbers, the Tiverton Reunion should receive a
grant of $10,000," he said.
Murray also pointed out that due to the potential liability of
the Tiverton Reunion, the municipality many not want to
participate, given it includes a bike park skills competition
and a shirt-tail parade.
He said there are questions about use of the roadways for the
celebration, increased policing costs, provincial funding, money
already raised and spent, and contracts that have been signed.
In addition, he said, the event has to be planned within six
months which is not much time.
In response to the report, Alexander said everyone is part of
the Municipality of Kincardine so it should not be broken down
into population statistics. As for the routes, the Tiverton Fall
Fair is well-attended every year and those same routes will be
used for the reunion.
Referring to the reunion committee's report, she said that any
profits from the event will go back into the community through
Tiverton Minor Sports, Special Olympics in the area, and the
Inverhuron Bike Park.
"The main theme behind a reunion is to be able to bring people
back to the community," she said. "In doing so, this may spark
interest in the locals to relocate back to the area or plan more
frequent vacations in the future. Investing in Tiverton as a
public profile is to rejuvenate and inspire people to return to
Tiverton and the surrounding communities."
Councillor Randy Roppel said that he and councillors Kenneth
Craig and Gordon Campbell had discussed the event with the
reunion committee. "We urged them to look at Tiverton, not
Kincardine, but focus on Tiverton and that's what they've done,"
he said. "I'm an 'old boy' and I will be there. I support you."
Councillor Marsha Leggett asked why the group wants to be a
committee of council if it means giving up the shirt-tail
parade. "We plan to hold an open-air concert Sunday night
instead," said Alexander. "You think a committee of council is
the best?" asked Leggett.
"Yes, because we can take full advantage of the benefits of a
committee of council," said Alexander.
Leggett questioned the $50,000 and said the funding should be
the same as Kincardine received last year.
Alexander said the reunion committee had no opportunity to speak
to the funding models as outlined in the staff report. But she
noted that any loan that has to be repaid back to the
municipality is money that will not be going back into the
community.
"I have a problem with giving you grant money and then the
profits are given away," said councillor Guy Anderson. "That's
taxpayers' money."
"You can have Kincardine Township's 25% share," said Campbell.
"We don't have a reunion." (next column)
12/02/2009 08:51 PM
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Deputy mayor Laura Haight, who was chairperson of the
Kincardine Reunion last year, said that committee opted to become a
non-profit corporation which was a disadvantage because it had to pay a
substantial insurance premium of $14,000 for the event. It was given a
$19,000 grant and a $23,000 loan from the municipality which has been
paid back.
"We have had our final reunion meeting and there will be money going to
various organizations, to be announced in the next few weeks," she said.
"Steve (Murray) was setting out amounts for similar events (in his
report). We all know the catchment area for a reunion exceeds the
boundaries of the community. Wherever people have gone, they come back
to the area."
Alexander said there was no $10,000 reserve for Tiverton to draw on as
Kincardine had. "If there had been, then we'd be asking for only
$40,000, same as Kincardine," she said.
Craig said the municipality already subsidizes Tiverton Minor Sports and
the bike park, substantially. "I realize you need $50,000 for seed money
to pay for up-front expenses," he said, "but you should set an amount to
go to Special Olympics and seed money for the next reunion, and any
extra money should go back to the municipality."
"The money for minor sports could help support projects, such as heating
in the stands at the Tiverton Sports Centre," said Alexander, "which
would benefit everybody."
Reunion committee member Allan Ribbink said the staff report blind-sided
the whole committee. "The budget of $50,000 is what it costs for an
event like this," he said. "I would hope you have enough faith in your
volunteer committee."
Haight asked if there is a conflict with policing of the shirt-tail
parade or open air concert if the reunion group is a committee of
council. "As far as I know, if they're a committee of council, they
can't advertise a shirt-tail parade," said Leggett. "But if they are a
committee of council, we pick up the tab for policing."
"I don't mind funding the same split as what Kincardine received," said
Anderson, "as long as they have to pay back a certain amount. The rest,
they can do what they want with it."
Councillor Ron Hewitt asked if the committee is paying for use of
municipal facilities, such as the Whitney Crawford Community Centre, the
Tiverton Sports Centre, the Annex, and the Tiverton Lions Hall. "Is this
$50,000 plus the use of all those facilities?" he asked. "If so, it's
closer to $60,000 here. Normally, we don't allow use of facilities for
free; we do it through a grant."
Haight reminded the reunion group that as a committee of council, all
its expenses are run through the municipal books. "That's the downside,"
she said. "There will be a delay in payments because they have to go
through those steps. A whole accounting is required and rightly so."
"That's how it works as a committee of council," agreed Hewitt.
"The municipality has a history of paying its bills a few months in
arrears," said Leggett. "You need to make sure that your bills are paid
on time."
Chief administrative officer John deRosenroll pointed out that in
support of municipal staff, any criticism of employees must be dealt
with in closed session.
"If your paperwork is done properly, the money flows quickly," said
mayor Larry Kraemer.
"So, how does it work? Do we get the $20,000 grant and then $30,000 as a
loan through the municipality?" asked Ribbink. "You have a budget of
$50,000 and the municipality expects $30,000 to be repaid," said
Kraemer.
"You have no cash," said Craig. "The municipality pays the bills that
are submitted."
"The other benefits are you have the use of the buildings free of
charge, and the policing and insurance are all paid for," said Anderson.
"The liability insurance was a major concern," said Ribbink.
Staff will sit down with the Tiverton Reunion committee and handle the
details, said deRosenroll.
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