Counties council considers more aid

The mayors on counties council are willing to consider some extra financial support for a regional non-profit agency which helps support shut-ins and others in PrescottRussell. The question is whether or not there is any wiggle room available in the current counties budget or if the matter has to wait until talks begin for next year’s budget.

Sylvie Leclair, executive director for Prescott-Russell Community Services (PRCS), provided the United Counties of PrescottRussell (UCPR) council with a verbal summary report May 25 on the non-profit social service agency’s extensive support programs and services for residents in the region. The UCPR 2016 budget features an allocation of $30,000 extra to assist PRCS this year with an increase in its own operations budget through hiring of an extra staff member.

Leclair cited the PRCS Meals on Wheels and medical transport programs as examples of the growing demand for the agency’s various services. Both programs depend on volunteer drivers to either deliver prepared healthy meals to clients who are shut-ins or to provide a shuttle service to medical appointments for people who do not have their own vehicle, may not have family who can drive them to their appointments, and may be on a fixed income and unable to afford the cost of a taxi.

“These (services) are often for people who are in frail health,” Leclair said, adding that the medical transport service often involves taking a client to clinics or appointments with specialists in either Ottawa or Montréal. Drivers do receive a small remuneration based on mileage to help cover some of their own expense with using their vehicle.

All of the mayors on council agreed that the agency’s expense situation should get consideration during discussions later this year for the 2017 counties budget.

Mayors Gary Barton of Champlain Township and François St-Amour of The Nation Municipality suggested that counties council consider allocating a further $5,000 in the budget for PRCS.

“The service is a very good service,” said Mayor Barton, “and we use it a lot in my area.”

“I think they (PRCS) could use the $5,000 to go ahead with all their planning,” said St-Amour.

Leclair emphasized that PRCS was not asking for any further allocations in the counties current budget. Stéphane Parisien, UCPR chief administrator, also reminded the mayors that the UCPR has designated $30,000 in the 2016 budget towards assisting the agency with covering an additional operation expense with hiring of a new staffer.

“My recommendation is that we look at this (funding support) in the 2017 budget,” Parisien said, adding that PRCS has always provided detailed audited information on its operations when it does present the UCPR with a funding support request.