Council decides funding source for Baxter’s Harbour hall water, sewer project

Thanks to municipal economic development funding from the County of Kings, the Baxter’s Harbour Community Hall is closer to having sewer and water service.

The Baxter’s Harbour Community Association had applied for $42,225 for the water and sewer project through the county’s annual budget process.

Chief administrative officer Tom MacEwan said, given the nature of the request, staff recommended moving the application to the Municipal Economic Development Fund (MEDF) process to use $34,955 in remaining funds in that budget. The community association would have to secure the remaining funds from another source. MacEwan said staff “saw an imme- diate need to move forward.”

The community association wants to install a well and septic system so that porta-potties and washstands don’t have to be rented for public events anymore. MacEwan said the MEDF program funds projects that create measurable economic benefits, such as infrastructure. This project provides needed infrastructure for the community hall that would increase the facility’s capacity for use.

He said the MEDF program also funds projects that create demonstrable social benefits such as strengthening community networks. MacEwan said this project would strengthen the community and its capacity to host events in a local setting.

Coun. Pauline Raven said there are other organizations looking for MEDF funding and perhaps this project would be better suited to the Community Hall Assistance Program (CHAP). However, Warden Diana Brothers said that the maximum grant under CHAP is $5,000.

Coun. Kim MacQuarrie urged her colleagues to support the funding request, as the investment would allow for wider use of the hall, including as an emergency shelter if needed.

Coun. Jim Winsor said he was opposed to using the word “emergency” in relation to the proposed funding and that this was “deceitful.”

Coun. Pauline Raven pointed out the community association had applied to the county’s budget process, so that timeline, which would have taken longer, worked for them.

Brothers called a point of order after Coun. Patricia Bishop mentioned “back door politics.” Bishop said she was not implying that back door politics were at play in this matter but said she feels that council has to start being more transparent, allowing clearer access to funding sources for everyone.

Deputy Warden Brian Hirtle said community halls are economic generators for small communities and supporting the request is “the right thing to do.” He said the project meets requirements for MEDF support.

Coun. Bob Best said he’d support the funding for the hall but would like to see community associations work to raise money for projects in the future before approaching council.

Council approved the original motion to grant the community association the $34,955 from the MEDF budget.