Councillor asks for shuffle of Veiner Centre to be reconsidered

A Medicine Hat council member has formally asked his colleagues to reconsider rebuilding the Veiner Centre for use as a seniors’ centre.

Coun. Bill Cocks entered a notice of motion at Monday’s meeting asking that council change its mind on moving arts groups to the vacant building and halt a process to decide a new location for seniors’ programming displaced by damage during the 2013 flood.

“We’re playing musical chairs and it’s going to lead us into deep financial trouble,” said Cocks.

“There’s the cost of a new seniors’ centre for one and then there’s the (vacated) cultural centre to deal with. Where does it end? I hope we’ll find the answer on Sept. 8.”

Cocks’ motion will be deliberated at council’s next meeting — the same night council is expected to hear survey results about where a new seniors’ centre should be located.

That process has been bandied about since 2014 when and initial cost estimate on a seniors’ centre conceptual design came to more than $19 million.

Coun. Les Pearson said the issue is going around in circles and people are getting fed up with stalling and second guessing.

“Council has deliberated this and made decisions — let’s get on with the program,” said Pearson.

“Looking at all the other options and dithering isn’t getting anything done.”

Of note, is that council changed its procedures last year making a policy change within six months only possible if it is rescinded by a two-thirds majority. In actual terms that means Cocks would require at least six of nine council members to agree to change a decision approved by a 5-4 majority in July.

“My sense is that there’s been a lot of public commentary and discussion between councillors that indicates we’re on the wrong path,” said Cocks.