Town hall approved
Citizens give blessing to borrowing $1.8 million for Senneville project
A $1.8-million borrowing bylaw to build a new Senneville town hall has been approved following a register held last week.
While a minimum of 82 eligible voters had to sign the June 1 register in order to block the loan or force a referendum, only 33 people showed up. Mayor Jane Guest pointed out that less than five per cent of eligible voters signed the register.
“So we can conclude that citizens understand and agree that the current town hall is a former private residence that is not codecompliant and is detrimental to the health, security and well-being of municipal employees and citizens alike. We are pleased that over 95 per cent of our citizens support this project,” she stated.
The $1.8-million loan is intended to finance the construction of a new town hall, the renovation of the adjacent municipal garage, related landscaping, including the demolition of the existing building as well as interior design, purchase of equipment and furnishings. The reimbursement of this loan is not to exceed a term of 25 years and it will be charged to all property taxpayers in the municipality of 930 residents.
Town council has authorized spending up to $2.5 million for the town hall construction and municipal garage renovation project. About $760,000 is authorized to be taken from the town’s unallocated operating surplus.
After a call for tenders goes out this summer, construction of the new town hall is expected to start this fall and the facility is to be completed in May 2017.
The existing town hall building, built in the 1920s, is to be demolished and its replacement will be constructed on the same site.
Town council meetings will continue to be held at the George McLeish Community Centre, which was built about four years ago.