Lakeshore Advance, 2013-02-20, Page 3LAMBTON SHORES COUNCIL
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3
Council knew last October of resident discontent
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
The Medford Seniors and members of the fire
department came to council February I ltil with
their concerns regarding the senior's hall that
council is presently using for council chambers.
Councilor Doug Bonesteel apologized to the
group saying he had been asking for a year as to
what the history of the hall was but that no one
cause forward lvith that information. I)tii'ing the
break one of the seniors asked the Lakeshore
Advance why this councilor had not talked to
former 'lhedfor(1 inavor Carolyn Jamieson, former
co Indio'. Jett '/ayitz or any of the 'Medford sen
o get his information.
'�..(okll back, there were numerous
meetings
where Bonesteel asked that they move to the
former Thedford library and later when it was
realized the costs would he too high --he asked
renos for the current hall so it would look more
professional. Council has been suggesting a new
sound system for the hall for the past two years.
Alt hough there are microphones there, Brent
Kitttner, Director of Community Services said
that system would not work for the council's
needs,
In his delegation Garry (filen explained
volunteers spent 5253 hours constructing
the Thedford Village Complex. An additional
1:33 hours of equipment usage was donated. 'IIIc'
total estimate cost of these donations was
$112,000.'lhe complex hall was dedicated to his
father, Norman Glenn, for his contributions.
LOOKING BACK
A report came to council May 9-2012 where
Kittmer said; "During 2012 budget deliberations
council discussed the possibility of relocating the
venue for Council meetings from the Thedford
Village Complex to the former Thedford Library
located across the street. Council approved the
2012 budget with a capital allocation Of $25,000
to accomplish this project:'
"Staff has met with Councillor Doug Bonesteel
and Lurie Scott to review the proposal to create a
formal Council Chambers in the former Medford
Library location. Insight Inspection Services and
Spriet Associates have completed site inspections
and neither inspection has found any critical flaw
in the proposed location that would prevent the
municipality from using it as a location from
meetings. Spriet has provided an Opinion that
they believe the current budget of $25,000 should
be sufficient to make the necessary initial
upgrades to convert the location to a Council
Chambers:"
Kintner said it should be noted however, that
additional work would be required to the build-
ing in the future for regular capital upkeep. "Dur-
ing the onsite meeting there were several build-
ing deficiencies that were noted as in need of
repair in the next five years. Of immediate con-
cern is a further inspection of the building roof,
and it is recommended that the rear of the build-
ing be fitted with sheet steel cladding as a weather
barrier and to fill in the roll -up door that is cur-
rently in it state of disrepair:.
When it calve to the sound system, klttiner
explained the preferred system %vas reasonably
priced and staff recommends a budget of $5,000
to install the system.
"Staff further recommends that the installation
of the sound system be delayed until Council
determines its desire to relocate."
COMMUNITY CONCERNS IN OCTOBER
Then, a second report on Oct. 26, 2012 where
Kintner explained that the Community Services
and Clerk's department staff met with Mayor
kVebet, Councillor Bonesteel, and Councillor Scott
to create a scope of work for the immediate works
necessary to renovate the former library building
to formal Council chambers. The work plan was
based on the preferred floor plan selected by
Council. "Staff have collected cost estimates to
complete the work that was outlined, and the esti-
mated total cost of the project has risen to just
under $68,000." Because the renos to the library
were too much money, council deferred the Octo-
ber report to the budget discussions in December
and the capital project was deferred to 2017 budget
Lynda HIIIman-Rap.y Lakeshore Advance
Garry Glenn speaks to council regarding the Thedford Seniors
of $73,000.
"in addition, it should be noted that
work would be required to the building
in the future for regular capital upkeep.
'This work is not included in the current
project budget, and will require addi-
tional capital funds in the future. Dur-
ing the building condition review there
were several deficiencies that were
noted as in need of repair in the next
five years. Of immediate concern is a
further inspection of the building roof,
and it is recommended that the rear of
the building be fitted with sheet steel
cladding as a weather barrier and to fill
in the roll -up door that is currently in a
state of disrepair," said Kintner in his
report.
Again Kittnler said, "Please note,
staff have intentionally delayed install-
ing a sound system in the current Coun-
cil chambers to ensure that no addi-
tional costs will be incurred from
moving equipment should the decision
be to move from the current location."
said Kintner. At that time he gave coun-
cil some other options and explained at
that time they had received negative
feedback from the public about using
the hall.
PLANS CONTINUE
Due to the concerns that were raised
by the public, staff presented another
report as an opportunity to discuss the
modification of the building for a for-
mal Council Chambers, and to review
alternative locations.
Kittnler suggested in January that
council might want a short terns -long
term strategy to trove to a larger venue
for now because of the influx in gallery
members. (The fire department had
explained there is a 115 -person yield at
the complex and it often exceeded
those numbers.) In the January 10th
report Kitttner again presented options
with recommendations to communi-
cate with the public if they chose to stay
at the Medford complex.
At the January 10, 2013 Budget meet-
ing Council allocated an additional
$15,000 to the capital budget to he used
for painting the interior o the .
I}udt
Id
Village Complex, and purchasing more
permanent furniture for Council meet-
ing. "this addition of funds brought the
total budget for work at the Village
Complex to 525,000 for 201:3. 'they also
budgeted $10,000 for the Legacy 'Tho-
mas hall is for acoustic dampening to
stop the echo from happening when the
hall is used for a sit down event.
That information made it to a local
newspaper and the people of Medford
decided it was time to speak to council
in a delegation. Ile told council to stay
at the complex if they wished, "hut to
leave it the way they found it." Bones-
teel blamed "the rumour mill" for the
information they had received. Ile said
they could start having their meetings
at the Legacy Centre as soon i1S possi-
ble. Deputy mayor Elizabeth Davis -
1)agg; said if'lhonias Ilan was their des-
tination, she wanted thein to deal with
the sound system there.
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