The Town of Saint Andrews has continued its budget deliberations with some heated discussion about where money should go in the capital budget.
A capital budget is deals with the municipalities assets and investments – including major projects and infrastructure.
Two councillors sparred over repairs needed at the tennis court in town.
In part of his presentation, CAO Chris Spear showed council some additional priority projects the council could undertake this year, totalling around $2.35 million. They include the replacement of the curling club ice surface for $970,000 and repairs to the tennis court for $615,000.
Spear’s presentation indicated severe cracking on the court’s surface.
Coun. Mark Bennett took issue with the assessment of how damaged the tennis court is and the cost to repair it.
“It kind of bothers me to hear severe cracking and then go up and look at it and the idea that it’s unusable is certainly, you know, would suggest severe cracking,” he said. “I would not, in my opinion, estimate that it’s severe by any means.”
He said it likely not something the council should consider this budget process.
“That’s a heck of a lot of money for the limited amount of use that it gets,” Bennett said.
Coun. Lee Heenan then addressed council, questioning Bennett’s assessment of the damage to the court.
“Coun. Bennett, I don’t think we ever said it was unusable,” he said. “It’s used all the time. It’s used all summer. Number three, I do think we need to have someone that is qualified, unless you’re an engineer, to base on what the cracking is like.”
He continued to dispute anyone said the court was unusable.
Bennett was quick to respond to Heenan, saying “your opinion of my opinion is not appreciated.”
“You should keep it to yourself,” he said, before being shut down by Mayor Brad Henderson.
In an interview, Henderson said he felt it necessary to make a point of order.
“I think that it’s hard to really pinpoint (those) exchanges, other than councils are going to have differences of opinions and debate,” he said. “The main thing is that the basis of it is based on respect.”
He said this shines a light on the difficult decisions council has to make while balancing critical infrastructure on operations, but also community priorities.
“So, as you have these big expenditures, you have to look at your other expenditures,” Henderson said. “I know it’s a municipality, but when you look at it as a business, you know, there’s only so much money that you can have going out where it’s concerning.”
The wharf project, which has been delayed by a year, is estimated to cost the town $2.4 million.
It will raise the wharf to mitigate future sea level rise, but also fix any structural issues.
Capital budget assets
According to CAO Spear, the town has roughly $33 million in assets, with two major projects underway, including a new ladder truck for the fire department and the rehabilitation of the downtown wharf.
Council will aim to replace several fleet vehicles, including the purchase of tandem truck for $450,000. It is a custom-made dump truck, like the ones seen on major highways in the winter.
The current truck doesn’t meet the town’s needs and is nearly 11 years old, at least one year past the recommended service life.
It will also consider the purchase of a used Zamboni for about $150,000.
Lots of paving work
There are also several paving and construction projects expected to be reviewed in this budget process. An estimated $244.500 is up for a decision, including on Harriet Street, Champlain Avenue, Carleton Street and Prince of Wales Street.
“The Prince of Wales is up by the Algonquin where there’s a section that would be replaced specifically; it’s in correlation with the new spa going in there eventually,” said Spear. “There’s really old pipe there that was due to be replaced and if they’re going to be tagging into it it’d be recommended that we replace that piece.”
There is also proposed work to widen Prince of Wales Street at a cost of about $846,000.
Concerns were raised about this part of the project, given it could impact trees in the area.
Coun. Kurt Gumushel asked if there was opportunities to be creative to help preserve as many trees as possible should the widening project go ahead.
Funding woes
Henderson expressed disappointment in reduced government funding for projects in the community.
“The number of different projects that we’ve received money, at least in my experience over the last few years, has been significantly less than what we saw before for some very good reasons, like debt payment stuff,” he said during the Oct. 9 special council meeting.
He questioned whether the council should keep in the back of their minds about the possible change in government, but also the long-promised fiscal reform.
“I’m just really skeptical to make a big splash and spend money when there could be programs that are coming up,” he went on to say.
Henderson said he is unsure what the future might hold.
“I’m just saying that we get left out a lot and I just think it’s something that, when we go through this plan, we should have in the back of our mind,” he said. “Is there money coming down the pipeline that may or may not cover that again? I don’t know, but to do it all today on our own versus to have help in the future, it’s something to weigh out.”
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