Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher, May 24, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher has questioned how the city’s grant committee is handling the grant recommendations to city council.
Tuesday night Mayor Christopher said the grants were coming before council after the event had already occurred.
He also questioned giving grants to events on school property when he said “Belleville taxpayers give $40 million to the school system each year.”
Grant committee chair councillor Mitch Panciuk said there was a difficulty coordinating meetings because of conflict with council’s closed sessions.
Councillor Jack Miller, who was chairing the meeting, said “when he had conflict with meetings he changed the meeting date,” then called the vote.
The grants were approved.
Tourism merger moving ahead
Belleville has swung its support behind the proposal to merge the Bay of Quinte Tourist Council and the Bay of Quinte Living Council but council stopped short of approving a suggested name – the Bay of Quinte Regional Council.
Councillor Paul Carr said it made him think of “upper tier government” and that’s not what this is about.
Answering questions about the financial arrangements, since Belleville is a paying partner, manager of economic development Karen Poste said that once the group is in place next January, the voting will be “weighted.”
A biking network
Belleville has been asked to consider establishing a transportation committee that would help with cycling issues.
Spokesman with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Tanya Hill told city council Tuesday night it would help the city go beyond the three-year Bicycle Implementation Plan.
Hill reminded council that June is Bike month.
She expects the Yeoman Street bike lane will be open at that time and noted the city is committed to a bike network over the next three years.
New mobility program
Belleville city council has approved plans for a new mobility transit program which will have Parkhurst Transportation undertake the operation, coordination and maintenance contract for the city-wide program.
Three tenders were received, with Parkhurst being the lowest bid, at $61.44 an hour.
The three vehicle fleet arrived this month and there will be a slow phase-in of the vehicles.
Manager of Transit Matt Coffee told council Tuesday night that taxis will also be used and Central Taxi was awarded that contract.
