Belleville city council is looking to work more collaboratively with the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board as it continues its focus on social housing.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk says a special council meeting was held Monday to learn about the process the school board must go through in order to rid itself of properties deemed surplus to its needs.
Management with the school board was on hand to outline the process which sees the board first offer surplus properties to municipalities and other public organizations for a 90 day period and if there are no offers it must wait for Ministry of Education approval to put the properties out on the open market.
Mayor Panciuk says the city is interested in both the Hillcrest and Quinte Secondary School properties but couldn’t make an offer during the 90 day period as council was in a “lame duck” situation with a local election looming.
The school board is now waiting for ministry approval to go ahead and put the properties on the open market.
Mayor Panciuk said the Hillcrest property might be good for an affordable housing project while the larger Quinte Secondary School property could offer space for many uses, including affordable and market value housing.
The Board of Education cannot accept less than the appraised fair market value of a property but does not have to accept the highest bid.
“The school board certainly knows we’re interested now” said the mayor after the meeting.
