Staff at the City of Quinte West will be putting together a report looking at a request by Hospice Quinte to have its fees associated with the expansion of the Stan Klemencic Care Centre waived.
These fees would include permit fees, development charges and any other application fees related to the project.
The decision was made following a delegation by Hospice Quinte at a council meeting on Wednesday.
Executive Director of Hospice Quinte, Petra Lepage, outlined plans for a four bed expansion of the facility to increase the total number of beds to 10.
She outlined the demand for use of the facility.
“We’ve actually served 314 residents in our facility since we’ve opened,” Lepage told council in her delegation.
“What’s really alarming to us, and again, the information changes daily, we’ve actually had over 200 people die on the wait list to get into the facility. There is such a need for it in our community.”
She says the wait list can range from 7 to 9 people at a time, and that occupancy in the centre can be anywhere from 90 to 100 percent capacity.
A diagram showing plans for the expanded facility not only shows additional beds but would also include an additional sun room, laundry facilities, more storage space as well as the potential for additional parking.
The organization is conducting a feasibility study into the expansion that would be presented to the Board of Directors at Hospice Quinte next week.
Lepage says the non-profit did reach out to the Ministry of Health for funding in the Fall of 2024 but, as of the delegation, had not heard back.
“We are still hopeful that there is some funding available from the government, that remains to be seen, but either way, I do believe the board is poised to move forward whether we secure the government funding or not, as it’s the right thing to do with the lengthy wait list that we have in the community.”
Councillors Don Kuntze and Karen Poste expressed support bringing forward a notice of motion for the next meeting that would waive the fees, but Mayor Jim Harrison said that he would like to see a report from staff on the request.
“I think there is room, but I would sooner we have staff bring us back a report,” Mayor Harrison said.
“We’re certainly behind you. Don’t think we’re not. We’ve just got to make sure we got our ducks in order. That’s all.”
Council approved the motion.
