Prince Edward County’s Committee of the Whole has recommended council put Wellington Town Hall up for sale rather than go through a process to transition ownership to a local foundation to turn the building into a community hub.
During the meeting Thursday, Christina Zeidler and Sarah Bobas of the Wellington Town Hall Foundation gave a deputation proposing a transfer of ownership of the town hall to the foundation for the purpose of maintaining the building’s heritage and long-term capital needs, while also being a community hub that delivers inclusive programming, partnerships, and events.
Currently, the municipality bears the operational and capital costs of maintaining the building.
The proposed transfer would relieve the municipality of future financial responsibilities related to this property.
The proposal would include a 12-to-24-month transition period with the county, after which the foundation would take ownership for a nominal fee and oversee renovations for accessibility and compliance.
Later in the meeting, council discussed the motion with many giving thoughts about a way forward with the building.
Some expressed the idea of potentially putting the property on the market to see what value can be brought in.
Among those expressing idea was Councillor Chris Braney.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in what’s been proposed and brought forward, but I feel my responsibility is to follow through with what we can potentially get for this building and what value. I think we have to start thinking that way,” Braney told council.
Others said the proposal from the foundation brought great value from a community standpoint.
Councillor Kate McNaughton voted in favour of the MOU.
“I think the savings of not having to carry this building in the future is such a great benefit, but still be able to have that power of a community space that can generate the type of energy that Baxter (Arts Centre) does, or more.”
An amendment to the motion saw that transition period change to 12 months.
In a recorded vote, the vote was tied, leading to the motion being defeated.
Councillors Janice Maynard, Sam Grosso, Kate McNaughton, John Hirsch, Corey Engelsdorfer, and Mayor Steve Ferguson voted in favour.
Opposition votes came from councillors Phil Prinzen, Phil St. Jean, David Harrison, Brad Nieman, Roy Pennell, and Chris Braney.
After the motion was defeated, a motion was brought forward to declare the Wellington Town Hall property a surplus and put it on sale for the open market.
That motion was carried.
Voting in favour were councillors Roy Pennell, Sam Grosso, Brad Nieman, Phil Prinzen, Phil St. Jean, David Harrison, and Chris Braney.
Going against the motion were councillors Janice Maynard, John Hirsch, Kate McNaughton, Corey Engelsdorfer, and Mayor Steve Ferguson.
