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Council votes to proceed with new administration centre

June 17, 2021   ·   0 Comments

Town Council voted to award a tender to Matheson Constructors Limited for construction and renovation works to deliver the new Town Hall at 25 Albert Street in Alliston.

Lawmakers made the decision during the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday, June 14.

Five construction companies had submitted tenders to work on the project.

The project will include renovation, addition, and site development to transition the existing school building into a new Town Hall space.

Prior to the vote, 16 local residents spoke at the meeting.

Thirteen of those residents voiced opposition to the plan while three spoke in favour of going ahead with the project.

The motion passed with six in favour, and four against.

Council members who voted in favour include Mayor Rick Milne, and Councillors Donna Jebb, Fran Sainsbury, Wayne Noye, Michael Beattie, and Shira Harrison McIntyre.

Those voting against the motion included Deputy Mayor Richard Norcross, and Councillors Stephanie MacLellan, Paul Foster, and Alan Lacey.

Prior to the vote, Council members spoke of their decision.

Deputy Mayor Norcross said “something does have to be done, but I actually believe the timing is wrong,” adding “I do not believe this an appropriate time to make an expenditure of this financial magnitude until we fully understand what the economic out-fall would be as we start to recover from COVID-19.”

Explaining her reason to vote “no,” councillor MacLellan said, “From the onset of this project, in my opinion, public involvement has been avoided.”

“Does it make sense that we’re almost tripling the size of our admin building?” she asked.

On the “yes” side, Councillor Wayne Noye, said, “It has been a very long process and it is a positive venture that a majority of our residents will enjoy for years to come.”

Councillor Beattie cited pragmatic reasons for the new building and quoted from a previous report from staff who work in the current building saying the building “space is outdated, disorganized, current location lacks space, direction and ease of access. Division of staff within departments creates communication break-downs and difficulties for effective interaction.”

“These were the comments and concerns from staff nine years ago,” he said.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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