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Public input sought on privatization plan

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Norfolk County is keeping its options open with its controversial plan to privatize an arena and a number of community halls.

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Norfolk council this week approved a timetable for fielding public input, as well as proposals for the private management of these facilities. The outcome of this process will be shared with Norfolk council in November.

“Council would be under no obligation to approve, accept or reject any suggestion,” Shelley Darlington, Norfolk’s interim general manager of corporate services, told council Tuesday.

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The process ahead arises from council’s 2020 budget deliberations in January. As a cost-cutting measure, council agreed to invite proposals for the joint management and eventual transition of arenas and community halls to third-party operators.

Norfolk CAO Jason Burgess said nothing may come of the process. However, given the financial challenges facing the municipality, Burgess said council will want options going forward. He said it’s worth asking community groups and private-sector players for ideas on saving the county money while delivering a comparable level of service.

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The process is scheduled to begin in July with a “pre-submission meeting,” at which interested parties can share questions about facility management with county managers.

A September deadline has been set for submitting written questions. The deadline for filing proposals is the end of September. The feedback Norfolk receives will be shared with council in November.

Before approving this timetable Tuesday, council received seven letters opposed to acting at this time. All suggest there are problems with making decisions like this in the midst of a pandemic shutdown.

“It is unfair to concerned citizens to proceed in this way,” Patricia Booy-Heath said. “If they followed the medical officer of health’s (Dr. Shanker Nesathurai) advice, they have not been able to meet and organize due to COVID-19.

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“You, as council, have not met with full attendance and have not permitted (the) public into the council sessions. You have not had the community meetings. How do you expect citizen groups to organize during this time?

“Council has promised to be transparent. This method of proceeding is far from that.”

In her submission, former Ward 1 councillor Betty Chanyi took council to task for the process ahead and its objectives.

“Community money and labour built those facilities which are now in danger of closing,” Chanyi said Monday.

“This is not the vision our citizens had in mind when they donated big money and much time and labour to creating places where people could feel solidarity and a sense of community. This is yet another knife in the backs of those dedicated people and charitable organizations who build these facilities.

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“This is shameful and unacceptable behaviour on council’s part.”

The arenas in play include Talbot Gardens in Simcoe and those serving Langton, Delhi, Port Dover and Waterford.

Community halls on the table include the Lions Community Centre in Courtland, the Scout Hall in Courtland, the Langton Community Hall, the Lions Community Centre in Port Dover, the Port Rowan Community Centre, the St. Williams Community Centre, the Vittoria and District Community Centre, Vittoria Town Hall, and the Lions Community Centre in Waterford.

The Delhi Friendship Centre was on the list in this week’s council agenda. Staff removed it when they realized that the Friendship Centre also serves as the seniors centre in Delhi.

The arena at the Simcoe Recreation Centre is also excluded now that it has been earmarked as the location of Simcoe’s new seniors centre. The Kinsmen Scout Hut is also excluded now that it is the site of the new seniors centre in Port Dover.

Walsh Hall and South Walsingham Hall are also excluded. They will be the subject of a separate report to council in the near future.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

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