The Culture Centre

I don't know where to start with this issue. It's a long story. It is tedious and tortuous.

Current status is maybe a good beginning.

No part of the building will be used as a museum.

Management is by a board independent of the town.

Except.... the town provides a budget of $340,000 for staffing and all maintenance for the building. heat light and cleaning. Annual budget for that is $134,000.For a total of $474.000.

Staffing does not include a curator.

The board pays no rent .

The agreement requires a financial report to Council quarterly.

The paperwork for the first quarter was submitted on April 18th , 2010.

Council hasn't seen it .

Discussions are taking place for a date to present the second quarter report in September. Maybe

The town spent $2.3 million dollars to renovate the building.

During the last term, The Historical Society had a fund-raising drive for renovations and raised $750,000.

A quarter of a million dollars short of the estimate for the renovation.

The Historical Society and the Town signed a legal agreement to protect their financial investment in the building before expending their funds.

The museum collection was stored in boxes at the Hillary House, while the building was renovated.

The Historical Society was to have control of the building and operate a museum.

The Curator of the museum retired while the collection was stored ..

The town had provided a grant of $50,000 for twenty-five years to help cover the curator's salary. The grant continued.

A new curator was appointed by the Historical Society. She was staff resource on the Arts and Culture Steering Committee

With her professional expertise, a grant of $750,000 was obtained for a heritage building and museum.

It was used to provide a new HVAC system and interior storm windows.

In the last term, on the basis of the Historical Society's commitment to operate the museum, I moved a resolution to provide sufficient funds to cover the shortfall between what they had raised and what was needed to bring the museum back where it belonged.The museum and the curator had provided a very valuable and much appreciated service to the town for twenty-five years.

The amount needed was thought to be $250,000 .

Turned out to be $2.3 million.

The Historical Society had already commissioned and paid for plans for a State of The Art Museum.

They were presented and adopted by Council.

Subsequently, Helen Mc Roberts, president of the Historical Society, appeared before Council and withdrew the Society's commitment to operate the museum.

The new curator left. The Mayor's friend, Ken Whitehurst, who was a member of the committee, was appointed to take her place as resource person to the committee of which he was a member at a rate of $60. an hour.

Helen Mc Roberts wrote a letter to the editor testifying to his eminent suitability for the job.

Ken Whitehurst is a journalist by profession.

Renovation was completed in accordance with the plans.

Previously, a business plan had been presented by a consultant . The Town would finance the operation at first; the Board would wean itself from town financing by $100,000 a year.

The Arts and Culture Steering Committee. I wasn't named.. Nor Councillor McRoberts,nor Councillor Collins Mrakas, both members of the Heritage Committee Councillor McRoberts is a life-long resident of Aurora and second generation member of the Aurora Historical Society.

Councillors Gaertner and Grainger were members.I'm not sure about Councillor Gallo.

Ken Whitehurst was also a member as noted.

Eventually a Board was created. Ken Whitehurst is a member of the Board. Helen McRoberts is also a member. Susan Morton Leonard as well.

The agreement is entitled; Purchase of Culture agreement.

Until the board was created, the building was the Heritage and Culture Centre. At some point and without explanation ,the name was changed to the Church Street Culture Centre.

Opening was delayed for months. The only activity in the building were town staff meetings and a town Christmas party . They had to play musical chairs.

Events were advertised. I kept looking for indices of revenue . None. Questions went unanswered.

Purchase of a grand piano was announced;with opportunity for keys to be purchased at
$2,000.a piece. I calculated the piano cost $25,000.

Then..... use of the piano for practice was advertised at an hourly rate.

I asked in Council, when is the museum was going to be back in it's rightful place. No answer.

I inquired elsewhere. Seems space to store the collection is provided in the basement.

Society members are allowed time and space in the building to catalogue the collection.

They will also be allowed to mount four or five or six displays annually.

The curator appointed by the Historical Society is now known as curator for Hilary House which is not a town museum. But the town is still paying a grant of $50.thousand for the salary.

The museum will not be accommodated at Church Street School. Because a museum does not provide revenue.