The Question is Pending

A BBQ...eh.

Hot Dog ...Where is our museum.

21 May, 2011 3:52 PM

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The Historical Society own  Hillary House.

The town owns Church Street School. 

The Historical Society paid  fees for the Architects and demolition expenses to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars.

Almost 3  million  was spent from our Hydro asset fund  to create a state of the art museum. Architects  were specialists. The  museum curator, mostly paid by funds from the town, successfully applied for a grant  from Heritage Canada to be used for a museum. We  received $770Ks

We could have used it for a heating system which would have contributed zero carbon to the atmosphere. It would have been expensive at the outset but it would have  been true to all the pleadings and prayers of the previous council to  protect the earth for our  children.

We didn't take the opportunity.

In September 2011, the building will have been open two years. 

We gave  $260Ks to a volunteer board for the final quarter  of  2009.

We provided $340Ks in 2010  and  the same amount in2011. Even though the  board has budgeted for a deficit this year.

They pay no rent .They provide no maintenance. 

Cost of  maintenance is $140Ks a year. 

By my reckoning, they have received hard cash and services in kind to the value of a million dollars give or take a dollar or four to date.  

All of it from the tax levy. The town put its hands in our pockets and extracted that amount for this purpose.

Revenues at the facility are minimal.

In 2006, when the decision was made to provide funds to complete the project and get the museum collection out of  boxes and up and running for the enjoyment and enlightenment of the community, the primary function of the building  was to restore the  museum.

The secondary purpose was to allow space  for  cultural activities that would blend with  the museum operation .With a curator in charge of the museum ,town staff could have handled other rentals as they do all of our other facilities and have done efficiently in the past. 

The project was a big ticket item. The debate was full and open. No objections to the spending were noted. No arguments that the objective was not worthwhile  or  spending was profligate. 

An election was held. Church Street School... the spending.... the museum....none of that was an election issue.

Plans proceeded the project was completed.

The theory was to have an arm's length board operate the facility

Keep it out of the hands of politicians and it will not cost the taxpayers an arm and a leg to operate

Hah.

The reality is the museum has been ousted.

There is no indication  the board or staff understand the objective is to be self-sufficient.

This year ,they are receiving half a million dollar support again  from the town, free use of the facility and they have budgeted for a deficit.

No alerts have been posted to Council.  No alarm bells are ringing.

The town's budget process was completed. No changes were  made.

They still get the money every quarter in return for submitting a financial statement o the town's Chief Financial Officer.

Who has no requirement to report to Council.

I understand our Executive Leadership Team meets often at the Cultural Centre.  I believe the town makes  frequent use of the facility. I asked once but wasn't able to discover if we are paying  user fees.

Or  are town staff  simply helping  to make it appear to be functioning?

Like I said last week, I think Council has been neutered. Like the Region. 

Council is however committed to discussing the entire issue sometime in June.Along with other significant spending items.

The Historical Society still hopes for an arrangement to satisfy the original intent of the project; that

 the museum will have its rightful place in the Church Street School.

My own hope is the tap will be turned off  from  providing free space and professional fees for  art  exhibits and  "world class" piano recitals.

My hope is  common sense and accountability will be restored to our town affairs. 

I should add....I am not holding my breath. 

Harm can come to a  young girl like that.