Whereas......Be It Hereby Resolved

 A Motion will  be presented  at the first regular Council meeting in September. To the effect, the town retain  the services of a curator with credentials sufficient to establish a museum, organise a collection  provide advice to Council, guidance and leadership to the Aurora Historical Society and to volunteers  willing to participate in  the operation of a modern museum.

The  motion is based on thirty- years of  precedent that  the Town of Aurora  honours its heritage  will continue to promote awareness to residents, young,old and new, of the town's proud history by provision of a museum and ancillary services.

Since 1976. Aurora  invested  millions of dollars in  repairs to  restore  and maintain  the structure of  Church Street school. It  was to stand as a symbol of  the values of  the founding families who struggled and sacrificed  to create a place where families could grow and prosper..

In 2006 Aurora  Council committed $2.3 million dollars to restore the interior of the building with a  state of the art  museum design funded by  the Aurora Historical Society and adopted by Council.

A further $770 thousand  heritage grant was obtained and used for the same purpose

Restoration of  Church Street School   has been complete since two years. 

The town provides an annual  budget in excess of $340.thousand dollars to its operation. In addition to providing  maintenance services at a value of $147,thousand dollars.

The facility has a staff .  No curator. 

The town provides a grant of $50. thousand to the Aurora Historical Society, traditionally understood to fund curator services for the town's museum.

Today, no museum exists in the Church Street School. The collection is stored in boxes in the basement

Space  has been apparently been provided to the Historical Society to "catalogue" the collection.

No curator is available  to establish and organise the museum collection in its intended home.

No sign  indicates the service will  resume now or in the future, unless the town takes positive steps to make it happen.

The purpose of the motion is for the town to retain the services of a curator with  sufficient credentials to provide advice to council, with the intent of  restoring  the  museum to its rightful home.

To establish and organise the collection.

To provide guidance and leadership to the Aurora Historical Society and  other volunteers who may choose to participate in the operation of  the  community's museum.

The over-all aim and objective   is continued  awareness of town history, respect for  the work and sacrifice of the founding families who provided a concrete set of values and principles  to guide its future which we are currently enjoying.

Funds are provided in 2011 and  have been provided in previous budgets sufficient to cover the cost.

Church Street School  continues to exist because of  this community's commitment  to respect its heritage and values.

It is this Council's authority and responsibility to ensure that happens.