Marathon meeting sees new future for old Picton Town Hall

It was jam packed in Council Chambers at Shire Hall for their meeting on March 12, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The old Picton Town Hall/Fire Hall has a new future ahead of it, as the hard work of volunteers has once again paid off in Prince Edward County.

Council voted 8-3 on Tuesday night at Shire Hall to accept the staff recommended proposal from the Save Picton Town Hall working group in the debate over what to do with the municipally owned property at 2 Ross Street.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton brought an updated version of the original motion first seen at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting back on February 28 forward for a vote.

The motion sees the Save Picton Town Hall: Hall for All be selected as the preferred proposal received in response to the municipality’s Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI). Staff will now work with the group to develop terms of reference and board of management no later than the second Committee of the Whole meeting in May.

The group has 18 months following the appointment of the board of management to secure the necessary capital funding required for the improvements deemed necessary to meet the objectives of the proposed operating plan.

The ongoing operation of the building by the board of management is contingent on their ability to achieve full cost recovery for operation and maintenance of the building and securing an anchor tenant.

Staff will report back every six months to council regarding the progress of the Save Picton Town Hall working group.

Mayor Steve Ferguson feels they made the right decision in the end.

There were 18 deputations in a jam packed council chambers regarding the old town hall and fire hall and numerous others spoke during the public comment period. Fifteen of those deputations spoke in favour of keeping the town hall available for the public or in support of the Save Picton Town Hall working group.

Sarah Moran spoke on behalf of the Save Picton Town Hall working group at the marathon meeting which stretched into the early morning hours. She says this group is ready to go.

Following the decision, those who remained in council chambers celebrated with applause.

Councillors Andreas Bolik, Brad Nieman and Bill Roberts were the dissenting votes.

Bolik told those around the horseshoe he ran on the platform of being fiscally responsible and 100 percent of those he spoke with were in support of selling the property.

Nieman felt the same way and stated he wants Prince Edward County to be affordable. He said the young are already moving away and seniors are downsizing their homes and moving away as they can’t afford to live here.

The municipality’s debt associated with the property was a big part of the debate.

MacNaughton disagreed stating she shares a concern for a sustainable county but she sees sustainable plans from the Save Picton Town Hall group.

Many councillors felt there hadn’t been fulsome discussion regarding the property. Residents who spoke at the meeting told those seated around the horseshoe they weren’t even giving the working group a chance.

Businessman and resident Michael Hymas also spoke at the meeting in support of his business plan. He said 30 years ago the building was renovated for its best use and now it’s time for that building to be put to its best use again.

He doesn’t see the demand for public space as dire as many were making the situation in Prince Edward County to be. He told those in attendance he called the Legion and booked 19 days there for use, no waiting or 90 days in advance required.

Hymus says the demand for staffing accommodations in Prince Edward County far outweighs the 31 percent usage of the building by community groups.

Council had originally decided at their February 28 meeting to defer any decision on the property to a later date and had asked staff to put together a Request For Proposals for the property looking into all the options available including public/private partnership that would also see public use of the building continue.

Mayor Ferguson says he believes even more so in their community because one only needs to look at volunteer groups such as Love Song and their work with Pinecrest School and the Sophiasburg Food Hub, which kept that public school open while combating food insecurity in the county.