HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS-02-93THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend forthwith the following:
1. THAT Report No. CS -02 -93 be received; and
2. THAT Council be advised that Fleurette Simmonds of the
Brownsdale Community Centre has withdrawn the Board's request
for financial assistance.
1.0 BACKGROUND:
1.1 At a meeting held January 25, 1993, Council received and
considered the correspondence submitted by Fleurette Simmonds
on behalf of the Brownsdale Community Centre Board. The Board
requested Council's assistance to resolve an outstanding
hydro - electric invoice assessed by Ontario Hydro. As a
result, Council passed the following resolution:
"THAT the correspondence dated January 8, 1993 from Fleurette
Simmonds, Brownsdale Community Centre, requesting an advance
on the Centre's 1993 grant allowance be received;
THAT the correspondence be referred to the Director of
Community Services to liaise with Brownsdale Community Centre
and prepare a report to be submitted to the General Purpose
and Administration Committee; and
THAT Fleurette Simmonds be advised of Council's decision."
1.2 The Community Services Department has been in contact with
Fleurette Simmonds, of the Brownsdale Community Centre Board,
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REPORT NO. CS-02 -93 - 2 - MARCH 1, 1993
and Mrs. Hardy, of Ontario Hydro, to gather pertinent
information relative to the issue of the outstanding hydro
invoice.
2.0 CURRENT STATUS:
2.1 The Brownsdale Community Centre, located just east of the
Village of Newcastle, has operated as a community recreation
centre since March 6, 1974. The hall is used to accommodate
a variety of social and recreation activities with the
majority of bookings being for family get - togethers such as
bridal showers and receptions. The Board operates the hall
using the revenue generated through bookings (approximately 30
per annum with April to July being the peak period) , there
weekly Bingo and the sale of Nevada tickets.
2.2 The Centre is on the equal billing program with Ontario Hydro.
In May or June of 1992, Hydro undertook a "reconciliation
process" which compares the client's estimated use with their
actual use. Through this process the Brownsdale Community
Centre was assessed an under payment in the neighbourhood of
$1,700.00 which appeared on their subsequent bill. The
Centre, through Mrs. Simmonds, questioned this re- assessment
but continued to make payments on both their monthly invoice
($212.00 per month) plus the stated underpayment balance.
After approximately 6 months of doing this, the Board was
unable to make any headway in zeroing the balance and, for
this reason, the Board felt compelled to come to Council and
request their assistance to resolve this outstanding debt.
2.3 In order to provide Council with a clear picture of the
process that led up to this situation, staff contacted Ontario
Hydro to request clarification of the "reconciliation"
process. Contact was made with Mrs. Hardy who indicated that
the Brownsdale Community Centre's account was being reviewed
and that some anomalies in the billing had been identified.
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REPORT NO. CS -02 -93 - 3 - MARCH 1, 1993
2.4 On Friday, February 12, 1993 Mrs. Fleurette Simmonds contacted
the staff to advise that Mrs. Hardy had called her and had
informed her that an error had been made in the Centre's
account. Mrs. Hardy indicated that the outstanding balance
was actually $134.41 and not $688.44 as originally reported.
Also, the Centre's monthly bill of $212.00 has been reviewed
and revised to be approximately $100.00 per month. Mrs.
Simmonds indicated that she was withdrawing her request for an
advance on the Centre's 1993 Municipal Grant allocation as the
Board has the funds available to pay the outstanding hydro
invoice in full.
3.0 CONCLUSIONS:
3.1 Mrs. Simmonds has submitted a letter (Attachment No. 1) to
Council officially withdrawing the Board's request for
financial assistance. No further action is required at this
time.
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
to the Committee,
/f
Joseh P. aruana, Director Lawrence E. K' seff,
Department of Community Services Chief Admini4t ative Officer
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ATLACRVEIT Iii. 1
TC REPORT NO. CS -02 -93
February 17,1993
Brownsdale Community Centre,
R.R.# 8
Newcastle, On
L1B 1L9
The Mayor, Ms.Diane Hamre & Councillors,
Town of Newcastle,
40 Temperance Street,
Bowmanville.
Your Worship and Hon. Members of Council,
On behalf of Brownsdale Community Centre, I would like to thank
you for considering our request, for an advance on our 1993 grant.
Happily we do not require the advance at this time.
With the intervention of Ms.Jennifer Cooke from the Community Services
Department; Ontario Hydro did another scrutiny of the Brownsdale
account and found a mistake had been made. So, presently we owe
them $134.91, which we can pay.
Thanking you for your consideration, once more,
I remain,
Yours Truly,
Fleurette Simmonds
Sect'y /Treasurer
Brownsdale Community Centre.
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