The Sechelt Public Library Board’s request for extra funding was dealt a major blow Feb. 21 when a motion to approve a one-time grant, conditional on the other local governments in the Library memorandum of understanding agreeing, was defeated at Sechelt council.
The numbers involved have been adjusted several times since the Library Board first came forward with the request and director of finance Doug Stewart told councillors that, after separating items that qualify as capital projects, the original $284,700 could be reduced to $72,000.
The capital projects include upgrades to the public access computers, iPads and tablets for lending, and similar items. Sechelt’s portion would be $45,425.
Councillor Darnelda Siegers, the liaison to the Library Board, put forward a motion to approve Sechelt’s share, then approach the other local governments to include the balance in their 2018 budgets. “We had an email from our director of finance indicating that he’s talked to the [MOU partners], and unless we consider moving this forward at this meeting it will not make the timing of the other jurisdictions in order to have them discuss it and be able to pass funding,” she said.
Siegers said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Sechelt, the Sunshine Coast Regional District and Sechelt Indian Government District allows capital grants over-and-above regular funding, so the proposal had a good chance of being accepted.
Councillor Doug Wright was not convinced and spoke against the motion. “If you want more money you do it through the memorandum of understanding,” he said. “And if you have a memorandum of understanding you live with it. You don’t come back and say you need this, or we forgot that, and that’s what this feels like.”
The other councillors who voted against the idea said they weren’t comfortable with the fact the funding request was coming outside the normal budget process. “I can’t support this resolution tonight,” said acting mayor Alice Lutes. “I think that we have to look at the budget as a whole and not slowly pick away at it before we have the whole picture to deal with.”
Councillor Darren Inkster said, “My concern is, as I’ve been saying, with the amount of money we’re dealing with in the rest of our budget, I’m not sure if this is the way we should be managing this particular [request].”
Councillor Noel Muller, though, supported the proposal. “We’ve had many requests from the Library. I’m not likely to support some of the others, but tangible capital items like this that go toward good use in our community I can support,” he said.
Siegers said this is the first time during the term of the MOU there’s been a capital funding request and there’s a definite need. “These particular items that we’re looking at are used by people in our community who don’t have access to WiFi, who don’t have access to computers or who don’t have access to technology… I’m willing to support this because this supports the most vulnerable in our community.”
Muller, Siegers and Shanks voted in favour. Wright, Inkster and Lutes were opposed. Mayor Bruce Milne was absent and the motion was defeated on a tie.
The current funding agreement is in its final year.
“It is up for renegotiation, and we will be looking for additional funding from some of the outlying areas to support the services that they’re requesting and their residents are requesting,” Siegers said.
