Town council waives fee for Indigenous Day

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council wrestled with the best way to tackle fees being charged to local groups for town staff time and materials associated with events.

Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk Trisha McKibbin presented council with a report on the topic after members of the Tillsonburg Historical Society approached council members about waiving fees for Indigenous Day, which was held on June 21. The fees being charged are $56 for safety cone rental and $195 for Memorial Park pavilion rental, for a total of $252.

McKibbin said the $7,500 budgeted for waiving event fees has been exhausted. Turtlefest also previously came forward with the same request, which council granted. Town staff is working to update the bylaws and rates.

“These rates cannot easily be changed without changes to this bylaw,” she said.

Coun. Kelly Spencer asked if the historical society has a budget for this, but McKibbin said she wasn’t didn’t have that information.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy pointed out the 28 events listed in the report weren’t charged for setup prior to this year.

“This is the waiving of the fees, which is different than waiving of park fees,” she said, emphasizing the two are separate.

McKibbin explained the rates and charges come from the rates and charges bylaw, and the only way to make a change is to rescind or amend the bylaw.

“There is no way for staff to make changes or adjustments,” she said. “What’s in the bylaw needs to be followed.”

The proposed change would give staff more authority to make decisions on these types of requests.

Coun. Pete Luciani asked if Indigenous Day is on the 21st, and council passes a bylaw at the next meeting, if it wouldn’t be a moot point.

McKibbin said it’s possible for council to waive the fees in that night’s meeting, but Luciani questioned further whether the whole issue wouldn’t be dealt with at the June 22 meeting.

“We need to get this right. Staff in multiple departments are working on it,” McKibbin said, adding the completed bylaw won’t be back until the August meeting.

Gilvesy reminded these charges are new to these groups, and asked if the historical society paid up front, if it would be reimbursed.

McKibbin said technically the fee isn’t waived. She pointed to Turtlefest, explaining the direction given was to pay the fees from the tax stabilization reserve.

Director of Finance/Treasurer Renato Pullia said it is possible to reimburse fees paid.

“Traditionally, the fair hasn’t paid this,” Gilvesy said. “This is one reason I brought this forward.”

She also mentioned there weren’t fees paid in the past for the Station Arts Centre’s Canada Day celebrations or the farmers’ market either.

“It’s a domino effect that impacts a number of policies,” McKibbin said.

Gilvesy requested that some direction be given for the other events at the meeting on June 22.

Coun. Chris Parker, who put forward the suggested motion, amended it for the Tillsonburg District Historical Fees to be paid through the tax rate stabilization reserve.

Spencer agreed, saying that since the town passed a motion supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Act, part of that is hosting public learning and cultural events. She said staff should consider this when working on their report.

Council passed the motion to have the fees associated with Indigenous Day paid through the reserve.