Without clear guidelines and a financial target, Wellesley councillors are having a hard time supporting relief efforts in other communities, no matter how deserving.
The latest request, from the Bancroft and Hastings Disaster Relief Committee, joins a number of others that have prompted the township to begin work on an official policy for such donations. The lack of information in the newest appeal also proved troubling to council.
The Town of Bancroft and the Municipality of Hastings Highland (Hastings County) experienced floods during a spring thaw in April, leading to infrastructure damage, home evacuations and the formation of the committee. Under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) the committee has set a financial goal of $87,500 for reconstruction efforts in the area by October 31 and is asking Ontario municipalities to donate what they can.
“Not that it’s out of line, but I find it interesting that we had a bit of a disaster and we never asked anybody for any help,” said Coun. Jim Olender, referring to Wellesley Township’s state of emergency following widespread power outages during April’s ice storm.
“Our costs were probably comparable to their costs – it was at least $60,000 from our end, I think. Maybe more.”
Part of what concerned councillors was a lack of information about how much should be donated.
Olender noted the proposal written by relief committee chair Dennis Purcell states that early results of the campaign “are encouraging,” but there is little information on how much has been raised so far.
Coun. Herb Neher was concerned about donating an unspecified amount to the cause.
“You don’t know how much you are supposed to donate. We could be donating $5,000 and they only need $100,000 and they could end up with a million bucks from all over the province. You don’t really know what is appropriate [to donate]. Nobody knows who is contributing or the amounts,” he said.
Major Ross Kelterborn noted that Wellesley could have applied for the same program under ODRAP during last spring’s extreme weather.
The request is one of a dozen similar appeals awaiting approval by councillors, who will revisit the issue on October 29.
