qathet Regional District directors have voted to continue its partnership agreement with Powell River Academy of Music (PRAM).
At the February 25 regional board meeting, directors voted to enter into a three-year renewable partnership agreement with the academy, and that the agreement consist of cash payments to the academy of $15,000 on even-numbered years and $3,000 during odd-numbered years. On even-numbered years, the academy sponsors and operates International Choral Kathaumixw.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he would like to move a slightly different motion. He said he was proposing the regional board enter into a four-year renewable partnership agreement with the academy and that the agreement consist of cash payments of $9,000 each year. Nobody seconded the motion.
City director George Doubt said he wanted to make a motion for the three-year agreement.
Gisborne said what was being proposed is a three-year renewable partnership agreement and it stipulated $15,000 on even-numbered years and $3,000 on odd-numbered years. He said as was discussed by the regional district’s finance committee, the regional district is trying to flatten spikes in its budget.
“Looking at the numbers, the $15,000 and $3,000 works out to $18,000 every two years, so I think if we were to give them $9,000 each year, they still get the same amount, and rather than having to worry about even-numbered years or odd-numbered years, adjusting how much we put into the fund, We could give them $9,000 each year and trust that they know how to spend the money appropriately.”
Regional board chair Patrick Brabazon said Gisborne’s proposal had died so he was looking for something new.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said the motion fits what the academy was requesting. He said the regional district could even it out and move the money into reserves so the requisition doesn’t change.
“We can do that on our side but we don’t need to give it to the academy,” said Fall.
The board carried the motion for the three-year renewable agreement.
