qathet Regional District (qRD) board will be considering using an alternate approval process to determine elector assent for borrowing $1.1 million for the Lund Community Centre expansion.
At the regional district’s January 11 finance committee meeting, directors considered a recommendation that the board make a fair determination that the total number of electors, that the alternate approval process applies for the Lund Community Centre loan authorization bylaw, be established at 1,063 electors, and that the board approve an elector response form to be distributed to the eligible voters. The recommendation also stipulates that the deadline for receiving the elector response forms for the alternate approval process is 4 pm on March 6.
Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox, in whose area the community centre would be situated, said it is good to confirm for everyone that the number required to defeat the attempt is 106.
Electoral Area E director and finance committee chair Andrew Fall said he thinks it’s a great process and he looks forward to receiving the responses.
According to qRD manager of administrative services Michelle Jones, a grant of up to $4,199,082 has been awarded by the Canada Infrastructure Program for the project.
“This grant is limited as the province will not exceed 73.33 per cent of the total eligible expenditures of the project up to $4,199,082,” said Jones. “Therefore, in order to proceed with the project, the regional district must fund the other 26.67 per cent for eligible expenses and an additional amount for ineligible expenses. The alternate approval process is required to obtain elector approval for the regional district to borrow up to $1.1 million to cover these costs.”
Jones said if at least 10 per cent (106) of eligible electors sign and submit a completed elector response form by March 6, the regional district board may not proceed with adopting Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 564, 2020 unless elector approval is obtained by assent voting (referendum).
“This means if the qRD would like to proceed with the borrowing after an unsuccessful alternate approval process, we must hold an assent voting (referendum) within 80 days of the March 6 deadline for submitting the alternate approval process forms,” added Jones.
If fewer than 106 forms are submitted to qRD, the regional board can proceed with the borrowing bylaw.
