Tammy Carruthers of WSCS Consulting at the March 21 meeting to review the draft final report on the Ma-te-Way expansion.
In our ongoing coverage of the recent marathon meeting of Renfrew council to review the WSCS Consulting’s draft final report of the controversial Ma-te-Way expansion project, we reached out to an array of community groups for reaction.
The report broke down the numerous problems that plagued the project, including a breakdown in communications between parties, an unrealistic budget, notable overreach by certain staff, and a toxic environment that caused adversity along the way.
The report outlined that through the process, there were a number of competing interest groups working towards ensuring their own addition to Ma-te-Way was part of the process. The report also indicated the former council struggled to articulate and get complete approval for the vision of Ma-te-Way, as evidenced when the ‘conceptual design’ for a future aquatic centre, which was supported at a number of open house events, suddenly disappeared from the planning.
The Ma-te-Way Aquatic Centre Development (MACD) Project is a citizen-led incorporated non-profit looking to work with the town on bringing a pool to the Town of Renfrew.
In response to a request for comment, MACD directors provided this statement:
“Our simple belief is that our leaders should provide services that the majority want and need, and tax us to pay for them. We look to them to identify gaps in services and try to create a well-rounded community for everyone’s benefit. The Ma-te-Way expansion project failed to do this,” reads the statement.
The statement goes on to say the expanded project does not provide an aquatic facility, despite decades of surveys clearly confirming it as the want and need of a majority of people.
“The regrettable financial distress makes the prospect of such a facility more remote. While new and shiny, it is a fact that our town has now purchased yet another rink to better meet the needs of the same – 10 per cent of taxpayers who have used the original one. And there is no evidence of growth in this user group,” reads the statement. “The 90 per cent of ratepayers with other needs are now asked to pay for this, which may explain the anger and chaos at town hall. If you seek fairness, it is tough to imagine a worse outcome.”
The statement is signed by directors of the Ma-te-Way Aquatic Centre Non-Profit Corporation Leo Hall, Glen Goslin, Max Buxton, Tyson Andress and Jennifer McGrath.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)