Frustration over another overdue project was recently on the mind of Renfrew Town Council.
Council heard from CAO Rob Tremblay on the now completed Town Hall renovations, a project that hadn’t been undertaken since the second story was added in 1985 and that had been on the books in some shape or form since 2018.
What started off as minor renovations at the beginning became a $1.1 million task in 2021, before change orders and delays pushed that number to just under $2 million.
He highlighted a few problems with the process, which he had to jump into while it was in progress when he was hired by the Town of Renfrew, including an instance where the previous council perhaps put the cart before the horse on the project’s budget, leading to a number of problems, like mold and asbestos in the former OPP Precinct being found after the fact.
There was also a rush put on town staff to complete the job due during an election year, including promises made to a potential tenant.
Tremblay was happy to take in suggestions from the council to improve the process for major projects going forward, including one suggestion for keeping things in line and on time from Councillor Kyle Cybulski.
While Tremblay noted that the town has been able to undertake many major projects without problems in the past, he also agreed with the idea, noting that properly run working groups generally help with keeping scope in check before the project, as well as accountability afterwards.
The discussion did turn tense when the topic of the $401,217 spent on refurnishing the 36 offices and 4 meeting spaces inside Town Hall arose, a number that rose during the process as some of the previously used furniture they had hoped to hold on to began literally crumbling in some cases upon attempts at repairs.
Much of that money went to Venture Interiors, an office furniture company owned by then-lame-duck town councillor Arlene Jamieson.
Tremblay explained that neither he nor town staff had been improperly influenced by Jamieson during the process, noting that the company had been recommended to him by the County of Renfrew (who had also recently renovated) and that Jamieson had disclosed her involvement to the rest of the council ahead of the decision being made.
Despite that, Councillor Andrew Dick would point out that it’s not a great look in the wake of the Ma-Te-Way Expansion third-party review.
Reeve Peter Emon, a member of council during that time, would bristle at that remark, encouraging the councilor to “remove it.”
The renovations at Town Hall are complete, save for a few minor touch-ups, such as painting and signage, which town staff will be handling in the near future.
(written by Kasey Egan)