A last-minute plea proved successful for the Comox Recreation Commission, as Comox council voted in favour Wednesday of funding $8,000 to the commission for youth programming, rather than $4,000 as decided at last week's committee of the whole meeting.
Norm Cardinal, member of the commission, asked council to reconsider their funding agreement, highlighting the benefits of the programs offered to youth last year.
"We appreciate the fact that you're considering giving us ($4,000), but I just wanted to revisit that so that you can reconsider the ($8,000). I don't know if the Town realizes the opportunity that's there for you.
"I just wanted to come in and explain how successful we were with this one program and we would love to move forward and do be able to do other types of activities as well," he said.
Earlier this month, commission chair Pat Lewis approached council with a grant request of $8,000 to leverage the money with gaming grants for a total of $32,000 to be used for youth programs this summer.
At the last committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Russ Arnott suggested a motion that council grant $4,000 to the commission, and allow the organization to fundraise the remaining amount.
The motion to grant the commission $8,000 was defeated on a tie as Couns. Tom Grant, MacKinnon and Mayor Paul Ives voted to fund the organization at that level. Coun. Ken Grant was not present at the meeting, but was at the council table Wednesday.
"Frankly, I don't see you going out fundraising to get $4,000, and unless it magically appears somewhere, I don't see that working out. If we give you $4,000, you're going to end up with half the programming," noted Ken Grant.
"That's right," replied Cardinal. "And our mandate was hopefully to have money for a year. And the part with fundraising, is that we would love to have the opportunity to go out and do some fundraising, but we don't have the ability with just four of us. It's just not something that we could take on at this stage."
Ken Grant then asked to amend the motion to provide the commission with the original request of $8,000, and the motion was carried with Ives, Hugh MacKinnon, Ken Grant and Tom Grant voting in favour, while Couns. Marcia Turner, Patti Fletcher and Arnott voted against the motion.
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