The executive director for the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club is turning to city council for help in maintaining the non-profit organization’s programing.
Albert Aiello, executive director of the club, came before council at Tuesday night’s public budget meeting to discuss the club’s property tax status. Aiello was one of the more than five people who gave deputations during the meeting. It was a chance for residents to give input on the proposed 2013 budget.
The Since the Windsor Street facility opened, the non-profit organization has never had to pay property taxes. The status of the club and the fact that they ran it out of a former church allowed them an exception paying those taxes, he said.
The organization expanded its services when it took over the former Forest Park Public School in 2008.
Because of that purchase, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation reassessed the non-profit organization last January with the recommendation that the club didn’t qualify for the tax exemption.
Aiello said the annual tax bill of nearly $10,000 in addition to an arrears bill of about $28,000 has forced them to look at the club’s ability to provide its services. He told council the $10,000 could cover the cost to run a breakfast program.
“We do not receive core funding of any kind from any level of government,” Aiello told council during his deputation. “In our opinion, the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay meet many of the objectives in your strategic plan. We come to in order for you to find a way in assisting the Boys and Girls Club and help in resolving this unexpected change to our operating cost.”
He added that he would also like to look at ways of expanding the Boys and Girls club to other areas in the city.
Alaina King, co-chair of the Community Action Group, requested council look into ways to improve pedestrian safety near the corner of Blucher Crescent and Junot Avenue and include it into the 2013 budget.
King said Junot has become a busy road and felt concerned for the youth and elderly that lived in the area. Adding to her concern was the development of the Golf Links Road – Junot Street corridor.
She said the project will make the road even busier.
King suggested putting in a controlled crossing signal or reducing the speed back to 40 kilometres an hour from 50 and an increased police presence.
“Drivers getting more and more consumed with getting to where they want to go as quickly as possible,” she said. “It’s really unnerving to think what the area will be if (the city) four-lanes the street in the next few years.”
King said she’s seen drivers on cellphones, not concentrating on the road and some have even yelled at children.
“In the summer there’s no crossing guard and children are eager to play on the playground,” she said. “I have witnessed words from drivers to children and a few extra if the child so happens to be a First Nation child.”
Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon commented that crossing lights was about $100,000.
Not all deputations at the meeting were about asking for council’s help.
Joanne Richard had made a deputation last year about charging a user fee for organizations that are losing money and gave the example of the Centennial Botanical Conservatory. She said council asks for input from the public but doesn’t take their advice.
She accused council of putting the interests of businesses before taxpayers.
“What I’m resentful for is you give (Superior Centre for Regenerative Medicine) over $1 million when our property taxes keep going up,” she said. “That’s not fair. You’re not putting us first. You’re just saying yes, yes, yes to everything.”
