It was a 3-2 split at council whether or not to support a Zumba for Heart fundraiser at the Optimist Recreation Centre supporting the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
On Nov. 20, council reviewed a request from Nichole Caswell (dated Nov. 3) asking for Puslinch council’s support in the form of waived user fees at the ORC.
Caswell noted she was a longtime Puslinch resident and a fitness instructor at the ORC facility for over a year.
Last year the fees were covered by the recreation committee and the event generated over $800.
The fees amounted to $58 to use the gym for two hours.
Though a motion of support reached the table for discussion, opinions were split on whether tax dollars should be used to support it.
Councillor Ken Roth said he had concerns with requests coming in asking for fees to be waived for charity events.
“I don’t think it is council’s job to donate money to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I don’t think the taxpayers hired us to do that,” said Roth.
He added this is different than the case of a service club rental of township facilities – for the use of the entire community.
“If taxpayers wish to support various charities, they can do so,” said Roth.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said last year Caswell held a successful fundraiser in Aberfoyle.
Stokley considered the fundraiser as a means to showcase the ORC facility and possibly generate future rentals.
“I think people can come in to this unique building and see how it can be used,” said Stokley.
Councillor Jerry Schmidt appreciated the fundraiser was for a worthy cause, but he too had concern about the precedent it could create.
“If we continue to waive the fees time and time again for events which are in essence private events – worthy cause or not – we will be hard pressed to find a line in the sand we can draw to clearly decide which way to go,” Schmidt said.
He pointed out that earlier that night council had reviewed its user fees to set fair rates.
Councillor Susan Fielding said “history has proven we really haven’t had a lot of these requests.”
Having attended the previous event, Fielding stated most of those attending were township residents.
And, she added, some of them were new faces who normally do not attend the local zumba class.
In her view it was a Puslinch event.
Mayor Dennis Lever said council dealt with a similar request last spring, and at that time it was decided that such an event was essentially promoting a business to the larger community.
That request was denied.
Lever did not dispute the event was for a worthy cause, but stressed it was a private function.
He noted he has also done a considerable amount of volunteer work for the Heart and Stroke association.
The motion to waive the fees was lost 3-2 with Fielding and Stokley supporting the resolution, and Roth, Schmidt and Lever opposed.
