Erin to replace "˜deteriorated"™ downtown lamp post wreaths

Erin council approved a request to replace the deteriorated downtown winter wreath fixtures on the lampposts in the village of Erin.

Chris Bailey, chair of Village of Erin BIA, came to council on March 21 seeking the funds for replacement.

“Classic Displays found that when they pulled down those wreaths that after approximately ... 17 years that it is just no longer cost effective. .. to refurbish those wreaths,” said Bailey.

In his request, Bailey said the BIA is aware the fixtures needed to be replaced at some point, but they were unaware “of the extent of the deterioration which was found upon their removal.”

Classic Displays, which installs, maintains, and stores the wreaths on the downtown lampposts, provided a quotation with a snowflake-style option at a cost of just over $11,800.

Bailey said council could either find funds to purchase the fixtures this year, pay 50 per cent now and the remainder next year, or defer the decision until next year’s budget deliberations.

He added, if council decided to defer this, there would be no lamppost decor for the 2017-18 winter season.

Director of finance Ursula D’Angelo said she was able to find funds from the streetscape improvements fund and the former Community Oriented Policing committee and suggested the remainder be included in the 2018 budget.

“We cannot ignore the fact that some small things in small communities are big things, and this is one of those things,” said councillor Matt Sammut.

Mayor Allan Alls asked if the town could fully fund the fixtures this year.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of the fixtures at $11,821 plus HST, funded from the streetscape improvement fund, Community Oriented Policing committee and surplus.

Councillor John Brennan was absent.