Councillors here plan to review the town’s donation policy, after several requests for contributions generated discussion at the Dec. 15 meeting.
Two requests, one for $200 to help purchase a uniform for a Minto special Olympian and one for $300 from the Wellington Farm and Home Safety Association, resulted in ties when councillors’ votes were counted.
Mayor George Bridge cast the deciding votes, in favor of the former and against the latter.
A request from the Harriston-Minto Agricultural Society for $500, plus a $50 donation for the society’s Ambassador of the Fair competition was approved unanimously.
Bridge said the close votes and discussion at the meeting were indicators council needs to look at the process for approving donations.
“There is a policy in place, now, but I think a number of the councilors want to have a look at that process,” said Bridge in an interview, adding he wants to see what council members’ “thought process,” is on the donations policy.
“The one we turned down, I think we’d just like to have a few more facts on it. It was a little vague,” said Bridge, noting that council wants to see direct local connections before approving donations.
Council’s current policy involves consideration of donation requests as part of the municipality’s budget process.
