Puslinch Township is changing its policy on Puslinch Community Centre rentals to provide an 80 per cent refund where 30 days notice of cancellation is given.
The move came after the township updated user fees and charges on Dec. 7.
Previously, the township collected a deposit amounting to 50% of the total contract fee.
The deposit was non-refundable and forfeited unless notice of cancellation wasreceived 60 days prior to the event with the balance of the rental due 15 days prior to the event.
Meanwhile, at the Optimist Recreation Centre, the renter paid the full amount of the rental fee upon finalization of the contract.
The report to councilstates the current administrative process to collect a 50% deposit with the remaining balance of the rental due 15 days prior to the event is not efficient.
A policy to return a percentage of the rental fee upon cancellation of the rental within a prescribed period of time will facilitate more effective utilization of staff resources.
Council will now remove the 50% deposit requirement and instead require full payment at the time of booking.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer said he liked the revision to the booking policy, but asked how this would affect customers who book a facility within a 30-day period – then cancel.
“They’d lose everything,” he said
Mayor Dennis Lever said the same policy would apply.
Other changes
The recreation committee also recommended the following:
– The gym rental fee be increased to $30 per hour if free ice time hours are increased; or
– The gym rental fee be increased to $27 per hour if free ice time hours are not increased; and
– that all parks and recreation rental fees be increased in accordance with the Consumer Price Index rate.
ORC recommendations
The Optimist Recrecreation Centre pad committee recommended the decrease the non-prime rate for ice from $78 per hour to $55 per hour exclusive of taxes.
