Over the past few years, the town of BWG has been considering designating the historic core of the hamlet of Bond Head as a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) under the Ontario Heritage Act.
As part of the initial study phase, in 2017 the town hired heritage consultants Archaeological Research Associates (ARA) to look into the feasibility of creating an HCD, and the possible boundaries for the district.
In 2019, ARA's findings recommended designation of a Heritage Conservation District, to preserve the unique streetscape and numerous historic buildings of the hamlet. They also recommended that the town move to Phase 2 -implementation - and develop an HCD Plan, design guidelines and a designation by-law.
Just this past February, council gave staff the green light to go ahead with the HCD designation and hire a qualified consultant to complete the project, pending available funding.
The estimated cost was $55,000, councillors were told. Council voted 5-4 in favour of moving forward, and applying for a $25,000 County of Simcoe Tourism, Culture and Sport Grant to help cover the costs.
But on April 30, staff received word that due to COVID-19, the county has suspended the grant program until 2021. The county did confirm, prior to the suspension, that they were willing to give BWG fifty percent of its request ($12,500), to come from their Partnership Fund.
Staff presented council with four options at Tuesday night's meeting.
Option 1: Accept the $12,500 from the county, combined with an approval for $42,500 of town funding for a total budget of $55,000 and proceed with the hiring of the consultant.The $42,500 town share is not in the 2020 budget.
Option 2: Decline the $12,500 from the county and postpone the project, reconsidering during the 2021 budget process, and reapplying for the tourism grant once it is reinstated.
Option 3: Accept the $12,500 from the county and hire a consultant to complete a portion of the project, finding the balance of the project funding in the 2021 town budget.
Option 4: Decline the county’s $12,500 and hire a consultant for a maximum of $55,000 - again, an amount not in the 2020 budget.
Both Deputy Mayor James Leduc and Coun. Peter Ferragine were in favour of Option 3.
“Based on COVID, I would second Option 3,” said Coun. Ferragine. “At least we could take some grant, and get a consultant to work with that amount to see how far we can move forward and if we need to look at the 2021 budget and go any further with it.”
Coun. Gary Baynes agreed, but wondered why there wasn’t an Option 5: "Don't do it."
Baynes added, "Quite frankly I don’t remember we were ever going ahead."
"We had voted to go ahead with it but it was predicated with us getting some funding from the county," said Coun. Ron Orr. He suggested the town could "find the rest of the money in the budget this fall."
Baynes asked if it was possible to obtain more than the $12,500 from the county.
Town planner Ryan Windle confirmed that the municipality can re-apply for the original grant but noted that there are "no guarantees" the town would receive more funding.
“They were looking at all the applicants and going at 50 percent of all of the asks because of over-subscription," Windle said.
“I didn’t support this (designation) in the beginning, but I don’t want to turn down free money from the county,” said Deputy Mayor Leduc, urging the town to apply for addtiional grants in the future, to cover the balance.
Council voted unanimously for Option 3.
