The Maynooth Community Centre was deemed “not a safe structure” in a report done by Q&E Engineering, now Hastings Highlands’ Operations Manager Adrian Tomansini says the next steps are in council’s hands.
“I’ve done what I’m legally bound to do as an Operations Manager,” Tomasini says. The options given to council were to fix the issues in the building, which will cost between $500,000 and $750,000, to tear it down, which could cost up to $250,000 or to sell the building. Tomasini points out that if they go with the latter option, repairs would have to be made before the building gets sold.
Tomasini was asked during last week’s meeting why these reports are being done now, as opposed to earlier. He tells My Bancroft Now that he’s required to do monthly checks on buildings used by the municipality. “As we patrol each facility we have to note different deficiencies that we can visually see,” he says. A report was first done by WSP Engineering in late 2017 after Tomasini noted the front vestibule was sagging. “The column on the outdoor vestibule there was a void between the joising and the vat,” he says.
In their report to council, Q&E Engineering said “several” structural deficiencies were found which they say makes it unsuitable for public use. They added that the nearly century-old building is nearing the end of its service life and the municipality consider a “major renovation” to ensure the building is up to code or demolish the building.
Tomansini says the building has been closed since July 2019. He explains that was while WSP and Q&E worked on their reports over the summer. “I was mandated by that report that I needed to inspect it after three months,” he adds.
Tomasini explains that while what will happen to the building is in council’s hands, he’s working on a hazardous materials report. “All hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos,” he says. When asked, he didn’t give an exact timeline on when that will be completed.
Engineer Robert Wood was found guilty in 2017 after the roof of a mall in Elliot Lake collapsed, killing two people. “I have to protect people and myself and the municipality for liability,” says on the closing of the community centre. “My part was to protect the public’s health and safety.”
During the presentation, Mayor Vic Bodnar says council will need some time to think about what they will do with the building.