Bancroft’s request for Hastings Highlands to help fund its arena will be tabled on Wednesday, May 3.
And while the mayor of the town’s northern neigbhour didn’t want to predict how the vote will go, he says he’s an advocate of the North Hastings Community Centre.
Tony Fitzgerald says he expects his council will have a healthy debate on whether to give $10,000 to Bancroft.
The town’s asking for help after it became the sole owner of the area, following the dissolving last year of a commission which drew tax dollars from four North Hastings municipalities.
Fitzgerald says that, regardless of what his council decides, a new long-term model to finance the centre is needed.
“I think in the short term, this is a stop-gap measure; just to try to help them out,” he said, of the request. “No matter how the vote goes on Wednesday, it’s not going to make or break the arena.”
“I do believe (Bancroft) has a long-term plan and they’re going to reach out to the member municipalities and try to create a new operating model. I’m looking forward to that; the arena is just too important of a facility (to lose).”
Fitzgerald says Bancroft’s request is understandable, given that many Hastings Highlands families use programs at the NHCC.