Letter: Council needs to figure out HCI plan, and fast

Everyone knows that the current structure of the Healthy Community Initiative Fund is broken, council included. However, the huge pushback on the lack of direction from community groups appears to have spooked those councillors that were most vocal against the funds in general.

Rightly so, as these minor infrastructure and community organizations make a huge impact on our neighbourhoods, and need the support of the city.

The main disagreement is now the best way to remove council from the process.

To me, participatory budgeting has been the best method of deciding the most worthy projects, but a lack of city willpower and a proper plan to implement such a system is hindering that pathway.

Project Impact has led the charge in providing a model to build off of, and it was built from volunteer power.

Another proposed option, putting control of HCI funds under staff, is far from ideal, and will likely be unappealing until the hens in Tom Davies’ roost have been better organized.

The curse of mismanagement and bureaucracy remains a haunting presence, even after the departure of Doug Nadorozny. However, the least appetizing option is the status quo.

This is a symptom, and council needs to figure out, fast, the most logical course of action, or else it will quickly become their second shortcoming, following the errors and $6M in carryover cuts resulting from the zero-increase budget. They can’t afford to let mistakes pile up on what has otherwise been a very good start.

Mike Bleskie
Sudbury