Disputed ward funds still frozen, report due April 28

At a public input session March 24, groups that have benefited from HCI made pitches to council to maintain the funds in some form, even if spending control was returned to staff.

A report was to go to council April 14 on the results of the session, and Kirwan was wondering where it was.

"We were told there would be a report provided to council at this city council meeting,” Kirwan said. “What I'm asking is what is the status of the 2015 HCI fund?”

Since councillors froze the funds until the outcome of the public input session, Kirwan wondered about the status of 2015 HCI without a report from staff.

"No outcome is the same as an outcome,” he said. “And since there was no outcome of that public input session at this point, does that mean the existing 2015 HCI funds are under the authority of the current bylaw, until there is an outcome? Or until there is a motion to change the bylaw? Otherwise, those funds could be frozen forever if nothing comes forward."

Lorella Hayes, the city's chief financial officer, said her understanding was councillors wanted to freeze HCI spending until a decision was made on the future of the funds. And that report would be coming at the next city council meeting April 28.

"Certainly, a report is forthcoming to summarize the input we received from the public, as well as to seek council's direction on next steps with respect to HCI funds," Hayes said. "In my view, the funds are still frozen until council makes a decision on next steps."

That was fine with Kirwan, as long as a decision one way or the other was coming before the end of the month.

“I guess that's fine,” he said. “But we can just let this sit here. There are some projects that need to get started this summer. If we're not going to have HCI, then let's decide. If we are going to have it, then we've got some work to do."

While the HCI policy was overhauled in 2012 to place several new restrictions on how the money could be spent, the perception of the money as “slush funds” persist in many people's minds. Before the reforms, there was little control on how or when councillors could spend the money.

The most notorious example took place in 2010 when, just before leaving council, former Ward 7 Coun. Russ Thompson spent $40,000 to help purchase SMART boards for Northeastern Elementary School, where he was a teacher.

However, proponents argue the new restrictions ensure such abuses are no longer possible. And the money helps level the playing field among all wards, where income levels vary, as well as help motivate local volunteers to work on neighbourhood projects.