A motion by North Kent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville regarding a referendum for the Chatham-Kent Community Hub project is on the Council agenda for their meeting scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024.
The motion had originally been on the agenda at the last meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024.
However, due to the curfew of 11 p.m. for Council meeting, a number of items were referred to the next meeting, including Jubenville’s motion.
Deputations will not be heard on the item on November 4, 2024, as they were already hard at the prior meeting, Municipal officials say.
“There is great public concern and opposition to the Downtown Community Hub Project in the old Sears building and taxpayers and residents of Chatham-Kent are not being heard or acknowledged,” Jubenville stated in her motion.
“All taxpayers of Chatham-Kent will be greatly affected by the decisions regarding the Downtown Community Hub Project.”
Jubenville added: “Council direct Administration to complete a report pursuant to the Referendum Act and the Municipal Elections Act complete with how to proceed in the most efficient and fiscally responsible way with a Referendum in Chatham-Kent regarding public opinion on the Downtown Community Hub project and that no further financial or physical operations proceed until the results of the Referendum are known and carried out.”
After a lengthy meeting and debate, which included dozens of deputations from community members, Chatham-Kent Council approved continuing to move forward on the proposed Chatham-Kent community hub project.
A project update, including a presentation by Dan Amicone, Architecttura and Greg Benson, the project manager of facilities for Chatham-Kent, was provided to Council.
Amicone said he’s confident the total project cost will not exceed $53-million.
Chatham Councillor Marjorie Crew successfully moved the recommendations by administration, which included:
– Administration be authorized to proceed with the Detailed Design phase for the Chatham-Kent Community Hub based on the Detailed Concept Design development and return to Council for approval prior to proceeding with the construction procurement process.
– The completion of the detailed design for the Chatham-Kent Community Hub project inclusive of the Park Avenue Business Centre alterations be awarded to Architecturra Inc. in the amount of $2,177,683.46 (including HST), funded from the Buildings Lifecycle Reserve.
– Administration be authorized to hire a contracted Project Manager – ITT for a period of nine months to support the Detailed Design and construction of the Chatham-Kent Community Hub, in the amount of $105,839.00, and be funded from the Buildings Lifecycle Reserve.
– The Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the necessary agreements.
South Kent Councillor Anthony Ceccacci made an amendment to Crew’s motion, which included two additional recommendations:
– That Administration be directed to provide updated high level cost estimates for upgrading the Civic Centre and the Library (including the expansion to 35,000 sq. ft) to the same standards being proposed for the Chatham-Kent Community Hub
– Upon the completion of the detailed design for the Chatham-Kent Community Hub, that a fix cost request for proposal be implemented to ensure the cost associated with project assures the community that over runs won’t occur and that detailed project cost will be determined prior to moving the project forward.
More details on the hub project can be found, here.
