By Cecilia Nasmith
While Grafton Legion succeeded in getting some building permit fees waived by Alnwick-Haldimand Township for work being done to the Legion Hall, their appeal to Northumberland County for a waiver of plumbing and septic fees did not meet with support at council's Economic Development, Tourism, Land Use Planning Standing Committee June meeting.
Manager of Land Use Planning and Inspection Services Dwayne Campbell said that applicable fees would be more than $500, and the staff recommendation was to turn down the request.
“They don't want to set a precedent where any land owner could be making requests to committee and council to waive fees,” Campbell explained.
Committee member (and Alnwick-Haldimand Mayor Gail Latchford) said that it was a different matter when Royal Canadian Legion Branch 580 representatives came to township council asking for a waiver of building fees.
“What happened was, they had applied for grant funding and received it to improve their washrooms, which were badly needed,” Latchford related.
“Once they got in to do the work, they found there was foundation issues, and the job has become bigger and more expensive than what they even knew.”
Township council was dealing with an organization that is well known and respected in their community, the mayor said – and an organization that does a lot for the community.
“We felt we could waive that fee of ours, but I think it's different with the county,” she said, citing the risk of precedent.
“I just believe, in our case, good community service in a small municipality – we were pleased to be able to help them out.”
Warden Bob Crate – another committee member and, as of that day, past president of the Hastings Legion – agreed with Latchford.
“I have empathy, but I think we go along with Dwayne on this,” Crate said.
“We don't need to set a precedent in this case.”
