Former George Hamilton School site in Port Hope to officially go up for sale
File photo
By Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It was a rebuke of some on Port Hope Council to staff regarding the future of the former George Hamilton School property.
After Council declared it a surplus property through a motion and bylaw in January 2025, a reconsidering motion and bylaw was again before Council Tuesday night.
Port Hope Chief Administrative Officer Mike Melinyshyn said to councillors last evening that new information had come to light and the possible future use of the property, and given Ontario Power Generation’s nuclear ambitions for the region were enough for Melinyshyn ask for a second look at whether selling the property at this time was appropriate.
Melinyshyn explained that a possible use for the land could be to construct a health hub there. When pressed by councillors as to the new information, he did not provide it, citing closed session confidentiality and that he wanted a more fulsome discussion on the property before moving forward.
Shrishma Davé, the Clerk added that no further action by Council was taken to sell the land in the past year and a half, and that resources were not committed to fulfilling Council’s request to sell the property.
Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani was frustrated that Council was revisiting a decision it had already made, in that staff had not followed through on Council decisions.
“I find it though a little bit concerning that the reason it's appropriate to be asked to reconsider, is because the work that is being reconsidered in the original vote was not done,” she said. Holloway Wadhwani called the move convenient and risky. “If Council direction is not implemented, then it opens up the possibility for it to be coming back for reconsideration.” She explained the staff report is very vague as to the reasoning why Port Hope should keep the land. “Part of it might be that I don’t know what the conversations are about these other potential opportunities,” “I’m a bit concerned about the thought a lot has been contemplated, that staff time and resources are being spent on exploring options for a property that Council has already decided to surplus and sell.”
Councillor Vicki Mink explained for her it is challenging to make a decision, as over the years, the property has been under consideration for future uses, but nothing has ever come to what to do about it. Whether that be the building is structurally sound or if Port Hope Police Service will use it for a training facility. Where’s the vision she asked? Mink stated she viewed the former school site as a potential use for municipal administrative services, however since Port Hope is moving ahead with the purchase of 39 Pine Street North to accommodate staff, where is the business case for keeping the rural property? She said the sale of the school site would help offset the cost of the 39 Pine Street project.
Councillor Todd Attridge echoed Holloway Wadhwani and Mink adding that conversations on keeping the George Hamilton School property are not being had with Council, and that staff have not presented a needs assessment detailing why the municipality should keep the property.
A staff report said “that the original intended uses for the property purchase originally in 2021 had not come to fruition and it was recommended that the property be sold.” Port Hope paid approximately $572,000 for the property.
Councillor Les Andrews was in favour of removing the surplus status designation, wanting to keep the property to potentially see its value increase in the future. Councillor Darrell Toms, Deputy Mayor Adam Pearson and Mayor Olena Hankivsky expressed support for keeping the land.
Procedurally for a reconsideration motion and bylaw to pass, a two thirds majority would be needed, as at least five of seven councillors would have to be in favour. The motion failed 4-3 with Attridge, Holloway Wadhwani, and Mink voting against. Staff will now work to implement the sale of the land.
