N.B. commission turns down Fredericton's request to help settle pool-funding squabble

The City of Fredericton's efforts to get help to build and operate a new aquatic centre have been dealt a further blow.

After the city asked the province's Local Governance Commission to help settle the question of whether the project should be funded jointly by surrounding municipalities, Mayor Kate Rogers has been told the commission won't be intervening in the matter.

"A decision as to whether existing or proposed sport, cultural or recreational infrastructure is regional in nature is clearly for the [regional service commission] board to decide and not a decision that rests with the [Local Governance Commission]," Mary Oley, commission director, said in the letter sent in November.

"If the city is concerned that the [Capital Region Service Commission] did not follow the proper procedure in rendering its decision that the proposed aquatic centre is not regional in nature, the city may wish to contact the ombud of New Brunswick."

The city has long pursued a new aquatic centre and has pushed for it to be built with help from surrounding municipalities, particularly those that are part of the Capital Region Service Commission.

Pressure has mounted in recent years in light of the University of New Brunswick's plan to close the Sir Max Aitken Pool, where the city's competitive swim clubs are based.

Last May, a committee within the regional commission recommended the proposed new pool be considered regional, with a cost-sharing formula based on population, tax base and proximity to the pool.

But in June, members of the board — comprised of the mayors of the surrounding municipalities — voted down three separate motions to categorize the aquatic centre as regional, sub-regional or local.

The city then turned to the Local Governance Commission as it felt the outcome was procedurally unclear.

CBC News asked for an interview with Rogers about what the city plans to do next but she wasn't available until Monday, said Elizabeth Fraser, city spokesperson.

Oley declined to be interviewed.

"The Commission does not comment on specific situations or hypothetical scenarios but rather investigates complaints or studies requests within our legislated mandate," Oley said, in an email.

Turn to province for funding, says Arcadia mayor

Last June, only the mayors of Fredericton, Grand Lake and Arcadia, which includes Gagetown and surrounding areas, voted in favour of the pool being regionally funded.

In an interview Thursday, Arcadia Mayor Derek Pleadwell said he sees the value a new aquatic centre would bring to the region.

However, he said it might be time for the city to move on from seeking funding help from its neighbours.

"I think ... the City of Fredericton and Mayor Rogers and her council need to engage with the province and the federal government to move forward on the project," Pleadwell said.

Though Pleadwell voted in favour of the project being regional, he said he understands why a majority of his counterparts did the opposite.

He said municipalities are still holding out for promised fiscal reforms that would provide them with more tax revenue.

Without that, he said it was difficult to get enough mayors on side with the pool project.

"With big projects — you talk millions of dollars — they have a tendency to grow and it becomes challenging on communities that are struggling with [property] assessments and costs going up," he said.

Cost-sharing a question for each council

Pleadwell said the most recent cost estimate for the new facility was pegged at around $74.2 million.

Under a cost-sharing formula proposed by a Capital Region Service Commission committee, Arcadia would have had to contribute $17,523 annually for the pool's construction and operation, if it were considered a regional project.

While he still wants to see the project move forward, whether the Village of Arcadia chips in financially is now a decision his council would have to make.

"I would bring it to my council and bring it to them for a vote. It would not be mine to take," he said.