Sudbury ward funds: Robert Kirwan calls for decision on contentious cash
Ward 5 councillor warns about impending projects that will need funding this summer
A Sudbury councillor says he's becoming impatient about the future of the city's controversial ward funds.
Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan was hoping Tuesday for a decision on the Healthy Community Initiative funds, which provides each councillor with $50,000 to spend in their wards.
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It's been a few weeks since almost everybody who spoke at a public meeting called for the funds to stay in place, and Kirwan said it's time for council to make a decision.
"We cannot just let this sit here, because there are some projects that need to get started this summer," he said at Tuesday's council meeting. "If we're not going to have the HCI then let's decide. If we are going to have it, then we've got some work to do."
Some critics, including the Greater Sudbury Taxpayers Association, have slammed the program, arguing that the money might be unfairly used to curry favour with certain voters, or be otherwise misspent.
But the majority of the speakers at a public-input session in late March represented community groups who listed how they've benefited from access to the tax dollars.