Ward funds continue to divide Sudbury council

Divisions appear to be deepening on Sudbury city council over the contentious $50,000 ward funds.

Last month, city council was set to decide on what to do with the health community initiative, or HCI funds, which critics dismiss as "slush funds."

Then, last night, Ward 12 councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann brought forward a request for $1,600 for the Green Stairs art walk, a community event in her ward.

But Mayor Bigger put forward an amendment to take the money not from the ward funds, but from the leisure services bank account.

Bigger has long argued that the healthy community funds should remain, but should be controlled by staff and not councillors. He said this was an example of how that was possible.

But several councillors disagreed with the mayor's approach, including Landry-Altmann.

"I don't understand. The HCI policy has been reactivated," she said. "I'm surprised to hear this."

Ward 8 councillor Al Sizer argued that this was a good example of why the funds were needed, a small dollar amount that does "important" work in the community.

"Having that we have not changed the HCI fund policy, there's no need to amend," Sizer said.

Bigger argued it is better to side step those funds for now and to take the politics out of the decision making, until a permanent fix can be found.

He is working on a proposed new system for the funds, hinting that it will likely involve an independent committee making the funding decisions.

Ward 10 councillor Fern Cormier, who previously voted to scrap the funds, agreed with the mayor's plan to take the money from the leisure services budget.

"No harm, no foul," he said. "The sun will still rise tomorrow morning."

The arts event will get its $1,600, but the question of ward funds is still hanging over council.

Bigger said the proposed changes to the ward fund policy will be tabled at an upcoming council meeting, but no date is set for that and in the meantime, councillors are free to spend the money in their wards, in accordance with the current healthy community bylaw.