Summerside reconsidering free space for community groups

City reviewing policy along with grants program

Image | Summerside City Hall

Caption: The city faces a difficult decision with how it offers free rentals to community groups, says Coun. Brian McFeely. (Google Street View)

Community groups in Summerside may soon find themselves paying for space the city is currently providing for free.
We don't want to have a knee jerk reaction. - Coun. Brian McFeely
The P.E.I. city's governance, policy and strategy committee has been looking at the criteria that decides when rent is waived to a community group.
"We're beginning to look at it in context with our community grants policy which we're reviewing over the next year, so this will be done within the same time frame as that," said committee chair Coun. Brian McFeely.
"We don't want to have a knee jerk reaction and move forward too quickly. We want to give it its proper due diligence and do it correctly."
McFeely said it is a difficult situation, because the groups do put on good and often charitable events, but running the rooms does cost taxpayers in the end.