The Blue Mountains Library CEO Jennifer Murley will be added to the committee exploring the possibility of a future multi-use recreational facility with the Town of Collingwood.
At its meeting on Feb. 20, council reversed course from an earlier decision to not include the library CEO on the committee. In December, council had voted to leave Murley off the committee that is looking into a possible joint facility with Collingwood.
Council’s previous decision, prompted a request for a reconsideration from Library Board Chair Laurey Gillies.
“We continue to believe that including the Blue Mountains Public Library CEO on the study committee is the appropriate means for addressing library service needs in the community. It would ensure equal representation and parity with Collingwood, which does include the Collingwood Public Library CEO,” Gillies stated in her letter to council.
Council unanimously voted to reconsider the earlier decision and then unanimously voted to appoint Murley to the study committee.
Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon said he had earlier voted against the Library CEO’s formal addition to the committee, because it would have involved also appointing the CEO to the RFP committee that is selecting a consultant for the multi-use facility feasibility study.
“That is a function of (town) staff,” Bordignon said of the RFP portion of the work.
Coun. Shawn McKinlay noted that the RFP process was well down the road towards a consultant being selected and was now a moot point.
“That’s no longer on the table,” he said.
Expansion of library services is going to become a hot-button topic in The Blue Mountains as the population grows and demand increases for the service.
Options include: an expansion of the existing library facility in Thornbury, a new library branch being built in the Craigleith area or expanded library services being part of a joint multi-use facility with Collingwood.
