Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council voted this week to tap the provincial Building Efficiencies fund for $15,000 for work on the Cobourg Public Library.
“We understand that a budget of $15,000 would be sufficient to make repairs to the area immediately under and adjacent to the east exterior sliding doors,” the letter from board chair Kevin Caldwell said, “these repairs include the full replacement of the brick ramp with a concrete ramp, removal and replacement of sidewalk, as well as the removal and reinstallation of the doors.
“Repairs are necessary, as the ground is heaving under the doors and will soon cause mechanical failure. While sidestepping mechanical failure is a concern in terms of cost avoidance, there are also issues of liability and safety to consider,” Caldwell continued.
Another consideration is that, in its current state, the brick ramp is not compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Councillor Adam Bureau said that the funding could also have been taken from the library building reserve funds, but opted in his motion to take it from the provincial program.