Port Hope Council Approves Budget Increase for Rural Roads Office with 4-3 Vote

Pete Fisher
2 hours ago
• Categories: City Hall, Local

Port Hope council was divided at its regular meeting Tuesday night, but ultimately rubber-stamped the approval of a budget increase for the rural roads office addition that received support two weeks ago at committee-of-the-whole.

Deputy Mayor Vicki Mink and councillors Claire Holloway Wadhwani, Adam Pearson and Darrell Toms voted in support of a $275,000 pre-approval to the 2026 municipal budget with Mayor Olena Hankivsky and councillors Todd Attridge and Les Andrews opposed. As previously reported, the 1,280 square-foot addition which had previously been approved for $300,000 includes two offices, staff space with kitchen amenities, a change room/locker room, and a washroom for rural roads staff. The project also includes a backup generator costing $30,000 that will support the new addition and selected circuits within the existing garage.

There was a budget shortfall of $275,000 which includes the tendered price, contract administration, and small contingency. A reported stated staff have reviewed all funding options and determined that 2026 pre-budget approval was the most viable solution. The tendered price of $559,680 from Dalren Limited is guaranteed only until Oct. 9. (Read the previous story at

(https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2025/09/03/port-hope-council-supports-budget-increase-for-rural-roads-office-addition/)

The vote at the committee-of-the-whole meeting two weeks ago was 3-2 with Andrews and Toms absent.
There was more lengthy debate prior to another narrow vote Tuesday.

Andrews said the rural roads office project is a worthwhile one, but there are others as well and “we can’t afford them all and we’re going to have to make some hard decisions come October, November and this is going to be one of the ones we’ll have to decide upon. So I see no point in bringing it forward and doing a pre-budget approval when we’re so close to the budget.”

Andrews said he would like staff to delve deeper to see if there are other options.

At the committee-of-the-whole meeting Andrews was absent for, Director of Works and Engineering

Jeanette Davidson said they looked at different types of construction and the size of the addition and this was the smallest that would meet the needs of the roads staff.

Holloway Wadhwani reminded council it’s not a new project, but rather an additional budget approval for a 2025 budget-approved item that council already was determined to be a priority. She added that discussions date back to 2022 about improving the working conditions for rural staff.

“I also understand that we have had two vacancies in our rural roads crew for this entire summer season,” Holloway Wadhwani said. “We’ve had to post that job posting a second time because we didn’t get any qualified applicants and that has led to an interruption of some of the service of that crew in our rural community and I wonder whether the working conditions may contribute to our inability to retain staff and to attract new staff.”

Holloway Wadhwani added its unfortunate council has no control over rising construction costs, including as a result of tariffs, “but I don’t think that means we should then postpone again, moving forward with a project and addressing what we’ve already acknowledged is inadequate facilities for our rural roads crew.”

Attridge said opposition isn’t about rescinding the project, but asking staff to find a way to stick to the original approved amount of $300,000 or put the additional $275,000 ask into the budget process and decide after looking at all facilities whether council wants to spend the extra money on this project.

Mink said she understands the position of Attridge and Andrews, but reasoned it’s unlikely to get a municipal building of that size for less than the $560,000 contract that was awarded. She wasn’t sure what could be built with the original budgeted amount.

“I think the longer we wait we’re just adding to the price,” Mink said.

Pearson asked Director Davidson to share some thoughts. She said in 2022 council approved an initial budget of $175,000 to renovate the basement of the Canton Hub to provide office space.

Davidson said an additional $45,000 was approved in 2023 to address rising construction costs. Staff explored alternative options including the purchase of an office trailer, but the cost for one 36-by-60 foot in size with a washroom and kitchenette was quoted at $710,000.

That shifted the focus to a permanent building addition with council approving an additional $80,000 in 2024.

Davidson said a more recent estimate on a 36×24 trailer without a washroom or kitchenette came in at $270,000. The average lifespan of an office trailer, she noted, is five to 15 years.

Toms said he believed the price for a permanent building was cost effective and he wouldn’t be in a position to support a trailer at any cost.

“It’s a temporary and a bad investment,” he said. “I think this comes down to investing in our employees and giving them a nice place to work.”

Toms added it’s an investment in Port Hope and particularly the Ward 2 area.

Attridge agreed the work environment for staff is important, but doesn’t consider that to be the issue at hand. He preferred it wait until budget deliberations in case other departments have facility concerns.

“I very much would like these people to have the best facilities,” Attridge said. “I’m also conscious of the fact that we have other employees and other facilities who may also come forward and we haven’t had the opportunity to hear from them.”

Mayor Hankivsky said council values municipal staff and wants them to have the best environment to work in, be comfortable and do their jobs effectively. She agreed that this project had already been approved.

“Those things are true, they remain true,” Hankivsky said. “What I’m struggling with is a concern with our overall budget and our spending moving forward, both at the County level and at the municipal level.

For me it’s not a zero-sum game. It’s not saying we have to necessarily do a new build or there’s no other acceptable alternative that we could be considering that would still provide all of the things that would make for a comfortable work environment for our workers.”

Hankivsky said she would like to see the most recent and other options. She added she couldn’t support pre-approving anything without it being part of budget discussions.

Mink suggested a portable would be unacceptable at different times of the year, whether it’s cold winter nights after plowing or during summer heatwaves.

She said Dalren provided a competitive price and was concerned not approving the contract could damage the relationship with that builder.

Holloway Wadhani said she agreed with Attridge that council should be concerned with all staff working conditions throughout the municipality, but noted the senior leadership staff look at all potential capital projects each budget season and they have consistently considered the rural roads office to be a priority.

“It makes the cut every year,” she said. “I can’t see why that wouldn’t continue again this coming budget season.”

The majority of council voted to pre-approve the increase in the 2026 budget.