By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
A concern voiced by Cobourg Councillor Miriam Mutton to Northumberland County council was mentioned at Wednesday’s Social Services Committee – and rejected.
Mutton’s correspondence was received by both Chief Administrative Officer Dan Borowec and Committee Chair John Logel, urging that the soon-to-be-vacated Golden Plough Lodge be retained with a view of using the facility to help address the community’s homelessness challenges.
Borowec reiterated council’s recent decision to demolish the building, once it is vacated – a decision reached after much deliberation and an exhaustive report from Hamilton Township Mayor Scott Jibb.
With decades of experience in the development field, Jibb had toured the site and subsequently reported on the numerous deficiencies of the current building and the difficulty (both physical and financial) of remediating them.
“Council already made the decision, and it’s not something we wish to re-enter into discussion,” Borowec declared.
“The costs associated with trying to bring that building into any type of rehabilitated standard is not within the fiscal means of the county at this point in time. That decision has already been made.”
At present, the old building remains occupied, as the county works with the province to get final approvals to begin moving residents over to the new building nearby.
As to when that might be, Borowec could offer no update.
“It would depend upon scheduling by the provincial review team. We are in contact on a daily basis and, as soon as we know, we will confirm a date,” he said.
