A benefactor’s donation to pay for hanging baskets along Espanola’s main corridor has been turned down.
A local anonymous benefactor had offered to pay for 26 hanging 16-inch fibre bottom baskets, pay Public Works staff time to water the baskets and continue funding the program for this year and into the future.
However, councillor Ken Duplessis noted that Public Works is short-staffed and up to five hours per week would be needed to maintain the baskets and the motion was defeated.
Council voted earlier this year not to replace a retiring worker as a cost-cutting measure.
Mayor Jill Beer would have liked to see some beautification in town.
She told council it is their responsibility as stewards of the municipality to make sure that they are using the taxpayer’s money wisely and when they are turning down even a donation for paying for hanging baskets and when we are not allowing public works their full complement of people to do their job, I think it does the municipality a disservice.
She adds many ratepayers have expressed their dismay at the lack of beautification along Highway Six since the program was cut in 2015 as a cost-cutting measure.
