Answers to questions raised by Seguin Township’s representatives with the district’s social service provider have been delivered to Seguin council, and the councillors are not happy with the answers provided.
In April, council sent along questions about the Parry Sound District Social Service Administration Board’s (DSSAB) long-term financial plan after the board and the township disagreed over what should be done with provincially uploaded social service money.
Seguin’s representatives to the board, Coun. Bruce Gibbon and Coun. Susan Adams, had asked questions about the new administration building, which will hold all of the DSSAB’s operations under one roof. They wanted to know what was the approved budget for the project, and what is the current estimated cost to complete it. In response, the DSSAB did not provide specific answers, but did mention the amount of the awarded tender almost $3.5 million.
Seguin asked how is it possible that the investment budgeted for the new facility is twice that invested in public housing between 2006 and 2010, and they wanted to see a “synopsis of the rationale supporting the investment.”
In its response to Seguin, DSSAB said the business case for the $2.3 million project was done informally with the board during an in-camera session and no such case analysis was provided.
In a letter addressed to Adams and Gibbons, Patterson said the 2009 levy to District of Parry Sound municipalities incorporates the influx of provincial dollars for an overall reduction in the local cost of the Ontario Disability Support Program, as well as increases to Ontario Works, Child Care, and Social Housing programs and capital repairs.
“The board is charged with the task of adequately planning for anticipated expenditures under various provincial acts and regulations as well as responding to concerns and risks of our municipal environment,” she wrote.
http://www.parrysound.com/press/1249666693/
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Ron Payne
Welfare Legal
Hamilton, Ontario
Email welfarelegal2004(at)hotmail(dot)com welfarelegal2004@hotmail.com
