Port Moody council will decide at its meeting on Tuesday whether it wants the SHARE Society to return half the $10,000 grant it got from the city last year.
The money, from the city’s community grant fund, was supposed to be used by the society to purchase a van for its Share’d Treasures Thrift Store.
But with the store on St. Johns Street set to close this spring after 30 years of operation, Share advised the city it would no longer use the money towards purchasing a van.
Instead, Share requested it be allowed to spend the money on other initiatives that meet the grant’s criteria. Those include addressing a demonstrated need in the community, as well as promoting the well-being and quality of life of Port Moody residents.
The society’s CEO, Claire MacLean, said the store is no longer core to the services it provides as it faces financial challenges from higher operating costs and fewer customers. The closure affects four full-time staff members who work at the store and up to 55 volunteers.
Port Moody’s community grants are awarded based on the recommendations of the city’s citizen advisory committee that is comprised of 250 volunteer residents.
At a meeting last Tuesday of council’s finance committee, Coun. Meghan Lahti said the grant awarded to Share was meant for a specific use, but since the society no longer needs a new van, “I don’t think it’s our place to be that generous with taxpayers’ money.”
Coun. Diana Dilworth said council needs to respect the decision of residents involved in the decision to award the money specifically for purchasing a van.
“I feel really bad for Share,” she added.
It was Coun. Hunter Madsen who suggested the city ask for only half the money back, “given they have many other significant needs.”
Coun. Amy Lubik concurred, adding other programs Share runs might suffer if they can’t reallocate the money.
Mayor Rob Vagramov said asking for the whole grant to be returned was like adding “another punch to the gut. This is the least we could be doing.”
Last year the city awarded $17,100 from its community grant program, including: $5,000 to the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society for programming like guest speakers and community nature walks; $1,100 to the POCOMO Meals on Wheels Society to help it pay the cost of providing meals; and $1,000 to the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society to reimburse volunteer drivers for minor expenses and fuel. Share’s grant was the largest.
In 2017, Port Moody awarded $24,100 in community grants to nine organizations.
• With files from Diane Strandberg
