Thorold City Council is warming up to the idea of a Thorold Museum in Fire Station 1, in spite of an earlier promise made to the Thorold Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation (TMNPH).
As ThoroldToday reported, the City of Thorold is getting ready to retire Fire Station 1, once the new fire hall on McCleary Drive is complete.
Back in August, the Thorold Museum made an overture to turn Fire Station 1 into their permanent location but after a plea from former City Councillor John Kenny, council committed to giving the TMNPH the first opportunity to buy the building instead.
During last night’s city council meeting, former Thorold Mayor and current Thorold Museum board member Malcolm Woodhouse asked council members to reconsider their position.
“If you’re going to build housing that’s the wrong spot to put it,” he told councillors. “The building is located on a landfill. There’s also a rather large eight foot sewer trunk that runs underneath that property.”
Woodhouse’s presentation seemed to sway most council members and many of them expressed a desire to see a museum in the fire hall.
“I am in full support of it,” said Councillor Jim Handley. “[Our vintage fire trucks] are all being stored in a barn right now. Their lifespan has lessened over time. They’re a big part of this community.”
Councillor Anthony Longo voiced his agreement with the museum plans but pointed out that city council already passed a motion to give the TMNPH the first opportunity to buy the building.
“That motion was if we were selling the property,” Mayor Terry Ugulini told Councillor Longo. “This would just be a lease agreement, it’s not a purchase sale of the property.”
Woodhouse explained that the Thorold Museum Board needs an immediate commitment from the city because they’re hoping to apply for a federal grant which has a submission deadline of Feb. 28, but some councillors have questions about the financial picture.
“We haven’t decided if we’re going to sell it or lease it,” Councillor Nella Dekker said. “I believe we need a report and what it is going to cost the city if we’re going to have to put any money in repairs and consultant fees.”
Councillor Henry D'Angela asked if the Museum Board would be willing to share the building with other community group such as the Thorold Public Library, but Woodhouse did not seem to be on board with that idea.
“We have to start looking at amalgamating and putting some services together as opposed to isolating them and stranding them all over the city,” Councillor D’Angela said. “It costs more money in the long run and it’s tougher to manage.”
In the end, council asked City Hall to prepare a report on the matter so that they can vote on whether or not to lease the building to the Thorold Museum at the next council meeting.
