A proposed expansion of the Mariners Centre was discussed by the three municipal councils Wednesday.
Elected representatives and staff of the Town of Yarmouth and the municipalities of Yarmouth and Argyle met at town hall.
The $30 million plan includes the YMCA, aquatic centre, fitness facility, curling club and walking track.
The expansion project started in 2014 when Mariners Centre management began discussions with representatives from the YMCA and the Yarmouth Curling Club.
Mayor Pam Mood said at yesterday’s meeting that the three councils don’t own the ‘Y’ or the curling club.
She said that when municipal units own a facility, they own the operating deficit.
“They’re saying a $200,000 deficit. We’re over that, which is the Mariners Centre. Add a pool, add a curling club at you’re at three-quarters to a million dollar deficit. ”
Mayor Mood says the town isn’t convinced that the YMCA or the curling club should or should not be part of any expansion.
She says there needs to and will be much discussion among the three municipal councils.
Some councillors with the municipalities of Argyle and Yarmouth said many of their residents support the proposed expansion of Mariners Centre.
Argyle councillor Guy Surette told the meeting that it’s time Argyle stepped up to the plate.
“We need to become a partner, not just fund a deficit when there is one. I’m hearing (from some Argyle residents) big time that this is number one. If we want this to become a regional centre, lets move forward.”
Yarmouth municipal councillor Trevor Cunningham told the meeting that perhaps the three councils should survey their constituents.
“It could be a question like: Do you want the project to proceed or not?’ I think that would be a good piece of data to decide whether we want to move forward or not. Let’s hear from the people.”
