Moncton considering financial support for St. Pat's, mayor says
Moncton's mayor says the city will evaluate a recent funding request from St. Patrick's Family Centre after the board opted to close the community centre Friday, citing its dire financial position.
Dawn Arnold said the city received a request to help pay St. Pat's staff and "other things," though declined to specify the requested amount.
"We have directed our administration to look at it and see how we might be able to help, but also to do some research," Arnold told reporters after city council met Monday evening. "The province, too, has been involved. I think together as a community we will try and find some sort of a solution for a way forward."
About 25 staff were affected by the closure.
City staff will meet with representatives of St. Pat's to do due diligence, Arnold said.
Last Tuesday, the two remaining members of St. Pat's board of directors — acting president Sonya Estabrooks and treasurer Janice Claridge — decided to close the pool, gym and daycare by the end of the week.
Brock Gallant, a spokesman for the board, said the centre's revenue from memberships, its daycare and swimming lessons wasn't enough to cover its debt, pay its bills and address the aging building.
He said the facility needed roof repairs as well as new HVAC and electrical systems.
Arnold's comments came after dozens attended the city council meeting, where multiple people called for action to help keep the centre open.
Mélanie Côté, who has been a member of St. Pat's for about 10 years, said she's concerned about the impact of the centre's closure on the community.
"We were coming with the hope to make something happen, but there's no immediate answers. There's no miracles," she said. "The building is old, but the community needs that centre to be part of their lives."
She hopes the city provides some degree of financial support.
Côté said she had no idea about the financial difficulties facing the not-for-profit faced.
The centre on Providence Street, near downtown Moncton, was built by the Catholic Church in 1964.
The church later sold the facility for $1 to a not-for-profit run by a board of directors.
The mayor said the city has previously given St. Pat's grants, but a new policy means the city requires audited financial statements and other checks.
"That sort of due diligence will be done on everybody that receives funding from the City of Moncton," said Arnold.
