The municipality has accepted the Wellington Town Hall Foundation’s proposal to turn the building into a hub for community and arts programming. 

Initially denied on a tie vote at Committee of the Whole, Wellington Councillor Corey Englesdorfer moved to reconsider the proposal at last week’s Council ratification vote.

The project co-leads, Christina Ziedler and Sarah Bobas, gave a deputation to clarify their plans.

“We are standing in front of you with a proposal as a result of a Council decision,” said Ms. Zeidler. 

Council declared the building surplus to its needs in 2023 and established an Expression of Interest (EOI) working group to invite proposals. The Wellington Town Hall Foundation was the only submission over the four months the call was open. 

“The last two years of work are a successful example of community and Council relations and a shining example of transparency in the development process,” Ms. Zeidler noted.

“Before that four months and during that four months there were many conversations among multiple parties,” said Ms. Zeidler. “Food bank, daycare, private sale, etcetera, but in the end, this was the bid that came through the process.”

The County’s Asset Management Plan aims to reduce the municipal building footprint by 25 percent. A Roth IAMS study estimated the Town Hall required a $650,000 investment to remain functional and safe.

The Town Hall is part of the Wellington Heritage Conservation District and is protected from demolition and unsympathetic renovations.

The Foundation proposes buying the building for a nominal fee and raising money for renovations as a non-profit. While Council wants to get the building off its books, some councillors were worried about carrying the costs until the sale is finalized. 

“In Committee of the Whole we agreed to adjust the timeline to 12 months and this may have to led to a misunderstanding that we would come back in 12 months with an MOU in hand,” said Ms. Zeidler.

“But we want to emphasize that this proposal is to work with staff on the development of an MOU, and get it back to Council as possible, so that we can purchase the building and get it off the books within the 12 months.”

“We do believe that this proposal you have in hand answers the urgency required,” Ms. Bobas added. 

“The solution to the Town Hall conundrum is staring you in the face,” said Joanna Green, Chair of the Wellington Community Association Steering Committee, in another deputation.

“This proposal would release the municipality from the financial burden posed by ownership of the building while allowing the community to benefit from a vibrant offering of programs and services that do not currently exist in the village.”

Peta Hall, also from the WCA, noted that while the Wellington Arena is available for community meetings and activities, it is usually overtaken for hockey and inconveniently located. “It’s out of town and we need the town hall to be given back to the centre of our village.” 

Revisiting the proposal also allowed Councillors the opportunity to clarify their reasoning. 

Councillor Phil St-Jean continued to favour selling the property on the open market to raise funds that could improve the buildings that will remain in the County’s portfolio. 

“By giving away the building, because that’s what a nominal fee means, two dollars, in legal terms, we are not benefitting the entirety of the municipality. We are supposed to be thinking about the greater good, the greater whole,” he said. 

But Councillor Chris Braney, a fervent advocate of divesting from surplus municipal buildings, changed his mind to support the proposal. 

“We’re here to listen to residents,” he said. “They’ve given me full confidence that they’re going to make this work.”

“I’d like you guys to go like hell and make this happen,” Mayor Steve Ferguson added. 

The motion carried 8-4, with Councillors St-Jean, Nieman, Harrison, and Roberts opposed.