BARRHEAD - Barrhead and District Family Support Services (FCSS) will have a new location to hold some of its youth programming.
Following a presentation from FCSS executive director Karen Gariepy at their Oct. 11 meeting, Town of Barrhead councillors at unanimously approved a request from the non-profit society to use the upstairs boardroom at the Agrena at no cost to use as a location to host drop-in sessions for youth.
In a letter, Gariepy noted that FCSS offered the room by the recreation and parks department as part of a new partnership between the town and the society.
Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc noted that although the Parks and Recreation Department may have offered the board room to the FCSS rent-free, the final decision to waive the hourly rental rate of $53.60 is up to the council.
Earlier in the meeting, Gariepy said they hope to have multiple youth drop-in sessions during the week, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Coun. Dave Sawatzky said although he supported FCSS' request, he suggested that, since under the town's existing Recreation Facility Rentals Policy (72-002), all groups or individuals have to pay for using the municipality's facilities that the municipality builds the request to use the room into their annual contribution to FCSS.
As part of the society's base funding, FCSS receives an annual provincial grant that makes up roughly 80 per cent of its annual operating budget, with the other 20 per cent coming from equal contributions from the Barrhead municipalities.
"That way we would not be setting a precedent for other groups that do a lot of good work in our community who ask to use one of our facilities," he said.
Coun. Anthony Oswald did not have an issue with FCSS asking to use the room, but he did take issue with the fact that Parks and Recreation staff seem to be working as FCSS staff during some of the society's youth events.
"I'm not sure if it is part (of our staff's) job description to do this type of work at these events," he said. "It does look like some of our staff are doing work for FCSS (at these youth) events and programs."
Mayor Dave McKenzie said he believed, in some of the cases, such as the programming that FCSS hosts during school professional days, is a joint effort with the town's rec programs.
In recent years, the town's parks recreation department has put on day camps or other youth programming, however, since the start of the school year, FCSS has taken on that role.
It is also worth mentioning that Tresa Brodersen, a town parks and recreation employee, also works for FCCS' Family Connection Resource Network as a youth programmer.
"Given our relationship with FCSS and the programs they provide our residents, I don't have an issue with us making some sort of arrangement with them that zeros their account," McKenzie said.
Coun. Don Smith added that social programming is very important to Barrhead residents, saying it’s a win-win for everyone. Smith added that if another not-for-profit organization wants to use one of the municipality's facilities at little to no cost, they are free to ask the council.
"I think we all agree, for what FCSS does for our community, working with the funds that they have, this particular program will benefit the youth who will take over its stewardship."
Coun. Dausen Kluin agreed, making a motion to approve the FCSS request.
Emergency Social Services (ESS)
Gariepy also told councillors that she is currently working with the county in updating their emergency plan to define what specific role FCSS would play in an emergency. Once that is complete, she hopes to do the same thing with the town.
By the new year, she added she hopes that all the key personnel in FCSS will have taken the appropriate ESS training.
Gariepy added that although FCSS is in need of volunteers in several areas, she said getting volunteers for ESS is one of her top priorities.
"Emergency Social Services encompasses everything from housing, food, personal services, pet care ... basically any essential service during a disaster," she said. "From my experience in other municipalities, I have been activated many times, and it is my fear that one day it will happen here, and we will not be prepared."
