Mayor wants medical centre lease resolved
Council has directed Clearview CAO Steve Sage to intervene in resolving tenancy issues at the Creemore Medical Centre.
A financial report prompted a discussion at the Jan. 11 council meeting that resulted in Sage being directed to work with the management board and report back with an action plan as to how to resolve lease negotiations with one of four lessees working out of the building, which is owned by the township but managed by a volunteer board of directors.
During a coded discussion, with few specifics and names not named, it was stated that one tenant has been without a signed agreement since October of 2014 and although rent has been paid, the township is not cashing the cheques in case it would be perceived as an agreement to the terms that are still being negotiated, said treasurer Edward Henley.
“This issue has gone on way too long and we need to solve it,” said Deputy Mayor Barry Burton, who is the council rep on the Creemore Medical Centre management board.
Mayor Chris Vanderkruys then passed the chair to Burton so he could make a motion to direct staff to get more involved after Sage said there really wasn’t one staff person assigned to the file.
“I think we have made some mistakes,” said Vanderkruys.
Sage cautioned council, saying the management board is appointed by council and has a terms of reference to follow.
“We don’t want to overstep bounds with the committee but we can get more involved in the leases,” he said.
“It is imperative we have staff move on this because 15 months is unacceptable,” said Vanderkruys.
Councillor Thom Paterson who is a past board member said staff has been involved as a resource during ongoing negotiations.
“It’s not nothing that’s being done. This is a difficult situation. Whatever is done should be done with the committee,” said Paterson. He told the mayor, “You are worried but I don’t know if you are well informed.”
Earlier that day, the board chair Wendy Schellenberg resigned from her position, partly for personal reasons, and another board member resigned also.
Schellenberg said she suffered over whether or not to continue with her role for three months because of the deterioration of volunteer working conditions but the stress proved to be too much.
“It’s been very frustrating and Dr. Engell and Dr. Houston haven’t signed their lease. Every time I talk to them, they say it is with their lawyer and that is since last August.”
The medical centre is also operating at a deficit until another tenant is secured and Schellenberg said she had almost recruited a doctor who was ready to sign on but they ended up taking on a practice elsewhere.
“So it’s just one disappointment after another and I was taking it on myself, even though it is a board, but we are all feeling as if we are not needed,” she said. “I think of all the time and headaches and frustrations that we had, the amount of money that was raised by the village (more than $500,000 toward the cost of the recent renovation). It’s just wrong but I can’t fight it.”
She said she got the sense that the board members were easily replaceable or that township officials felt it may be easier for the township to manage the facility.
Ironically, the board was established in 2003 to manage the facility because tenants were unhappy with the township’s management. The board oversaw a major renovation project, which has caused some of the latest turmoil.
In terms of next steps, Sage said the board now has to meet and elect a new chair.
In the meantime, he is drafting a letter to the tenants to hear from them what the issues are and how he can help.
“I would hope that the letter going out to the lessees could be signed by both me and the new chairman, that would be the best solution,” said Sage.
Dr. Anne Engell is currently out of town and not available for comment.
