This page was exported from Bancroft this Week [ https://www.bancroftthisweek.com ] Export date:Wed Nov 12 5:40:08 2025 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Resident expresses concern over increased hospital donation --------------------------------------------------- By Mike Riley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter At their meeting on Nov. 5, Faraday Township council heard from Brenda Vader, a resident about her concerns as a taxpayer about council's decision at a previous meeting to donating to the hospital from reserves and their lack of an official township Facebook page to provide updates to residents for municipal matters. Bancroft This Week previously wrote about council's decision to provide more support to the hospital in their article in their Oct. 15 issue entitled “Bishop asks Faraday for increased financial support for hospital equipment.” Mayor Dennis Purcell and Deputy Mayor Marg Nicholson comment on this correspondence from Vader to Bancroft This Week. At the meeting on Nov. 5, Mayor Dennis Purcell introduced the correspondence items from Vader, who said she was reaching out to make them aware of her concerns as a taxpayer in Faraday. In a letter from Oct. 28, she said she was quite concerned when she read the minutes from the Oct. 1 meeting and saw the motion that council passed with respect to the Caring Today for Tomorrow X-ray Plus Campaign and the setting up of a New Special Reserve Fund for future requests. “I understand there is a passion amongst members of council to contribute and be a Healthcare Leader in the North Hastings Community, but to continually take the monies from existing Reserves, ($500,000 for Back the Cat and $50,000 for X-Ray Plus) is creating financial instability for the taxpayers of the Township of Faraday. Diverting funds from reserves can leave the Township of Faraday vulnerable to unexpected shortfalls, such as economic downturns or infrastructure failures, which could then lead to significant property tax hikes. The Township of Faraday has their own capital infrastructure needs (roads; bridges; and structures) that also require long-term planning and funding, which could be jeopardized by contributing from reserves to these types of campaigns. Any decision by the Township of Faraday to contribute funds for requests from Caring Today for Tomorrow requires a thorough assessment of the township's own long-range financial plan to understand the affordability and impact on taxpayers,” she says. Vader attached a detailed spreadsheet she compiled that shows the total dollars that the Township of Faraday has contributed to “Hospital” in comparison to five other municipalities in North Hastings, showing that Faraday has contributed a substantial amount of money already in comparison to other municipalities. This spreadsheet can be found in the Nov. 5 agenda document on the township website at www.faraday.ca. Vader stressed that she is of the opinion that this type of continued contribution needs to stop, as she feels that the Township of Faraday taxpayers can not afford to continue to have their tax dollars used to provide funding for capital purchases that are not a municipal asset nor listed in the Asset Management Plan of the Township of Faraday. “There are municipal assets that are your responsibility that deserve attention, and as set out in the Township of Faraday Asset Management Plan that was presented to council earlier this year, and that very clearly indicated there is an annual funding gap. The Asset Management Plan also provided options for 10-Year financing strategies. The Asset Management Plan took into consideration the monies that were in reserves at the time. Therefore, by taking monies out of reserves both after the budget is approved and after this very significant document was prepared, the financial strategies set out in the Asset Management Plan have now been jeopardized. Councils' decision to take money from reserves after the yearly budget has been approved is not very open and transparent. The taxpayers of the municipality have the right to know where their money is being spent, which is usually done through the budget process. There has also never been any mention (in meeting minutes) of putting monies back into the reserves to replenish that which was previously taken, only mention of taking more of our tax dollars and placing it in a reserve fund to continue supporting the “Hospital”, which as mentioned previously is not a municipal asset. Council has also recently passed Bylaw 45-2025 which sets out guidance to council for decision-making related to reserve and reserve funds, Cumulative Total Reserve Transfer as well as explains Annual Funding of Reserves to manage any current and future operating and capital needs of the Township of Faraday (no mention of “Hospital” or “North Hastings Community”). Vader also put forth a final comment and question regarding openness and transparency. “Is the money that is going into the New Reserve Fund going to be done as a Line Item in the Budget only, or as a Line Item / Special Levy on the Tax Bill so that the taxpayers can see how much of the monies they are paying is going towards the New Special Reserve Fund and not being put towards the municipalities' own assets?” she says. In another letter sent Oct. 22, Vader expressed concern that Faraday doesn't have an official municipal Facebook page to provide updates and to enhance communication and engagement to its residents on township matters. “Facebook is a widely used platform that can serve as a valuable, real-time channel for disseminating information and fostering community involvement,” she says. Vader posits that having this page would improve communication by providing a direct and immediate channel for official announcements, emergency alerts, and important updates, increase engagement by encouraging citizen participation by providing a platform for feedback, questions, and discussion on municipal matters, spur community building by fostering a greater sense of community by promoting local events, services, and initiatives, and by sharing content that highlights local life, and enhance transparency by creating a more open and accessible government by making information readily available and by providing a forum for constituent interaction. “While the proposal and request for the implementation of a Facebook page may be something that has already been discussed and considered, I feel that the use of the Township of Faraday Website to disseminate information to the constituents is not a very open and transparent means of communication. When posting items on the website under “News and Notices,” the information does not stay front and centre. As you post more “News and Notices,” previous posted notices get sifted down and eventually off the main page of the website. With the upcoming municipal election in 2026 and other municipal related activities and events, and the number of followers that could be had by using this type of platform, Facebook would be a great asset to help get the constituents more involved and more aware of what is happening in the township. (some of the municipalities use it to post highlights from recent council meetings and actions being considered by council). Thank you for your consideration of this matter and I look forward to hearing from you,” she says. Vader also provided statistics on the other municipalities' Facebook pages and the followers they have. This letter can be found in the Nov. 5 agenda package at www.faraday.ca. Mayor Dennis Purcell told Bancroft This Week it was a very informative letter from Vader regarding money donated to the hospital. “She has many valid points regarding the funding. The Township of Faraday donated the bulk of the funding over the years. Regarding Facebook total against this project.  Faraday has sufficient information available to our residents,” he says.  Deputy Mayor Marg Nicholson replied to Vader's concerns, telling The Bancroft Times that of course she disagrees with her comments. “I spoke in favour of the special donations made to the Hospital Equipment Fund [at the Oct. 1 meeting]. The provincial government no longer provides funding for equipment purposes. The health of a community depends upon the health of the people within that community. I am very proud that Faraday has stepped up to assist with the equipment needs of our much needed and well used hospital. We are an aging community and the need for a well-equipped hospital is a necessity. No longer do you have spend hours driving to an out-of-town hospital for an X-ray, Ultrasound or CAT scan. The North Hastings area is fortunate to have these medical services at home. The hospital and it's up to date equipment is well prepared to serve this region and to attract doctors, nurses and other staff to the area. Faraday has been blessed with the majority of staff looking after our financial interests and a strong council that recognizes the importance of healthcare to the economy in a community. Our assets are and will be looked after. Faraday has always been open, honest and transparent!” she says. “I would challenge anyone who begs to differ!” --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2025-11-11 21:57:22 Post date GMT: 2025-11-12 02:57:22 Post modified date: 2025-11-11 21:57:25 Post modified date GMT: 2025-11-12 02:57:25 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com