Brockton’s proposed new municipal complex could hinge on acquiring someone to help them get government funding.
Mayor Charlie Bagnato put forth a motion recently to spend 24 thousand dollars to hire a professional lobbyist.
That person would work on getting the federal and provincial governments to help fund the 28 million dollar project.
Council was coy of the idea but suggested that staff prepare a Request for Proposal to see what kind of response it gets and then bring the motion forward.
Bagnato says this is a unique situation where the Municipality has an opportunity to get funding for a huge project.
He says they will not be able to get that kind of money again even if he remains on Council for the next 40 years.
He says they have been unsuccessful in two previous funding applications and they are facing their third strike.
Bagnato says this is a different situation from a number of years ago where the Municipality wanted funding for a pipeline extension in Walkerton but residents were against it.
He says no one wanted the pipeline but they do want the municipal complex and is representing the peoples wishes.
Councillor Chris Peabody says the job of lobbying the upper levels of government for money should be from their elected representatives and not from a professional.
He says they elected M-P’s and M-P-P’s to go to Ottawa and Queens Park to be proponents of projects in the municipality.
He says constituents should be on their case if they believe they are not doing the job.