Pembroke’s finance and administration committee has endorsed a negotiated settlement with The Grind over the sale of a city-owned property at 273 Victoria Street.
Council members voted 5–2 in favour of the agreement during a special meeting on April 14, following months of negotiations tied to a long-standing lease that includes an option to purchase. Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah and Councillor Troy Purcell represented the 2 holdouts to the unanimous passing of the agreement.
Councillor Jacyno was one of the five who agreed to the terms, stating that although it was a difficult choice to make, he felt compelled to do so as a gesture of compassion for those less fortunate in the community:
City staff presented two options: approve the settlement or proceed to court. Staff warned that rejecting the deal could expose the city to additional legal costs ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, along with the risk of covering The Grind’s legal fees if unsuccessful.
Councillor Kuehl, although part of the majority in favour of the agreement, was the most vocal in expressing concerns about the terms of the deal, stating that if it proceeds, funds should be earmarked for security and safety measures.
Council also cautioned that the city could lose control over conditions negotiated in the settlement, including a code of conduct for patrons, a good neighbour policy, continued access to the neighbouring 50+ Active Living Centre, and a right of first refusal should the property be sold in the future.
Krista Zingel is a resident whose property is adjacent to The Grind, and she, along with many of her neighbours, has experienced numerous incidents of questionable, if not illegal, behaviour from patrons accessing the facility.
She went on to add, however, that while the deal itself does not appear to be favourable to the city or taxpayers, she is heartened by solutions proposed by Councillors Purcell and Kuehl that point to greater emphasis on enhanced security in and around the facility.
Under the agreement, The Grind would purchase the property for $210,000, based on its 2020 appraised value. After legal costs of about $32,000, the city is expected to realize a net gain of roughly $177,800.
Jerry Novak, Executive Director of The Grind, said that after many months of intense negotiations and legal wrangling, he is pleased with the outcome and ready to work with the city in implementing a workable “Good Neighbour Policy.”
The final decision is expected to come before council on April 21.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
