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Nick of time for Hillier Women ’s Institutes New Lease The Hillier Women's Institute was scrambling this week to get its Trillium Grant application in before the July I. 2005 dadline. But they needed Council's help to fast-track a lease agreement between the Hillier W.l. and the County for their regular mouings in the Hillier Town Hall in order to qualify for funding. The Hillier Women's Institute intends to use their own funds along with the potential Trillium Grant to upgrade wuhrooms, improve tbe muin entrance and install an automatic door in the hall and to improve accusibility. Though some staff and councillors worried about the haste with which the lease was prep-red. few were ready to deny the Women’s Institute their request Themoticntosppmvethelearepassedeasily. FArliu‘thisyearM-yoruo Finneganwns amongsevenl bidders whopnid more than $50 for pies at the Hillier Women's Institute Spring Supper. OnMonday night Mayor Finnegan asked Councillor Burris what the repacus- rim): might be if Council defured consideration of the lease. "You would be making a lot of ladies unhappy." said am “And I can tell youtheoostofcoooompieswouldgowayupnextyean" 4.079. a: Council approves Hillier WI ease ; can't even get into the washroom so this will make it totally accessible." Burris said approving the lease was necessary in order to allow the Institute to meet the July I deadline. l"l'his is a very ambitious project and if we fail to meet the deadline we will have to wait until WI HAS BEEN USING THE BALL SINCE 1914, BUT N'E-ED A LEASE AGREmENT 'ro QUALIFY FOR A TRILLIUM om Baucs BELL THE CouN'rv The Hillier Women’s Institute finally has an oili- cial home. However. they won’t need moving van as council agreed to terms on a five-year lease for the use of the Hillier Community Hall which will allow the November." she explained. “It takes 120 days to process a Trillium Grant application and if we don't get this looked at tonight they will not even look at application." The lease agreement was amended to exclude a group to apply for a $20.000 Trillium grant for upgrades to the facility. The Women's Institute has actually used the hall since 1914. but to meet the criteria for a grant. a lease is a necessity an council agreed to the terms wh group hand over $1 every your years. “This will make Hillier Hall totally accessible said councillor and Women's Institute member Peggy Burris. “We will be redoing the washrooms. replacing the old ramp and ins ic door. We have a member in a wheelchair who Breaking do ‘i Hillier WI receives 320,000.41] Trillium Fund money to improve access to Hillier Hall For 91 years the ladies of the Hillier Women’s Institute (WI) have lovingly cared forendmaintainedtheTownHalIinHillieLIn Mtheladiesoffiillierhavebeenmeetingui thelandrmrirlxrilding since 1914. But likealotof older buildings, not much allowancewasmadeintheoriginalde‘ignfor those in wheelchairs. with strollers or those whohnverlificultymovingaroundingermtl. The HillierWI has taken it upon themselves torunedythisoversightmtweekthey armmoed they had been successful in their application for fimding a project to improve mwflwoommtmityhall. repair and maintenance clause as Burris stated “we are not interested in taking over the manage merit ofthe hall.‘ A number of councillors expressed concern over the speed the agreement was completed but. were assured by community services commissioner Barry Braun everything was in order. The project is slated to proceed in three stages with the washrooms to be completed first. Burris said if the grant is unsuccessful. the group would move on with a fundraising campaign. “The price of coconut creme pies is going to have to go up.“ quipped Burris. g 5/30/114- d Monday night ' ich will see the for the next five tailing an automat. wn barriers The Mum nude lthappen: l-R Marylin Rennie, Brenda Dunlry, Peggy hurls. Betty Staplctan and let Ann Sammell The Ontario Trillium Fund has granted a: group‘s request for 520.000 to convert the existing two washrooms in the hall into three family washrooms. one ofwhieh will he wheelchair accessible. A new ramp is also being inmlled outside and as well as an automatic door opener. 'l'hetotaleostofthework isestimatedtotopmorethan $21,000, of which the Trillium Fund will coverthe bulk The Hillier WI will cover the rest of the expense. It’s the municipality‘s job to ensure their buildings, including Hillier Hall. are unassihle but as Peggy Burris, cotmeillor and long time Hillier WI member. points out. “we (Council) have 80 WNW“ you multiply that by $20,000 and you want us to do them all at onceâ€"then don't talktomelbmittaxecgoingup." “We (Cormty Council) have a commitment to making municipal buildings accessible. but it‘s not going to happen amnion “InHiIlier, the lerm feltthatwe needed todo it here. Wehavenmanbu‘whomdsit. Wedecidedmtakerccponâ€" aibility and do it. In a way it is just a continuation of our omnintioo's tradition of looking alter this hall." Ofien overlooked as a mnrginal issue. affecting only a small portion of the population. accessibility initiativs have hem difiicult to fund But a survey conducted by BMG Group during the operational review of Community Sewices may be about to turn this conventional thinking on its head. According to Burris. the poll found that “of 70 people sur- veyed, 40 of them indicated they didn't mend public funcâ€" tion because of accessibility problems." It‘s clear fiom these findings that poor accessibility is a barrier to many more people in this community than is generally considered Burris felt it was appropriate that the funding announce- ment come as it did at the December meeting of the Hillier WI. “Our December meeting we traditionally prepare cookie trays and distribute to families in need in the community." said Burris. "As well we have a quilt that we made at our November meeting. ll will go to the Children's Aid Societyâ€"we do that every year. They use it as part of their Christmas exchange. This is kind of a giving meeting nadi- tionaIIyâ€"that is why I think it was appropriate to announce Burris believes it will be memory for otheroonununitiu this funding at this meeting." will be doing the work " a to also pitch in ifflrey expectto sec improved accessibility The work is expected to be undenr/ay in the spring of Alter nine the 4 _ . dead-5. H I in public buildings any timesoon. 2006. ' I!“ h!“ wnll soon be open to allmembersofthecommunitthlnksmdtecfiortsofthe “It‘s a winâ€"win." said Burris. “We are getting I mm?“ Hillier Women’s Institute 7/7115 Marl-or needed improvement to the hall. and two local contractors “Conmnlnio'es need to become involved in their buildings and on map." said Bunk. m.