Councillors contradict Bowman; say reports of rec centre closures are accurate

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This article was published 10/02/2015 (3958 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Questions are being raised by some councillors over the credibility of Mayor Brian Bowman and finance chairman Marty Morantz with their denials that wading pools and other recreational facilities were targeted in the 2015 budget.

Couns. Ross Eadie and Jason Schreyer said they were puzzled by Bowman’s and Morantz’ denials, adding it made them look as if they had been scare-mongering or misleading the public.

“There was nothing inaccurate about the report,” Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) said of the news story first reported by Free Press last week. “Senior administration officials came to my office, along with a member of EPC and the only thing they talked about was the proposed closing of three wading pools in my ward and closing and selling the East End Cultural and Leisure Centre.”

Eadie (Mynarski) said he found it hard to believe that Bowman and Morantz were unaware of what he and the other councillors were being told about the proposed budget cuts.

“I wasn’t lying,” Eadie said. “The (facilities) were proposed for closing and they were meeting with us. I think they saw the public backlash and are denying the facilities were even targets.”

The Free Press reported last week that Bowman and his EPC had proposed closing 30 wading pools, closing three outdoor pools, closing the indoor pool at Bernie Wolfe school in Transcona, closing two leisure centres, and reducing programming and hours of operation at five indoor pools.

Four councillors — Cindy Gilroy, Scott Gillingham, and Eadie and Schreyer — said they had been approached individually by senior administration officials with a series of planned cuts to recreational programming in their ward. Combined, the cuts would produce $500,000 in savings this year and $1 million annually thereafter. The councillors said they were told not to discuss the closings with anyone.

Three other councillors who asked not to be identified, including a member of Brian Bowman’s executive committee, confirmed the meetings had taken place and the recreation cuts were under consideration.

But Bowman and Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo) told other media the Free Press report was inaccurate. Bowman denied that wading pools will be closed.

Bowman’s office said he was in meetings Tuesday and not available for an interview.

Morantz repeated in an interview Tuesday that the initial news report was inaccurate but said nothing else.

“As chairman of finance, I would not discuss anything that is currently part of budget deliberations until the budget is tabled,” Morantz said. “The story is inaccurate. That’s all I have to say about it – it’s not accurate.”

Inner city advocate Marianne Cerilli said the confusion and denials about cuts to recreation programming highlights the need for greater openness and transparency surrounding the budget.

“We shouldn’t be finding out about what’s in the budget a week before it gets approved,” said Cerilli, chairwoman of the board of Friends of Sherbrook Pool, one the facilities slated to have its hours and programming reduced. “The process was supposed to be different this time. The budget information should be given to the public now so there is time to get community input.”

Eadie and Schreyer said Bowman only denied wading pools would be closed, adding they’re concerned the other facilities will be impacted through budget cuts.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca