OLDS — In order to save money and “streamline the process of distributing community grants,” the town no longer has a Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) board, chief administrative officer Brent Williams says.
Grant request analysis and distribution will now basically be looked after by administrative staff, although council can still weigh in on requests if it wishes.
Council made that decision during its Oct. 24 meeting. It took effect immediately.
“The application and approval process for FCSS grants will remain the same, with a call for applications and a final review/decision by council,” Williams wrote in an email to the Albertan.
During that same meeting, a decision to disband the town’s public art advisory committee and replace it with an ad hoc committee (also to save money) was ratified.
"The committee still exists with its current volunteer members, but is organized in administration as opposed to council,” Williams wrote.
Additionally, council passed a motion thanking all those who had volunteered on that board and committee.
During discussion on the matter, Coun. Harvey Walsh questioned how the grant process will work now.
"It’s my understanding in discussion with community services that pretty much all the preparation work happens at the administration level and that framework exists,” Williams said.
Williams also said it’s still possible that community input could occur before – or when – potential grants come to council for consideration.
He also said that “all applications would be under the purview of council to review, even the ones that were not successful.”
"At the end of the day, council does have the authority to grant those monies and disagree, so to speak, with administration,” he added.
Coun. Wanda Blatz, a former member of the FCSS board, noted that often grant recipients do come to council to make a presentation and/or convey their thanks to council.
She was assured that will likely still be the case.
