Details about the negotiations regarding the Railway Station Tourism Centre have been released.
The details were read in a report to Madawaska Valley Council and members of the public during Tuesday evening’s meeting. The negotiations, which have been ongoing since March, are between the township and the Madawaska Valley Culture and Heritage Society regarding the operation of the tourism centre.
The report states that the sides met three times in March, but an agreement couldn’t be reached because the parties couldn’t decide on the level of financial support the municipality would have to provide MVCHS to get started.
During the first round of negotiations, the report says that MVCHS had requested $160,000 from the township to begin operations and hire a full-time curator, who would run the Railway Station and apply for grants for the facility. The township offered to cover operating costs estimated at nearly $11,000, including up to $2500 for phone and internet services. The township also offered to pay nearly $19,000 to have a Visitor Centre Staff member there seven days a week for 22 weeks to keep the building open to the public from May through to September.
By the time the third round of negotiations circles around, Love’s report states the MVCHS was asking $90,000 in seed money on top of the operating and summer staff costs. The township offered $24,000 in seed money, which is in Railway Station Gallery reserves. $20,000 that is expected to be budgeted for the roof repairs was offered as well that could be placed in reserves to be used as matching funds to help leverage grant funding for additional repairs.
By the end of the negotiations, no agreement had been made and Madawaska Valley Council made the decision to open the Railway Station Tourism Centre on its own.
Madawaska Valley Mayor Kim Love said at the end of the report that council recognizes and appreciates the desire of the MVCHS directors to maintain the station as a vibrant community hub.
MVCHS says it still hopes to work with council to revitalize the Railway Station’s programming, but believes council’s offer would result in a bare-bones operation. The release, which can be found here, also says MVCHS feels strongly that the community deserves better.
