Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman is perplexed why council backtracked on a decision to hire a full-time asset manager.

Norman says the municipality needs this position quickly so it can get funding from the Canada Community Building Fund, formally known as the Gas Tax.

“You need to have this completed to show what our physical assets are, how old they are, the value of them, when we think they’re going to break, where are we going to get the money when they do break, how are we going to replace them, which ones we’re going to replace. [The] federal government dictates you must have this done, every municipality,” said Norman.

When staff learned the cost of the employee wouldn't be covered under a federal fund they found funding from the province to pick up the tab—if an application had been made by Friday, Jan. 28.

“So, I was completely knocked with a board when half of council defeated the motion,” said Norman.

Council now has to decide if they will pay 100 per cent of a full-time asset manager salary or hire someone on a contract basis and have a portion covered by the Community Building Fund.

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