![]() We are not in the school-building business,” Swan said, reiterating his concerns the request wasn’t vetted like other recent big-ticket plans. Swan appeared to lead that charge, saying city hall could only hand over the money if the province put more cash into the $66-million Kingsmill’s proposal. The split was reminiscent of sharp divides on council under former mayor Joe Fontana, who resigned last month after his fraud-related convictions from his time as a Liberal MP and was replaced by Baechler.Ĭiting issues ranging from the risk of losing Kingsmill’s heritage facade, to the fact constituents have expressed opposition, the Fanshawe pact was rejected by councillors Bud Polhill, Bill Armstrong, Joe Swan, Stephen Orser, Paul Van Meerbergen, Denise Brown and Sandy White. With 14 politicians present - Dale Henderson was absent - council split 7-7 on a push to delay a decision, then split identically on whether to fork over the money. It’s clear about half of council didn’t support putting $10 million over 10 years into the school’s downtown campus - it’s already received $20 million from city hall - despite effusive city staff support. But it may just keep the campus at one building, now open, and not expand any further. a game-changing opportunity for the city to double - double - the number of students and staff in downtown London for an additional $10 million,” he said.ĭevlin didn’t rule out that the school may still buy Kingsmill’s, with a smaller-scale plan. “We will size up our options,” Fanshawe President Peter Devlin said after a riven council turfed the school’s request for $10 million to help buy the soon-to-be-vacant Kingsmill’s building on Dundas St. New leader, same old divided city council.Ī meeting that began Tuesday with recently-appointed Mayor Joni Baechler urging greater teamwork ended with one of the most fractious debates of council’s whole term - and a fatal blow to Fanshawe College’s plans for a pumped-up downtown London campus. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.
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