LAURIE WEIR
RIDEAU LAKES — Council has voted to proceed with a detailed report on the long-running Chantry office project, a file that has spanned several terms of council and more than half a million dollars in spending.
The motion was brought forward by Coun. Paula Banks at regular council meeting on July 7, and seconded by Deputy Mayor Deborah Ann Hutchings. The request calls for a comprehensive timeline of all key decisions and milestones since the first open house at Portland Hall, an itemized breakdown of how approximately $500,000 has been spent, and copies of all related design drawings.
In a recorded vote, councillors Hutchings, Paula Banks, Jeff Banks, Sue Dunfield and Linda Carr supported the motion. Opposed were councillors Marcia Maxwell, Ron Pollard, newly appointed Coun. Dustin Bulloch, and Mayor Arie Hoogenboom.
Bulloch questioned the impact the request would have on staff workload.
“What’s the estimated amount of time staff would require to do this work?” he asked. “This strikes me as a tremendous amount of additional workload.”
CAO Shelley Fournier said staff would need more clarity, particularly around the request for drawings.
“I would like to clarify bullet point number three — copies of all associated design drawings,” she said. “Are we talking 30 per cent, 60 per cent, 90 per cent for both projects? That could be 600 pages. Or are they just wishing to see the final drawings?”
Bulloch suggested council consider deferring the request.
“This might be something that is more beneficial once we’ve moved past this stage,” he said, “and are putting together a final report as to how everything came together from Portland to now. I just want to make sure staff’s time is being respected.”
Coun. Banks emphasized that the motion is not time-sensitive.
“I don’t care if this is done in 2026,” she said. “We’ve talked about this office for 25 years, and we’ve spent — I don’t know — I’ve heard $500,000, I’ve heard $560,000. Where did that money go? What drawings did it go to? What year? I don’t mean detailed drawings or blueprints.”
Hutchings supported the request, calling it necessary for transparency and future planning.
“A good businessperson would know where you spent your money, when you spent your money, and what you should spend on next,” she said. “Not knowing where things are — and being a new councillor sitting here — I would like to see the work done.”
Councillors Maxwell and Pollard sided with Bulloch, noting much of the background information is already publicly available.
Pollard added that the project had not been under active development for 25 years, but closer to five.
Despite the division, council passed the motion. Staff will now determine what level of detail is feasible and when the report can be delivered.
