Room rental gaffe?

For the second time in recent months Cramahe Township has lost a rental in Rotary Hall at the Keeler Centre.

Earlier this summer the Meekes family had to move its wedding when someone in the township office booked the wedding reception on the same date as the Rotary Auction. The Meekes moved their reception to Brighton.

Former Cramahe Reeve Stu Oliver inquired at the township office about the cost of renting the hall for an afternoon to hold his 50th wedding anniversary party. He was told it would be $500, a price he thought was too high.

He took his business to the Colborne Legion where he paid $110.

A friend of Stu's, John Rutherford was concerned about the situation and asked Cramahe Council about it at the September 15 meeting.

Director of Community Services, Dan O'Brien clarified the room rates, stating that the whole hall on a weekend costs $500 for a full day. It's half that for four hours.

Mr. Oliver felt he would need the hall for 5-6 hours.

Cramahe Chief Administrative Officer, Christie Alexander stated she thought there was some miscommunication when the client thought he would have to pay the full-day rate.

When the former reeve spoke to Councillor Ed Van Egmond about the problem prior to the event, the councillor assured him the rent would not be $500. Mr. Oliver should contact Ms. Alexander to get the correct price.

That brought the reposnse from Mr. Rutherford that the $500 was the (original) price quoted by the township office.

The audience at the meeting was assured that the situation was not a problem created by having the bookings done in the township office and not the Keeler Centre.