Tonight! Cumberland Town Council Ordinance Sub Committee to Consider Ordinance Requiring Monthly Financial Statements for “The Lodge at Diamond Hill”
Tonight! The Town of Cumberland Town Council Ordinance Sub Committee will consider an Ordinance submitted by Coalition News Founder/Reporter Pat Ford, requiring a complete financial statement reporting performance and costs associated with the operation of the controversial Lodge at Diamond Hill.
“The Town of Cumberland, as part of an 8+ million dollar “investment” in Diamond Hill Park, decided to create the Lodge, whose principal use appears to be a Reception/Meeting Facility of sorts. In doing so, the Town has effectively entered into the domain of for-profit businesses, with a published rate schedule that places “The Lodge” in direct competition with local privately owned businesses. Reality? Local businesses are paying taxes to fund their competition.
At the same time, the Lodge was deemed inappropriate for use as a Summer Camp facility, during the construction surrounding Cumberland Schools. And, oddly, the Mayor has chosen to conduct children’s book readings there, despite the availability of the Cumberland Library.
All of this suggests a chaotic attempt at identity for a hastily conceived project, with little or no advance marketing … and presumably no source of ongoing fixed income to fund the operation and maintenance of the building. Complicating factors? The debt service of a multi million dollar bond, and accounting for the ongoing depreciation of the facility.
After two APRA’s that provided limited insight into the “true cost of doing business”, it is time to formalize financial reporting … Both for transparency, and management purposes. A clean financial statement, reporting fixed and variable expenses, is a reasonable ask, given the expense and complexity of the facility. The failure to support this common sense ordinance will reflect poorly on those that are opposed. The question would beg: Just what are the elected officials of the Town of Cumberland trying to hide?” – Pat Ford General Manager – The Coalition Radio Network
Town Councilor Lisa A. Beaulieu serves as Chair of the Ordinance Sub Committee. Upon passage, the Ordinance will be submitted to the entire Town Council for approval. The hearing will be held at the Cumberland Town Library Hayden Center, Meeting Room 3, at 6PM … 1464 Diamond Hill Road. Public Comment will be available at the close of the Meeting.
Consideration of a Tax Stabilization Agreement for the former Ann & Hope property will be conducted, as well.
Prior Reporting:
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