By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
After five-months of refining agreements and providing three delegations before Council, the Town of Essex agreed to extend By-Law 1722, being a By-Law to lease 343 square feet at the Essex Centre Sports Complex to Chittle Sports Academy (CSA), until December 31, 2024. It also agreed to enter a lease for workout space at the Essex Centre Sports Complex with Chittle Sports Academy to operate within the Libro Rink Hallway at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
Pat Chittle first appeared before Council in June. Chittle has been operating Chittle Sports Academy – a sports training school – since 2006, and leasing space from the Town for the operation since 2012. Originally, 1,860 square-feet of space on the first floor below the stands in the Libro Rink was allocated, then in 2018, Chittle Sports Academy formally requested a reduction in leased space for the off-ice training, wanting two dedicated rooms for a total square footage of 340-squarefeet.
In 2021, this lease agreement was extended for an additional three-years, which was to expire in August of this year.
It was noted at the June meeting, Chittle Sports Academy wanted to again expand into the hallway, with a further request to utilize additional storage rooms and wanted a start date of June 1. Council postponed Chittle Sports Academy’s request to expand its lease at the Essex Centre Sports Complex at the time to give administration time to work with user-groups and the Academy. Reps from the Essex73’s and some Councillors voiced concerns at the time.
The matter returned in August, and Council directed Administration to continue working with all parties to further communicate and agree on the terms of the lease as concerns still existed. Chittle said he successfully worked with Town administration and the Essex 73’s Junior “C” hockey team to complete a mutual shared space agreement, as Council requested one previously.
He shared the hallway space will provide for dry-land training, youth development, health, fitness for teams and individuals, and sport-specific training with hockey being a big piece of that passion.
“In completion of the shared space agreement, we are excited, our current members are excited, and our waitlisted clients – in anticipation of your approval – we are all excited to get things kicked-off,” Chittle said, hoping “Council will see the innovation, benefits, and possibilities behind our passion.”
Councillor Kim Verbeek thanked Chittle for sticking with it and working with administration on completing the lease.
“For a little while there, I was getting a little nervous that we would lose this wonderful service,” Verbeek said.
Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services, noted that some of the notable changes included ensuring all parties were in agreeance the construction of the wall was to be at the cost of CSA, CSA would stay within the confines of the leased space, the 73’s will have a key to access the area for game and practice times, CSA will leave a 5’ corridor through the space for access for the 73’s as a throughway.
In addition, CSA can not conduct business 1.5hrs before 73’s games. Business can start after the game begins, but throughway traffic after and through game times must be able to get through. 73’s will have access to the area one hour before practice times. CSA knows game and practice times may vary.
An operational camera will also need to be installed within the confines of the space to alleviate concerns about potential damage.
While the 73’s are not in favour of any business takin glace in the hallway area, its reps did relay they would be able to work with this agreement with these terms in place, Morassut noted.
Councillor Rodeny Hammond noted he did not agree with giving discounts to for-profit organizations in terms of ice rental. He also noted he was a little disappointed in the Essex 73’s, as a lot of the youths participating in the CSA programming are aspiring hockey players with a goal of making this team one day. He thought it would have been a great opportunity for those youths to mingle with their mentors.
Councillor Joe Garon said he was happy an agreement was made in working out some of the concerns. He agreed with Hammond on the ice rental reduction.
Morassut explained that primetime ice hours are on weekdays between 4:30pm and 11pm and on weekends from 7am until 11pm. Non-prime hours are mostly outside of those hours. The discounted rate was intended for daytime ice time on weekdays, which is half off the non-prime rate, from 7am until 4:30pm. Typically, it is schools, gym classes, and academies that use those hours.
There is little utilization of non-prime rates. The rate provided to Chittle was negotiated in previous lease agreements and carried over, Morassut noted. He added there has not been another group to ask for that. If one did, it would go through the Finance Committee and would be funded through the Community Partnership Grant, if approved.
Verbeek added the times CSA rents ice would likely not be rented by other organizations. She spoke of how that discount allows costs to be kept low for participants.
Garon can get on board with allowing the hallway usage. He still believes there needs to be a Town policy with respect to rentals on properties the Town owns. In regards to ice time, he would prefer it be at the non-prime rate.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley was glad to see a workable agreement get completed.
All revenue from the lease will go into the Essex Centre Sports Complex operating budget, to assist with offsetting increasing operating expenses.
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