A heated discussion followed donations to food banks in Richmond Co.
Councillor Jason MacLean questioned Brian Marchand, the municipality’s warden, as to why funding has been changed at December’s regular council meeting Monday night.
MacLean said the change led to less money for the two food banks in his district; each received $2,000 for a number of years.
He said the change forced him to split money between his district’s food banks in L’Ardoise and Potlotek, giving them only $1,000 each, while $4,000 went to Isle Madame’s food bank- $2,000 each from James Goyetche and Alvin Martell, the island’s two councillors.
After Monday’s meeting, Marchand told The Hawk Goyetche felt money wasn’t being fairly divided according to population and need, and started discussions to change the process.
“The ultimate decision was to divide it by district, and the councillors would decide how they wanted it to be divided,” he said. “They could have divided it any way they wanted.”
Marchand said councillors could have donated their $2,000 to any food bank.
He said MacLean could have requested additional funding from any of his fellow councillors.
