BATHURST Regional Council has been asked to write-off more than $13,000 in waste management fees following a devastating fire at Glenray Industries.
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But councillors will have to go against the advice of senior council staff if they are to approve the waiver at Wednesday night's monthly council meeting.
A fire tore through the Glenray Industries building on Browning Street in the early hours of Saturday, May 5 last year, destroying Glenray's commercial laundry business.
Glenray is now back in business after its new state-of-the-art laundry opened in April, but has been left with a bill for $13,658.70 in fees for the Bathurst Waste Management Centre.
A report to councillors by corporate services and finance director Aaron Jones said the bill was for the disposal of waste that was unearthed during the clearing of the site in preparation for the laundry rebuild - and after Glenray's initial insurance claim had been settled.
"... As the insurance claim had been finalised, the waste management centre fees for this additional material was unable to be claimed," the report states.
"Accordingly, Glenray are seeking council to waive the additional waste management centre fees.
"As council's Section 356 Donations allocation has been fully committed, it is recommended that council decline this request."
What do you think?
However, the report also offers councillors the option of funding a fees write-off - either in part or in full - by "offsetting the waste management centre revenue" and at least one councillor wants to hear more.
Cr Monica Morse said she hoped a compromise could be found to support Glenray and its work.
"I would hope that we could do something because they are a fantastic organisation," Cr Morse said.
"The new facility is amazing and it's amazing to see how many people with a disability work there.
"We haven't yet spoken about it as councillors, but I suspect we might see if we can do something."
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