Greater Napanee Town Council voted to remove a parcel of land from the surplus list this week, meaning it will not be sold to the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board for the expansion of J.J. O’Neill.
Bob Norrie, Councillor for ward 4 where the land is located, began the conversation by letting council know he recently spoke to the neighbours of the land who said parking in the area is not an issue and they do not want to lose their park.
Mayor Terry Richardson commented that green spaces are extremely important to our municipality.
Norrie made the motion that they remove the property from the surplus list and not sell it. That motion was passed with a 6-1 vote.
Councillor Dave Pinnell Jr. was the only opposed.
It was noted during their meeting this week that the school board shared to council at a previous meeting that weather they buy the land or not, they will go ahead with the expansion. This expansion would be creating 331 student learning spaces in 14 classrooms, along with 3 new child-care rooms, which will accommodate 49 licensed childcare spaces.
Written by Emily Chatwood