Village in loop for sale
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The Village of Cumberland will be consulted on the proposed sale of properties around the Cumberland Health Centre — but what that means is unclear, said Mayor Fred Bates.
“That term is pretty wide open,” said Bates about the details of a consultation process.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority announced last week that it intends to sell the three surplus properties as one way to make up a $45-million shortfall Islandwide.
The idea of selling those properties has been raised before, and criticized by Cumberland council which says it should stay in the hands of the community.
In 2007, when VIHA undertook a review to identify surplus properties, Cumberland spoke out in defence of the land.
It had originally belonged to the Cumberland Hospital Board, and was paid for by community donations. When the hospital board was collapsed into the Comox Valley Health Council, it was agreed that if the land was not needed for health services, that it would revert to the town in recognition of the community’s contribution.
That agreement didn’t carry over when the health council became part of the broader VIHA.
“Village council has indicated in the past that as long as it was used for something that would enhance health services, it was OK,” said Bates.
While VIHA said last week that it would work with the village to sell the property, Bates said what that means remains unclear.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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