Sudbury ward funds: Robert Kirwan calls for decision on contentious cash

A Sudbury councillor says he's becoming impatient about the future of the city's controversial ward funds.

Ward 5 Coun.Robert Kirwanwas hoping Tuesday for a decision on the Healthy Community Initiative funds, which provides each councillor with $50,000 to spend in their wards.

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It's been a few weeks since almost everybody who spoke at a public meeting called for the funds to stay in place, and Kirwan saidit's time for council to make a decision.

"We cannot just let this sit here, because there are some projects that need to get started this summer," he said at Tuesday's council meeting. "If we're not going to have theHCI then let's decide. If we are going to have it, then we've got some work to do."

Some critics, including the Greater Sudbury Taxpayers Association, have slammed the program, arguing that the moneymight be unfairly used to curry favour with certain voters, or be otherwise misspent.

But the majority of the speakers at a public-input session in late Marchrepresented community groups who listed how they've benefited from access to thetaxdollars.