Port Hope is moving ahead with the sale of the former George Hamilton School property after council rejected a bid to reconsider the decision.
Council first declared the site surplus in January 2025, but staff recently asked council to take another look. Chief Administrative Officer Mike Melinyshyn said new information and possible future uses, including a health hub, had raised questions about whether selling now was the right move.
Some councillors were frustrated the original direction to sell had not been carried out. Others argued the municipality should keep the property in case its value rises or it becomes useful later.
Port Hope bought the property for about $572,000 in 2021. A staff report said the original plans for the site never came together.
The reconsideration needed support from at least five of seven council members. It failed 4-3, with councillors Todd Attridge, Claire Holloway Wadhwani and Vicki Mink voting against it.
That means the surplus designation stays in place and staff will move forward with selling the property.
The decision also comes as Port Hope pursues 39 Pine Street North for municipal staff space.
