Knot so fast.

Several weeks after denying funding for the Barrie Region Innovation Exchange (BRIX), city council is scheduled to reopen debate on the item during a special meeting March 9.

In a split vote Feb. 10, council denied a $300,000 grant for the not-for-profit organization formerly known as the Barrie Community Woodshop. BRIX wants to renovate a unit at 59 Maple Ave. to offer classes and make workshop space and tools available for a variety of trades, including digital design, digital fabrication and textiles.

The decision caught several councillors and an audience gallery full of tradespeople off guard because the item had passed unanimously in general committee the previous week. At the time, Mayor Jeff Lehman said he was “pretty confused” by council’s reversal.

“Respectfully, what happened?” he said. “I guess you want something stronger around the business case. They provide a space for community members to do very good work. Almost every member of council spoke fairly glowingly in favour of this.”

Coun. Mike McCann, who voted against the proposal, criticized the mayor's argument and called for more detail.

“I don’t think it’s a big secret, Mayor Lehman. You and I don’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues,” he said. “I really think tonight there was a line crossed. It was crossed by you. You abused your position a little bit by hammering hard on the $300,000. You sold that really hard.”

Grant funding is to be contingent on BRIX demonstrating its ability to raise funds through other sources, negotiate a minimum 10-year lease and develop a long-term plan for the woodshop.

Council's denial also put into doubt a proposed woodshop subsidy of $35,000 in each of the next two years.

“I don’t know what we’re afraid of,” Deputy Mayor Barry Ward said at the time. “All we’re approving is two years to get them going to see if it’s going to work. In the meantime, they’re going to be working on other grants. If it doesn’t work, we’re not giving them the $300,000. It’s that simple.”