Editor: To say that I am disappointed with council and administration over approving a contract for the construction of the Hub would be the most polite way to say it.
The less polite way to say it is that I feel deceived, misled, and left without answers.
My frustration with what is now a clear pattern leads me to this point – where I can no longer restrain my comments or to give certain players the benefit of the doubt.
The project that was promised to be under $53 million (already a waste of tax dollars), was shown at the Oct. 20 council meeting to be $52.8 million.
Plus $7 million in interest expenses that was never disclosed to council.
Plus a $3-million contingency on top of the $52.8 million that was never previously disclosed to council.
Plus $15-$20 million for a new fire hall – a budget that was never previously disclosed or approved by council.
Plus the fact that the contract has no cap, which was never previously disclosed to Council.
Administration now has a blank cheque with taxpayers’ money that will not be under $75 million and likely closer to $90-100 million. So much for “It will not be more than $53 million.”
That was the number we were fed for years. That was clearly not that important last Monday night.
Council’s decision did not reflect what I have been hearing since this Hub proposal began. It is unfortunate that the election is a year away and the voters didn’t get a say on the Hub. But when it comes, the voters should remember.
Michael Bondy
Chatham councillor
