View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores
View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores
View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores
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In February <strong>of</strong> this year, the <strong>Lambton</strong> <strong>Shores</strong>’ Council met with Mr. Radocchia from the<br />
Building Canada Fund – Communities Component and reviewed the status <strong>of</strong> the Grand<br />
Bend Area Sewage Treatment Facility project and was assured that alternatives that<br />
meet the original criteria and goals could be submitted for consideration by the Building<br />
Canada “oversight committee”. It was noted by Mr. Radocchia that any alternative<br />
proposed would need to meet the original project completion date <strong>of</strong> March 31, 2016,<br />
and no other deadlines were specified at that time.<br />
<strong>The</strong> letter from the Joint Secretariat notes that should the <strong>Municipality</strong> not proceed with<br />
the project as originally contemplated remedies may be sought, up to termination <strong>of</strong> the<br />
agreement. Your letter also indicates that any proposed scope changes must be<br />
submitted for approval by the deadline <strong>of</strong> September 14, 2012. Council wishes to make<br />
the Joint Secretariat aware that these issues were discussed with Mr. Radocchia during<br />
the February 2012 meeting. At that meeting Council outlined their plan to review<br />
alternatives, and confirmed with Mr. Radocchia that the plan was to meet with the Joint<br />
Secretariat throughout the review process to ensure that there would be no implications<br />
to the funding received for this project.<br />
As noted above, a technical working committee has been struck to review alternative<br />
sewage treatment technologies. This committee has retained the services <strong>of</strong> Stantec<br />
Consulting to assist in the review, and we can confirm that Stantec will be contacting the<br />
Joint Secretariat and the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Environment representatives in the very near future<br />
for a pre-consultation meeting to review those technologies that have been identified to<br />
date. <strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> this meeting is to ensure that any proposed changes to this project<br />
will be within the scope <strong>of</strong> our funding application.<br />
Council would like to make the Joint Secretriat aware that if feels the <strong>Municipality</strong> has<br />
proceeded in good faith with this project, and has made reasonable efforts to involve the<br />
staff members <strong>of</strong> the Joint Secretariat during the past several months to demonstrate<br />
that the project is proceeding. Council also feels that reasonable efforts have been<br />
made to make the Joint Secretariat aware that possible scope changes could be<br />
pending for this project, and that the Joint Secretariat has had opportunity throughout<br />
the process to be involved and <strong>of</strong>fer comment. As a result, Council finds the setting <strong>of</strong> a<br />
September 14, 2012 deadline to be arbitrary, and feels that such a deadline could<br />
negatively affect the review process.<br />
As demonstrated above, the Council <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lambton</strong> <strong>Shores</strong> believes that this project is<br />
proceeding, and remains on track to be completed by the March 31, 2016 deadline. At<br />
this point in time Council does not recognize the basis on which the Joint Secretariat<br />
has decided to withhold payment <strong>of</strong> claim number 10, and all subsequent claims.<br />
Council respectfully requests that the Joint Secretariat reconsider this position and<br />
reimburse Claim 10.<br />
<strong>Lambton</strong> <strong>Shores</strong> Council looks forward to your reply, and would welcome the<br />
opportunity to speak directly with representatives <strong>of</strong> the Joint Secretariat.<br />
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