Re: The Failed Legacy Projects - Saturday, October 25, 2008

Read article here

To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published October 31, 2008 with some editing)

I appreciate Denis St. Pierre's reporting on the aftermath of the vote.

Your Worship, here is this lowly taxpayer's take on the situation. The main issue in the last election was road repair. People weren't happy with the state of local roadways. You may have talked about the legacy projects in your campaign, but I didn't notice. I wanted my roads fixed.

Two years into your term, we have had the roads budget substantially increased both years due to additional senior funding. Around $30 million per year, if I recall correctly. The problem is, other than a few major (largely overdone in my opinion) projects, the roads still suck. And I had seen no logical plan of how these deficiencies were going to be addressed until now with the shave and pave, although the streets to be done still weren't listed anywhere I saw. (Note to Robert Falcioni - if you are recommending a $30 million project to council, you should bring a list of prior examples to bolster your case). And the long overdue Maley Drive project cut to two lanes? Give me a break.

So now, let's forget how the current economy might curtail private and senior funding options. On the cost side alone I am concerned. When have we come in anywhere close to initial budgets on any major construction project in this region. And, in this case, if we had the funding for the original budget but incurred substantial extra costs, where would the additional funds come from? Remember the four-laning of MR 55, more than 50% above the original proposal.

Quite frankly, Mr. Mayor, you lost sight of the big issue from the last election. You haven't been able to lead or motivate staff to deal with what we said was our major complaint. I don't have faith that you or staff can deliver anything close to what you were promising in this omnibus motion, even if I did think it was all necessary. Why, oh why, did we extend the term to four years?

Now fix the roads and maybe we'll feel better about letting you build something else.

By the way, Ted Callaghan, I'm in your ward. You'll have my vote again next time if you choose to run.