View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

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