Public needs more information, input

Summerside City Council is contemplating the purchase of a $23-million dollar generator for our city’s electrical plant. Greg Gaudet, Director of Municipal Services, gave a presentation to a committee approximately two weeks ago, just after the yearly budget for 2018-2019 was approved.

Coun. Tyler DesRoche, was somewhat concerned and made a motion that this project go to full Council. Smart move.

The City of Summerside is tied to Maritime Electric, we have our own wind farm and recently invested millions into solar panels, and this new proposal is recommending an off-Island contract for the purchase and installation of this generator. This project requires, in my opinion, to be fully disclosed to the citizens prior to any vote.

Maybe a public forum would be of some assistance, as we are talking about $23 million taxpayer dollars.

Councillors and mayors are elected to manage the finances of the city prudently, with openness and transparency, which must include informing the taxpayers the actual costs and value of such a project.

To try and pass such a project at a committee meeting, is very upsetting, if in fact this is what happened. We, the taxpayers, should have an update debt number - to the penny - prior to approving a project of this magnitude.

Also very disturbing is this project was not mentioned during budget discussions, but in fact, surfaced very shortly after the budget was passed.

David Griffin, Summerside