Editor:
Remember that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?"
We intend to vote no to the money referendum to borrow $7.4 million because this council cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of the electorate, as shown by their performance since their inauguration. This "Gang of Five" has fooled the constituents too often.
In our opinion, council failed to act responsibly both fiscally and morally. Among other things, they consistently make council decisions in secrecy, disallowing public input. They incurred costly court costs, spent money on unusable golf carts costing us for storage, formed a costly corporation hoping to attract new businesses to Sechelt rather than assist local businesses who already pay taxes, tried to create a costly and unnecessary roundabout where there isn't much traffic, tried to make Cowrie a one-way street and paved a road with private portions not belonging to the District.
They spent $25 million on a sewage plant in the middle of town rather than use the purchased eight-acre parcel and build a very good sewage plant that cost only $16 million. Council ignored the consultant's $250,000 advice recommending the location, instead giving the proponent the right to choose the residentially zoned location on Ebbtide. Residents in the area were given no right to speak to the issue. Ironically, only three councillors will be paying sewer user fees.
If the referendum passes, what grandiose projects might the Gang of Five envision as emergency use? They like spending money.
We cannot trust this council. Vote no.
Betty-Anne and Sandor Pap
Sechelt
