Letter to the Editor

It may be of interest to residents of Cumberland that the majority of Council voted in favour of starting the process to borrow $3,500,000 at its March 9 meeting.

This money is to pay for a still to be determined and costed “Village Sewer, Water and Drainage Improvement Project”. First, second and third reading of the required loan authorization bylaw sailed through Council approval, with no opportunity for public input.

So what will this mean to residents of Cumberland? It will be an additional increase to property owners, an amount still to be determined, either through increased property tax or utilities.

The financial implications are reason enough for public concern. But what about the opportunity for the public to have a say in the matter? I’d prefer to see a comprehensive and transparent public process that provides detailed information so the public and Council can make an informed decision. But, the only opportunity will be to turn down the borrowing bylaw by collecting signatures of 10% of electors.

Hopefully, further information on the “Village Sewer, Water and Drainage Project” and resulting borrowing bylaw will be available at the next Village Town Hall meeting.

Oh, and by the way, all of this is possible because of the Campbell Liberal government’s “Community Charter”.

Roger Kishi
Cumberland