Controversy erupted in Wednesday's city council meeting over Mayor John Rodriguez's proposal to borrow $30 million to fix roads.
Rodriguez asked for consent from council to direct city staff from finance and infrastructure to investigate the options for securing $30 million for an emergency roads program and identifying what projects should be carried out.
In the end, the mayor's motion was carried-seven votes to four.
The money could be borrowed either from the city's capital reserves, from outside or a combination of both.
“I announced at the State of the City address a one time boost of $30 million for roads. So now I am asking the concurrence (agreement) from council for two reports from staff so we can discuss this item,” said Rodriguez.
Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan shot back that the first he had heard of the mayor's $30 million roads plan was on the radio.
“My concern is that the preliminary numbers for our upcoming budget are getting scary. We need to talk about this $30 million plan before it goes to staff,” said Callaghan.
Rodriguez said he was not asking council to spend $30 million immediately.
“We do not have all the facts for a debate. I am asking for some facts. I say we have to think outside the box. Every day I get comments about the state of our roads, how terrible they are. We have to tackle this problem,” he said.
Ward 11 Coun. Janet Gasparini said that borrowing money for roads would be a major policy shift for city council.
“If we want to borrow money we need a policy debate first. We have a long term policy of not borrowing money for roads. This is a major shift for us and will tie up staff time,” said Gasparini.
Lorella Hayes, Greater Sudbury chief financial officer, said only a couple of days would be taken up with the request.
However, Greg Clausen, Greater Sudbury manager of infrastructure, said his staff person, Bob Falcioni, director of roads, would be tied up for a minimum of two weeks on the task.
The discussion then reverted to how much money the city had in its capital reserves.
“I noted from a report to priorities committee that we have $100 million in the bank,” said Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino.
Hayes said the amount in reserves can vary depending on the cash flow need of the city.
“Money comes in and goes out. We would have to see if $30 million can be taken out so that the borrowing could be internal,” said Hayes.
Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau said it is obvious the current roads program is not working.
“I was in Sault Ste Marie recently. All kinds of people told me how bad our roads are from their own personal experience. I support the mayor. Maybe $30 million is not enough,” said Barbeau.
Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis agreed there are problems with the city's infrastructure.
“In 2001 the capital reserves were $66 million. Now they are $100 million. Even if we have to go outside, the cost of borrowing has got to be less than watching the cost of repairing infrastructure rise. Asphalt costs are climbing. Construction tenders are rising,” said Dupuis.
