Moncton council rejects plea for transparency about high school project

Shawn Crossman has failed to persuade his fellow Monctoncouncillors to back away from adevelopment proposal for the old Monctonhigh school that the public is not allowed to see.

I know for certain that there is no plan to save the theatre or the gym.- Shawn Crossman, Moncton councillor

Crossmanmade a motion this week asking council to withdraw support from Terra Trust/Bird Construction's secret proposal to turn the heritage building into something that only councillorsknow anything about.

On Tuesday morning, after hismotion was defeated 6-3, Crossman spilled a couple of details about the Terra/Bird proposal.

"I know for certain that there is no plan to save the theatre or the gym," he said on Information Morning Moncton.

InJanuary,council narrowly voted in favourof sending aletter of support to the province supporting the Terra/Bird project in principle. The province owns the former high school.

Council has also approved in principle the only other development proposedfor the old high school the MH Renaissance Inc. project that calls for a community centre in the heritage building, as well as moving the library into it.

No business plan yet

Earlier this year, council asked that Terra Trust/Bird Construction publicly present a business plan by April 30. The company didn't comply.

As a result, Crossman said at a meeting Monday night, council should withdraw its support.

"Obviously, Terra/Bird has no interest in sharing their plan with the public," he said.

Hismotion said the agreement between the city and the developer was broken when Terra Trust/Bird did not go public with its plan.

The six votes against the motion came from: Councillors BlairLawrence, CharlesLeger, Greg Turner, SusanEdgett, Robert McKee and MayorDawn Arnold.

Three votes in favour were from: CouncillorsPierreBoudreau, ShawnCrossmanand Bryan Butler.

CouncillorsPauletteTheriaultand PaulPellerinwere absent.

Letter from Terra Trust/Bird

Representatives from Terra Trust/Bird Constructiondidnot speak at the meeting but the developer submitteda letter to council, which was read by the mayor.

"We are certain that you and other members of council will understand the importance of respecting the confidentiality clauses inherent in contractual negotiations," the letter said.

The letter said theproposal will become public if the province sells the high school to TerraTrust/Bird Construction.

"Should our proposal be accepted by the provincial government, we will most certainly come before Council in a public session to present our plans for the redevelopment of the property."

Crossman, however, disagreed withthis approach to public business.

"There's no reason why this file needs to be financially or privately held back from the public," he told CBC News.

Concerns about building

Crossmanis a strong proponent of asecond proposalmade by the Renaissance group of business people to turn the building into a community centre. It's known asMH35and would require funding to bring the building up to code.

Almostfive months after the developer made its secret proposal for the heritage building, the public is in the dark, andCrossmansaid hisconcernsabout the future of thebuildingare justified.

In its letter Terra Trust/Bird saiditappreciates the "public expectations" about the auditorium and gymnasium and "we have taken this into consideration."

Terra Trust/Bird could not be reached for a comment but in its letter said that the province is close to making a decision.

The Department of Transportation said it has, "toured the building with 25 different groups, but cannot disclose the names of prospective buyers."

The government did not confirm when it would come to a decision.