Ms. Leclair et al.:

       I take strong exception with the contentions in your email of February 27th. In short, I feel it is nothing but blatant obfuscation. As I am sure you are aware, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, Section
A.2.1 states: "To ensure that the planning and design process is easily traceable, the proponent shall ensure
       that:
       - the analysis is understandable to the reasonable lay observer;
       - all conclusions drawn from the analysis follow logically from the information gathered and presented; and,
       - a reasonable lay observer is able to replicate the conclusions based on the information presented."

       It is my opinion that the City has been less than transparent and cooperative in regard to this section of the Act.  The prime example is the infamous "Annex E" of your May 2, 2003 report which purportedly demonstrates how the City compared the cost of the pipeline solution to the Munster Hamlet wastewater problem with the two on-site proposals.  The comparison deals with the capital, 20, 60 and 90 "year  life cycle" costs.  How the City derived any of the 20, 60 or 90 year figures is nothing short of "black box" hocus-pocus as demonstrated by the calculation that the maintenance for the pipeline will cost less for the "90-year life cycle" than it will for the "60-year life cycle". This issue still awaits clarification from City Staff, notwithstanding the fact that City Legal Services has threatened one individual who has been continually stonewalled by City Staff regarding his queries of these data.

       You mentioned "additional investigations", but when I inquired as to what they entailed you now indicate that this information can be found in the Richmond Public Library.  However, you do not indicate which library
document contains the information; i.e. whether it is the Richmond Pumping  Station Study or some other tome. Consequently, I would request that you more adequately describe where the information from this additional investigation is located.  Would I be wrong to conclude that you are referring to another informational "black box"?

       The Information Bulletins to which you allude were described by City Staff as being answers to the questions raised at the September 23rd Open House. Unfortunately, they contain generic information which can only be described as informational pabulum. In short, because of the lack of forthrightness and transparency by City Staff in relation to the above Act, avenues of redress are currently being evaluated under this Act and other legislation by Richmond residents.

(http://www.ottawasewergatefiasco.com/rchmd/agenda_040308.htm)

       As for the actual construction of the force main starting in March, we were recently told by two different Councilors that they were not informed by City Staff that there had been two breaks in the twinning forcemain

from the Richmond pumping station. In addition, Mr. Hewitt was quoted in the September 24, 2003 edition of  The Ottawa Citizen as saying that the forcemain was the cost that Richmond had to pay for "... being associated with an urban environment". This statement is grossly misleading since Richmond does not have city water and therefore, should not be considered an urban environment. Consequently, many Richmond residents have concluded that City Staff has presented less than a complete information package to the Ministry of the Environment regarding its Certificate of Approval (C of A) application.  Therefore, Richmond residents are currently evaluating their redress options.  Richmond residents also believe that the City is not
abiding by the most recent Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decision. Richmond residents are also evaluating their OMB redress options.

       Recently, Councilor Stavinga publicly stated that one cannot compare the twinning pipeline with the pipeline that will be used from Munster Hamlet to the Richmond pumping station.  Is Councilor Stavinga
implying that the City's best engineering expertise wasn't brought to bear when the twinning pipeline was chosen? In regard to the twinning, I am sure that City Staff is aware that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans considers the Jock River a navigable waterway.  Therefore, would you please indicate  whether the City did an Environmental Assessment for the twinning and whether the City did one for the construction that you indicate is about to commence?

       In regard to the current construction which will eventually place a wastewater forcemain along Cockburn Street, I would ask whether there is a minimal distance that this forcemain must be located from existing cased
wells?  I would point out that City contractors are also verbally threatening Cockburn Street residents. Does this help you to understand why there is a cry for de-amalgamation?

       As indicated in your May 2, 2003 report, the Region/City paid a contractor over $1 M to cancel its contract while awaiting the most recent OMB decision regarding the Munster Hamlet forcemain. As stated in the October 2, 2003 issue of  The Ottawa Citizen, irregularities with the on-site wastewater RFP has resulted in a series of lawsuits with the City being somewhat in the middle. Unfortunately, City ratepayers can only watch the whole Munster Hamlet forcemain situation with amazement and disbelief as City Staff continue to bungle along as our tax dollars keep merrily going down the drain! Some would call  this a textbook case of a breach of public fiduciary responsibility.

       In closing, while you indicate that "... the (forcemain) project is about to begin construction and that further debate ... is  not a productive use of staff time", I would humbly suggest that the forcemain is not a fait accompli.  Richmond's concerns and  issues with the Munster Hamlet forcemain will continue to be expressed and pursued until the "Fat Lady" sings - to use that oh so familiar sport parlance!

 Doug Arnold

 Richmond

 

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----- Original Message -----
From: Stevenson, Bonnie
To: 'rick.arnold@sympatico.ca'
Cc: Stavinga, Janet ; Hewitt, Richard ; Hume, Peter E
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 2:48 PM
Subject: FW: Munster forcemain - (Thoughts)

Mr. Arnold.

City staff have spent a considerable amount of time and effort responding to yours and other similar questions regarding the Munster project history and background. Extensive information is available in the public libraries in Richmond and Munster for your reference, and most recently three Information Bulletins were distributed and two public meetings held to keep members of the public informed about the project. Answers to your questions can be found in a review of this information.

The project is about to begin construction and further debate regarding project history and past decisions is not a productive use of staff time. If you have questions regarding the actual construction of the Munster Hamlet
Pumping Station and Forcemain, please contact the City Project Manager, Ryan Matthews, at 580-2424 extension 16211.

Thank you.

R.T. Leclair
General Manager
Transportation, Utilities and Public Works

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