Dear Councilors,

I read in the Heritage of Tuesday, September 28, that the City is hiring a project manager for the proposed LVEC. This person is to be given "the power of a commissioner" and a contract for three years paying "up to $2000.00 a week".

The budget approved by the Council covers only the year 2004, and does not go beyond. Making a commitment at this time for a three years contract leads us to believe that no matter whether the site is feasible or not, no matter what the priorities are, LVEC will go ahead despite strong opposition from the citizens.

I suggest Council finds out the details about the total package, like conditions of termination, benefit package, etc. I found it so outrageous that, while the City does not find money to help its citizens who experienced floods, it has plenty of money to hire a project manager, for a project that has yet to prove to be feasible!

I understand that the Council will debate the priority of different projects on the long list of "things to do" of the City. Does this mean that your opinion, as Councilors, is not that important and that somebody has already made the decision that LVEC is first priority? If so, why do you bother meeting?

I apologize for the anger that filters through this letter. I attended the Memorial Centre public meeting where it became obvious that, not only are the citizens strongly opposed to the sale they are outraged by the mere idea. The LVEC would potentially lose its main funding. The LVEC would also potentially cost over $50 Mil. (this new amount does not seem to be substantiated, just another guess, as the $28.5 Mil. originally publicized). Where is all this money coming from when we have no money to help our own citizens in need? Don't you feel that you are too generous with the taxpayers money?

I believe it is about time to have a wide public consultation about the priorities on City's list, before engaging any more funding. This will mean democracy.

Irena Manoliu
Resident