IS MAYOR MCFARLANE LYING TO SAINT JOHNERS????

letter, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

NB Telegraph-Journal | Saint John
As published on page B4 on April 15, 2006

Mayor denies city is ready to deal on Rockwood pipeline

By John Chilibeck
Telegraph-Journal

Saint John Mayor Norm McFarlane says there is no truth to reports that the city is about to enter into negotiations with a company that wants to put a pipeline through Rockwood Park.

Mr. McFarlane was asked to respond after a letter written by the president of the Saint John Horticultural Association to his members was leaked to the media late Thursday.

Wallace MacMurray's note suggests that the city, the Saint John Board of Trade and the Horticultural Association have decided to enter into negotiations to see what kind of benefits the municipality could get from a pipeline going through the park.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline's preferred route is through the middle of Rockwood, a plan which has been condemned by nature lovers and rejected by common council in two resolutions. The National Energy Board will make the final decision on the issue that has caused a deep rift in the community.

"The city of Saint John wants to start negotiations to establish just what community benefits will accrue to the city and our association," wrote Mr. MacMurray to the 20-odd members of the association. "They want a small committee, and have advised that it should be small, no more than four. There is a need to proceed quickly! One each from the Board of Trade, the Horticultural Association and two from City, Parks and Recreation and (the) deputy city manager."

Mr. MacMurray goes on to ask his board members for permission to form the special committee. "We cannot delay, so if I do not hear from you by Monday the 17th, I will assume that it is OK to proceed."

The mayor says the letter is nonsense.

"I don't know under what authority this is coming from. I've never seen this, we've never talked about it at the city and it was never before council. Council has the ultimate say on this issue, and this idea of negotiating has never been discussed. Someone's way out on a limb there."

Mr. McFarlane also denied that city bureaucrats would operate on their own without checking with council first. Deputy city manager Pat Woods is out of town, the mayor points out, and the Rockwood Park Advisory Board never talked about negotiating with the pipeline company.

Contacted Friday, Mr. MacMurray said the Horticultural Association had been talking to the Board of Trade on the issue and both sides agreed it was important to figure out what kind of benefits the city could receive if the National Energy Board selects Rockwood Park for the pipeline corridor. He says as the steward of the park, the association is obliged to find out what would happen if the development takes place.

"We have to be at the table to see what the hell is going on." So far, the company has only suggested putting in a public trail on the right-of-way if it gains access to the park. Mr. MacMurray and some other members of the association thinks the company might be willing to contribute far more to the park's improvement.

"I think they're interested in talking to anyone. They've got business to do and they want this to go as smoothly as possible."

Asked why he included city officials in the letter, Mr. MacMurray was unclear. He said he wasn't sure who the city would send as representatives to the committee.

Board of Trade President Nancy Thorne could not be reached for comment.