Township policies not followed for street lights

Cramahe Township Council approved new street lights for its industrial park on September 15, but not before some questions were asked and some concerns identified.

The new lights, which will cost almost $23,000 to install, will be installed by Lakefront Lighting Inc. They will be paid for through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF).
Councillors Tim Gilligan and Pat Westrope wondered about the efficacy and maintenance costs of the induction lights which are relatively new to this area. Councillor Ed Van Egmond was concerned about the quality of the light from the fixtures.

Mayor Marc Coombs was not deterred and stated that the township was only doing this with 25 lights; it wasn’t changing the whole system. Two days later the township development officer, Rebecca Goddard-Sarria commented that the township did not ask for quotes on standard lighting, only on the induction lights.

Council voted 4-0 to have the bid by Lakefront Utility Services Inc. accepted.

Later, in press question period, Mayor Coombs stated that the township did not put the job out for tender as township policy dictates, but did get some other quotes after the fact. That statement was not actually borne out two days later.

A request at the meeting for the other quotes was delayed as she did not have the numbers present with her. Ms. Goddard-Sarria assured those present that the late quotes were all above the one accepted.

On Thursday, Ms. Goddard-Sarria changed her statement, stating that there was actually only one other quote to compare. The township, in its after-the-fact search for prices contacted Rowley Electric and Hydro One. Rowley came back with a price of $28,187. Hydro One did not reply.

At the Tuesday Council meeting Ms. Goddard-Sarria supported the decision to go with the single quote explaining that the CAF grant announcement was expected in July and didn’t come until August. If she had gone through the regular bid process it would have been too cold to install the light arms.