The mayor of Antigonish says councillors have expressed their concerns with the lack of a tendering process for the new farmers’ market.
Laurie Boucher says board members with the Antigonish Farmers’ Market decided to sole source the construction of their new building on the exhibition grounds on James St. instead of issuing a request for proposals.
Town officials provided $150,000 toward the $2.1 million project; the 11,000-square-foot facility would allow the market to stay open year-round, and open more than the current one-day-a-week.
After November’s regular town council meeting Monday night, Boucher said town officials made their financial contribution to the project in good faith, with no attachments.
“We do not regret giving the funding that we did give,” she said. “That being said, it’s important to say that if (it was a town-run project), it would have been a request for proposals, definitely.”
Boucher said town and county officials met with board members, and they understood their concerns, but the decision to sole source has already been made.
She said town officials will consider changes for future contributions.
“Although we have nothing now, this will be something that will be brought up in council,” she said. “We should have a policy that, if we’re giving out a certain amount of money, the project should go to tender.”
Boucher said councillors have heard concerns from residents regarding the process, and those concerns are legitimate.
