Township promises ‘full disclosure’ on culvert

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Uxbridge council held a special council meeting on Christmas Eve with only one item on the agenda: a bylaw pertaining to the Brock Street culvert project.

Council unanimously approved the bylaw which stated that: "the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to enter into Minutes of Settlement with AECOM Canada ULC and Brennan Paving and Construction and certain of their subcontractors reflecting a compromise negotiated by these parties." (Minutes of Settlement is a document that outlines the agreement between parties involved in a legal dispute, detailing the terms of the settlement.)

The by-law added that the particulars of the settlement "will remain confidential in accordance with the terms of the Minutes of Settlement."

Asked why there was a confidentiality stipulation, director of special operations Ben Kester said Uxbridge was opposed to the confidentiality but was forced to accept it in the negotiations. Kester said it became apparent that the only way an agreement could be reached was for Uxbridge to accept the confidentiality stipulation.

Mayor Dave Barton said he was happy with the way the negotiations went.

Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Honey said the township would issue a press release early in the new year and hold a news conference, at which time there would be "full financial disclosure" of the entire culvert project.

So far, the only news release to come from the township is a reiteration of the by-law and a further promise of a news conference.