Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative

Point Edward candidates chose their words carefully whenever the prickly topic of St. Clair Street reconstruction came up at Monday’s all-candidates forum.

The three incumbents on stage – former mayor Bev Hand and mayoral candidates Paul Burgess and Greg Grimes –  said the overbudget and behind-schedule road project has taught them lessons about improving communication with residents and local businesses.

Several of the other seven on the stage vying for a council seat, said an audit is necessary to sort out where errors were made and how the roadwork exceeded its budget by about $2 million.

Candidate Louie Mele was first to mention what some are calling the pivotal issue in this election.

An independent audit would answer questions and take the guess work out of what went wrong, Mele said.  An audit would also help create new protocols for future contracts and help avoid future “gaffes,” he said. “It’s not a witch hunt, rather it’s quite the opposite…It’s to bring transparency to areas that have been compromised.”

Reconstruction of five large blocks of St. Clair and Lite streets began in 2024 and was expected to be finished within the year.  But problems arose early when the Ministry of Labour shut down the job and issued at last 16 orders to the contractor.  Council eventually replaced the first contractor with a second one. More than two years later, the project is still not finished.

The price tag has escalated from $5.4 million to $7.3 million.

Hand, who said she is running for council – not mayor – because of family-related issues, said it’s impossible to know the final cost because several related lawsuits are ongoing.  

The forum was hosted by the Point Edward Optimist Club and held at the community hall with about 200 people attending.  Organizer Liz Page said she was amazed at the number and that it shows a strong interest in the Oct. 26 election. The large turnout at the meeting, could also translate into a strong turnout at the polls. In 2022, when Hand was acclaimed as mayor, only 42.5% of eligible voters cast ballots in Point Edward.

At Monday’s forum, three questions prepared by the organizers and several submitted by the audience were put to the candidates.

One asked what is to be learned from the St. Clair Street project and what could be done differently.

“I have to be careful here because we are in litigation,” said mayoral candidate Greg Grimes.  “It’s difficult to talk about what went wrong, but what I learned is that we need to review our procurement policy, make sure we are going with the right contractor, and we need to be pushing back when we have concerns and not just rely on what we are being told.”

He said he also knows communication with residents needs to improve. 

Grimes’ opponent Paul Burgess said he’s repeatedly asked about the St. Clair project as he canvases door-to-door.

“I happily answer people because this is our job to be accountable,” he said.  

Burgess said his family home is on St. Clair Street and he was quizzed about it often.

“I think checking in more often with our managers…to stay on top of it” would help,” he said.  “Sometimes we make an assumption that people are going to do the right thing, and unfortunately it didn’t necessary go that way.”

Council candidate Kevin Devine said St. Clair’s reconstruction is “a hot topic” that needs to be reviewed before more major roadwork is started.

“We have to understand the lessons learned first,” he said.

“I think the downfall was not just from council but from some staff issues as well,” said Paul Churchill, who has served on council previously and is a former operations manager in Point Edward.  

Hand said it will take “a couple of years” before the associated lawsuits are over. Only then will it be clear what the project has cost the village.

“It’s a lot right now, but something might be coming back,” she said.  

The village has a lawsuit against the original contractor and is looking to recoup extra costs the village had to pay to redo some work.  Simultaneously, three businesses along St. Clair Street are suing the village, and one resident has launched a lawsuit after she fell at the construction site.

Candidates were also asked how they would improve communication and support local business.

“Shop local,” urged Gary Capp, a longtime volunteer with Point Edward Fire and Rescue, and president of the Ex-Servicemen’s Association.  Capp said he’d work hard to attract new business but “not a Tim’s and not a Burger King, just the ma and pa type businesses.”

Council should help promote businesses outside of those along Michigan Avenue, said Kristen Simpson, who has lived locally for 20 years and is raising her family in Point Edward.  

“Right now, businesses feel like they are an afterthought,” said Patty Yazbeck, who said she’s running to improve communication with residents.     Numerous special events like the successful Christmas in the Village should be planned with consultation from all business owners, she said.

The village needs a “formalized” BIA to improve communication with council, said Doug Booth, a self-employed compliance contractor for the cannabis industry.   Point Edward’s communication tools need to be upgraded, especially its “antiquated” website, he added.  

There are two mayoral candidates and nine candidates vying for four seats on council.  Two others have dropped out including Mike Brocklehurst and Carla Pacheco.  

Incumbent Arianna Noctor did not attend Monday’s forum.