Article content Eldon MacDonald, CBRM deputy mayor. IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POSTArticle contentBAD BIDSArticle contentDist. 1 Coun. Gordon MacDonald suggested during discussions that private contractors might be “gouging” the municipality with bids, referring to issues surrounding the replacement of the aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit at the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Civic Centre.Article contentIn August 2024, the previous CBRM council heard the HVAC unit replacement, which was approved at budget time for $1 million, went out to tender but the lone bidder put the total cost of the project to more than $739,000 over the CBRM’s budget.Article contentThis past March, the tender for the repairs was awarded at a cost of approximately $1.74 million, according to Nova Scotia’s Procurement Opportunities and Public Notices.Article contentThe deputy mayor said he believes it’s an issue the CBRM should investigate.Article content“I know the tender that came in was substantially over what we would have expected and staff have acknowledged that we only have one submission. It seems to be an issue, as of recent, that when we’re putting tenders out, sometimes when we only get one submission in and a lot of those times, it’s quite higher than what we’re expecting,” he said.Article contentArticle content“So it is an issue, I think, that we have to look at. I’d like to see two and three and four and five bids in on our procedures when we’re putting them out and looking for people to bid on projects and jobs. But, as I said, it seems to be something that’s occurring recently, that we’re not getting a lot of submissions on those proposals when we were calling for them. So it could it could lend to someone putting in a higher bid if they think they’re going to be the only one, to up that bid a little bit higher than what they normally would if they were competing against three or four other companies. Whether it’s happening or not, I couldn’t speak to that exactly, but it definitely lends itself to a to, an opportunity.”Article contentTAX RATESArticle contentDist. 7 Coun. Steve Parsons expressed concerns that the initial savings could be erased by future collective bargaining agreements with unionized municipal workers, potentially forcing tax increases.Article contentHowever, the deputy mayor said he doesn’t believe that will happen.Article content“I can’t speak for director Phalen but I would anticipate that with the savings that we wouldn’t have a tax increase, an expected one, but again, director Phalen would have more detail on that because they work with the numbers on a day-to-day basis,” MacDonald said.Article content“I would anticipate that there would be no tax increase in that myself.”Article content-30-Article content
CBRM dumping garbage contractors
