City rejects offer of free memorial
Aug 23rd, 2010 | By Debbie Vitez | Section: 2010 Municipal Candidates
Galt Monuments on Hopeton Street offered to install the black granite obelisk. All the company asked was that a $1,100 concrete base be supplied.
Instead, council awarded the job to Superior Memorials of Kitchener at a cost of $23,216.
It was the lowest quote received when staff called for proposals two months ago.
Galt Monuments submitted a bid a day late and wasn’t considered, said Don Smith, city chief administrative officer.
Coun. Linda Whetham called on council to defer awarding a contact until staff could investigate Galt Monument’s offer.
The city had set aside $25,000 for the project and the Galt branch of the Royal Canadian Legion donated another $5,000.
“I really wish you would consider this, because $5,000 was a contribution out of the poppy fund, veterans’ hard-earned money.”
Only Coun. Pam Wolf voted with Whetham to hold off on awarding the contract, which would see the monument in place by Remembrance Day.
The memorial to fallen Canadian peacekeepers was first suggested by Richard Woodfield, formerly of Cambridge. He’s the uncle of Pte. Braun Woodfield, who died in 2005 while on active duty in Afghanistan. It will be located in Queen’s Square near the Galt cenotaph, which has the names of local soldiers who died in the first and second world wars, and Korea.
Backing out of a purchasing process at the last minute is “quite unfair” to the companies who bid in good faith, Smith said. It would be legally risky, he warned.
“We’re in a bit of a bind,” said Mayor Doug Craig.
link to story
http://news.therecord.com/article/228073
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