Meaford’s Committee of Whole is looking for a quotation for a TC Energy Community Benefit Negotiator.
The committee approved awarding the request for a quotation for the negotiator to StrategyCorp Inc. and project coordinator services to Ainley Group during a meeting on June 26 from a report from CAO Rob Armstrong.
This is the latest in the proposed massive TC Energy project to construct and operate a pumped storage facility on Department of Defence lands at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre after the municipality provided conditional support to the project earlier this year.
While the municipality does not have any authority over the approval of the facility, it can reap some financial benefits by supporting the project and working out a community benefit agreement.
The report from Armstrong says as part of the project, council has directed staff to retain a community benefits negotiator and project manager to assist staff and council in guiding the municipality through the applicable processes.
In December, 2022, a report came to council detailing some of the benefits, including TC Energy making a yearly tax equity of $1.5 million, assisting with development related improvements, and work on a comprehensive transportation plan.
Armstrong says TC Energy will be reimbursing the municipality for the costs incurred for bringing on a negotiator and project coordinator.
“Once we select a firm, then we need to outline a more firm proposal on what we want and what the costing will be and provide that to TCE so they are aware of those costs going forward. Right now, the municipality will need to work with the selected consultant to finalize that. We pay the consultants we select, and then we bill TC Energy for those costs based on that arrangement,” says Armstrong.
While the report only initially recommended awarding the informal quotation to StrategyCorp for both roles, council considered the other firms who submitted proposals.
Coun. Tony Bell proposed awarding a quotation for project coordinator services to Ainley Group.
While approved by council, Director of Community Services and Clerk Matt Smith voiced his concerns over spreading the work between two companies.
“The only downside I can see to having two different companies here is that it will likely increase the cost. Now we don’t really care about that because we are not going to pay that cost, but will inevitably need to have meetings where both companies, plus ourselves will be together plus our lawyer and so on, whereas if we were dealing with one company, then that is just a little bit simpler. Not just the costs, but the timeline of making all that happen on the logistics front I think just makes it a little more complicated,” says Smith.