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'Careers in jeopardy' Habitat for Humanity member says group pressured by former SAO not to go to council
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, June 28, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An organizer with Habitat for Humanity NWT says the group feels like it was pushed into buying land from the city that was not suitable to build on, at least not without making costly improvements.
Robert Charpentier, chair of Habitat for Humanity's finance committee, stands by the foundation of a Moyle Drive lot the group purchased from the city in 2012. Habitat, which builds homes for low-income families, is asking city council to waive the cost of purchasing the land after finding out it would be difficult to develop. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo |
The charitable organization, which builds homes for low-income families, is now asking the city to forgive $120,000 owing on the two Niven Lake lots purchased in March of last year, which were sold for $116,000 and $118,000 each, after the cost of putting in the foundation for the first property went $75,000 over-budget.
After Habitat's presentation during Monday's municipal services committee meeting, some city councillors wondered why the group hadn't approached council before signing the purchase agreement.
According to the chair of Habitat's finance committee, Robert Charpentier, the organization's president Dave Hurley had expressed an interest in forming a partnership with the city during conversations with city administration. He said the organization was dissuaded from approaching council by the city's senior administrative officer (SAO) at the time, Bob Long.
"We went looking to the city for lots at the time and we were looking for some type of partnership with them, and the SAO at the time said these are the only lots available to you on these terms," said Charpentier.
Besides being president of Habitat NWT, Hurley is also the facilities manager with the city.
Another Habitat board member, Chris Greencorn, was also the city's manager of public works - now the department's director.
Not wanting to put Hurley and Greencorn in compromising positions, Habitat's board decided to purchase the lots without approaching council, said Charpentier.
"Quite frankly we didn't know how the SAO would react. He directly told them not to go to council," said Charpentier. "A lot of us wanted to go make a presentation in council, but at the end of the day we thought we could be putting their careers in jeopardy."
Hurley declined to comment, while a representative from Habitat responded on Greencorn's behalf, saying he too was unable to comment.
Long did not return Yellowknifer's calls by press time.
Mayor Mark Heyck, a city councillor at the time, said having Hurley and Greencorn on Habitat's board of directors does not represent a conflict of interest for either Habitat or the city - as long as it is someone other than them making requests to city council.
"I think the board has been very careful to ensure that city staff who are involved in the organization are not the ones approaching the city," said Heyck.
"Provided they are not working on the project during work hours and are separating themselves from the interaction between the city and the organization then I don't see any problem with it."
One of the problems with the lots, which are located side by side on a section of Moyle Drive, is that they are marked by steep gradients that drop off significantly just a few feet back from the front of the property.
"The contractor that's doing this work mentioned that this was the worst lot he's seen in the city of Yellowknife," said Charpentier.
He said members of Habitat's building committee examined both properties before they were purchased and were aware of the difficulties presented by the topography of the land. But they didn't know that the bedrock where they had hoped to pin the foundations for the homes had "rotten rock" in it, which is susceptible to fracturing and requires extensive preparation before it can be built on. As a result, Habitat has had to re-design its plans for the first home.
"In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have purchased that land without doing a lot more geotechnical analysis, but we didn't have any other lots the city was willing to sell us," added Charpentier. "It was take it or leave it."
Council appeared sympathetic to Habitat's situation and agreed to have administration look over possible options to assist Habitat, which is still offering to pay $57,000 in land improvement taxes on each lot.
"I believe that had Habitat not bought these lots, they would still be sitting vacant," said Coun. Niels Konge, who suggested administration reappraise the land based on the cost of having the foundation pinned.
"Maybe it's only worth $20,000 and that's what they can pay and everybody walks away happy," he said.
Coun. Cory Vanthuyne, who was involved in the steering committee that brought Habitat to Yellowknife, said while there is an obvious emotional attachment to the Habitat cause, council has an obligation to do what's fair. He pointed out to recent precedents, in particular, the city's decision not to give land to the NWT SPCA.
He added that despite whatever may have transpired in discussions between the former SAO and Habitat's board, the organization was under no obligation to sign a contract.
"They may have suggested that the senior administrative officer at the time said, 'It's take it or leave it.' Well you had the option to leave it," he said.
"It's an indicator to me that maybe this was a bit rushed and they should have identified that this wasn't a good deal for them."
Charpentier said the group will develop the first lot regardless of council's decision but that without the city's help it might not be able to develop the second property.
Charpentier added that despite its decision not to go to council last year, Habitat is now concerned with making sure the houses get built.
"Really what's in jeopardy is the building of the home," he said.
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