Resident urges more proactive council oversight of Martin Farm sewer relocation project

A Seaford resident told City Council on May 13 that the city's process for informing neighbors about large capital projects is insufficient and urged elected leaders to increase oversight of multi-million-dollar projects.

Dan Cannon, a member of the public, asked council to approve a $1,535,000 borrowing plan to carry out Phase 1 of the Martin Farm sewer relocation project (he said he had previously made that recommendation to council on April 22). Cannon said he had sought information over the previous three weeks about project impacts on water and sewer fees and rates from Director Mears and City Manager Anderson but had not received satisfactory answers. Cannon recounted staff responses and concerns about transparency: he said Director Mears told him questions about rate impacts would be addressed during the regular budget process and that City Manager Anderson said, "we work to address all the items you outlined below during the project planning, development, engineering, and approval process," language Cannon quoted back to the council.

Cannon told council the responses left him with an "incomplete" grade for the city's community engagement on the project and urged the mayor and council to be more proactive in oversight and transparency for large capital projects, particularly where neighborhood impacts and fees are involved.

Council did not take immediate action in response during the meeting; Cannon's remarks were delivered during the public comment period and were received for the record. Staff responses to Cannon during the public comment were read aloud by Cannon as part of his description of the city's communication practices.