Argyle councillors are echoing concerns from Yarmouth town council over a phone survey done by the Municipality of Yarmouth.
The survey asked residents from all three municipal units for their feelings on the expansion of Mariners Centre and the opening of an aquatic centre at 275 Main Street.
At last night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Argyle councillors said the survey provided ‘misleading’ information.
Warden Danny Muise says it’s unacceptable for a municipality to do a survey in another jurisdiction without consent.
“Without having contacted and showed the questions so that we could approve if we thought it was ok. It was done without our knowledge, and that’s what upsets us the most.”
Several councillors were concerned the survey planted seeds of doubt, with questions like ‘if one of the three partners backed out, resulting in increased cost and risk for the remaining partners, would you still support the project?
Muise says there’s no doubt, the project is going forward.
“It’s already been approved by the committee and every council that it’s going ahead. Work is underway now to get that going. We’re trying to get it up and running for this fall.”
Each municipal unit has contributed $75,000 toward the bridge facility.
Muise says the municipality plans on sending a letter to MODY to voice their displeasure.
Last week, MODY Warden John Cunningham confirmed other municipal units were not consulted.
He said MQO Research conducted the survey to find data on how citizens are feeling about the projects, with the intent to confirm public support.
Cunningham says MODY has already committed two million dollars toward the Mariners Centre build and are 100 percent behind the projects.
MODY will discuss the survey tonight during a council meeting.
