Frustrations were evident in council chambers as City Councillor Anne Marie Gillis claimed the Bright's Grove library hub project has been "stonewalled" for the last three years.
The estimated $5.8 million project was recently moved to the unfunded capital list in the draft 2026 budget after Mayor Mike Bradley used strong mayor powers.
Project Chair Mark Moran spoke during Monday's council meeting ahead of next week's budget deliberations.
He referenced the project's strong community support and the potential loss of funding opportunities if council does not move the project forward in this upcoming budget. As previously reported, roughly $212,000 is needed in additional funding for detailed design work in order to get the project to tender, which would also kick-start fundraising efforts.
City Clerk Amy Burkhart said the plan, as communicated to the library committee, was to give a high-level project update during budget deliberations.
"There are financial and budget implications associated with this project in general. Some of which are the additional funds that are required to complete the detailed design work that is not yet tender ready," Burkhart said.
Mayor Mike Bradley also said council will receive a package to review ahead of next week's meeting.
"I'm sorry, but this is the way that this committee has been stonewalled for the past three years," responded Gillis.
Bradley found Gillis' comment "disappointing," citing "difficulties" staff had encountered with the committee.
"I think that the committee has made it very clear to all councillors and done their job as committee members to keep council informed," Gillis said.
Moran told Sarnia News Today he agreed with Gillis' comment.
"It sure feels like we're being stonewalled," Moran said. "This is a good project. It's been in the works for years. It is at the finish line. Tender the project, and find out how much someone will build it for. Maybe it will be less than we expect."
There was a strong showing of support for the project, with some residents wearing blue in council chambers.
"Councillors have told me they've been inundated with emails. They've never seen anything like it," Moran said.
Project Vice Chair Kirsten Kilner Holmes also said the report the clerk referred to is not something they, as a committee, have been privy to.
"That is kind of an example, a gentle example, of where staff are not giving us the information for our committee to be proactive with," said Kilner Holmes.
Council will consider amendments to the draft budget on November 25 at 9 a.m.
