Round 1: Danny Williams, City of St. John's in dispute over roundabout near Galway

A heated letter from Danny Williams to St. John's city council, released publicly on Monday night, accuses the city of making Williams pay for a roundabout outside Galway.

The former premier says the roundabout would relieve heavy traffic for residents of the city's west end — not just his development.

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The three-page letter, dated May 23, claims to be in response to a letter from the city telling Williams's company, DewCor, to pay for the roundabout.

"In order to open for business, I am being asked to build and pay for a roundabout in another jurisdiction on the other side of the highway, outside of my boundaries," he wrote. "Or else."

The letter was released publicly at Monday's city council meeting by Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth, who tabled the letter to be included in an upcoming council agenda.

It was addressed to Mayor Dennis O'Keefe, who declined an interview with CBC News on Monday evening, saying Ellsworth should speak to the issue instead.

O'Keefe said it was a legal letter and there could be "major issues" with it being tabled publicly.

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Ellsworth disagrees, however, saying the letter did not contain any sensitive information and would be tabled for discussion without hesitation if it were from any other developer or citizen.

The letter relates to the development agreement between DewCorp and the city, which is a public document, Ellsworth said. Therefore, he says, any discussion about it should also be public.

"There's no reason this discussion cannot be a public discussion and that letter cannot be a public letter."

East end versus west end

Williams points to the Stavanger Drive area in the city's east end, where taxpayers have paid for infrastructure that benefits developers.

"I cannot comprehend how the City can justify spending taxpayer's dollars on improvements for east end residents and businesses, but making no such investment for west end residents and businesses," Williams wrote.

"On the other hand, the City is insisting that our west end development is done solely at the expense of DewCor, spending exactly zero money on upgrades for west end residents."

The city paid for the east end upgrades because they were already in need of update, Ellsworth said.

Under city policy, if a developer needs to change infrastructure to aid their development, the price tag falls on them. If the area is already in need of upgrades, however, it is a taxpayer bill.

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Ellsworth said the area around Galway would not need upgrades if it weren't for DewCorp's development, therefore the price tag is theirs to bear. 

Williams wrote the matter is about more than just a piece of infrastructure.

"These issues are more about process, fairness and equitable treatment for all, than just a roundabout," he wrote. "I am not looking for preferential treatment, just equal for east and west."