Archibald's Wharf decision discussed in North Sydney
Some citizens concerned about lack of public consultation
It was standing room only at the North Sydney fire hall after a group of concerned citizens called a meeting Sunday to discuss Archibald's Wharf.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality intends to sell the boardwalk and playground to a ship repair business.
Some people in the town are not happy with that decision, or how it was made.
The sale of the downtown green space came out of the blue for most people in town, as few knew the mayor was negotiating with a nearby marine shipyard for the sale of the land.
Last week, council voted unanimously to proceed with the sale.
Canadian Maritime Engineering wants to expand and there is potential for jobs.
But how many and what assurances there are remains unclear.
Earlene MacMullin helped organized Sunday’s meeting at the North Sydney fire hall and says there are too many unanswered questions and too many concerns about how this sale is being handled.
"I don't understand how the municipality can have the power within themselves to, all of sudden, just look and deem a recreational green space, ‘We're gonna switch that to commercial property. We don't have to have citizen's approval we just get this done,’" she says.
MacMullin has invited Mayor Clarke, councillors, CME and anyone else with concerns to attend the meeting.
She says she’s not holding out much hope the company or many politicians will attend.
The municipality is holding a public meeting of its own later this month on the proposed sale.