Council OKs release of property pricetags

The new faces on Sackville town council made a move last Monday night that will ensure greater accountability to local taxpayers.
In a narrow vote that saw Mayor Pat Estabrooks split a tie between the newly-elected and veteran councillors, the town will no longer keep the price it pays for land under wraps.
"We have always made it known what we've paid for land," said Estabrooks as she cast the deciding vote to enact the new policy during council's regular meeting last Monday.
"In fact, in the past, we've even gone so far as to reveal what we've sold land for," she added.
Estabrooks was speaking of the time she served as Sackville mayor back in the mid-to-late '90s, a time when the purchase price for land was revealed to the public with little hassle.
Not every council, however, has been as accommodating over the years and many mayors have refused to disclose the pricetag, citing various reasons for doing so.
But Coun. John Higham, who brought the motion forward last week, said he isn't so sure the rationale behind keeping it secret outweighs greater transparency to the public.
"I believe there's more long-term benefits in terms of good governance than not disclosing it," he said.
"The money comes from taxpayers and they have a right to know,"?he said.
Higham, along with Mayor Estabrooks and councillors Merrill Fullerton, Mike Tower and Margaret Tusz-King voted in favour of the motion; while re-elected council members Bob Berry, Virgil Hammock, Joyce O'Neil and Bruce Phinney attempted to nix the deal.
Higham said because land purchases represent a significant new public asset, he understands residents are seeking assurances that those expenditures are worth their value.
The policy will require council to reveal the final purchase price of any new properties to the public at the earliest council meeting following a land deal - barring any legal grounds or specific terms in the purchase agreement.
Higham said a seller would have to convince town council of a valid reason for not revealing the pricetag, beyond the fact they simply don't want the public to know, before the town would agree to non-disclosure.
Hammock said he wouldn't vote for the motion because he disagrees with those terms.
"I think citizens selling their property should have the choice to opt out," he said.
Coun. Berry, who has served on various councils, explained he wasn't in favour of the new policy because he believes revealing the price of land could create a higher price in future negotiations.
"I think it could set a precedent for what the town pays for land," he said.
Berry advised his fellow councillors they were elected to make decisions on behalf of the taxpayers and that the electors should have trust in their members of council and town staff to "get the best bang for our buck."
Phinney agreed with Berry, saying he thinks disclosing the pricetag " will have an impact on what will happen when we go to purchase land in the future."
"I really think, at this time, it's in the best interest to keep it secret."
Sackville CAO Barry Carroll, on behalf of town staff, said he also believes this new policy could affect negotiations in the future.
He said staff will respect council's decision, but also noted that town management has decades of experience in making land deals and is not convinced the public needs to know the final outcome.
"I think no matter what price you pay, you'll always be second guessed . . . "
Coun. Fullerton said he didn't buy the argument, however, that divulging the purchase price will up the market value of properties in the community.
"Public scrutiny is a good thing and I think it will only help us to get a better bargain," said Fullerton, who also went on to add he has faith in town management to negotiate a good deal when it comes to land purchases.
Coun. Tusz-King said she also isn't persuaded that disclosure will affect the bottom line at the negotiating table.
"I think it would encourage fair market value and I'm not convinced that keeping it secret will get us a better deal."
Coun. Tower said he voted in favour of disclosing the expenditures of public funds because he believes council has a responsibility to the taxpayer to be more transparent.
"Doing business with the town should be an open book," he said.
In speaking with other municipal representatives, some who reveal the price and others who do not, Tower said he was most impressed by those who voiced their opinions in favour, stating "it was public funds they were using and people should know the purchase price."
Council has decided, however, to keep the sale of lands private for now, stating that disclosure in that context may affect future business deals.
"Everyone would know what's on the table and it could make it difficult to compete in the marketplace for new businesses," Higham explained.