In a recent article the Belleville mayor and finance director stated that Market Fresh Pizza didn't receive any money. The penalties section of the contract states Market Fresh must return all public funds provided and specifically refers to the sales tax certificate.

I don't think the mayor has the authority to decide which companies must repay the city and which companies get to break their contract and walk away without restitution. The aldermen are required to approve these contracts; it should be the aldermen who decide whether to attempt to recover our money.

The mayor also stated that he will not ask for money back for fixing the sidewalk because it's an improvement that benefits the area and the city as a whole. On this I will have to agree. The mayor has no right to ask for the cost of the new sidewalk to be reimbursed.

Most businesses have to pay out of pocket for a sidewalk to be installed. This sidewalk was installed free of charge to Market Fresh and it's not included in the penalties section.

I wonder why a lawyer hired by the taxpayers to protect the taxpayers' money would not have included the sidewalk reimbursement in the penalties section? This is yet another example of the taxpayers paying a premium price for poor legal advice.

I would request that Mayor Mark Eckert stop saying that the business gave the building a facelift. The building was painted as part of Delilah's Paint the Town promotion.

Michael Hagberg

Candidate, Ward 5 alderman

Belleville