Sarnia's Mayor wants to know how recording closed meetings could cost so much.
Council is being asked Monday to approve the audio recording of closed meetings of council and spending up to $6,000 to purchase the technology to do so.
Mike Bradley thinks the estimate is a bit steep and wants more information.
"In the report, it doesn't really address that question," says Bradley. "I just want that question answered. It seems to me that's a lot of money to pay, even though I'm totally supportive of the idea of recording the incamera meetings for the Ombudsman, I'd just like to know more detail on what exactly we get for $6,000."
He says if the equipment is too expensive, council could consider holding closed meetings right in council chambers which is already set up to record audio.
Bradley is also concerned by a recommendation to only keep the recordings for one year.
"I'm more than aware of investigations that have gone on for a number of years before they've reached a conclusion. So, to me it seems it should be a much longer period of time that those recordings are kept."
The sole purpose of creating the recordings is to assist with closed meeting investigations by the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman, subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.