By Ron Devitt - Staff Reporter - Now News

Port Moody city council is concerned about the sustainability of the Smart Choices Society over the next two to three years.

Council voted to send a letter to the society applauding the success of creating a user-friendly e-community, business portal and developing the Innovation and Broadcast Centres, but emphasized that sustainability is the city's top priority.

"At this point, city staff is concerned that the project does not appear to be heading towards self-sustainability in the next three years," said Gaetan Royer, acting city administrator.

In March 2001, Port Moody entered into an agreement with the society, the City of Coquitlam, School District 43 and Douglas College to improve online business, community and civic services. The partners signed a $4.6 million contribution agreement with Industry Canada.

Royer said his concern is that the emphasis on the business aspect of the society has "been light."

"The focus needs to be on the paying customer, rather than subsidies and non-paying customers," Royer said.

At this point, Coun. Meghan Lahti dug her heels in, saying council did not set up the society's board of directors so one of the member partners could tell it what to do.

"I will not have any part in promoting that aspect of Smart Choices," Lahti said. "I don't believe that that's what we were doing when we first supported this a few years ago."

However, a motion was passed advising Smart Choices of council's strong support for a shift in the society's focus to meet the needs of sustainability.