City council is ordering local engineers to go back to the drawing board to redesign a public pool after the original plans brought the structure in at $4 million over budget.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said Tuesday he is coming down hard on projects coming in over budget in an effort to avoid nightmare overruns.
"Our departments have to realize that there can't be changes, this is what they've got, build it," he said. "Build it within that budget and find ways to do it and if they can't go within that budget, say they can't do it and shut the project down."
The initial plan was to redevelop the 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth pool, but after a cost estimate came in at $8 million, council decided it would take a look at a new location.
Yet the city committee heard from developers Tuesday that a scaled-down version of the pool would still cost about $7.4 million.
Coun. Jan Batty said she is confident a new pool can be built within the budgetary requirements.
"We're saying you spend $5.5 million and if there are features that have to be eliminated to stay within that $5.5 million, that's what we'll have to do," she said.
City officials say if a contractor cannot be found to build the pool to cost, the project will be scrapped.
John Stobbe, a member of the Friends of the Queen Elizabeth Pool Society, said it is hard to remain optimistic when the project is not moving forward.
"It's always been about having a basic thing and sure we want more, but until we have the basics approved, how can we furnish the house," he said.
A grand opening date for the new pool is still scheduled for 2010.
