Elected officials of the City of Hamilton charged ahead on their own when they set about inking deals for the waterfront redevelopment project.Former Progressive Labour Party Ministers have told this newspaper that no decisions had been made on the project before the December 17 election.Our enquiries have also revealed that the City's technical or managerial staff were not involved in any substantive way in the process, despite assertions to the contrary by Mayor Graeme Outerbridge.A multi-stakeholder committee, chaired by former Premier Paula Cox, had been formed to drive the project forward.Included on that committee were several Cabinet Ministers, the Corporation of Hamilton, and representatives of Bermuda First.Then Public Works Minister Michael Weeks whose portfolio included the municipalities, and then Environment Minister Marc Bean, sat on the committee until the Progressive Labour Party was ousted from power.Mr Weeks noted that the committee last met around the fall of last year — but nothing concrete had been achieved or agreed.“We were still at the development and ideas stage,” he said.Asked his reaction to the City's January 28 announcement that developers for Bermuda's largest infrastructure project had been selected, Mr Weeks said: “I was shocked”.Revelations that the City has leased waterfront property to the chosen developers — added to Mr Weeks' concern.Such a “monumental decision” should not have been made without extensive public consultation, he said.“Unless I'm missing something, there is reason for concern. There's definitely reason for concern.”Shadow Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban who sat on the waterfront committee until he lost the Environment portfolio, has no recollection of the committee reporting back to Cabinet before the election.“Certainly, it is a surprise that a development agreement has been signed,” Mr Roban said.While the PLP welcomed the project for its economic stimulus potential, “one has to be concerned that the Government has not been included in any development arrangement or agreement with the Corporation of Hamilton, understanding also that there is a level of greater jurisdiction now since the Municipalities Act does give Government greater responsibility for the municipalities.”Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy has already warned that Government would not provide the necessary approvals for the project without being fully briefed or before it has conducted its due diligence.Mayor Graeme Outerbridge informed this newspaper that “information” has been provided to Government on Sunday, but gave no details.“The Government in their capacity needs to have the Mayor and his people come in and explain,” Mr Weeks said.Mr Roban agreed. “Certainly the Government should be aware of any major agreements that have been made by the Corporation that could ultimately tie up Bermudian held land in the hands of a developer — particularly since the wharf area to many is seen as being a part of the national interest.“It is the major port of entry for all of our goods by sea, it certainly has great commercial interest when it comes to tourism. These are important issues and answers need to be given.”An RFP for the project was issued in September last year giving interested parties three weeks to respond.On January 28, the City held a press conference against the wishes of the new Government to announce the selected developers.It insisted it had to go ahead because it had certain — unspecified — contractual obligations. The press conference was preceded by a presentation to stakeholders at which no questions were entertained.Mr Outerbridge told his audience that no lease had been signed with respect to the waterfront property.The next day, according to multiple sources, he met with the Chamber of Commerce for an unrelated discussion and revealed — some say inadvertently — that a lease had been signed.He would not provide any further information when questioned by Chamber members.