The capital city is offering some clarification regarding one business owner’s contention that changes in city specs have resulted in a drop in business.

Milton Spracklin owns United Sail Works, a St. John’s company that’s been in operation for nearly a century.

The company produces coverings, tents, dividers and PVC liners for storm water retention.

Spracklin claims the city changed its specifications and is now going to the mainland for product he had previously been providing.

The capital city says it was not purchasing liners for storm water retention; instead, a developer had asked the city for specs for a liner for a specific storm water retention pond and city officials supplied engineering specifications for that particular use.

Whether a liner is purchased, and meets design criteria is up to the developer, says the city.

The city says it was a new request for a specific use and the city provided the engineering specifications to protect against potential environmental damage.

The city of St. John’s says any purchasing from local vendors is done through the Public Procurement Act.