A site meeting of the architect, contractor and Dufferin County and Dufferin Oaks officials to discuss problems with exterior walls was held behind closed doors in the Mel Lloyd Centre auditorium Wednesday, since a solution might have to be found in the courts.

"It's a closed meeting," said Dufferin Oaks Committee chairman Allen Taylor as this reporter stationed himself in the kitchen of the auditorium a few minutes after the meeting had begun. "There's potential litigation."

MMMC Inc., represented by architect Craig Newsome and CEO David Heintz, chaired the meeting. It wasn't clear whether it moved in camera at the behest of the chair, the contractor, engineers or the county.

Mr. Newsome was the architect for construction of the new Oaks building. The exterior insulating walls (EFIS, exterior finish insulating system) were his recommendation.

When cracks were discovered in the stucco cladding last year, an engineering firm was hired to determine whether those were just the exterior or whether the defects extended to the interior of the walls - said to be a complex design and construction.

The report of the engineers, the Pretium Report, indicates repairs could cost upwards of $700,000. At issue are why the walls deteriorated so quickly, and who should take responsibility for the costs of repair.

According to Pretium, "the EIFS cladding assembly has prematurely failed as a result of: poor application of materials during the original installation; exposure to above normal levels of moisture; and poor construction detailing."