This is demanded by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark in an order issued under section 14 of the Municipal Affairs Act.
Minister Clark will appoint a facilitator to support council in the process of appointing a councilor for Ward 7.
The council could choose to appoint the person who finished 2nd in the 2018 elections, Norm Roberge, if the latter is interested.
Jeremy Séguin claims to have tried, before resigning, to be “the glue” which ensures a certain cohesion within the council, but that he had hit a wall. He notes that the work climate has worsened since 2020.
Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Séguin
In an interview, the general manager of West Nipissing, Jean-Pierre Barbeau, explained that elected officials could also call for candidates in the community.
Jeremy Séguin is convinced that at least one person will show interest in finally replacing him. I know many people in the Verner area, people whose hearts are in the right place.
Mr. Séguin also expects many changes on the board during the next election in October.
Powers the province could have used earlier
In theory, according to Ontario Municipalities Actthe Municipalities have 60 days after the declaration of a vacant seat to appoint a replacement or organize a by-election.
In 2020, West Nipissing City Council was at an impasse, with 4 elected officials preferring to appoint someone directly while the other 4 wanted to hold an election.
No replacement has therefore been chosen for Jeremy Séguin and Verner has been without a representative at the board table for more than 650 days.
Jean-Pierre Barbeau notes that the Ontario Municipalities Act does not provide for consequences if the 60-day deadline is not respected.
Everyone I know in the municipal field did not know that there were powers in another act, the Municipal Affairs Act
says the general manager of West Nipissing. It was new to us.
” I commented to the department’s representative that if “this hammer” had been available two years ago, it would have been preferable and it would have solved many problems here in West Nipissing. »
It should have been done before
writes Sue Chrétien, a resident.
This is also what former city councilor Verner M. Séguin thinks. I understand that this is an extremely complex situation, but I believe that the department should have gotten involved several months ago.
The Municipality of West Nipissing is made up of 8 wards, including Verner, west of Sturgeon Falls. There should therefore be 9 votes, with that of the mayor who can break the ties.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sophie Houle-Drapeau
Since July 2020, the council has faced numerous other stalemates due to the even number of elected officials resulting in multiple tie votes.
Mr. Barbeau admits that the residents of the Verner sector may have felt neglected, but adds that they continued to be served by the municipality despite the lack of representation on the municipal council.
[Il y a] the plan to rectify water and sewer in Verner. There’s a gymnasium that finally gets done like it’s there
he explains. We continue to do the work at public works.
It’s more a matter of pride, of needing representation,
adds the general manager.
Jeremy Séguin has continued to diligently follow city council meetings since his resignation. He believes that several files concerning Verner have not moved as fast as they could have for two years.
Jeremy Séguin believes that Verner’s water problem would have been solved more quickly if not for the conflicts on the municipal council.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Mathieu Grégoire
He specifies that it is all the citizens of West Nipissing who bear the brunt of the dysfunction of the council.
MM. Séguin and Barbeau also point out that there are many positive stories and people very involved in the community.
Provincial observers until October
In addition to appointing a facilitator for the appointment of a new City Councillor, the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing will assign staff to attend all West Nipissing City Council meetings until the next general municipal election in October 2022. , as an observer.
If the presence of someone from the ministry has the effect of calming the divisions, I appreciate that
said Jean-Pierre Barbeau.
West Nipissing General Manager Jean-Pierre Barbeau was the only Municipality employee present at the most recent Council meetings.
Photo: CBC/Erik White
At the end of March, the General Manager of the Municipality indicated that municipal staff will no longer attend council meetings until further notice, due to the work climate.
He is now considering bringing his employees back for the March 3 meeting if there is an observer. We’re going to try. If the procedures are calm and civil, we will continue with our staff in the meetings.
” But if it continues the same way, I will not expose my executives to this lack of functioning. »
This is the second time the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has intervened in West Nipissing this year.
In January, Minister Clark threatened to disband the council after several meetings were canceled due to lack of quorum.
After a certain lull and the resumption of council work for a few weeks, the conflicts resumed with renewed vigour.
In April, four councilors said they would not show up for meetings, except for budget meetings, until they could talk to the council’s lawyer.
They received a threat of legal action from the mayor and another councillor.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca