The following commentary on the November 13th Meeting of Council was submitted by Paul St-Pierre. It was sent as well to the Mayor and all councillors. Only one councillor, Pauline Farrugia, has replied and her answer follows.

FANHCA is publishing this now, just prior to the December 4th meeting, in the hope that more citizens will become aware of the processes of Council and will participate in them. 

FANHCA encourages, as well, those candidates who were unsuccessful in the recent election to monitor the activities of those elected to Council in the seats for which they were running, to question activities that need questioning, and to report their concerns and findings to the citizens.

– The administrators.

On the agenda of last Monday’s meeting (13 November 2017) of the North Hatley Town Council were two items concerning the replacement of the bridge on Main Street, in the heart of town. The work will take place in 2019, most likely over a period of five months, and the solution as to how traffic (and fire trucks) will cross from one side of town to another during the work still has not been decided. The items on the agenda were based on a study by EXP, paid for by the town (16,300$ authorized for a study of the ‘visual signature’ of the new bridge) and did not include the further costs of putting the electrical and other wires in the bridge itself (evaluation by EXP authorized for 20,100$ in a different study – and, apparently – this will surprise no one – extremely costly; the mayor, however, has refused to divulge the estimated amount relating to the electrical and communication wires). The two items on Monday’s agenda were technical in nature, and residents of the town were not given access to them before the meeting. But it would appear that the town is applying for certain ‘upgrades’ on the standard bridge, paid for by Transports Québec (Ministère des transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des Transports). These ‘upgrades’ would amount to 400,000$! The hope is that the ministry will pay for these, and, if not, that grants will (but most likely only partially) cover them.

There are at least two issues here. The money involved – with no indication of how much of our money Council is willing to spend if the ministry does not come through. But even more importantly, whether the population of the town even wants such upgrades, is willing to spend money on them, has other ideas about what could be done, etc.

Yet again, a major project affecting everyone in North Hatley is being undertaken without proper consultation. The EXP study on which the ‘upgrades’ are being based was completed mid-May 2017. There has been ample time, if Council had thought it necessary or desirable, to call a public meeting on the issue, to inform the public properly, and to ask for feedback. But no, the members of Council – the old Council, four of whom, along with the mayor, sit on the new Council – have not seen fit to do this.

For my part I have had enough of this paternalistic approach, in which Council seems to assume that it knows best and can decide on its own. Wherever did it obtain such a mandate? None of the candidates indicated in her/his campaign material the position she/he would take on this major project, and only one even mentioned it. Council needs to realize that all residents and property owners have a stake and an interest in the town’s future, and it needs to take as its guiding principle, in such major projects, that residents and property owners need to be involved as collaborators in the elaboration of such projects.

– Paul St-Pierre

The opinions expressed on this website are those of their authors. Space on the website is provided as a service to the community and FANHCA, its administrators and host cannot be held responsible for any of the opinions expressed thereon.

(English follows)

FANHCA aimerait féliciter les candidat(e)s qui se sont présenté(e)s aux élections municipales 2017 de North Hatley. Beaucoup d’efforts ont été déployés dans la campagne, les questions ont été fortement discutées et les résultats démontrent que près de la moitié des électeurs étaient à la recherche de changement.

La marge la plus grande entre les candidats était de 59% à 41%, la plus étroite de 51% à 49%. Il y avait 551 électeurs admissibles; en moyenne, 158 des 359 personnes ayant voté ont appuyé des candidats qui n’avaient pas siégé au conseil précédent, et au moins 46% des électeurs ont appuyé au minimum deux de ces nouveaux candidats.

Des questions importantes concernant l’avenir du village ont été posées dans le questionnaire distribué aux douze candidats le 8 octobre (l’un d’eux s’est désisté par après), et les réponses ont été publiées le 23 octobre. Malheureusement, sur tous les conseillers sortants, seulement une conseillère a cru bon d’y répondre.

Il faut souligner que les résultats des élections ne constituent d’aucune façon une victoire écrasante, et nous ne doutons pas que les conseillers qui ont été réélus se rendent compte que les citoyens s’attendent à ce que l’on ne retrouve pas le statu quo à l’hôtel de ville.

On ne doit pas reprendre les manières de procéder – en silence et en secret – de l’administration précédente. Il ne doit pas y avoir un autre fiasco comme la réunion de dernière minute pour délivrer un permis permettant la démolition d’un édifice patrimonial au cœur de notre village. Le règlement de démolition, planifié depuis longtemps, doit être adopté sans délai, et il doit avoir du mordant.

Dans une entrevue publiée par FANHCA le 9 août 2017, le maire Page a commenté avec enthousiasme la nécessité d’améliorer la ‘Town Square’ – le secteur du Grist Mill, de la Marina et de la rue Mill – et la nécessité d’attirer des boutiques, et de créer des services et des activités, des zones piétonnières, des points focaux et d’autres attractions. Le maire a également reconnu la nécessité d’élaborer une vision pour l’avenir. Plus qu’une position électorale, cet engagement doit guider son nouveau mandat.

Les comités du Conseil doivent être respectés dans leurs délibérations et dans leurs recommandations. Les résidents et les propriétaires de la ville – tous et toutes, quels que soient leur citoyenneté et leur lieu de résidence, les nouveaux ainsi que les résidents de longue date, les aînés et les jeunes familles – doivent être consultés régulièrement sur les décisions qui affectent l’avenir de la ville.

Nous sommes un petit village de 650 personnes; des tentatives peuvent et doivent être faites, et des structures mises en place, pour garantir que les décisions sont prises par consensus, fondées sur la consultation de citoyens pleinement informés. Nous ne pouvons pas retrouver la norme de simplement « rencontrer les obligations légales » ; l’administration doit, au contraire, se montrer ouverte, transparente et réceptive.

Les résultats de l’élection démontrent que le village est profondément divisé. Plutôt que d’exacerber ces divisions, le conseil devrait s’efforcer de les surmonter pour arriver à des solutions qui bénéficient et qui satisfont la vaste majorité de tous ceux qui vivent à North Hatley.

Brian Merrett et Paul St-Pierre avec remerciements à Jane Meagher

Les résultats sont disponibles ici : https://donnees.electionsmunicipales.quebec/resultats/resultats.html?v=45050

Les opinions exprimées sur ce site Web reflètent celles de leurs auteurs. L’espace est offert à titre de service à la communauté et FANHCA, ses administrateurs et son hébergeur ne peuvent en aucun cas être tenus responsables des opinions qui y sont émises.

FANHCA would like to congratulate all candidates in the 2017 North Hatley Municipal Election. Much effort went into the campaign, issues were strongly discussed and the results show that nearly half those who voted were looking for change.

The widest margin between candidates was 59% to 41%, the narrowest 51% to 49%. There were 551 eligible voters for this election and, on average, 158 of the 359 people who did vote supported candidates who had not been members of the previous council, and a minimum 46% of voters supported at least two non-incumbent candidates.

Important questions regarding the future of the town were asked in a questionnaire circulated to all twelve candidates (one later withdrew) on October 8, the results of which were published on October 23. Unfortunately, of all the incumbent councillors, only one chose to respond.

It should be stressed that this was no landslide, and we trust that the councillors who have been re-elected will realize that citizens expect it not to be business as usual at Town Hall.

There must not be a return to the silent, secretive ways of the previous administration. There must never be another fiasco like the last-minute meeting to issue a demolition permit for a heritage building in the heart of our town. The long-planned demolition bylaw must be passed without delay, and it must have teeth.

In an interview published by FANHCA on August 9, 2017, Mayor Page commented enthusiastically on the need to upgrade the so-called Town Square – the Grist Mill, Marina and Mill Street area – and the need to provide shops, services and activities, pedestrian areas, focal points and other attractions. The mayor also acknowledged the need for a vision for the future. More than an electioneering stance, this commitment must be carried forward into his new term of office.

The committees of Council must be respected in their deliberations and recommendations. The residents and property owners of the town – all of them, whatever their citizenship and whatever their residence, newcomers as well as long-time residents, seniors as well as young families – must all be consulted on a regular basis on decisions affecting the future of the town.

We are a small town of some 650 people; surely attempts can, must and will be made and structures put in place to ensure decisions are taken based on consensus, and on the input of fully-informed citizens. We cannot return to the norm of simply ‘fulfilling the legal obligations’ of office but, instead, council must make every attempt to be open, transparent and responsive.

The results of the election show that the town is deeply divided. Rather than exacerbating these divisions, Council should make every attempt to overcome them and to arrive at solutions to the benefit and satisfaction of the vast majority of all who live in North Hatley.

Brian Merrett and Paul St-Pierre, with thanks to Jane Meagher

Election results are available here : https://donnees.electionsmunicipales.quebec/resultats/resultats.html?v=45050

The opinions expressed on this website are those of their authors. Space on the website is provided as a service to the community and FANHCA, its administrators and host cannot be held responsible for any of the opinions expressed thereon.