Introduction

In response to FANHCA’s invitation to open a dialogue between the citizens of North Hatley and the Mayor and Council, Jane Meagher and Brian Merrett were invited to meet with Mayor Michael Page last August 2.

Given the current 18-month moratorium on building in flood zones in Quebec, including in the Village of North Hatley, we wanted to communicate to the Mayor that this would be an ideal time to open a dialogue with the citizens as FANHCA feels it is important that the citizens participate in shaping the vision and personality of their village.  As had been expressed by numerous citizens over the three years since the first public presentation of the Laliberté project—which had been granted agreement in principle earlier in 2014—there have been numerous calls for open, transparent dialogue with Town Hall.

Mayor Page, in his official message on the town website states, “Together, we accept the mandate to manage the Municipality with humility and respect.  Humility because the citizens have high expectations; and respect because we want to preserve the distinctive character of North Hatley.  Our village, despite its small size, has and will continue to assume an important regional leadership.  This Council, as the ones before it, is at the service of the citizens and has been assigned to take decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens.  The Council is attuned to the citizens’ needs.  Transparency of decisions remains a priority.”

But unfortunately, such humility and respect does not seem to have always been present.  Indeed, in describing Town Hall public meetings, one citizen speaks of an “..atmosphere of heaviness, non-transparency and reciprocal mistrust.”  This is surely not a productive atmosphere in a small town where citizens, Mayor and councillors are also neighbours.

Summary of Meeting with Mayor Page, Jane Meagher and Brian Merrett

There was discussion concerning the use of an outside, commercial firm such as Les Services EXP to determine the future appearance and personality of our village and of how this was seen by the citizens as denying them the right to participate in these important decisions.

The Mayor talked about the enthusiasm around the recent Orford fundraiser event and suggested that more such events could be held.  That brought up a discussion about the Town Square project and the student work in 2012 which calls for a revamping of the Grist Mill / Marina / Mill Street area to provide shops, services and activities, pedestrian areas, focal points and other attractions.

There was discussion about the small marketing business currently in the space previously occupied by the Canton which seems to be doing well (it has even expanded since moving there) and how businesses such as these and tech businesses don’t need much space and are perfect for North Hatley.  We should try to attract more small businesses.  Small tech companies, eco-friendly sporting outfits and unique retail outlets were suggested as possible initiators of new investment in North Hatley.

We learned that the Quebec Government has until August 28th to either approve or reject the Plan de Gestion prepared by the MRC.  We also learned that the Government of Quebec will hold a forum this fall on building / rebuilding in flood plains.

We agreed that there was no housing presently available for people with modest means.   While one possibility is to convert the White House / Maison Blanche into affordable housing, M. Laliberté owns the White House  / Maison Blanche and he is waiting to see what comes of the rest of the project before deciding what to do with it.  The Mayor stated that the flood plain development is no longer a seniors’ project but a condominium project open to anyone, that the Connaught Home project would be for seniors and that the White House / Maison Blanche should eventually be housing for younger people who would come to work in North Hatley in the new stores and businesses providing new services.

It was expressed that waiting for M. Laliberté to make a decision as to the eventual use of the White House / Maison Blanche was putting the future planning of our village on hold because this meant waiting for the outcome of the floodplain decree.  According to the Mayor, M. Laliberté is currently interested in moving forward with the flood plain project but could not guarantee that he will remain interested in pursuing it.

Strong concern was then expressed that, by putting so much emphasis on M. Laliberté’s decision-making, the participation of the citizens in shaping the Village is also being overshadowed.

The Mayor explained that the PPU is nearly completed but that not only does the Village not feel it can present its PPU until the Plan de Gestion is approved, it also feels that even if the Plan de Gestion is approved, it may not be appropriate to present it while the decree is still in effect.  The Mayor would like to reveal it to the citizens because he and Council have worked so hard on it, taking the time to do it right.  He says citizens will be happy with it.  We suggested that Council could present it to the community as a work in progress as opposed to an official PPU, in order to show the community what it has been working on and what it has accomplished, and to get feedback from the community before completing it and then presenting it as the PPU.  In order to provide a real opportunity for the community to provide its input, the Mayor was encouraged to make this presentation prior to Labour Day while the majority of the summer residents are still here.

FANHCA Summary

FANHCA encourages transparency and dialogue, especially regarding a project that has such potential consequences for our beautiful and harmonious village.  We feel that having the citizens included in the planning process is key to the successful outcome of any major project.  It would have been good, certainly, to have had regular updates on how the Mayor and Council were thinking regarding a vision for our Village.  And it would be good to know where over a quarter of a million of our dollars have been spent in preparing the groundwork for a project that may, in fact, never get off the ground,

Regarding the proposed condo project, the Connaught Home and the White House / Maison Blanche, given the Mayor’s statement, we are concerned that we’ll have condos (and most likely ‘luxury condos’ at that) in the flood zone, seniors in the Connaught, and younger people at the Maison Blanche.  In terms of town planning, this does not seem very desirable.  Mixing together the different populations would be preferable.  For the moment, certainly, the Connaught seems to be on hold.  What, if anything, is actually likely to be done there?

It is unsettling that the future of the village seems to be being determined by the decisions of one person, rather than an attempt being made to fashion a Master Plan, a long-term vision, a sense of what North Hatley could or should look like in the future.

No matter what happens in the flood plain, if it is thought that events in the big park might be ongoing, there will be a need to improve the ‘Town Square’.  As discussed in the 2012 student work, a refurbished marina and Old Grist Mill, as well as pedestrian spaces on Rue Mill, shops and services would add to the ambiance and visitor experience.  The mayor expressed concern about costs of such a project.

During the next year and a half, then, FANHCA feels that the best avenue that the Mayor and Council can take is one of open dialogue with the citizens to achieve consensus.  With an election coming up in November, this is all the more important.

Jane Meagher and Brian Merrett

August, 2017.

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