Of all the issues that concern the people living in our village, the most consistent is the lack of communication by the administration of North Hatley with its residents. Along with many others, we, the undersigned, have written and talked about the lack of openness and transparency on the part of the mayor and the councillors.
From the installation of a communications tower in the village, to proposed expensive cosmetic additions to a replacement bridge, to a last-minute demolition permit issued for a heritage building, to the possibility of unspoken intentions behind the locking of the public beach, to support for a massive condo development in the heart of the village – despite pleas to involve residents in discussion and participation, the mayor and the town council have remained silent as the administration has pressed forward with its unaired, and apparently unplanned, agenda.
Thus, when we received a copy of a recent letter* sent by the mayoress of the small town of Saint-Irénée, in Québec’s beautiful Charlevoix region, to its residents, inviting all to a citizens’ planning workshop on September 8th, we felt this might be the perfect example of how the administration of a town the size of North Hatley, in an equally picturesque and sought-after destination, should interact with the people who live there, pay taxes, and are invested in the long-term planning of the village.
On Monday August 13, North Hatley resident Vincent Ranallo forwarded the letter to Mayor Page, and to Councillors Farrugia, Fee, Gerrish, LeBlanc, and Veillette, with an introduction saying “.. that such an attitude towards citizens displayed by Saint-Irénée is the kind we expect from our council when it comes to defining a vision or addressing difficult situations.” To date there has been no acknowledgement of, or reply to his message by any member of the administration.
It would seem that the mayor and members of council have agreed—or possibly have been directed—to not display attitudes of listening, empathy and sharing but, rather, to defend themselves and continue to simply forge ahead. Citizens’ questions and concerns meet with answers that are both repetitive and vague
As involved citizens, we feel we need to work out for ourselves, through inclusive dialogue with our fellow community members, with or without the involvement of councillors, what we want for our town in the way of economic and social development, community awareness, and attentiveness on the part of our elected representatives.
We feel the ongoing beach crisis, the announcement promised for this month regarding major public works that will deprive us of the use of the bridge for a few months, the upcoming by-election and the Laliberté project that will resurface in the near future, give us an opportunity to consult with each other—before the next by-election and, together—to formulate a vision for our village. We invite you to submit by e-mail or as a comment to this post, within the next two weeks, your suggestions relating to such a consultation.
Please circulate this information amongst your neighbours, friends and relatives.
Thank you.
- Brian Merrett, Vincent Ranallo, Paul St-Pierre
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*Below is the translated text of the letter from the mayoress. The original is on the web at: http://www.saintirenee.ca/evenements/atelier-citoyen.aspx#contentAnchor
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INVITATION TO A CITIZENS’ WORKSHOP
Dear Citizens,
Saint-Irénée is an excellent place to live for its 753 residents, surrounded by the majestic landscapes of the St. Lawrence River and Le Massif de Charlevoix. Our municipality has a well-defined identity, based on its exceptional natural and agricultural environment.
Today, Saint-Irénée is at an important stage in its development, and we invite you to join us in thinking about its future.
Saint-Irénée is undertaking a process of strategic planning in order to define how it should position itself in the coming years, based on a concerted examination involving everyone concerned and on the aspirations and expectations of its community members.
For this purpose, a citizens’ workshop is being organized by the municipality, in which participants will be able to share their views on different topics.
When? (time given)
Where? (location given)
Activities for children will be offered upon request. Please confirm your attendance at (address given) before August 31, 2018.
We are convinced the process will be enhanced by your presence, and we hope to count you among us!
The letter is signed by the Mayoress of Saint-Irénée.