Due to the conflict which has been bogged down for several months, the festivities for the 150th anniversary of Sainte-Pétronille will not take place in 2024.
“It is the 150th anniversary of this wonderful village and we can say that we have reached a situation of a breakdown of trust which today penalizes both the inhabitants and the history of the village. What do you plan to do for the 150th anniversary of the village?” said Britta Kröger, who has long appreciated this “little paradise” of Île d’Orléans.
“I have no answer,” admitted Mayor Jean Côté Monday evening, at the end of a public session less stormy than the previous ones.
In April 2023, council members were already thinking about programming. A year later, with three fewer elected officials, no specific activity is planned for the moment.
Confrontation
The climate of tension still does not subside in Sainte-Pétronille. A few days ago, a particularly virulent leaflet against the mayor was distributed within the municipality.
Six months after the closure of the library, the author refutes the town hall’s arguments to explain the current conflict.
“It is the refusal to work in a toxic climate induced by the new general director of Sainte-Pétronille with the approval of the mayor which must be seen as the only reason for the wholesale resignation of library volunteers in October 2023” , we can read.
Denise Drapeau, ex-volunteer responsible for the library, denounces in particular a “clearly authoritarian attitude”, “a desire for absolute control” and “manifest incompetence” in this cultural aspect.
Ms. Drapeau also deplores the mayor’s refusal to negotiate a passageway. “Through his closed attitude, he demonstrated a profound incomprehension, even contempt, for broader services,” she adds.
“We were a little fed up with what was being conveyed,” said Ms. Drapeau to explain the sending of this new document. For his part, Mayor Côté preferred not to respond. “We are advised to wait.”
Last month, the citizens of Sainte-Pétronille learned that three of the councilors resigned from their positions.
Notice of election
A notice of election will be published by Friday and the clerk of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Me Marie-Hélène Leblanc-Bourque, will act as president in order to avoid this task for the general director Nathalie Paquet.
Despite citizens unhappy with his hiring, the four elected officials voted to grant him a salary increase of approximately 4%, in addition to a bonus of $2,000. In addition to being clerk-treasurer, Ms. Paquet will also be civil security coordinator.
The arrival of a new general director and a conflict with library volunteers ignited the situation and the municipality sent a formal notice to around a hundred citizens.
Photo Jean-Philippe Guilbault
