Special Advisor Mario Caron’s report was made public on Tuesday. The latter had been mandated by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, to accompany the municipality and support it “in its relations with citizens”.
It must be said that almost a year ago to the day, the municipal council of Sainte-Pétronille proceeded to send massive formal notices to around a hundred citizens who had signed a petition demanding an investigation into the hiring of the new general director, Nathalie Paquet.
Since then, the rag has been burning between elected officials and the population. The months have passed, but the situation is still far from having recovered, observes Mr. Caron.
The municipal council and the general management of Sainte-Pétronille were able to read the report on Tuesday afternoon.
From September 16 to December 9, Mr. Caron advised the municipality in the preparation of its sessions and during their progress as well as in its relations with citizens. He said he noted that “despite the sustained involvement of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) and the intervention of the Quebec Municipal Commission (CMQ), difficulties persist.”
Still “difficult”
In his report dated December 17, the special advisor concluded that “the situation prevailing within the Village remains difficult.”
“For these reasons and considering that this situation risks having negative consequences on services to citizens, it seems important to me that actions be taken to improve the situation,” he wrote.
Information meeting for elected officials and citizens, better supervision of municipal council meetings, fair transmission of information between elected officials: a series of eight recommendations is formulated “for a more efficient and functional municipal council”.
“It is important to note that these recommendations, in addition to being based on the legal framework, aim to encourage the village to adopt good practices which are not obligatory under the law, but which will help it to escape from the current crisis,” invites the advisor.
Respect for citizens and transparency of elected officials
Among them, he suggests tightening up the conduct of public meetings of the municipal council, in order to avoid the excesses observed in recent months.
“Currently, citizens are heckling the sessions and intimidating members of the municipal council with words and gestures. This situation is not acceptable and must be corrected in order to return to normal, that is to say interventions respectful of citizens only when they are planned.
— Extract from the report of special advisor Mario Caron.
However, he emphasizes, municipal elected officials should, for their part, take care to explain the reasons for their decision-making to “promote transparency” and hold deliberations “out loud” and in an “intelligible” manner.
The town hall of Sainte-Pétronille, on the island of Orléans (Frederic Matte/Archives Le Soleil)
Likewise, all councilors should have access to “uniform and complete information for decision-making”, a matter of “promoting sound management of the village” and reducing “distrust” between council members, adds Mr. Caron. “Presently, […] Advisors have the right to information that other members do not have access to. These differences should not exist,” he blames.
Mario Caron details having engaged in a phase of observation, listening to members of the municipal council, citizens and the management team. He also viewed council meetings and read various documents, including the three petitions addressed to the council, the comments written by citizens, the investigation report from the Quebec Municipal Commission (CMQ), the implementation remains addressed to a group of citizens and letters of resignation, “among others”.
The minister wants rapid implementation
In a written statement to Soleilthe Minister of Municipal Affairs asks Sainte-Pétronille to “quickly implement the recommendations” issued by the special advisor.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest (Tom Core/Archives The Daily)
“The recommendations aim to improve the climate within the municipality. This is a collective responsibility that falls to each member of the municipal council,” notes Andrée Laforest.
Likewise, the ministry will continue to “monitor the situation very closely” and will resume its support, as recommended, at the request of the minister.
