“You have to be available 24 hours a day”: immersion in the daily life of Daniel Barthès, mayor of Puimisson, in Hérault

The Congress of Mayors of France opens this Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in Paris, the opportunity to meet our local elected officials. In Hérault, 342 mayors are involved every day, sometimes mobilized until late at night. We spent a morning with Daniel Barthès, the mayor of Puimissona small town near Béziers with 1,200 inhabitants.

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Generally, Daniel Barthès, 67, arrives at 7:45 in the morning at the town hall. A second term as mayor for this retiree from Gaz de France, “I worked there for 40 years”he confides. This Monday, a big day awaits him, “like every day”he said. The day begins with a meeting at the community of communes, in Magalas, to take stock with the school canteen caterer. “The lasagna arrives frozen, says an assistant. Parents find the quantities too smalladds another. We must give butter to children with the radishes, adds a third. So much feedback from the administrators of the 11 municipalities of the Avants-Monts community of municipalities.

Soon a sports field next to the school

A second meeting then awaits the mayor of Puimisson. “There, we are going to see a company that is doing work right next to the school, where we are building a small City stadium,” explains Daniel Barthès. Until now, children had to cross the entire village to play sports. Within a few months, the land will be next to the school. “So, is it progressing well? asks the mayor. It can only move forward!” replies the site manager.

We take the opportunity to visit the Puimisson school, 123 students are registered there. Daniel Barthès takes a huge bunch of keys from his pocket. “I have the keys to the school, the town hall, the public toilets, the workshop”he lists. But once they arrive in the playground, a teacher calls out to the mayor: “Mr. Mayor, the electricity just went out!” Daniel Barthès begins by looking at the establishment's two electricity meters for himself, before calling a specialized company.

Several unexpected events in a single morning

After resolving this first problem, Daniel Barthès returns to town hall. But the phone rings a second time. “There is a nest of Asian hornets next to the workshop, he announces. Stings can be very dangerous. We have to go!” We arrive at the foot of a monumental oak tree. “Do you see them? They’re right there! points to Clément, municipal agent. “Okay, I’m going to call the fire brigade.” promises Daniel Barthès. Two meetings, two unforeseen events, In short, this is the daily life of this Hérault mayor. “You have to be available 24 hours a day, he summarizes. Sometimes we feel a little abandoned, we ask for state aid, but we don't necessarily get a response, we often have to fend for ourselves. It's tiring after all. But on the other hand, it's so interesting and motivating to take care of the people and the village. It’s a passion.” A passion for Daniel Barthès which we leave at the town hall, so that he can prepare for his three afternoon meetings.