Dear Editor,
Previous Municipality of Pontiac Mayor Roger Larose is demanding an apology from Mayor Joanne Labadie.
For 17 months I have sat silently on many occasions, understanding that Madame Labadie, came into office without any municipal experience, even stating the fact herself at the all candidates debate that she had never attended a municipal council meeting.
She has publicly blamed past elected officials on alleged issues with respect to the newly built community centre in Quyon in the March 6, 2019 edition of THE EQUITY. This is definitely not how you get council to work with you.
She blamed CIMA for many problems and even has THE EQUITY trying to contact them when the contract was awarded to LCC Contracting as can be seen on the big sign at the end of Ferry Road. At the Feb. 27, 2019 special meeting she blamed architect Pierre Tabet for all the construction problems with the building. Another false statement was that there was no project manager assigned to the building. Please read the resolution 16-12-3003 which assigned a project manager. As far as an engineer, we have a qualified engineer at the municipality, what has he been doing?
She stated at the same meeting that even the MRC did not want Mr. Tabet for an extension on a police station and that is why the police station was stopped. Another false statement from Madame Labadie. She should inquire on her facts before giving false statements in public.
I was there, Madame Labadie and that is a false statement and Mr. Tabet was even recommended by the MRC and the resolution at the MRC, you can see that I was the one that proposed not building the police station.
I believe Madame Labadie, as mayor, you sit at the MRC level, you are supposed to represent us.
This is the same mayor who during campaigning, said she would bring businesses to our municipality ex. Microsoft even though we do not have high speed internet.
After 17 months in power she is trying to shut down the remaining businesses we have by increasing their taxes. She did not even know the ratio of businesses vs. homes in the municipality affected by the tax increase when asked at a public meeting. How can you propose a budget without inquiring on the impact this would have on your business taxpayers?
This is only the tip of the iceberg on her lack of knowledge of municipal politics, laws and regulations.
Wonder why so many employees are quitting?
Wonder why the community centre is not up and running yet?
Ask Madame Labadie, who decided to do some changes on the architectural plans after the proposed completion date of the contract. Example: to accommodate a certain group, by installing a window in the kitchen, installing another bar and that bar to be installed in a closet, etc, etc. Now we have two bars and probably more changes that we are unaware of.
Do not wonder any further, when you make structural changes with the architect, you change the price and of course, cause delays.
Another burden on the taxpayers is the price of Alary Road. Over $600,000 to fix a side road, which is now 17 months and counting. This price is four times more than what was originally quoted.
Door to door composting, another burden she wants to impose on the taxpayers, ridiculous!
Meetings are not conducted according to municipal code. An example is a borrowing bylaw to purchase a ten wheeler truck in the amount of $250,000 was voted on the same meeting as the notice of motion was tabled. This contravened article 445 of the municipal code. One councillor voted against this bylaw, but it was passed by the other four councillors in attendance. In order to act on this bylaw they would have to bring it back to the table and start the process over again. This is just one of many examples how procedures are not followed.
Please stop twisting the facts as a truth to the citizens of our municipality.
I have done this in English as the article in THE EQUITY was published in English.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Past Mayor Roger Larose.
Pontiac, Que.
