Council debates office move as meetings continue to be contentious
Lakeland Ridges Council has agreed to seek independent guidance on Code of Conduct complaints following a lengthy, at times heated discussion at its Oct. 14 regular meeting. During that meeting, some councillors challenged the municipality’s office relocation.
The meeting saw many disagreements over a range of issues, including how the council should review complaints involving the mayor, delays in decision-making, and questions about transparency regarding the move of the municipal office to Canterbury.
“Selfishness is the root of all this,” Councillor Judy Cole stated. Throughout the meeting, councillors were reminded to speak through the chair, rather than back and forth with each other.
Independent guidance sought on Code of Conduct complaints
Council discussed complaints about the mayor that members of the public submitted in July and August.
Due to a conflict of interest, the Mayor stepped away for this portion of the meeting, and Deputy Mayor Tanya Cloutier took his place.
She apologized for delays in reviewing the submissions and outlining the process for handling them under the municipality’s Code of Conduct bylaw.
“Receiving complaints does not mean a violation has occurred and no conclusions have been reached,” Mayor Greg Grant said upon returning to chambers, explaining that council would determine the appropriate next steps under the bylaw.
The mayor also acknowledged his role in the delay, saying he had not fully understood how far the process had progressed when he assumed the role. He apologized for the delay and said he wanted to handle the complaints properly.
“The meeting these complaints are based on was a vicious attack on our mayor,” said Councillor Cole. Her response drew considerable chatter from the gallery.
Under the bylaws discussed at the meeting, council must conduct an initial review; however, council may accept an external consultant’s investigation, report, and recommendations. A motion was brought forward to have the same independent consultant provide guidance on all Code of Conduct complaints received.
The meeting did not address the complaints themselves.
Office relocation raises questions about transparency
The municipality’s office relocation also drew criticism, with councillors questioning how the municipality communicated the decision and whether it considered the costs and practical implications.
Councillor Rhonda Alward challenged the timing of the move, saying she learned of it only during the Oct. 7 Committee of the Whole meeting, the night before the move.
The councillor asked why council members weren’t informed earlier and why the move was communicated to residents only after it took place.
“Everyone should have information at the same time, mayor included,” Alward said.
She also questioned whether the municipality should have proceeded before completing a feasibility study and reviewing the costs associated with moving equipment and services, including internet and labour.
“At this time, our focus should be on preparing the upcoming budget, not moving,” she said.
Alward argued that the move raised concerns about transparency and trust, adding, “If there’s no trust, there’s no opportunity for success. This is not how we build trust.”
She also raised concerns about the working environment available to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), questioning whether the new arrangement would provide adequate privacy and whether the employee had meaningful input into the decision.
Councillor Alward argued that allowing the CFO to continue working from the Meductic Community Centre could improve public access without significantly increasing heating costs, as the building was already in use.
During the discussion, the mayor disputed the suggestion that the employee had been forced to relocate, saying he had spoken with her about the options available.
Other councillors sought clarification about whether the request before council would allow the CFO to continue working from the community centre, noting that workplace safety and working-alone policies would also need to be considered.
Ultimately, the motion for the CFO to stay in Meductic did not pass, with three opposing votes from Councillor Barb Glanville, Councillor Cole, and Councillor Lisa Antworth, and one abstention from Deputy Mayor Cloutier.
URVH Hospital Gala sponsorship
The council passed a motion to donate $1,000 to a hospital fundraiser for an upcoming gala. At a nearly unanimous vote, Councillor Glanville noted her concern about the funds leaving the Lakeland Ridges community.
“There’s more need in our own community,” she said, voting against the motion.
Councillor Alward rebutted
“Anything we can do to help enhance services such as MRIs is huge to all communities, including ours,” Councillor Alward added.
Other orders of business
The Debec Animal Shelter will receive the washer and dryer currently held at the Meductic Hall. Motion passed unanimously.
Councillors have requested an itemized spending list from the CFO before the next regular meeting, as the treasurer’s report was not made available for this meeting.
Local engineers are still reviewing the upkeep of White Birch Lane, Meductic, much to Councillor Alward’s dissatisfaction, who believed this point would be completed this season.
The council unanimously passed a motion to allocate an estimated $ 6,500 to paint lines on the Debec Hockey rink before the ice goes in.
The next regular meeting will be held on Nov. 9.
