Move comes after second councillor resigns in less than a month
In a social media post, Lakeland Ridges Mayor Greg Grant announced that after “a request from Lakeland Ridges councillors” on Sunday, Aug. 9, the agenda for the regular council meeting set for Monday, Aug. 10 will be amended.
“There will be no in-person meeting held at the Lakeland Ridges Council Chambers,” wrote Grant. “Council will meet electronically at 7 p.m. via Zoom for the purpose of considering the postponement and rescheduling of the regular business of council until after a scheduled facilitated council session.”
Grant says the proposed mediated session is intended to provide all members of council with an “opportunity to openly and respectfully address concerns, strengthen communication and collaboration, improve interpersonal working relationships, and establish a positive path forward.”
Grant said the facilitated session is to “support council’s shared responsibility to work together effectively and respectfully in the best interests of the residents of the Municipality of Lakeland Ridges.”
After the May election, this council’s term got off to a rocky start, with chaotic meetings. Residents have filled council chambers, and the mayor is often heckled by those in attendance. There have been procedural missteps, arguments, and two resignations since meetings began in June.
Last week, Deputy Mayor Stephen Manuel submitted his resignation, following Councillor Elizabeth Luimes’ resignation on July 13.
“I’m still coming to grips with the level of organized hate that is being directed at this council from mainly people in my own community,” wrote Manuel in an email to the River Valley Sun. “And the people doing the organizing have been part of the last council or related to some of them.”
Manuel, who previously spent six years as a Meductic councillor and nine years as the community’s mayor, was appointed as a municipal supervisor of Lakeland Ridges in February 2024 after the Department of Environment and Local Government took control of the day-to-day operations. The first municipal council devolved into chaos shortly after amalgamation. Division among councillors meant the inability to pass motions, which caused the province to step in.
Déjà vu
Residents of Lakeland Ridges may feel like they’ve heard this story before.
In January 2024, then-Lakeland Ridges Mayor Tanya Cloutier and Ward 4 Councillors Mike Furrow and Mark Grant, representing the former village of Canterbury, resigned their seats, citing the ongoing dysfunction and continuing bullying by some council members.
Manuel says it’s frustrating to see the municipality in the same position two years later.
