Dysfunctional N.B. municipality gets 3rd government-appointed overseer in 6 months
Former Meductic mayor Stephen Manuel appointed to run Lakeland Ridges
The municipality of Lakeland Ridges in western New Brunswick is getting its third government-appointed supervisor in six months.
On Friday, the Department of Environment and Local Government announced that Stephen Manuel had been appointed supervisor of the municipality. No reason was given.
Manuel takes over from the previous supervisor Greg Lutes, who took over from the original supervisor Michael Blaney, who was appointed last summer following long-standing divisions within the new municipal council.
And the sides continue to be divided about the new appointment.
The mayor who resigned last month is praising Manuel's appointment, while one of the suspended councillors calls it a "major step backwards."
Randy Stairs said officials were sorting things out and learning to get along before Friday's announcement.
Government
reform created new municipal entities across the province, including
combining Canterbury, seen here, with Meductic, to form Lakeland Ridges,
which now has its third government-appointed supervisor in six months. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"We were probably seven-tenths of the way there," said Randy Stairs.
"We've been communicating with staff. We've let bygones be bygones. The only people that are irate about this are the people that have stepped down."
He said they've made "large strides" with the training and mediation they've had.
"We've set things aside, we've put it behind us, and then to have this happen, this is just a major, major step backwards."
Stairs said having the provincial government step in to run things in a municipality isn't how democracy is supposed to work.
"The supervisor, no matter who that is and no matter what municipality that could happen in, that's not the individual that the people elected to support them."
Stairs said the people who were elected were sorting things out and getting close to a resolution, so he's not happy with the plan for another supervisor.
Former mayor optimistic
Former mayor Tanya Cloutier, however, praised the appointment of Manuel.
"He understands the needs, he understands the people. He's been in a leadership position of a mayor and a councillor previously. So he understands those roles very well and I I do believe that he will be able to make this work."
Manuel's appointment under the Control of Municipalities Act took effect on Friday.
He will "continue to oversee the day-to-day administration of all local government affairs and takes on the role normally exercised by council. While under supervision, council members have no decision-making powers or authority," stated the government news release.
Manuel, a former mayor of Meductic, could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon.
Long-standing divisions
Divisions have been brewing for a long time in the community brought together as Lakeland Ridges, a sprawling rural municipality of 2,600 people taking in the former villages of Meductic and Canterbury as well as several rural areas between the St. John River and the Canada-U.S. border.
The divisions became obvious not long after the first group of elected officials came together. A council meeting last June, for example, didn't go ahead because councillors couldn't agree on an agenda.
Then, two municipal office staff, chief administrative officer and clerk Susie Patterson and deputy clerk-treasurer Lana Sharpe, went out on medical leave. Another council meeting scheduled for July was cancelled because a temporary clerk still wasn't in place.
By last summer, the province appointed Blaney, a former mayor of Gagetown, as supervisor and later replaced him with Lutes, a consultant and former provincial deputy minister.
The province's Control of Municipalities Act allows the government to appoint supervisors when a municipal council "is not able to carry on the business of a council."
In November, Lutes submitted his report to the province.
Although the province has refused to release the report, it did release a two-page "transition plan" that included the hiring of mediators and an updated code of conduct.
In January, however, Cloutier said she quit because of continued infighting and division between her and several councillors.
Tanya
Cloutier resigned as mayor of Lakeland Ridges in January, saying
infighting had continued under the province's appointed supervisor. (Tanya Cloutier/Facebook)
She said the problems persisted, despite the supervisor's involvement and his plan for a path to reinstatement, which would have seen council meetings resume this month or next.
Cloutier said little changed during the supervisorship. She said the "harassing and bullying and blaming" continued.
"I felt like I needed to step down to stand up," she said when reached on Friday.
Cloutier said she's still sad about resigning and hopes one day to return to local government.
"I would love to do that again one day, but before that can happen, I do need to see a change," she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tuesday 30 January 2024
Mayor of dysfunctional municipality quits over infighting
Mayor of dysfunctional municipality quits over infighting
Tanya Cloutier says some Lakeland Ridges councillors seem intent on continuing feuds when they’re reinstated
The mayor of a troubled rural municipality in western New Brunswick has quit over what she says is chronic infighting and division between her and several councillors.
Those divisions prompted the provincial government to take over the running of Lakeland Ridges last year and have now prompted Tanya Cloutier to step down.
"I'm not doing this to turn my back on you," Cloutier said, addressing residents via an interview with CBC News.
"I'm actually doing this to let you know that this type of behaviour should not be allowed in any level of government."
- Province takes over new municipality divided by council turmoil
- Report into dysfunctional N.B. municipality will remain secret
The elected council is supposed to be on a path to reinstatement by now following the development of a plan by a provincial supervisor.
But Cloutier said she recently concluded that the province's intervention was superficial and had established artificial and over-optimistic deadlines, such as having council start to hold meetings again in February or March.
Lakeland
Ridges is a sprawling rural municipality of 2,600 that includes the
former villages of Meductic, seen here, and Canterbury and several areas
between the St. John River and the Canada-U.S. border. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
She said a group of councillors continued to complain and badmouth her, seemingly intent on resuming their difficult behaviour once they were reinstated, such as attempting to fire municipal staff and sell off assets.
"I felt that there was no real change that was coming because of the outbursts and stuff that were still happening," she said.
Coun. Randy Stairs, one of five councillors who convened a public meeting last fall about the situation, refused a CBC request for an interview on Monday.
But he said in a brief phone conversation that the transition back to council authority was getting better, and it was possible things would be more harmonious when a new mayor is elected in a byelection to replace Cloutier.
Asked if he planned to run for mayor, Stairs said, "Oh, God, no."
Lakeland Ridges is a sprawling rural municipality of 2,600 people taking in the former villages of Meductic and Canterbury as well as several rural areas between the St. John River and the Canada-U.S. border.
It was created as part of the provincewide local government reform on Jan. 1, 2023.
The province's Control of Municipalities Act allows the government to appoint a supervisor when a municipal council "is not able to carry on the business of a council."
A council meeting last June didn't go ahead when councillors couldn't agree on an agenda.
The two municipal office staff, chief administrative officer and clerk Susie Patterson and deputy clerk-treasurer Lana Sharpe, went out on medical leave. Another council meeting scheduled for July was cancelled because a temporary clerk still wasn't in place.
The supervisor was appointed not long after that.
Some residents suggested the dispute was driven by people who opposed local government reform and didn't want to see their communities folded into a larger municipality.
Cloutier
says trouble persisted in the rural municipality even after an
intervention by the province, which she called superficial. (Tanya Cloutier/Facebook)
Cloutier, a former mayor of Canterbury, said there were complaints, for example, that a local doctor's one-evening-a-week clinic was happening there and not elsewhere — even though the doctor lived in that area and it was the best way to make it convenient for her.
Last November, supervisor Greg Lutes submitted his report to the province, a document the government is refusing to release.
Cloutier said Monday that it hasn't even been disclosed to her and the councillors, making it impossible for them to know what needed to change.
The province did publicly release a two-page "transition plan" that included the hiring of mediators and an updated code of conduct.
A note on the plan said mediation "to resolve individual issues and interpersonal relationships" would probably need to continue past Dec. 15.
"The speed at which conflict can be resolved depends upon the complexity of the issue, the individuals involved, and their ability to find consensus to conclude a resolution," it said.
Cloutier acknowledged she had made mistakes, but, "I think the public understands when a mistake is made, then you work as a group together to try to fix it, not point fingers, have outbursts, go to the the local coffee shops and start speaking poorly about your mayor."
In a December interview, Premier Blaine Higgs, who grew up in the area and owns a summer property in Lakeland Ridges, said the dispute appeared to be rooted in "strong independence from competing communities."
"It's the very reason that we have regionalization, to get over that and say, 'How great can we be together?'" he said.
"There are some unique challenges there because of strong opinions of of individual communities. We've got to look bigger than that."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
"In a December interview, Premier Blaine Higgs, who grew up in the area and owns a summer property in Lakeland Ridges, said the dispute appeared to be rooted in "strong independence from competing communities."
"It's the very reason that we have regionalization, to get over that and say, 'How great can we be together?'" he said."
Yea Right
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Go Figure
"Last November, supervisor Greg Lutes submitted his report to the province, a document the government is refusing to release.
Cloutier said Monday that it hasn't even been disclosed to her and the councillors, making it impossible for them to know what needed to change."
David Amos
"I'm not doing this to turn my back on you," Cloutier said, addressing residents via an interview with CBC News.
"I'm actually doing this to let you know that this type of behaviour should not be allowed in any level of government."
The elected council is supposed to be on a path to reinstatement by now following the development of a plan by a provincial supervisor.
But Cloutier said she recently concluded that the province's intervention was superficial and had established artificial and over-optimistic deadlines, such as having council start to hold meetings again in February or March."
I believe the lady
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
I don't believe this dude
"Coun. Randy Stairs, one of five councillors who convened a public meeting last fall about the situation, refused a CBC request for an interview on Monday.
But he said in a brief phone conversation that the transition back to council authority was getting better, and it was possible things would be more harmonious when a new mayor is elected in a byelection to replace Cloutier."
"Last November, supervisor Greg Lutes submitted his report to the province, a document the government is refusing to release."
- Why doesn't the government want to release the report?
Akimbo Alogo
Reply to Alison Jackson
I thought you lived in Ontario? What business have you in NB politics?
Did you even vote in the last provincial election? Or do you just enjoy the sound of your voice...
Alison Jackson.
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
People have the right to be interested on any region in Canada...or did something change? I travel alot to Alberta , about 6 times a year, that gives me the right to comment on what I see there as well, wouldn't it? You also don't need to "vote" to call out injustices or point out inconsistencies last I heard.
Kenneth Dwight
Reply to Alison Jackson
What does it matter where someone lives in Canada?
Akimbo Alogo
Reply to Alison Jackson
Yes....you do. If you don't vote here, keep your opinions to yourself.
Those who don't vote have no right to complain after the fact. Full stop.
Graham McCormack
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
Or do you just enjoy the sound of your voice...
Really?
Chris Merriam
Reply to Graham McCormack
Truth is inconvenient sometimes, right?
MR Cain
Content Deactivated
Reply to Graham McCormack
Graham McCormack
Reply to MR Cain
It could be any one of a number of names.
MR Cain
Reply to Graham McCormack
labimbo has lots
MR Cain
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
your name on any electorate list? didn't think so.
MR Cain
Reply to Kenneth Dwight
it matters to labimbo
Sylvester Pheelyne
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
That is the most toxic version of democracy that I can think of, but hey, for alt right folks like you this is what we expect.
David Amos
Reply to Alison Jackson
Good question
David Amos
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
What business have you in NB politics?
Wednesday 29 November 2023
Report into dysfunctional N.B. municipality will remain secret
Report into dysfunctional N.B. municipality will remain secret
Province says report on turmoil in Lakeland Ridges contains 'confidential and personal' information
The province is refusing to release the report by the supervisor it appointed to run Lakeland Ridges.
"The supervisor's report itself will not be made public due to confidential and personal information included in the report," said Heather Pert, a spokesperson for the Department of Local Government.
Coun. Randy Stairs turned down an interview request but said the report had not been given to councillors, either.
The
provincial reform created new municipal entities across the province,
including a combined Canterbury, seen here, and Meductic. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Lakeland Ridges is a sprawling rural municipality of 2,600 people taking in the former villages of Meductic and Canterbury, between the St. John River and the Canada-U.S. border.
It was created as part of the provincewide local government reform on Jan. 1.
The province's Control of Municipalities Act allows the government to appoint a supervisor when a municipality can't pay its bills, when there aren't enough councillors for the quorum required to hold a meeting or when council "is not able to carry on the business of a council."
A council meeting last June didn't go ahead when councillors couldn't agree on an agenda.
The two municipal office staff, chief administrative officer and clerk Susie Patterson and deputy clerk-treasurer Lana Sharpe, went out on medical leave. Another council meeting scheduled for July was cancelled because a temporary clerk still wasn't in place.
In August, former Meductic mayor Steve Manuel told CBC News that some members of the municipal council were determined to make the newly merged municipality unworkable.
Former
Meductic mayor Steve Manuel told CBC News in August that some members
of the municipal council were determined to make the newly merged
municipality unworkable. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"The group needed to work together and that just is not happening," he said at the time.
Mayor Tanya Cloutier turned down an interview request in August and did not respond to a request on Tuesday.
Stairs said in August that the supervisor appointed to run the municipality, Michael Blaney, had "strongly suggested" that councillors not speak publicly about what was going on.
The government named Blaney, a former mayor of Gagetown, as supervisor last summer and later replaced him with Greg Lutes, a consultant and former provincial deputy minister.
Rather than release Lutes's report, the province published a two-page "transition plan" he developed.
The first phase, to be completed by Dec. 15, includes requiring municipal councillors and staff to "sign intent to follow" the plan.
It also calls for the hiring of mediators and the updating of the code of conduct "to reflect inspector's recommendations and 2023 observations."
A note on the plan says mediation "to resolve individual issues and interpersonal relationships" would probably need to continue past Dec. 15.
"The speed at which conflict can be resolved depends upon the complexity of the issue, the individuals involved, and their ability to find consensus to conclude a resolution," it says.
Future phases, to be finished by March 2024, include developing a strategic plan for the next two years, the possible creation of council committees and "supervised council meetings" to be held with the help of a "procedural coach."
The current council's mandate runs until municipal elections in May 2026.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lakeland Ridges mayor and council haven’t met since May, won’t comment on intervention
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Aug 11, 2023 6:00 AM ADT
Oh My My Who should I call?
Another area where Holt or Coons should make it known they will do things differently. This report and the appointed oversees are being paid with provincial tax dollars, meaning the report belongs to the
people of NB not Higgs or the Conservative party.
Does the opposition in this province intend to do things differently or not? Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have been using the privacy act to withhold information from NBers.
In fact, one or both of the opposition parties should commit to overhauling the privacy act if they form government. There are an army of civil servants spending their days deciding on what information we
can't see under the broad umbrella of "privacy".
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Benny Swim
Trust that your wish will come true on or about the 12th of Never
John Lawrence
Result of Daniel Allain’s gerrymandering efforts for Higgs. Nobody is pleased with it except Blaine as it is as close to rigging an election as legally possible. Still hard to process Allain caused chaos in
Francophone districts given his Acadian heritage. It is what it is
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to John Lawrence
It is what is yet I still maintain that Allain will replace Higgy as leader
Shawn Tabor
You fine folks are on “ the need to know bases “ and there is no need of you folks knowing, have a great safe and wonderful day. Work hard and smile. Taxes and death.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor
So you say
Benny Swim
Reply to David Amos
I think he was being sarcastic...
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
I know he was
Ronald Miller
The Higgs government should have given some support to these newly formed councils for the first year or so. Like usual he is resource thin
Michael Milne
Reply to Ronald Miller
Right, I get it, blame the right for the left behaving badly.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Michael Milne
Yes
David Amos
Reply to Michael Milne
I don't get it
Benny Swim
Reply to Michael Milne
In what way is the "left" behaving badly on a project that was carried out by the Higgs' government?
To the best of my knowledge there are no active communist cells at work in either Meductic or Canterbury.
If you know something you should report it to the RCMP.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
"If you know something you should report it to the RCMP."
I do all the time but to no avail
Laura Smith
Seriously, sections can't be redacted? Hope they didn't spend any taxpayer dollars on the report.
David Amos
Reply to Laura Smith
Dream on
Ronald Miller
It is too bad this municipality has run into so many issues, hopefully they can get things sorted out over the coming months. Obviously since the report contains personal information it is private, a bit of a DUH thing to report on. Overall it is but a blip on the screen and a much ado about nothing, next.
Benny Swim
Reply to Ronald Miller
When the government spends our money and hires friends of the governing party as consultants the information that is produced should be public information. Duh.
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
Ditto
Bobby Richards
"The group needed to work together and that just is not happening," he
said at the time.
They must be taking lessons from the current provincial government.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Bobby Richards
Aug 11, 2023 You Posted:
"This municipality includes the premier's home town. Maybe this is where he gets his My Way or the Highway mentality."
Bobby Richards
Reply to Bobby Richards
You're on the ball
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
So are you
Kyle Woodman
Another failure by the Higgs government.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Kyle Woodman
The municipality failed, did you read the article or just the headline again?
Jos Allaire
Reply to Ronald Miller
The Higgs government leads by example.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Jos Allaire
Yes you are right
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Aug 11, 2023 You Posted:
"Send in the Clowns"
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Welcome back to the circus
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
Kinda sorta
Benny Swim
Reply to Ronald Miller
You know he was being sarcastic right? Dysfunctional provincial government, dysfunctional municipalities.
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
Absolutely
Donald Smith
When I first saw this headline Report into dysfunctional N.B. municipality will remain secret- I thought was directed toward Saint John
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Donald Smith
I understand why you would think that
David Amos
Reply to Donald Smith
Too Too Funny
Dan Flanagan
Same thing in our community. A rabblerouser started to go to meeting calling some people on council perverts & it went downhill from there. No civility, no shame & no sense.
David Amos
Reply to Dan Flanagan
Are you certain?
Ken Dwight
This government doesn't do anything on a scale like this unless they can get some benefit out of it for themselves. Forget the people, they are not interersted in helping them, whatever looks good in the books.
David Amos
Reply to Ken Dwight
Perhaps you should run for public office
MR Cain
Donald Bowser, an international expert on political corruption, says he is "shocked to discover that there is less transparency in New Brunswick than in Kurdistan, Guatemala or Sierra Leone".
Terry Bull
Reply to MR Cain
Bowser is a grifter.
MR Cain
Reply to Terry Bull
n international expert on political corruption
Ronald Miller.
Reply to MR Cain
He does not appear to be an expert on much of anything and sits on a board in opposition of the current gov't so his opinion of them would carry no weight and a huge amount of bias.
Ronald Miller
Reply to MR Cain
I can't seem to find this quote anywhere, can you provide the article? How does he know the transparency of the countries involved, has he done extensive research on them? Exactly what transparency level is he referring to since our gov't has been rated one of the most transparent in Canada from the C.D. Howe institute. Can you expand on this or did you stumble upon this random quote and decide to throw it out there for the 50th time.
David Amos
Reply to MR Cain
"Donald Bowser, an international expert on political corruption"
Thanks for the laugh
David Amos
Reply to Terry Bull
Yup
Greg Miller
Ah, more secrets. A mystery -- nothing like a mystery in the amalgamation saga!
Greg Miller
Content Deactivated
There's on mystery that has been solved in our new enlarged community--our taxes are going up more than 7% !
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Greg Miller
Mine went down
.
David Amos
Reply to Greg Miller
I wonder why my revelation is a secret
Kevin Archibald
Oh, so that's what democracy means. Laughable.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kevin Archibald
Yup
David Amos
Reply to Kevin Archibald
This is a circus correct?
Freddy Furlong
There is so much secrecy with any New Brunswick government that's voted in. Lack of transparency in this here place is an understatement.
David Amos
Reply to Freddy Furlong
True
Saturday 12 August 2023
Province takes over new municipality divided by council turmoil
Province takes over new municipality divided by council turmoil
Lakeland Ridges mayor and council haven’t met since May, won’t comment on intervention
Inside, a phone was ringing. No one was there to answer it.
By the road, the old Canterbury village hall sign was faded, almost illegible, giving no hint of the newly created municipality's name.
Last week, the New Brunswick government announced it was taking over administration of the community, stripping the elected council of its authority and appointing a supervisor to make decisions.
Mayor
Tanya Cloutier said she wasn't able to comment at this time. But
according to some residents, the council has been bitterly divided. (Submitted by Tanya Cloutier)
People in the municipality, created by the Higgs government's local government reform, were left bewildered.
"I'd like to know everything, the whole situation, why they're acting up," said Laura Roussell, who has run Russell's Place, a general store and coffee shop, for 47 years.
Getting answers isn't easy.
The province won't say what exactly triggered its move.
The province's Control of Municipalities Act allows it when a municipality can't pay its bills, when there aren't enough councillors for the quorum required to hold a meeting or when council "is not able to carry on the business of a council."
A statement from Local Government Minister Glen Savoie didn't say which of those prompted his decision.
"Unfortunately I am unable to comment at this time," Mayor Tanya Cloutier said in an email.
But according to some residents, the council has been bitterly divided, with some members accused of sabotaging the smooth functioning of the newly created administration.
"I'm very disappointed in the way things have turned out, but I'm not surprised," said Steve Manuel, a former mayor of Meductic, one of two villages absorbed into Lakeland Ridges.
The municipality has an estimated population of 2,600 people in a sprawling area below Woodstock on the St. John River.
It stretches to the St. Croix River that forms part of the Canada-U.S. border, taking in the former villages of Canterbury and Meductic, as well as several local service districts. Skiff Lake, a popular cottage spot, is also within its boundaries.
The provincial reform created new municipal entities in many rural areas that had lacked a local government.
"As it has in other municipalities, it could have been a good thing," Manuel said. "But the group needed to work together and that just is not happening."
Manuel sat on a planning committee in 2022 that tried to map out the contours and functions of the new municipality.
He said several members of that committee, who he wouldn't name, "stated publicly at the meetings that they were against this forced amalgamation, and they were going to do everything in their power to see that it didn't work."
Some of them now sit on council, he said.
"It's been a lot of bickering over the way things should be done and who has the authority to do what," he said.
"If their intention originally was to see to it that this didn't work, then I guess they got their wish."
Laura
Roussell has run a general store and coffee shop in what is now
Lakeland Ridges for 47 years. She says she'd like to know what's going
on with the municipal council. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The provincially appointed supervisor, Michael Blaney, would not agree to an interview.
But he confirmed by email that the council has not met since May 23.
When the council convened June 12, members could not agree on an agenda so the meeting didn't go ahead.
On June 29, Cloutier announced that the two municipal office staff, chief administrative officer and clerk Susie Patterson and deputy clerk-treasurer Lana Sharpe, were "currently out on medical leave."
That was the first indication something was wrong, Manuel said.
"The comments we've heard about the way they were treated, that type of thing is now getting out in the public, and people were very upset and surprised to hear about all this."
Another scheduled council meeting on July 10 was cancelled because a temporary clerk still wasn't in place.
Coun. Randy Stairs, who was a village councillor in Meductic before the amalgamation, turned down an interview request.
He said the supervisor had "strongly suggested" at a meeting Tuesday night that the mayor and councillors not talk publicly about what's happening.
The
provincial reform created new municipal entities across the province,
including combining Canterbury, seen here, with Meductic. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Stairs confirmed he was against the amalgamation "from the get-go" but was trying to make it work, adding the province hadn't heard the perspective of a majority of councillors before imposing the supervisor.
But he refused to share that perspective with CBC News.
"You have no idea how bad I want to," he said.
Resident Terry Kaye says some councillors who sat on previous village councils "don't want" anything to change and the province was right to step in.
"They're there to serve the community and we're not getting that," he said. "We're not getting things done. If they're acting like a bunch of kids, it's time to get rid of the problem."
Lakeland Ridges isn't the only newly created municipality going through a bumpy first year of existence in the wake of the local government reform.
Steve
Manuel, a former mayor of Meductic, one of two villages absorbed into
Lakeland Ridges, said he's 'very disappointed in the ways things have
turned out.' (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The new town of Belle-Baie angered some anglophone residents when it opted to function almost exclusively in French, even though one of its previous villages, Beresford, offered some bilingual services.
The newly enlarged town of Shippagan got into a dispute with residents of the former village of Le Goulet over who owned its former village office.
But Lakeland Ridges is the only new municipality the province has taken over.
"There's a lot of responsibilities that are a lot larger than just one village council, a lot of new things that they have to look after, and they're not getting anywhere," Manuel said.
Roussell said some residents of other areas of Lakeland Ridges are jealous that a family doctor has been holding a clinic one evening a week in Canterbury.
"There are council members from all the other districts and they want to stop things in one place and start it up in another place," she said.
"I kind of felt that would happen because we should be ourselves. Each place should have their own everything."
Manuel supported amalgamation and said "a lot of positives" can come from it.
The
municipality stretches to the St. Croix River that forms part of the
Canada-U.S. border, taking in the former villages of Meductic, seen
here, and Canterbury, as well as several local service districts and
Skiff Lake. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"But there was 'this is mine and that's yours,' that type of thing. That attitude, there's no place in today's world for that type of thing," he said.
"We have an opportunity to make something very positive and unfortunately some individuals didn't feel that was the way to go."
He also said the province didn't always have answers ready for the new council about elements of the reform and that contributed to "growing pains."
Kaye says there should be a new election. But none is scheduled until 2026, and the supervisor is unlikely to stay in place that long.
Savoie said in an emailed statement that Blaney will hire an inspector "to investigate the affairs of the local government" and help draft a report "recommending actions required for the council to return to carrying on its business."
Manuel says it's hard to say if that's realistic.
"Anything is possible, but these feelings, these comments, these intentions, not by all council but by some, did not start a short while ago. It started before the committee to form the new municipality even met."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Oh My My Who should I call?
Geordan Mann
Higgs has a cottage in that area. Maybe they were planning something that he did not like. That would cause his common over-the-top, fire everyone who disagrees with me, response.
Chris Merriam
Reply to Geordan Mann
Did you read the article at all?
David Amos
Reply to Geordan Mann
He did it before in my neck of the woods
Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Geordan Mann
The conspiracy plot thickens.
Bobby Richards
This municipality includes the premier's home town. Maybe this is where he gets his My Way or the Highway mentality.
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
Of that I have no doubt
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