Another resignation hits Fundy Albert municipal council
Less than month after mayor quit, Deputy Mayor John Ereaux says he's leaving, too
The southeastern New Brunswick municipality of Fundy Albert is dealing with yet another resignation, this time of its deputy mayor.
It comes less than four weeks after Bob Rochon resigned as mayor.
John Ereaux, who had taken on mayoral responsibilities after Rochon left, submitted his resignation effective Jan. 25, citing personal reasons. He's also resigned his seat as councillor for Ward 1.
Ereaux did not respond to a request for an interview about his resignation.
Bob
Rochon, seen here in a file photo, was previously the mayor of
Hillsborough before amalgamation, which also absorbed Riverside-Albert
and Alma to create the municipality of Fundy Albert. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)
When Rochon resigned, his letter said he no longer had "the confidence and trust of members of council," and described the time since New Brunswick's local government amalgamation in 2023 as "turbulent."
Under former Premier Blaine Higgs, many municipalities in New Brunswick were forced to amalgamate, cutting the number of local entities from 340 to 90.
Rochon said the province "did little" to assist with challenges such as how to structure local government, managing complex budgets, addressing infrastructure gaps and planning for the future.
He was previously the mayor of Hillsborough before amalgamation, which also absorbed Riverside-Albert and Alma to create the new municipality.
This is not the only New Brunswick municipality to experience difficulties after amalgamation.
Lakeland Ridges, which combined the former villages of Meductic and Canterbury, as well as several local service districts and Skiff Lake, was at one point put under provincial supervision.
Heather Ward Russell, who also represents Ward 6, has taken over as deputy mayor.
Ward Russell said she was approached by council on multiple occasions about stepping into the role.
"My exact answer to them was that if we continued to be united as a team, then by all means that I would take this leadership role," she said.
Heather Ward Russell says she feels the remaining councillors in Fundy Albert are united in moving forward. (Municipality of Fundy Albert)
She said she'd like to improve the level of communication between staff and council, and between council and the public.
"In order to know of the situation and how to fix it, you need to be aware and the ongoing communication needs to get better," she said.
Since the amalgamation, the municipality has faced the challenge of competing priorities.
"Every community deserves to be treated fairly, everybody is paying taxes," said Ward Russell. "Everybody deserves to make sure the services are being given to them in a timely matter, in a productive manner."
Local
resident Jane Chrysostom, seen here in a file photo, says she's seen
the tensions that sometimes surfaced at the municipal council. (Pierre Fournier/CBC News )
Local resident Jane Chrysostom, who attends meetings frequently, has noticed the tensions on council over the past two years.
"It's such a large geographical area that it's been evident that it's been hard for council," she said.
"They've had difficulty dealing with their self-admitted regionalism and that 'them versus us' of shared services and resources since amalgamation."
Ward Russell said she's confident that the remaining members of council will put forward a united front when making decisions.
"It's OK to hit the reset button, and I truly hope that we can and start fresh" she said.
The community will have a byelection April 15 to elect a new mayor.
Fundy Albert mayor resigns, blaming province
Bob Rochon cites amalgamation challenges in letter
A mayor in southeastern New Brunswick announced his resignation Friday afternoon, partially putting blame on the provincial government.
Bob Rochon, mayor of Fundy Albert, posted a letter to social media explaining the issues the municipality had faced with amalgamation and within the council.
"... It has become clear to me that I no longer have the confidence and trust of members of council," Rochon wrote in the letter. "Without that, I am ineffective as mayor."
When reached by phone Saturday, Rochon declined an interview and would not answer questions about why councillors had lost confidence in him.
Rochon had been slated to serve as mayor until 2026.
His letter went on to describe the years since New Brunswick's local government amalgamation in 2023 as "turbulent."
He said the province "did little" to assist with challenges such as how to structure local government, managing complex budgets, addressing infrastructure gaps and planning for the future.
"In the end, we are left to our own devices with little or no assistance, or guidance from provincial government," Rochon wrote.
CBC News reached out to the Department of Local Government for comment and is awaiting a response.
Fundy Albert is a sweeping municipality south of Moncton that's made up of the former villages of Alma, Riverside-Albert, Hillsborough and five local service districts.
Rochon was previously the mayor of Hillsborough before amalgamation.
Under former Premier Blaine Higgs, many municipalities in New Brunswick were forced to amalgamate, cutting the number of local entities from 340 to 90.
Rochon's letter said his resignation goes into effect Dec. 31.
Under the province's local government act, the deputy mayor will fill the vacancy of mayor until a byelection is called.
Deputy mayor shares amalgamation concerns
In a phone interview, Fundy Albert Deputy Mayor John Ereaux said Rochon's resignation came as a surprise to council when he read the letter at the end of a special budget approval meeting on Friday.
While Ereaux declined to speak to Rochon's comments about a lack of confidence from council, he said he shares his concerns about amalgamation.
"We feel it's been a very difficult, tumultuous time since amalgamation two years ago."
He said Fundy Albert is "an extreme" version of amalgamation troubles, namely with differing tax rates.
While residents across the municipality all receive similar services, Ereaux said the tax rate for what was the village of Alma is about 60 per cent higher than the neighbouring local service district, as an example.
"What we found is that everyone in Fundy Albert feels like they're being treated unfairly, which is strange," Ereaux said.
Deputy
Mayor John Ereaux said residents have expressed concern over differing
tax rates and what they feel is a lack of local representation under the
new municipality. (Municipality of Fundy Albert)
Fundy Albert is not the only municipality to face the growing pains of amalgamation.
Lakeland Ridges had its council suspended, Sunbury-York South saw concern over plans for a new town hall, and St. Stephen had fire firefighters resign after amalgamation joined several fire departments together.
The other five Fundy Albert councillors either did not respond or declined to comment on Rochon's resignation when contacted.
"We have not been able to function well," Ereaux said of council.
"I think all the council members would feel that they wished we could have been more effective and got more done."
When asked, Ereaux said he is not considering a run for mayor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Council Members
Phone: 506 875 9883
Phone: 506 380 3051
Phone: 506 381 5864
Phone: 506 874 1103
Phone: 506 866 4000
Phone: 506 734 2736
Phone: 506 380 9663
Aaron Kennedy
- Minister of Local Government
- Minister responsible for Service New Brunswick
Aaron Kennedy defeated Blaine Higgs in the riding of Quispamsis, who had been serving in that riding since 2010 and as Premier of New Brunswick since 2018.
Kennedy previously worked for the town of Quispamsis, where in 2011 he began serving as the town's communications manager. In July 2021, Kennedy began serving as the interim chief administrative officer; his term finished in August 2024 after his role was succeeded by a permanent hire and he pursued the Liberal nomination for the 2024 electionMinisters
| # | Minister | Term | Government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Trevor Holder | February 14, 2006 - October 3, 2006 | under Bernard Lord |
| 2. | Victor Boudreau | October 3, 2006 - October 31, 2007 | under Shawn Graham |
| 3. | Carmel Robichaud | October 31, 2007 - November 12, 2008 | |
| 4. | Bernard LeBlanc | November 12, 2008 - January 4, 2010 | |
| 5. | Chris Collins | January 4, 2010 - October 12, 2010 | |
| 6. | Bruce Fitch | October 12, 2010 - March 15, 2012 | under David Alward |
Merged with Department of Environment
| |||
| 7. | Daniel Allain | September 29, 2020 – June 27, 2023 | under Blaine Higgs |
| 8. | Glen Savoie | June 27, 2023 - November 2, 2024 | |
| 9. | Aaron Kennedy | November 2, 2024 - present | under Susan Holt |
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