We each have our reasons for becoming municipal councillors, but one common trait is our desire to give back to the community. The town hall building is one project that called out to me. I have more than 35 years of experience in finding commercial real estate solutions: 30 years in the private sector and 5 years in the public sector. I feel particularly qualified to evaluate the various alternatives.
It troubles me that regardless of our best intentions, some citizens simply want to create discord and dissatisfaction in our community. These citizens spend their time pouring through documents in search of anything to fault us with, without understanding our work or the reasons behind our decisions. The letter that Michelle Chartrand published in the December issue of TEMPO is a good example. She feels ‘wronged’ by her elected officials? Yet the municipality has given her an enormous number of documents without her being able to find any substantial errors. She calls us ‘lilliputian emperors?’ Excuse me? Where does that come from? Her claim to success is that she was able to convince the Commission for Access to information to force the municipality to give her a copy of a drafted offer to purchase. An offer to purchase that was never signed, NEVER PRESENTED. A worthless piece of paper. In any good governance, it is imperative to consider various solutions to a problem. The idea of purchasing the land described in the aforementioned draft offer was rejected by the municipality. Where is the value in publicly chastising the municipality?
If fear of being attacked by some citizens stops us of from evaluating all opportunities, we will revert to management immobility. And any experienced manager knows that to do nothing is the worse solution to any problem.
Let’s work together to avoid a situation where the necessary decisions are not made or worse, a situation where no one wants to be a municipal councillor.
We are privileged to live in such a beautiful place. Why not cultivate community values and promote serenity? Come to the municipal council meetings, ask questions, but please stop these useless attacks.
Margarita Lafontaine, municipal councillor in West Bolton
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