Vision_2012_08_16

OPINION

editionap.ca

Mayor answers Sportsplex concerns (In response to a letter entitled “Sportsplex or white elephant?” published in the Vision newspaper July 19th 2012.) Dear citizens of the City of Clarence-Rockland, As Mayor of the City of Clarence-Rockland, it is my duty to clarify the situation regarding the Sportsplex, the YMCA and two texts that have been published in recent weeks. Primarily, the first text written by Mr. Michel LaCasse reported operational deficits incurred by the YMCA. Operational deficits were recorded by the firm “Collins Barrow - Chartered Accountants” a firm nationally recognized and we would be unwise to doubt the results submitted by that firm. Following the text of Mr. Michel LaCasse, former Mayor Richard Lalonde and his henchmen defeated in the last election, and three current board members (members who have worked on the YMCA contracts) signed a letter making several baseless accusations, without first discussing themwith the current city council or the administration. It contained three personal attacks, that I have not read the agreements, that the new council members are musketeers and friends of GENIVAR, in addition to a simplistic suggestion to fix the operating deficit by requiring the reimbursement of those deficits directly from the YMCA. The personal attacks are false and defamatory and only serve to inflame the situation, as to the simplistic suggestion... if the council member representing the advisory committee of the Sportsplex, councilor Raymond Serrurier, had raised this issue at the committee’s meetings, or with the City’s administration, or with the City Council to consider options, he would have quickly realized that one cannot claima refund as easily without consequences. But he did nothing of that! The contract with the YMCA says they can leave the operations of the Sportsplex, so any attempt to require that they cover the deficits would result with their renunciation as managers of the facility. By default, the City of Clarence-Rockland would be left in charge of the operations, which does not solve any of the operational systemic deficits of the Sportsplex. In addition, another agreement with the Board of the Catholic School District of Eastern Ontario (CSDCEO) which was negotiated by the previous administration (and the council of former Mayor Richard Lalonde) provides that the City of Clarence- Rockland has to put $ 1 million in reserve for the future repairs of the Sportsplex. Since the sum of $ 1 million was not budgeted anywhere after more than three years of operations, we postponed the execution of this agreement until we have in hand a complete overhaul of the finances related to the Sportsplex. Moreover, it is impossible to understand that council members loyal to the previous administration have made a complaint to the Ombudsman because the newly elected members met to better prepare themselves at the beginning of the term, but that they themselves meet with former Mayor Richard Lalonde and his followers defeated in the last elections to engineer attacks against the new council. How to apply the expression:“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”? Since the last election, city councilors who were part of the previous administration have continued to concoct against the efforts of the 2010 elected council, and with this signed letter from their own hands, we now have a sad proof of it. If we want to improve the lives of the people in our beautiful city, then the sabotage of these councilors must stop. Finally, the treasurer being on vacation I will refrain from advancing financial figures. However, I commit to the citizens of the City of Clarence-Rockland to present a full financial report of the Sportsplex in the shortest possible time. Very sincerely, Marcel Guibord Mayor of the City of Clarence-Rockland PRESS RELEASE

100 e anniversaire de la paroisse Saint-Mathieu de Hammond Les résidents de Hammond-Cheney ont célébré en grand le centenaire de la paroisse Saint-Mathieu de Hammond lors d’une grande fête champêtre les 22, 23 et 24 juin derniers. Le vendredi soir, le spectacle D’Alys à Céline, produit par les Productions Alain Roy, avec comme invitée spéciale Martine Parisien (originaire de Hammond) a fait vibrer les specta- teurs. Le samedi, des activités plus spécialement pour la famille ont encore une fois rempli le chapiteau toute la journée. Après le souper, l’excellent spectacle d’Éric Michaud (le roi des menteurs) et les merveilleux feux d’artifice ont clôturé de belle façon cette journée. Le dimanche après la messe, le club Optimiste organisait les courses de boîtes à savon. Le Comité des fêtes désire remercier très sincèrement Daniel Tremblay, responsable de la fête champêtre et toute son équipe, pour l’organisation de cette fin de semaine et un merci à tous les bénévoles qui ont contribué au succès de cette belle fin de semaine.

Nicole Normand Présidente des Fêtes du centenaire de la paroisse Saint-Mathieu de Hammond

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