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Leadership issues highlighted at mayoral debate
do “full-scale review” of water rates for the municipality to determine if there is any way to lower them. He also wants a review of municipal services to #nd ways to make programs and services more e!cient and reduce both operation budget costs and the municipal debt. Laurin was next up to the podium for the initial portion of the debate event. He outlined his future vision “to make Russell Township a place of choice” for future de- velopment and residential growth through “experienced leadership” which will help to create a better business climate and create more jobs. Laurin argued that a good mayor needs to be able to listen to the community and then make the decisions, including the hard ones, which are best for the municipality as a whole. He cited his own record on council during the past term, stating that he voted several times against the majority of council on some service tender contracts because they were sole-sourced instead of going through the usual public bid process. Fiscal prudence is one of the main issues for St-Pierre during the debate, with spe- cial focus on the municipal debt, which he noted now sits at $30 million. “Enough is enough,” St-Pierre said, adding that the township also deserves a greater
GREGGCHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
RUSSELL | Who has the best vision and the will to make it a reality as Russell Town- ship’s next mayor? That was the question four would-be community leaders tried to answer in their own favour during the all-candidates meeting on Tuesday December 2 at the Russell High School auditorium in Russell. “Leadership!” said Pierre Leroux. “That’s the reason we’re here tonight.” Leroux and fellow council member Jamie Laurin are each looking to upgrade their po- sition at the council table with a move into the seat left vacant by the sudden passing of Mayor Jean-Paul St-Pierre. Challenging them for the post are former councillor Donald St-Pierre and retired businessman Ron Thériault. Leroux led o" the candidates speech por- tion of the meeting, highlighting his “#rst 100 days” plan to set up an advisory com- mittee for an in-depth look at the feasibility of building a large-scale recreation/cultural complex for the township in a central loc- ation between the villages of Russell and Embrun. Following that, Leroux wants to
Photo Gregg Chamberlain
The men who would be mayor enjoy the last few minutes of quiet before the start of the Dec. 2 all-candidates debate session in the Russell High School gymnasium.
return from the United Counties of Prescot- t-Russell (UCPR) for its share of property taxes collected for the counties. Both St-Pierre and Thériault during their opening speeches also joined Laurin in questioning the frequent use of sole- sourcing by previous councils in tendering some municipal service and supply con- tracts. “I look at taxpayers as investors,” said Thériault, adding that ratepayers are en- titled to careful budgeting decisions from council before any tax rate increases are allowed. “I do not plan on raising municipal taxes,” he said, “until I #gure where we can all the cuts (#rst).” Following the opening speeches, ques- tion period began with two set of questions for all four candidates to answer, one con- cerning economic development and how to help support existing local businesses to grow and prosper, while the other dealt with ratepayers’ concerns over future prop- erty tax increases. Better communication between the mu- nicipal o!ce and the township’s business sector #gured in the answers from Leroux, Laurin, and Thériault.. Leroux and Thériault also cited their own business background as providing a common background for working with local merchants and entre- preneurs. “Communication is a big factor,” said Thériault while Leroux also noted that past decisions of council have eroded the trust of Russell Township’s business sector. “Respect for our businesses is what’s lacking,” he said, “and we need to earn that back.” Laurin stressed the need to stop sole- sourcing municipal contracts and give loc-
al out#ts “a fair chance” to submit and win bids during the public tendering process. St-Pierre noted that the township needs to both reduce the amount of red tape in its own development permitting process and also be cautious about fee rate increases. “We must be easier on them (permit ap- plicants),” he said. “We got to be fair with every developer that’s out there.” Regarding the ratepayers concern about taxes question, each candidate had a di"er- ent response. Thériault argued that development charges revenue should be allocated to “needed areas” of the municipal budget. “You gotta sharpen your pencils and re- duce taxes,” said St-Pierre. “Growth pays for growth,” said Laurin, adding the township needs to increase its commercial tax base to 25 per cent of the total property tax pro#le and reduce the burden on homeowners. He also argued for using either part or all of any future budget surpluses to lessen or eliminate the chance of a property tax rate hike. “Farmland and commercial is the way to go,” said Leroux, adding that both farm and commercial property tax rates provide a better revenue return to the municipality in exchange for money spent on services. During the open mike session of question period, residents peppered candidates for their views on the future of public library service in Russell Township, how to deal with Taggart-Miller if the Ottawa-based company renews its interest in setting up a commercial and industrial waste recycling facility within the municipality, and what priorities would dictate use of any “sudden windfalls” of revenue or surpluses for the municipality.
police beat
Sex assault case closed Russell County OPP have arrested a man for sexual assault on a young woman more than a year ago. The arrest followed on a two-month investigation of the incident. Police are not releasing the name of the man charged to protect the identity of the alleged victim. No further details have been released. Drug charge Police have arrested a 20-year-old man in Russell Township. The man, whose name was not released, is charged with possession of marijuana and with breach of a court order. Assault The OPP answered a call November 24 in Casselman about an assault. O!cers were called to a home where they were told that one man had assaulted another. No serious injuries were reported for the victim of the attack. The suspect $ed the scene when po- lice arrived but was picked up later and held in custody for a later bail hearing. Stolen truck parts Police have an open case about some stolen truck parts that were taken right o" of the truck. The OPP station received a report December 1 from Embrun Ford about a new 2014 Ford F-150 that is now missing some pieces. The pickup truck was parked at the southwest corner of the dealership’s lot, which is kept locked at night. Sometime after 4 p.m., Nov. 29 and 6 a.m. Dec. 1, someone entered the locked-up parking lot area and removed the four wheels and tailgate from the pickup truck. Anyone with information about the theft can call Constable Jason Nolan at the Embrun OPP detachment at 613- 443-4499, or the CrimeStoppers toll-free con#dential tips line at 1-800-222-8477. Business burglary The Fred Agri-Mart in St-Isidore was broken into sometime overnight between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25. Entry was through a window. Inside the o!ce area was ransacked and sev- eral computer items taken. Missing are a black Lancer laptop computer, a 20-inch screen monitor, and an HP laptop, an HP Omni 100 personal computer, 100-052. The last item has the serial number 3CR0370729 and the product number BT569AA#ABC. Anyone with information on the break-in can call Const. Natasha Huygen at the Hawkesbury OPP detachment at 613-632-2729 or the CrimeStoppers con#dential tips line, toll-free, at 1-800-222-8477. R.I.D.E. tag Police remind motorists that the annual R.I.D.E. Christmas counterattack on impaired driving and other tra!c o"ences is now in full gear. Russell County OPP have caught one driver during a Festive R.I.D.E. checkstop and #led charges of driving with a blood- alcohol reading exceeding 80 milligrams.
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Dr. Roger Perron has joined the Winchester and District Memorial Hospital sta" in the position of obstetrician. WDMH has experienced record numbers of births the last few years so a new sta" member in the pre- and post-natal sectors is welcome. He specializes in delivering babies and general gynecological surgery with minimally invasive procedures. He came to WDMH in a summer temporary position but says he and his wife fell in love with Winchester. He has 30 years of experience in obstetrics and his full time position at the hospital starts at the end of this year. (CV)
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