Councillors wouldn't meet with me, says supervisor of troubled municipality

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The latest supervisor of a troubled western New Brunswick municipality says councillors have refused to meet with him as he attempts to hand democratic control back to the region. 

Lakeland Ridges supervisor Stephen Manuel took over the day-to-day operations of the municipality in February – the latest of three supervisors appointed since the province took control of the municipality last summer, due to infighting that it said led to an inability to run the region. 

In his first report since being at the helm, Manuel said he tried to meet with councillors on March 25 to update them on “business accomplishments” and to review a zoning application. 

“I was advised that they would not attend unless a representative from the Department of Environment and Local Government was in attendance,” he reported. “Since this was not possible at this time, the meeting was cancelled.” 

The six remaining councillors – the ones remaining after two others and the mayor stepped down earlier this year citing ongoing bulling and infighting – had actually complained earlier this month that they hadn’t heard from Manuel since his arrival. 

The councillors voiced their concern with Manuel’s appointment from the start. Deputy Mayor Ross Stairs said the supervisor “should be completely independent and without bias” and called the appointment of Manuel – a former Meductic mayor and councillor – “a step backwards.” 

Brunswick News reached out to the suspended council members for comment on the failed meeting, but did not receive a response. 

Meanwhile, a petition from residents for answers on when the situation in the municipality will end was presented to the province in the legislature by Carleton-York MLA Richard Ames on Tuesday. 

It was signed by 145 residents, including – Ames confirmed – his own signature, saying in an email that he wanted to show his support to those seeking answers. 

The province has two weeks to provide a written response to the petition. 

Barb Boulter spearheaded the petition committee, which she said was organized out of frustration over the silence from the province about the process and if an outcome is even in sight. 

“I left messages for provincial representation, and no one can talk about it, or they won’t return calls,” she said. “What has happened in this last year? You can’t get any answers out of anybody, so I thought it’s time to do up a petition to express how community members feel about what is happening in our area and our municipality.” 

Boulter said she was pleased to see the petition presented and was “happy” to learn Ames had signed it in support.