SAINT-ÉLIE-DE-CAXTON | In addition to having lost more than twenty employees, volunteers and elected municipal officials since the arrival of Mayor Robert Gauthier, the municipality of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton has concluded nearly $ 70,000 in agreements. out of court for five years.
The bill for the bickering and lack of stability is starting to be steep for the village of less than 2,000 people, with the amount now standing at $ 66,962. Recently, the municipality paid off a settlement of $ 12,500 for allegations of psychological harassment.
“These were cases that happened between employees. Not only was it not me who was targeted, but it was not any elected member of the municipal council, ”said Mayor Robert Gauthier.
An agreement that is in no way an admission of guilt, according to the mayor.
“Our strategy, since we have been here, has been to try to minimize legal fees, and one of the ways that we have found, to date, is to settle out of court”, a pursued the chosen one.
Five elected officials have resigned since the arrival of the new mayor. The last by-election cost next to nothing because Claudette Caron was elected by acclamation.
But if Quebec continues its deconfinement, new by-elections could cost more than $ 10,000.
“Will the minister accept the holding of byelections in the fall, knowing that there may be a second wave coming? And knowing that past the 1is November, usually, we don’t have by-elections, less than a year before the upcoming general election? ”asked the mayor.
The resigning councilor Charline Plante confirmed the mayor’s version, according to which his departure has nothing to do with the chicane in the city council.
“It has nothing to do with my fellow councilors or with the mayor, Mr. Gauthier,” she said.
Élaine Legault, who also left the board in July, for her part explained “lack of time” in her resignation letter and she mentioned “personal reasons”.
The mayor still intends to continue his mandate until the end, but whether he will stand for re-election in 2021, nothing is less certain.
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