To report on municipal management during the health crisis, a city council was held behind closed doors on Tuesday evening at the town hall. Nine elected members of the majority and five members of the opposition represented their colleagues to respect the rules of distancing.
Before addressing the financial consequences of the crisis on the community, elected officials welcomed the involvement of many professionals during the confinement. “I would like to pay tribute to the nursing staff, of course, but also to the municipal officials for their involvement and to the private sector employees who helped meet all the needs”, underlined Karine Traval-Michelet, mayor of Colomiers, before d ” enumerate the actions taken by the municipality in terms of solidarity and social support, supply, security, fight against domestic violence, health, waste treatment, or even aid for economic recovery for an amount of € 560,000.
Losses and expenses
“€ 220,000 in specific purchases related to the Covid-19 have been made,” added the mayor. “In addition, the 2020 municipal budget will record a drop in revenue for services of around € 600,000. Finally, if it is still early to measure the budgetary impact of the crisis, it is at this stage evaluated between 1, 5 and 1.7 million euros. If tax revenue losses occur, linked to economic activity, it would seem that the state could help us. “
Opposition remarks
The municipal opposition was surprised by a financial package in terms of the mayor’s decisions. “A cash line stands at € 5 million. Is this a new loan?” Asked Richard Cuartero, now president of the new opposition group “Colomiers vivante et solidaire” (read below). “We must not confuse cash and borrowing,” retorted the mayor. “Besides, the city has very little debt.” But Laurent Laurier added: “The boxes are empty and you make us believe that it is good management”. The answer was quick to come. “This cash line allows us to function and is absorbed naturally,” said the mayor. “Especially since the boxes are not empty because we have € 5 million in savings reserves”.
Alone on the bench of his group, Patrick Jimena attacked these former running mate: “A city must continue to function. The problem is more the decline in state funding. What I have just heard is so very childish. ” “Let’s not do the electoral campaign here. The debate will take place elsewhere,” concluded Karine Traval-Michelet, referring each to their role and their political commitments before the second round of municipal elections on June 28.
The confinement was thought provoking for some members of the municipal opposition. Coming from different political families and thoughts, they created the group “Colomiers alive and united” for a single session of city council. Chaired by Richard Cuartero, it brings together Isabelle Amar, Joselito Fury, Med Kechidi, Damien Laborde, Laurent Laurier and Alain Refalo. “We found ourselves in favor of a solidarity action” (read our May 20 edition) commented on the president for one evening. By Tuesday, yesterday’s enemies had become the world’s best friends. Sitting next to each other, Laurent Laurier (from Damien Laborde’s group) and Med Kechidi smiled and joked together after fighting for six years like fighting roosters over real political differences. Their main satisfaction, it seems, was to have isolated Patrick Jimena, who was actually alone on his bench, in front of his old friends who had become his adversaries in the same way as his opponents. Alliances are not always understandable and politics can be cruel.
A new ephemeral municipal group
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