ST-LAZARE HOPEFULS EYE VARIED PRIORITIES
Leading up to the Nov. 5 municipal elections, the Off-Island Gazette will run mayoral candidate profiles from local towns. Briana Tomkinson focuses on St-Lazare.
Incumbent Robert Grimaudo has lived in St-Lazare since 1998, and has served as mayor since 2012. Under his leadership, he noted the town has invested in significant infrastructure upgrades to improve roads, drinking water, public security and sewers, as well as building a new fire station and town hall. He also pointed to the creation of the annual Au Galop festival and the town’s conservation plan as key accomplishments during his term. Environmental issues are a particular concern for Grimaudo. As in the 2013 election, he has resolved not to use any posters during the campaign to reduce postelection waste.
Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A Managing a community of over 19,500 residents is not just a full-time job at the municipal level, but at the regional level as well. My involvement at all levels of government and sitting on many committees at the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges has given me the knowledge and background that permits me to better serve and represent my community. Knowing where and when to act in order to solicit help from different levels of government is essential for any mayor. A clear example of this is Chaline Valley. Finding a solution and securing a guaranteed provincial investment of $5.9 million to deal with a zone at risk for landslides happened after three years of work, planning, and negotiating at three levels of government (municipal, regional and provincial).
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall you would tackle?
A During an election campaign, we talk to many residents and we hear their concerns, therefore, one of the first things will be to make a list of those concerns, and see how they can be addressed. Some concerns that I am hearing are access to and proximity of high school education, maintaining the present level of service to the citizens and ensuring a healthy environment for our future generations. Community and families must remain a priority at all times.
Q What is the biggest challenge facing St-Lazare?
A A pressing issue in St-Lazare is the need for a French high school. In the past 18 months, I have had discussions with the school board about bringing such a facility to St-Lazare. With the support and financial backing of the school board, negotiations to build a campus may bring accompanying infrastructure such as sporting facilities and a swimming pool. Let us not forget that we are the second-youngest municipality in Quebec, with approximately 30 per cent of our population under the age of 25. Another issue is the importance of our downtown village core. There has been a steady influx of new commerce in our village area, but the challenge remains finding a way to bring the community to support our local merchants.
Q What is your overall vision for St-Lazare for the coming mandate?
A It is with leadership, vision, collaboration and communication that things get done. In the past four years we have invested in all the major infrastructure that had been neglected for far too many years while our community grew faster than the infrastructure could handle. Water treatment, sewage, roads, public security, fire station, parks, and administration ( just to name a few), have all been dealt with in four years. These are always costly and unpopular decisions, but they are necessary to properly service the clientele, which is you, the resident. All that is required now is to regularly maintain the infrastructure to ensure longevity.
Q What is your vision for future development in St-Lazare?
A We need to find a way to bring housing for the elderly in our community. There is funding available that can help us negotiate with promoters. We must encourage developers to build senior residences and other similar infrastructure in St-Lazare. It is not an easy task, but for such a thing to happen, all parties must be brought to the table with a willingness to find a solution. Outgoing District 1 councillor Lise Jolicoeur was first elected in 2013 after leading the effort to protect Dunes Lake from development. Eleven years ago, her daughter Patricia was hit by a car on Yearling St., spurring Jolicoeur to serve on the St-Lazare Public Security Committee to improve road safety. She has also served on the town’s environment committee and initiated the creation of a new seniors’ committee. The retired human resources professional has one adult son with her husband Claude.
Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A The role of the mayor is to represent the needs of the citizens and to work on addressing them. Having been on council, I understand how things are done and, more importantly, how things could be done better. I have a proven track record of caring about the citizens of Saint-Lazare. The citizens in District 1 — with whom I was in close contact over the past four years — would attest to that. I see a need for big change in our municipal leadership. We need to do a better job of listening and delivering services that meet citizens’ needs.
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall that you would tackle?
A We have to improve how we act on citizens’ concerns, especially in terms of spending. Before commitment to any major spend, we have to listen to the wishes of our citizens and re-establish a relationship of openness, transparency and trust which has been lost with the past and current governments. The first thing I would do would be implement a stop on all projects which have not yet been put into place, find out what our citizens want, what makes sense and what doesn’t, and then look at where funds will be best invested. With this in mind, I would work on a tax freeze for the next two years.
Q What is the biggest challenge facing St-Lazare?
A I have been listening closely to citizens over the last four years. Spending is a big and very real issue, whether it be the new city hall or events that are held here at great expense. The majority of citizens would agree that this is not what St-Lazare needs or wants. Both are examples of a lack of transparency which has become a problem with the current municipal government. There are so many things we have to do, prioritizing the updating and replacing of infrastructures district by district. To really find out what the citizens want, we have to start listening to them.
Q What is your overall vision for St-Lazare for the coming mandate?
A We have to create a solid platform for St-Lazare’s future growth. Citizens need to understand and agree with where their taxes are being spent.
My vision is one where city hall represents the population in a way that citizens feel they are being listened to, taken seriously, and that their concerns are being acted on. Here are some areas where I see potential for improvement: services for our seniors; new programs for youth; sustainable environment and tree planning; self-financing events showcasing the heritage and beauty of St-Lazare; and, especially, identifying citizens’ priorities in terms of municipal services and implementation.
Q What is your vision for future development in St-Lazare?
A St-Lazare will continue on its expansion path, but it is essential that we not compromise on quality of life. We have so much here and we take a lot for granted — the green spaces, the tranquility, our wonderful equestrian heritage. We have to preserve all this and improve those things that need to be made better. Michel Lambert has been a resident of St-Lazare for 30 years. A former district four councillor (2009-2013), Lambert is once again eyeing the mayor’s chair. The retired father of two daughters is also the founder and past president of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Relay for Life and has volunteered with the local Optimist Club, Club Richelieu and at several school libraries.
Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A I have municipal experience and I have kept abreast of all the issues by attending council meetings. I also continue to be very active in our community. I am aware of the population’s concerns, the town’s real issues. The citizens’ opinions must matter.
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall you would tackle?
A If elected, my first priority would be to recommend a comprehensive review of past and planned expenses to explore the goal of achieving a tax freeze without affecting services to the population.
Q What is the biggest challenge facing St-Lazare?
A Close to 1,200 construction permits were approved in the past two years and the traffic is a growing issue that must be addressed.
Q What is your overall vision for St-Lazare for the coming mandate?
A My overall vision is to protect the environment that we all cherish, to make all financial information accessible, to spend our hard-earned money on real priorities.
Q What is your vision for future development in St-Lazare?
A A retirement residence is very much needed in St-Lazare. I would recommend to council to give a contractor the right conditions to invest in an important development.