By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

North Hatley held a public meeting on Sept. 16 to present what it describes as four years of accomplishments. With the municipal election scheduled for Nov. 2, where Mayor Marcella Davis-Gerrish has already announced she will seek re-election, the presentation served both as a review and as a forward-looking message about the town’s finances and projects.

According to the presentation, the municipality’s debt has declined significantly from its historic high in the mid-2000s, when major water and sewer system upgrades forced large borrowing. Councillor Michel Desrosiers recalled at a Sept. 18 meeting that, at the time, almost the entire village had to be dug up to replace aging infrastructure, some of which was made of cedar, and that residents lived under a boil-water order for over a decade. Officials credited aggressive pursuit of outside subsidies in recent years for easing the local financial burden, noting that grant money now covers much of the cost of infrastructure upgrades.

The report also highlighted that property values have risen sharply while tax rates have remained stable. Salaries and administrative costs were detailed, along with major projects such as new housing, a daycare, equipment purchases, and the drafting of a new master plan. Councillor Andrew Pelletier said elected officials helped secure government funding through connections in Quebec City, and Davis-Gerrish emphasized that municipal debt repayment is fixed and predictable, unlike personal debt, though refinancing at higher rates can sometimes affect costs.

The mayor said once the remaining debt is paid down, the town could see opportunities for reinvestment or tax relief. She added that councillors are taxpayers too, and “feel the pain” of local finances.

Not everyone agreed with the picture presented. North Hatley resident Antoine Reed, in correspondence with The Record, questioned the debt figure used by the town and argued that audited financial statements should be made public more promptly so residents can assess the municipality’s true financial position. He also raised concerns about administrative spending and council compensation. His full arguments were posted online Sept. 22.

Asked for comment about Reed’s concerns, the town stressed that all figures are audited annually by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. In a Sept. 22 interview with The Record, Pelletier added he had not studied Reed’s arguments directly but fully supported the town’s presentation, noting that staff handle access-to-information requests and have been under pressure from a high volume of inquiries.

Later that day, Reed told The Record he had received a cease-and-desist notice from the municipality over his comments, which warned of possible legal consequences if he continued to, in the town’s view, misrepresent the facts.