The council looks on as a local resident voices their frustration with the municipality. Photo by Dylan Adams Lemaçon
By Dylan Adams Lemaçon LJI Reporter
The March 10, 2025, Rosemère council meeting began with a positive note from Mayor Eric Westram, who announced the creation of a civility committee aimed at improving relations between the municipality and its citizens. “To promote harmonious city relations,” he stated, explaining that the committee would consist of both municipal representatives and civilians.
The mayor then took a moment to acknowledge city workers for their efforts during the massive February snowstorm that left Rosemère buried under 75 cm of snow. “Thank you and bravo to the public works team,” he said.
First Question Period: Concerns Over Transparency and Infrastructure
The first citizen to speak, Madame Louise Allard, requested that the mayor slow down his speech and reread a specific item on the agenda regarding an extension of a municipal deadline, stating that he often goes too fast and seems unclear. The mayor glady, slowly, rereads the point at hand.
Next, Madame Bernadette Gorrayer inquired about ongoing construction at highway exit 24, near her neighborhood. The mayor explained that the project falls under Blainville’s jurisdiction but acknowledged the concerns of Rosemère residents. He emphasized the need for better communication between the two municipalities, stating, “We are very aware of the inconveniences it may cause you, but to a certain point, we can’t control it because it is not in our city.”
Council Divided on Library Renovations
As the council moved through the agenda, most items were approved with little debate. However, tensions surfaced when discussions turned to a contract for renovations to the Rosemère library.
Councillor Marie-Elaine Pitre expressed concerns that the materials specified for the renovation were not the same as those that citizens have been required to use for their own construction projects for years. She argued that it was unfair for the city to impose certain standards on residents while not adhering to them for municipal projects. Because of this, she could not support the contract. She added that they had attempted to find ways to modify the contract, but no changes could be made.
The mayor disagreed, arguing that rejecting the contract could ultimately increase the financial burden on taxpayers. This disagreement further highlighted the ongoing divisions within the council.
Second Question Period: Citizen Frustration Boils Over
Daniel Robinson, a familiar face at council meetings, took the floor to question the justification for spending over a million dollars on the library. “You just said the library is beautiful and has won awards, so why are you spending over a million on its renovations?” he asked.
The mayor responded that the renovations were necessary for both the exterior and interior, including work on the roof. Robinson, visibly frustrated, accused the council of being dysfunctional, stating that nothing ever gets accomplished because they are constantly at odds with one another. He isn’t the first local to say so.
At one point, Robinson demanded that each council member state their position on the controversial golf land lawsuit. Only the mayor answered, confirming his support for the project. Madame Louise Allard, who had earlier been limited to one question, expressed frustration that Robinson was being allowed to ask multiple questions without restriction.
The discussion escalated when Robinson brought up the idea of a referendum, arguing that the council’s inability to work together was affecting governance. The council responded that a referendum would be a complex process, especially with an election already approaching.
Councillor Villeneuve’s Comments Add to the Tension
Councillor René Villeneuve made remarks earlier in the meeting about psychological abuse among council members. He had also stated that some members were prioritizing personal agendas over serving the public and that there was ongoing mistreatment within the council.
In his closing remarks, the mayor criticized Villeneuve’s comments, stating that such accusations should not be made public unless a formal complaint is filed. He argued that these statements create a negative perception of the council.
Councillor Pitre, who seemed to mostly disagree with the mayor throughout the night, actually spoke up and supported the mayor’s stance, stating, “I find it very disrespectful to mention comments like these,” emphasizing that all council members work with the intention of serving the citizens.
Villeneuve defended his remarks, clarifying that he had not targeted anyone specifically. “It’s been four years that we are in a toxic environment, and I am sick and tired of it. I needed to express myself without targeting anyone. If you feel targeted, I can’t control that,” he said.
The mayor pushed back against the notion that the council was toxic, stating that disagreement does not necessarily equate to dysfunction.
Final Thoughts
The meeting ended with unresolved tensions, both among council members and between the council and citizens. With ongoing disputes over major projects and governance issues, it remains clear that frustrations in Rosemère are reaching a boiling point.
