Published August 28, 2024

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

WALTHAM – The Municipality of Waltham is grappling with significant administrative challenges following the release of a report by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ). It highlights numerous concerns regarding the tenure of Fernand Roy, who served as Waltham’s director general from 1985 until his resignation in February 2024, just before the start of the investigation by the Direction des enquêtes et des poursuites en intégrité municipale (DEPIM).

The CMQ’s investigation, initiated after a disclosure of wrongdoing, uncovered a series of mismanagement issues and unethical practices during Roy’s leadership, though he wasn’t specifically named in the report; misuse of municipal resources for personal gain, inadequate documentation of municipal affairs, and a lack of transparency with municipal council.

For nearly four decades, Roy held considerable control over the municipality’s operations, often without sufficient oversight from the elected municipal council. According to the CMQ report, this lack of oversight was largely due to the council members’ limited understanding of their roles and responsibilities, combined with Roy keeping them inadequately informed.

Mayor Odette Godin, who assumed office in 2021, quickly noticed irregularities in the municipality’s operations. “After about a month in office, I started asking questions because things didn’t seem right. I was told the previous mayor had left some pre-signed cheques, so until they ran out, I wouldn’t need to sign any new ones,” Godin recalled. As she delved deeper, her concerns grew when she discovered more troubling practices, such as the signing of blank cheques without invoices attached and the handling of municipal funds
without proper documentation.

The investigation revealed Roy arranged for the municipality to cover his home internet and telephone services even though these services could have been accessed for free in the performance of his duties through the municipal office. Additionally, Roy’s wife was on the municipal payroll for nearly a decade, earning a salary higher than some long-serving employees, despite minimal evidence of her actual involvement in municipal work. Her pay was also incorrectly categorized under the ‘urban planning’ budget, which is typically intended for urban planning and development projects rather than administrative or clerical work.

Godin’s attempts to address the issues were often met with resistance. “Whenever I raised concerns, I was frequently told, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it,’” Godin explained.

Roy’s resignation in February 2024 marked the end of a long and controversial tenure, but it left the municipality with a significant organizational deficit. The new director general, Annick Plante, who took over following Roy’s departure, faces the task of rebuilding the municipality’s administrative structure and restoring public trust.

In response to the report, Roy stated he disagreed with the findings and conclusions. “I’ve always acted in good faith and for the benefit of the municipality,” he asserted, adding the signing of blank cheques was done solely to facilitate the payment process and avoid unnecessary delays. He insisted all expenses were legitimate and approved by council. Roy also defended the employment conditions of both himself and his wife, claiming they were known and approved by previous councils.

The CMQ report has recommended the municipality invest in both financial and human resources to correct the issues identified. Its also suggested the municipality mandate a third party to analyze the impact of the lack of written documentation on the validity of its acts, regulations, and other decisions, and to regularize the situation if necessary.

The CMQ has required the municipality to inform them of the corrective measures implemented and has appointed Denis Michaud, CMQ vice-president of municipal affairs, to follow up on the commission’s recommendations.

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