A devastating report by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ) concludes that Beauceville’s mayor, general manager and urban planning director committed wrongdoing in the management of the municipality’s industrial park expansion project.
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The conclusions of the 14-page report target the mayor François Veilleux, the dg Serge Vallée, and the director of urban planning at the time, Richard Longchamps, who is no longer employed by the municipality.
Following its investigation, the Municipal Integrity Investigations and Prosecutions Department (DEPIM) concludes that the expansion project was mismanaged, as well as the illegality of financial assistance programs and related subsidies paid to the Beauceville Industrial Development Corporation.
Along with mismanagement and wrongdoing, the report also speaks of a lack of due diligence. Following the spring 2019 floods, the investigation reveals in particular that the mayor and the director of urban planning were the main actors in the steps that led to the clearcutting of the lots targeted by the expansion without being duly authorized by a city council resolution.
Purchase of land
Despite certain preliminary steps, the investigation also reveals that in 2022, the City acquired three of the six coveted lots and signed a promise to purchase a fourth, all for a total expenditure of around $850,000.
“This situation has major consequences for the City, including possible legal action, administrative and criminal penalties as well as a significant expenditure of public funds for a project”, can we read in the report.
Credit: Jean-François Racine / JdeQ
According to the report, it is clear that the mayor and the director of urban planning at the time had been informed of the need to first proceed with the characterization of the environment concerned before undertaking a request for exclusion from the zone. of the coveted lots, to proceed with the acquisition of these lots and, moreover, to clear them.
Always forbidden
As of the date of the report, the deforested lots are still included in the permanent agricultural zone in which industrial use is not authorized.
“Considering that the City is struggling to recover from the 2019 floods, it is particularly worrying not to have taken the appropriate measures to seriously and diligently assess the consequences of the possible destruction of wetlands for industrial purposes”, specifies the report.
Credit: Jean-Francois Racine / JdeQ
All of the respondents claim, however, that they acted in good faith and in the best interest of the City.
Mayor François Veilleux has been on sick leave for several weeks. The date of his return remains undetermined.
If the mayor does not appear at the budget tabling session, the city clerk must inform the CMQ. By law, failure to attend council meetings for 90 consecutive days terminates the council member’s term of office. A grace period of 30 days is possible for serious reasons.
A deputy mayor
On December 5, Deputy Mayor Patrick Mathieu was reappointed as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the months of January, February, March and April 2023.
” It is very serious. I have to meet the other elected officials and in the very short term, we will make ourselves available to answer questions. We will collaborate and be transparent. I have been acting mayor since August, ”explained Mr. Mathieu, who says he does not know if Mayor Veilleux will return. “I have no idea,” he said.