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Questions about his conflict of interest with developer Claridge Homes are dogging Mathieu Fleury, who is currently seeking re-election in the Rideau-Vanier ward.
Not long after he won in 2010, Fleury, 29, declared a conflict of interest with respect to Claridge, one the biggest developers in the city. The company has several projects in his ward.
But Fleury says the conflict hasn’t completely silenced him on issues related to Claridge.
Fleury’s father, from whom the councillor is estranged, works for the developer, so the councillor can’t in any way address zoning issues involving Claridge, nor can any of his staff.
All term, Fleury wasn’t allowed to discuss projects with residents, make a presentation to the planning committee (as is usual) or vote on any proposals should they reach full council. (In his place, Coun. Jan Harder, vice-chair of the planning committee, acted on his behalf on Claridge files in the ward).
At last week’s council meeting, for example, Fleury recused himself twice because council was dealing with planning matters related to Claridge. While both items ultimately passed, one granted Claridge the zoning bylaw amendment the company requested to place construction trailers on vacant land on St. Andrew Street in Lowertown, which is in Fleury’s ward.
Fleury says a lawyer has advised him that he cannot get involved with any file that would require committee or council approval, but he can be involved in issues that relate to existing city bylaws and that don’t require committee or council’s OK — even if it’s a Claridge project.
So, bylaw amendments and changes to the Official Plan are out, but snow removal issues and meeting with condo boards in Claridge buildings are in.
Fleury said he’s been clear about the distinction, but added some of his opponents are trying to make his conflict of interest an issue in the campaign.
“That would be to their benefit (to make) it blurry,” he said. “I feel that I’ve been able to represent the community fully. People know that I’m very involved and that I’m always available to meet.”
He also noted that of the roughly 100 development files from his ward that came before council over the past term, only three were from Claridge.
Challengers Marc Aubin and Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, who are both campaigning hard to unseat Fleury, have each highlighted their lack of ties to the development industry.
Part of the reason this is coming up now is because some people who live adjacent to a Claridge construction site on Bruyère Street are reporting cracks in the walls, uneven floors, damaged fences, even a collapsed ceiling.
In addition, vibrations caused by drilling steel piles into the ground last winter have been replaced by construction vehicles blocking driveways, cranes towering over homes and the near-constant hum of construction activity.
“It’s been hell,” said Thierry Harris, who lives with his wife on St. Andrew Street, in a house immediately beside the construction site.
The couple, as well as several neighbours, have been documenting the experience on a blog for months and recently invited Fleury, Aubin and Fortin LeFaivre to visit.
“We wanted to show them what residents are feeling with regards to how it’s like to live next to a development like that because ultimately they sit on the council and are supposed to represent our interest,” Harris said.
City building inspectors have visited the home on at least four occasions.
Claridge vice-president Neil Malhotra said Monday the company can’t comment because an insurance claim has been filed.
Harris said it’s been hard to get answers from Fleury with respect to how involved he can be given his conflict, while Fleury says he’s been “very clear about where my conflict lies and where I can be of assistance.”
Coincidentally, Harris said he received invitation Friday to meet with Fleury and senior city officials next week to discuss the issue.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
Twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
Not long after he won in 2010, Fleury, 29, declared a conflict of interest with respect to Claridge, one the biggest developers in the city. The company has several projects in his ward.
But Fleury says the conflict hasn’t completely silenced him on issues related to Claridge.
Fleury’s father, from whom the councillor is estranged, works for the developer, so the councillor can’t in any way address zoning issues involving Claridge, nor can any of his staff.
All term, Fleury wasn’t allowed to discuss projects with residents, make a presentation to the planning committee (as is usual) or vote on any proposals should they reach full council. (In his place, Coun. Jan Harder, vice-chair of the planning committee, acted on his behalf on Claridge files in the ward).
At last week’s council meeting, for example, Fleury recused himself twice because council was dealing with planning matters related to Claridge. While both items ultimately passed, one granted Claridge the zoning bylaw amendment the company requested to place construction trailers on vacant land on St. Andrew Street in Lowertown, which is in Fleury’s ward.
Fleury says a lawyer has advised him that he cannot get involved with any file that would require committee or council approval, but he can be involved in issues that relate to existing city bylaws and that don’t require committee or council’s OK — even if it’s a Claridge project.
So, bylaw amendments and changes to the Official Plan are out, but snow removal issues and meeting with condo boards in Claridge buildings are in.
Fleury said he’s been clear about the distinction, but added some of his opponents are trying to make his conflict of interest an issue in the campaign.
“That would be to their benefit (to make) it blurry,” he said. “I feel that I’ve been able to represent the community fully. People know that I’m very involved and that I’m always available to meet.”
He also noted that of the roughly 100 development files from his ward that came before council over the past term, only three were from Claridge.
Challengers Marc Aubin and Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, who are both campaigning hard to unseat Fleury, have each highlighted their lack of ties to the development industry.
Part of the reason this is coming up now is because some people who live adjacent to a Claridge construction site on Bruyère Street are reporting cracks in the walls, uneven floors, damaged fences, even a collapsed ceiling.
In addition, vibrations caused by drilling steel piles into the ground last winter have been replaced by construction vehicles blocking driveways, cranes towering over homes and the near-constant hum of construction activity.
“It’s been hell,” said Thierry Harris, who lives with his wife on St. Andrew Street, in a house immediately beside the construction site.
The couple, as well as several neighbours, have been documenting the experience on a blog for months and recently invited Fleury, Aubin and Fortin LeFaivre to visit.
“We wanted to show them what residents are feeling with regards to how it’s like to live next to a development like that because ultimately they sit on the council and are supposed to represent our interest,” Harris said.
City building inspectors have visited the home on at least four occasions.
Claridge vice-president Neil Malhotra said Monday the company can’t comment because an insurance claim has been filed.
Harris said it’s been hard to get answers from Fleury with respect to how involved he can be given his conflict, while Fleury says he’s been “very clear about where my conflict lies and where I can be of assistance.”
Coincidentally, Harris said he received invitation Friday to meet with Fleury and senior city officials next week to discuss the issue.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
Twitter.com/mpearson78
查看原文...
