The conversation continued around Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom’s use of strong mayor powers around council chambers.
At a meeting earlier this month, a motion was put forth to have the table accept staff’s response to comments the mayor made to media outlets surrounding his use of the powers to veto the Chantry municipal office retrofit moving to tender.
Councillor Jeff Banks said the mayor did that because he’s afraid.
$4.5 million has been the number floated around the chambers as a high-level costing estimate, but multiple council members question where the number came from, which is why the majority sought a tender to get an accurate estimate.
A September 2024 report from IDEA Consulting, the firm hired to look into a Chantry office retrofit with an addition, as well as the cost of a new build on the existing site or somewhere else, pegged the estimated cost of a retrofit and addition at $3.412 million.
That figure excluded several additional costs including taxes, legal fees, multiple environmental investigations, interest, operating costs and much more, meaning the final cost would be higher.
Banks continued, saying Hoogenboom’s use of the powers was outside the guidelines set by the province.
The province says use of strong mayor powers is justified if it further progresses “provincial initiatives,” including but not limited to the construction of additional housing.
Hoogenboom disputed Banks’ claim and reiterated his use of the veto stemmed from the process ahead of the tender was flawed and didn’t include significant public consultation, and he’s well within his rights.
There was one public meeting in 2024 attended by about 80 people. Hoogenboom reiterated his support for a public referendum on the matter that includes “a yes or no,” question, which asks residents if they’re in support of the Chantry office being retrofitted with an addition or not.
Town staff said a rough cost of holding referendum would be between $40,000-$50,000, roughly the same cost of holding an election.
Through the course of this council term, the table has so far spent about $500,000 on research into a new municipal office that have died on the vine, including the failed attempt to include staff offices in the recently opened Portland Hall.
Story by Grant Deme
