LAURIE WEIR
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has announced he is stepping back from some of his mayoral duties at the Township of Rideau Lakes, citing ongoing conflicts with members of council and concerns for his well-being.
“This decision was not made lightly and comes at the urging of my doctor, family, and friends,” Hoogenboom stated.
The move comes amid a deepening divide within township council, which has been the subject of multiple Integrity Commissioner investigations in recent years. Hoogenboom directly blamed “the continuous unacceptable behaviour” of five council members who, he says, have worked to undermine his leadership.
Coun. Joan Delaney – who has severed as the Ward 3 councillor for the past six-plus years, resigned on March 4.
The fractures within council have been well-documented, with past Integrity Commissioner reports outlining conflicts. Allegations of conduct violations, personal disputes, and accusations of dysfunction have surfaced repeatedly, painting a picture of a council at odds.
In previous reports, Integrity Commissioners (there have been three in the past year) found instances where council members acted in ways that strained governance, including public disputes and concerns over transparency.
In the most recent reports, Hoogenboom was scrutinized for his lack of leadership, which was called out by several councillors who sought, and won, a non-confidence vote at the last council meeting of March 3.
Paula Banks to serve as Acting Mayor
With Hoogenboom stepping back, Deputy Mayor Paula Banks will assume the role of acting mayor – until June. In this township, the role of the DM changes every six months with each councillor serving a rotation.
It remains unclear how long Hoogenboom’s pause will last, or whether he intends to return to full mayoral duties.
In the meantime, Hoogenboom says he will shift his focus to his role with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, where he says his leadership is respected. He also expressed hope that remaining council members will take steps toward “greater accountability, transparency, and civility.”
Despite the challenges, Hoogenboom thanked township staff for their continued professionalism and support during what he called “challenging political times.”
Banks said she doesn’t know how long the mayor will be away from the municipal table, but they have “complete faith” in their Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier and Clerk Mary Ellen Truelove.
“If anything, there will be a lot less tension at the meetings,” she said.
