LAURIE WEIR
CHANTRY — What month is showing on the calendar? Is it February? Is it Groundhog Day?
You might think that if you’re tuning into Rideau Lakes council.
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has used his veto power for a second time to block progress on the township’s controversial Chantry office infrastructure project, citing a lack of consensus, excessive staff direction, and procedural confusion.
He confirmed to Hometown News on Saturday, July 19 via text message that he was using his strong mayor powers again.
At the July 7 council meeting, Coun. Sue Dunfield brought forward a motion to reconsider By-Law 2025-69, the bylaw passed on May 12 that directed staff and IDEA engineering to complete 99 per cent of the construction drawings for a renovation and addition to the Chantry Municipal Office and proceed to tender. The bylaw was originally vetoed by the mayor on May 26 under strong-mayor powers, and an override vote by council failed on May 28.
Dunfield’s motion argued that motions of reconsideration fall outside the scope of strong-mayor powers.
Hoogenboom said they can bring it forward as many times as they like, and he’ll continue to veto it. This is his second formal veto of the Chantry file.
“They passed another motion … despite the fact that I already vetoed that previously,” Hoogenboom told Hometown News on Monday, July 21. “They can bring it back as many times as they want under the procedural bylaw. It just doesn’t seem right. It’s counterintuitive.”
Hoogenboom said he refuses to issue a tender without a solid majority of council support and public backing.
“I’m not putting contractors through that process just for the sake of us getting a price,” he said. “This is not how I do business and not how the township should be doing business. As long as I’m mayor, this project isn’t going ahead.”
A separate motion passed 5-4 at the July 14 Municipal Services Committee meeting. That motion includes new elements such as two public town halls and a comparative analysis with Beckwith Township’s office project. However, the core direction to retain a consultant, complete 90 per cent design work on both a new build and Chantry retrofit, and issue simultaneous tenders, remains nearly identical to the earlier version.
Hoogenboom confirmed the confirming bylaw for the July 14 motion will come to council in August and that he will veto it again.
CAO Shelley Fournier expressed concern that she is being pulled in two directions. On one hand, a council majority has voted to move forward. On the other, the mayor, her superior under the strong-mayor legislation, has exercised his authority to block it.
“Shelley’s working for me … but Shelley’s also sitting there going, ‘I have to work for council too’… and I don’t have an answer for that,” Hoogenboom said.
An open report is expected at the next council meeting. Hoogenboom said the township needs public consultation, and consensus, before moving forward on this file.
They might not be until the 2026 election, at which point, it could become a question for a referendum.
