Borough director Éric Lachapelle is leaving his position one year before his contract ends. (Photo: Jacques Pharand)
Borough director departs
One year before the end of his contract, borough director Éric Lachapelle is leaving his position – with financial compensation. According to Mayor Marie-Andrée Beaudoin, his departure will give the borough the opportunity to give new life to the administration’s projects. For councillor Noushig Eloayn, however, it is the sign of an “administrative crisis.”
The mayor clarified the director’s departure is not official yet, because the decision needs to be validated by the borough council at Monday’s monthly meeting. She also said the decision was a mutual agreement between Lachapelle and the borough. “Lachapelle took on the challenges we gave him at the beginning of his mandate with enthusiasm. He, among other things, generated a financial surplus, made work in parks possible, brought change… His work is done. We’re going into a new stage now, a consolidation period, which will take a person with a different kind of leadership,” the mayor said.
That person, for now, is Réjean Durocher, the current director of public works, who will take the torch if council approves the move. “It would be an interim position, and the permanent position would be open, according to human resources department procedure. Mr. Durocher will apply,” said Beaudoin, adding she could not speculate about the selection process.
Durocher will be replaced by Gilles Côté, the current division chief of technical studies.
An ended contract and financial compensation
Lachapelle’s contract was supposed to end on Dec. 31, 2008. “The contract for this type of position at the city is for three years. But we gave a period of two years to complete the mandate we gave to Mr. Lachapelle,” said Beaudoin. Was this changing of the guard anticipated when Lachapelle was hired? “We anticipated a precise mandate; I didn’t know how much time it would take at the start, because it was an enormous job. Mr. Lachapelle completed it in two years. Hats off to him,” she answered.
The director’s departure comes with fees, because these types of contracts require the person leaving to receive financial compensation if their contract is ended early. “Mr. Lachapelle’s salary was $125,000 annually. According to his contract, we will give him one year’s salary, minus the 15 days that have gone by,” said Aude Clotteau, division chief of public relations at Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
Beaudoin justifies this expense, because Lachapelle saved the borough a lot of money. “Name me a borough director in Ahuntsic-Cartierville in the past years who has generated a surplus of $2 million. It’s exceptional,” she said. “Would you rather save $125,000 or make sure we attain our future objectives?”
Eloyan doubtful
For Bordeaux-Cartierville councillor Noushig Eloyan, it is an “administrative crisis” that explains Lachapelle’s departure. She reminded that Daniel Labrecque, parks division chief, is still suspended with pay while the city investigates allegations of favoritism. “The borough director is responsible for hiring, which includes the hiring of Mr. Labrecque. It is he who found him in Repentigny, where he himself is originally from. It is he who set up the network with people from Repentigny, and then Bell and CDEC. Between 15 and 20 people were hired like that, without postings or interviews,” she said.
Eloyan puts the blame on the mayor herself. “She’s the one who hired him. And now, two years after her team won power, Mrs. Beaudoin is forced to undo what she created,” she said.
Éric Lachapelle will not be repositioned in the City of Montreal’s administration and is unemployed for the time being, said Aude Clotteau. As for the administrative investigation concerning Labrecque, Beaudoin said she expects results in a few days. The investigation has been underway since November.
Météo: Montréal, 18 juillet 2008 / 21°C
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