Authority crisis.

 Harry Morskate | 12 september 2011
In 2011 there was no compte-rendus available at the mairie. That is wrong and against the law. Besides, in 2009 the Council voted unanimously to have the compte-rendus distributed after each meeting. Residents of our beautiful municipality should be worried. A visit to the village Council meeting on September 2 proved that again. This meeting is best described as a low point in our local government showing a total lack of governance, authority and mutual respect.

Some residents complained that they have experience noise nuisance in Valquieres. The police was alerted and reports made. The mayor stated that there was virtually no problem and that nothing could be done about those problems which were already there. The topic was debatted. Whether or not these complaints were justified, they were not taken seriously.

The second topic dealt with preferential rights of purchase regarding the house Blanchy. The mayor justified the use of pre-emption with the following arguments: the necessary expansion of the cemetery, the possibility to create a new cottage, and the construction of a new mairie, since the present one is not, for the moment, accessible to the disabled. The buyer had already sent a letter to all municipal council members indicating his willingness to cooperate in the expansion of the cemetery at the appropriate time. So this question was no longer a problem nor an argument anymore. Several attendees gave evidence of supposed conflicts of interests involving the mayor, and, on the public gallery the mental state of the mayor was openly doubted as regard to the proposal of building a new mairie. Also, it appears that there were potential threats to the buyer, a fact that was reported to the Gendarmerie. The proposal of the mayor was not put to a vote.

The siting of 30 wind turbines in our community. Now that the 'parc photovoltaique' has apparently been cancelled, the mayor came up with the proposal of siting 30 wind turbines 'somewhere' within the perimeter of the commune. The argument is that it will bring an estimated financial benefit of doubling the municipal budget. Curiously, since the previous wind project, almost no extra money apparently was raised from the 7 existing windmills, while, now, as expected, there is a noise problem in Dio. It remained unclear where the 30 windmills would be placed and when two council members asked for more details before taking position they were snapped at: "it's easy, you are for or against". Not exactly a democratic attitude on the part of a mayor! In the public gallery they knew exactly where the 30 windmills would be installed. On the same site as the failed photovoltaique park, which is partly owned by our mayor. A clear conflict of interest. 
 This proposal of the mayor was not finally put to a vote.

Hereafter, the noise issue came back on the agenda. Instead of taking the residents seriously and assess whether their complaints were justified, the mayor refused to act. Despite that, these complaints were reiterated on various sides. But no, the mayor continued to indulge in blaming some, and told the complainants that they should be ashamed. The council meeting then degenerated into a chaotic shouting match.

Authority is not simply achieved by occupying a certain post, but it results from the personal qualities, behaviour and achievements of the person 'in authority'. Authority can only be exist if this authority is also recognised and supported by the vast majority of the residents.

The behaviour of the mayor and his council does not inspire respect for its authority. It is in such a situation that anarchy arises, and that process is now in full swing in Valquieres. All the signs are present. This anarchy implies an underlying permanent competition ("I win some; you lose some"). Residents will then also act, through "self-help", to "protect themselves" and their properties and interests.

The mayor is acting out of power, and the risk of abuse is very great. Almost the whole of the 'conseil municipal' supports without reservation, criticism, or alternative ideas, plans or proposals put forward by the mayor. Residents with initiative, resources and ability to contribute to the village have to go their own way to try to reach their goals. The rights and respect for fellow residents are violated and their rights and legal equality are all in danger. Then we have the law of the jungle.

The weaker and more vulnerable residents can do nothing but resist and use all legal avenues in the hope of getting aid from a higher authority. That is happening now because of the total lack of authority. In recent times the Gendarmerie have receive complaints of activities contrary to normal village life, complaints which, had there been local independent authority, should have been solved within the village. The word 'community' is an empty word and the social cohesion is disintegrating increasingly, because of unnecessary conflicts in Valquieres.

It is very sad to see that through the incompetence of the Council and the indifference of some residents, our village is falling into such a desolate situation. A cause for this appears to be the mayor who increasingly gives the impression that for him, self-interest is of prime importance for the public interest. 

     
La commune de DIO ET VALQUIÈRES, située dans le département de l'HERAULT, au pied des Cévennes, réunie trois hameaux DIO, VALQUIÈRES et VERNAZOUBRES, d'une importance quasi égale, et abrite 139 habitants sur une superficie de 1.877 hectares. La Gazette de Dio et Valquières est une initiative de citoyens concernés qui surveillent de façon critique la politique municipale.
Gazette de Dio et Valquières