'We're going to turn into Matheson': Mayor abruptly ends special meeting

TIMMINS - A last-minute meeting to talk about revitalizing a park is putting a spotlight on the growing cracks in this term of council. 

Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau called an abrupt halt to a special meeting called by the majority of council members to talk about revitalizing Leo Del Villano Park. Before all of the members had a chance to talk, the mayor adjourned the proceeding after demanding that a councillor apologize for raising his voice or leave.

"We're going to turn into Matheson," quipped Coun. Steve Black as tension and voices rose about 25 minutes into the meeting. It's a reference to a 2024 move by a coalition of Matheson councillors to boycott meetings to force the province to step in, which they did, and invoked a rarely used section of the Municipal Act to dissolve the term and call a byelection. 

Today's Timmins council meeting was to further discuss plans to revitalize Leo Del Villano Park on Pine Street South. Last week, J.L. Richards was awarded a $352,142 contract for the park. This contract does not include designing and relocating the tennis courts.

SEE: Cost, process to revitalize park questioned as project moves to next stage

The space is home to a baseball diamond, tennis courts, playground, and washrooms, as well as an outdoor rink in the winter. 

The ongoing debate is about adding a full-size cricket pitch to the park, which means moving the existing tennis courts, and upgrading the washrooms. The report council had to base their vote on to advance the project had few details about how it would come together, though a sketch of what staff envision was circulated during the June 17 meeting. When councillors asked for clarification on some items, there was confusion between the clerk and director's understanding of the project.

While councillors raised concerns about how the item was brought forward and the cost of the contract at the original meeting, the design contract was approved.

A few new details were revealed at tonight's meeting. 

The RFP approved is for the design and construction of the cricket pitch, and the design and construction of the washroom and storage facility, said city clerk Steph Palmateer. 

The final design of the cricket pitch is due on Aug. 1, with construction to be done by Nov. 14. The design for the washrooms is due in January 2026, and construction would be during the next construction season. 

Black raised concerns about the process and building a cricket pitch before moving the existing tennis courts, which need to be relocated to finish the cricket area. Palmateer said that is the plan, and there will be a separate report on it at the July 8 council meeting.

Since June 17, Gvozdanovic has made multiple visits to Leo Del Villano Park and the current cricket field at Fern Tremblay Park.

“Myself personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that we can’t squeeze everything into one spot, that’s just my own observation,” he said.

He prefers adding a tennis court to the existing area and finding a new space for a full-size cricket pitch. He said he's "struggling" with tearing up the tennis courts when there's nothing wrong with the current foundation, and the functioning lights would be torn down and new lighting purchased.

The washrooms are also on his list of concerns.

“When I went down there, to me, those are the nicest washrooms that we have. I’m on the MAAC (Municipal Accessibility and Accommodations Committee), to make those accessible is not going to be hard to do,” he said.

On the sketch provided to council, it says the baseball field would be untouched. 

Tonight, however, Boileau said there are plans for work on the diamond, while Palmateer said the RFP didn't include improvements to it.

Community consultation 

For the last two years, Palmateer said recreation staff have been meeting with the tennis club, who sent a letter to the city in July 2024 about removing the existing courts and building a quad court area at the north end of the park. 

Palmateer said the tennis courts are in the parks and recreation master plan update, the 2025 budget — there's $950,000 to relocate and build new tennis and pickleball courts this year, and were highlights of an April report.

Coun. Rock Whissell asked if the city had talked to residents near where the pickleball courts would be moving in the park or to other user groups. 

At the Mountjoy Arena, where pickleball courts have been added, Whissell said he's received complaints because there is more noise with pickleball versus tennis. While the neighbours didn't go further than discussing it with their ward councillor, he said the changing use is a concern.

“No, we did not reach out to any of the residents who live in the neighbourhood, which is something we don’t typically do for park improvements. I’ve been here 12 years and we’ve never once done that,” said Palmateer.

He recognizes residents may not like the noise generated by pickleball, and noted that the city's current tennis facilities are built next to residential neighbourhoods.

Coun. John Curley's line of questioning led to the meeting's sudden end.

He wanted to know if the contract with JL Richards had been signed yet.

Boileau confirmed she has yet to sign it. 

“We have a bylaw saying we will award the contract, it stands just as my signature would,” she said.

Curley continued, talking about how new information on the project is still being learned. 

"We’re not getting the whole story here. I’m sorry, right from the get-go I thought we weren’t, nothing seemed to be right, we weren’t having it all, we didn’t get the design and we’re hearing more and more every time we talk,” he said.

Boileau interjected, trying to shut down the line of questioning. 

“Let me finish, please,” he said, continuing to talk at the same time as the mayor.

A point of order, which calls attention to what a member believes to be a violation of the rules of procedure, was raised by Gvozdanovic to allow Curley to continue.

There was further exchange between Boileau, Curley and Gvozdanovic before Boileau explained her reasons for not allowing Curley to talk.

She said she was interrupting the councillor "before he misrepresents the decision of council or misrepresents the actions of our administration."

Her decision was overturned by the majority of members, who voted in favour of allowing Curley to continue. 

After recapping a few of his earlier points, Curley revisited the idea of council not being provided all of the details.

“We’re also hearing new information, which we weren’t provided at the council meeting where we had to vote,” said Curley.

“Again, it wasn’t asked for,” interrupted Boileau. “This is what I’m trying to get at.”

“We shouldn’t have had to ask for something, though,” said Curley, passionately raising his voice.

Boileau, also raising her voice, told the councillor he's out of order.

“Coun. Curley, if you do not refrain I am going to ask for an apology. If you do not apologize, I am going to ask that you leave,” she said. “You raised your voice to the chair of this meeting.”

Boileau declared the meeting adjourned until Curley apologized or removed himself. 

“I can apologize for raising my voice, but the thing is," said Curley, not finishing his sentence as multiple people started talking.

While the mayor has the power to call a special meeting at any time, tonight's meeting was called for by councillors.

Under the city's procedural bylaw, if the majority of council members — in this case, five members are needed — petition the clerk for a special meeting, it has to be held.

As the meeting came to a sudden halt, Curley pointed out that there are "five of us, we can call another meeting then."

After the official end of the meeting, cameras captured an ongoing argument between Boileau, Gvozdanovic and Curley.

“Apologies everyone, for this waste of your evening,” said Boileau. 

“Apologies for the improper chairing of the meeting, that’s all, very simple” said Gvozdanovic.

Curley added that they never received the information they had the meeting for.