Nothing is going well between Isabelle Galant, mayor of Lens, and Mathieu Messin, director general in Lens and alderman in the municipality of Colfontaine. While their relationship has always been somewhat tense, it does not seem to be improving, quite the contrary… In question? The attitude of the general manager who goes on sick leave in Lens while he continues to exercise as an alderman in Colfontaine. His presence at the people’s house in Colfontaine on the eve of May Day with the Socialists got the better of the patience of the mayor.
“Mathieu Messin was on sick leave from March 28 to April 22 then on political leave from April 25 to 29 and is once more on sick leave from May 2 to July 3 while during this time he continues to exercise his mandate as alderman since he has an authorized exit… So it is possible to be sick for the municipality but not for the alderman’s mandate… sick part-time?”, plague Isabelle Galant, mayor of Lens. “Beyond its political label, it is a real blow for our commune. For a small town, losing its general manager for more than three months is catastrophic. There are subsidies that we will lose as a result of his lack of follow-up. It is the citizens who suffer from this situation.”
The situation is becoming untenable for the mayor, who is facing criticism following the lack of follow-up on the files of her director general. “During this mandate, despite moments of absence on his part, I never said anything. I even had to sometimes suffer criticism from the socialist opposition on the follow-up of its files“, she indicates. “After a first month’s leave, followed by a week’s political leave, devoted to his activities as alderman in Colfontaine, he resumed two months of sick leave until July. Where it is more problematic is that he was a little less sick to have a drink at the people’s house in Colfontaine the day before May 1 with the Socialists.“
This situation also calls into question the question of the accumulation of the mandates of alderman and director general. “I still do not understand why an alderman of a municipality of the same arrondissement can be general manager in another municipality of the arrondissement. It’s uncomfortable for everyone and we come to this kind of situation“, concludes Isabelle Galant.
The main interested party, Mathieu Messin, did not wish to speak on the subject, indicating “that his medical situation concerns only him.“Before You Add It”finds it inappropriate to talk regarding it in the press. As for political leave, they are regulated by law. It is therefore completely inadequate.“
Ambiance…
