Three aldermen of Meerssen resign after motion of no confidence | Inland

The reason was an earlier refusal by the aldermen to implement a motion that a majority of the city council had passed last Monday. In that motion, the council demanded that a budget be drawn up without heading for a reclassification with Maastricht as desired by the aldermen. At the most, the council wants official cooperation with the big neighbor.

However, the municipality of Maastricht closed the door on September 16 to such an official collaboration with Meerssen. According to the aldermen of Meersen, this created a new situation. The council of Meerssen could still talk about a reclassification with Maastricht.

But a majority of the council showed no mercy to the councilors on Thursday evening, who responded bitterly. Alderman Jan Gulikers spoke about the settlement of outstanding bills and rancor by council members. CDA alderman Marly Heusschen, partly expelled by her own party, called the municipality’s desire for independence a “fixed idea.” Councilor Paul Sanders said the council has caused a financial, civil service and administrative crisis. The aldermen call a reclassification, which the council opposes, inevitable.

According to Gulikers, the dismissal of the aldermen will lead to the eighth council taking office in four council terms since 2007, during which the necessary alderman changes took place in the meantime. “The lack of political governance is proven tonight,” he said.

The council meeting ended chaotically. It is unclear whether there is still a coalition and which path the council intends to take. The only remaining member of the board, Mayor Mirjam Clermonts-Aretz, will sit around the table with the group chairmen next Monday evening to discuss a budget. It should be completed in a few weeks. So far there has been agreement on a cut of 60,000 euros, while about two million should be cut. “I want to hear from you how we are closing this hole,” the mayor told the council.

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