Charges stem from asbestos, improper handling of renovation at Meductic Community Centre
By Theresa Blackburn and Paige Morgan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Municipality of Lakeland Ridges has been charged with two counts under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
WorksafeNB notified the council of the legal action on Monday, May 4.
The municipality is being charged under subsection 47 (1); failure to adopt the code of practice, “A Code of Practice for Working with Materials Containing Asbestos in New Brunswick,” and subsection 11 (b); failure to take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of anyone accessing or using that place of employment.
A hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 25, in Fredericton.
In Nov. 2024, council passed a motion to approve moving its municipal offices from Canterbury to Meductic.
At the time, some councillors argued the cost of renovation wasn’t necessary, as the Canterbury building was in good shape. Others argued that the decision would mean more travel for some residents, as the office would now be located at the far end of the district rather than closer to its centre. A petition from residents opposing the move was also presented to council.
The approved renovation included the erection of two floor-to-ceiling walls to create an office and divide the space.
Work began in June 2025. The following month, on July 25, 2025, the centre was closed until further notice.
“The Meductic Community Centre is CLOSED effective immediately, until further notice, pursuant to WorkSafe NB Order No. 189891,” reads a post on the municipality’s website. Then, after the building tested positive for asbestos, WorksafeNB issued a stop-work order on Aug. 11. That meant no one could enter the building until it was professionally cleaned and retested.
The closure did not include the Meductic Fire Department section of the building.
During that time, a specialized team was brought in to perform asbestos cleaning rather than abatement. Council opted for that remedy because of the cost.
The renovations were expected to run just under $30,000, but with asbestos cleaning, consultant fees (for a safety practices plan), and air testing, the total bill was nearly doubled.
Lakeland Ridges Mayor Leonard Foster told the River Valley Sun on Saturday, May 9, that their first inclination that something was wrong came when the building inspector stopped by.
“I’m not sure how the inspector became aware, but he came around and said he was doing inspections of municipal buildings. I guess I’ll take him at his word, but he identified what the problems were,” he said.
Foster downplayed the issues identified by the inspector.
“WorksafeNB last fall was following up and felt the municipality didn’t have the proper paperwork. We didn’t have an asbestos management plan, which is essentially paperwork,” he said.
Foster said the municipality corrected everything that needed fixing, developed a plan, and finally moved municipal staff into the Meductic Community Centre in Nov. 2025.
When referring to the doubling of costs, the River Valley Sun asked Foster whether the council had any regrets about the move.
“It was a council decision,” he explained. “The council made the decision for people in the whole municipality, even those from North Lake coming down the highway; they saw that as better for the whole municipality,” explained Foster. “When these decisions were made, nobody knew the asbestos thing would be such an issue, but we know now.”
As for handling the nearly $30,000 cost overrun, the mayor said the bills came in increments, making it easier for the municipality to manage.
“But that was money that could have been used for other purposes,” Foster admitted. “It is what it is.”
Foster is also concerned with WorksafeNB’s timing.
“This was something they should have brought to council’s attention months ago, not a week before the election,” he said.
By Paige Morgan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 11, 2026 at 13:43
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