ARICHAT - Along with two feature interviews, this week's edition of TELILE 24/7 includes several updates from this week's regular monthly meeting of Richmond Municipal Council, including a new investigation into the actions of a councillor who has been suspended for the past month for breaching Richmond's Municipal Code of Conduct. 

At 1:20, we learn that a text message sent by District Two councillor Michael Diggdon to Louisdale resident Tommy Sampson has now reached the full investigation stage, including consultations with both men and with the county's legal counsel. At question is whether Diggdon's text message of March 4, 2021 to Sampson - including a declaration that Diggdon will "embarrass" Richmond Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Don Marchand if he doesn't stand up properly during the playing of the national anthem that starts every regular council session - is a genuine threat to make a public spectacle of the CAO or part of a broader conversation between two men who share the same opinion. Warden Amanda Mombourquette confirmed that this issue will likely return to the discussion stage at the next meeting of Richmond's Committee of the Whole on May 9, which will also mark Diggdon's post-suspension return to the council table. 

Also on this week's episode of TELILE 24/7:

11:10 - With Richmond CAO Don Marchand officially retiring on April 29, council hopes to have his replacement hired by mid-June, and has extended the contract of Acting Emergency Management Officer Cecil Frost by four months in order to fill this position with a suitable candidate. 

15:16 - The executive director of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), Michel Collette, discusses his latest visit to education stakeholders in Isle Madame and shares his concerns that the provincial government is not giving proper attention to a bill designed to enshrine French-language education rights for all Nova Scotians. 

27:19 - Warden Amanda Mombourquette warns that measures aimed at non-resident property owners in the recently-approved Nova Scotia budget for 2022-23 could have a significant impact on municipal coffers and the general economy of Richmond County.

31:32 - The consulting firm carrying out Richmond County's strategic planning exercises this spring offers to host a third open-house meeting, a one-hour focus-group discussion, and additional graphic design work to promote these efforts - if the municipality is willing to spend over $3,800 more than originally planned for the firm's services.

35:18 - Describing the completion of Richmond County's new municipal accessibility plan as "a great weight off my shoulders," Richmond Warden Amanda Mombourquette now hopes to see the approval of a separate plan for the Village of St. Peter's, which falls within her District 4 riding.

37:06 - Royal Canadian Legion Isle Madame Branch 150 member Gerry Samson, who heads up a committee to establish a "Walk of Honour" comprised of banners of Isle Madame veterans along the streets of Arichat this fall, speaks to TELILE 24/7 host Adam Cooke about the project.

53:30 - The Isle Madame Garden Club wins Richmond Municipal Council's support to carry out several initiatives connected to the "Year of the Garden" celebrations taking place throughout 2022.

57:40 - Richmond Municipal Council approves the spending of $10,000 to provide sponsorship to the 2022 Mi'kmaw Summer Games, which are slated to take place in Potlotek First Nation this coming summer.