Translated by Brian Camp and Kim Demail.

First of all I would like to renew my best wishes for health, happiness, courage and determination to meet the challenges and to succeed both on the professional and the personal level.

Traditionally January is the time to take stock of the year that is ended; the year 2008 which saw the almost complete renewal of the town council. Thus it was necessary to initially gather information, to have training and to look for advice from competent persons as soon as possible so as to become effective in the management of the commune.

Management that started with a phase of regularization:

1. Commune employees:
  • Obtaining the Heavy Vehicle Driving Licence that is essential for Stéphane Gilbert to carry out his duties (hired without this licence, cost 1.700€)
  • Changes to the hours of opening of the town hall from January 1, 2009, in accordance with the contract of 18.5 hours for Nathalie Moigner, administrative assistant. Natalie will be leaving her position on February 28, 2009, to take up a long awaited opportunity.
  • The approval of a permanent employment contract in September 2009, for Arlette Gaborieau, technical assistant acting as canteen manager, she was under fixed-term contract for more than twenty years (compulsory since 2005)!

2. Public road network, with the reclassification according to the current obligations, of 8,939 km of rural roads into village roads, making a total of 18,879 km against 9,940 km previously.

3. Street lighting, with switching off of the street lamps from 23h55 until 06h00, with the exception of the weekends for the main village, in order to preserve the environment and to realise savings.

Management that continues with the completion of urgent work:
  • Repairs to the roof of the house being rented by the town. This cost was in the budget for 2007, but the work was not carried out.
  • Renovation of the two dilapidated library rooms through collaboration of the employees of the four communes of the SIVOS to create a pleasant and adaptive environment for the children.
  • Restoration is in progress, of the borough cross.

Finally, let us not forget, the inheritance of a lawsuit for assault concerning “Carrefour d’Argence, that was begun in 2004, lost in appeal in 2008 for the municipality of Surin, but has not yet been resolved. Indeed, it has been decided to appeal on the basis that companies who did the work should bear the financial consequences of about €8,000.

Traditionally it is also the time to reveal what is at stake and the prospects for the year 2009. Projects that will make it possible for social action by the reactivation of the CCAS (Communal Center of Social Action), other projects have to be very modest considering that there is little room for manoeuvre at the current financial level. Considering that the debt of the commune of Surin at April 1, 2008 was €551 per capita, whereas the departmental average is €318 per capita; it is goes without saying that the recourse to a loan is not allowed in the short run (see financial balance sheet). Nevertheless the commune will be able to meet new standards for the “Salle des Fêtes” with the installation of a dishwasher, which is lacking for the organisers of the various events, and to undertake the restoration of the play room of the nursery school.

That is all that we can consider, because the day to day operation must be ensured; but one never knows: more ambitious ideas can be realised with the assistance of other communes. I ask you for your patience, understanding and confidence. The management of your municipality and its progressive reduction of debt is the priority of the Town Council.

I want to finish with thanks, many thanks, to all of the people who answered my expectations with competence and professionalism and all the municipal team (employees and city council men) for their work in honesty and transparency; Mrs. Annick Audouard and Nicole Boireau for their involvement in putting the flowers in the village centre; Mrs. Kim Demail for producing and supplying the greetings cards, the installation of Internet site and the donation of the picture frames for the decoration of the village hall. Also the assistance of her husband Philippe for the photographic illustrations. I also thank Philippe Varache and Ludovic Pinaud who carried out the display of the fireworks on July 14 with control and know-how.

Thank you also to Mr. and Mrs. Drevet, representative of the heirs to Mr. Bernard Michaud for their gift of crockery that will supplement the equipment of the village hall. And finally thanks to all the inhabitants who maintain, at the same time as their property, the immediate municipal environment.

The municipal consul and myself assure you of our entire dedication and thank you for your confidence.

Claudie Memin