Story by Paul Bradley

Victoria-Tobique MLA Wes McLean says he has a four year mandate and has no plans to resign.

The MLA spoke to a crowd in Perth-Andover Thursday night, August 9, and addressed a call from the village's Mayor for him to resign.

McLean told the crowd he's not going anywhere.

McLean says despite the comments he believes he and Mayor Ritchie share the same goal.

McLean says people have every right to be frustrated and he hears the message loud and clear that action needs to be taken.

Although he couldn't provide any answers last night, he said he's confident his government will respond to the flood mitigation report in a timely manner.

That report will be completed by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Perth Andover refused to back away from his demands.

Terry Ritchie says no action has been taken since the interim flood mitigation report was released five weeks ago.

And because of that he wants two elected officials to resign.

Ritchie claims both MLA Wes McLean and MP Mike Allen mislead the community.

Ritchie calls the interim report deceptive, and said all it was was an outline of one study after another.

The Mayor and MLA Wes McLean both addressed a crowd at the Perth Elks Club.

Also taking the stage was Al McPhail who gave an update from the Flood Victims Committee.

McPhail says relocation continues to be the number one priority for the Perth-Andover Flood Victims Committee.

He says residents in the flood zone should have been moved a long time ago.

McPhail says relocation is something they know how to do, and it's something that's been successful in the past.

McPhail says the group will also continue to lobby the province and NB Power for fair compensation for damages.

Flood victims at the meeting were also asked to hold on for a few more weeks.

Perth-Andover Village council asked flood victims to remain patient, at least until the flood mitigation report is completed by the end of the month.

Councillor Rick Beaulieu says they hope the government will move quickly once that report is complete.

Beaulieu says council knows they must also have a relocation plan.

Council appeared on stage without Mayor Terry Ritchie who later told our newsroom that there's a clear division between him and the other council members.

One Perth-Andover resident also spoke to the crowd and said volunteers working on a flood mitigation study don't need to be crapped on.

Jim Baird said Mayor Terry Ritchie should apologize for criticising work done so far by the flood mitigation committee.

Baird told the crowd they were lucky to be getting a mitigation study.

Baird says people should be thanking the group who are giving up their time to find a solution to the community's flood problems.

The Perth-Andover resident says two things village council needs to push for are relocation and more disaster financial assistance.

Check out video from the meeting below

MLA Wes McLean

Perth-Andover Mayor Terry Ritchie

Al McPhail - Perth-Andover Flood Victims Committee

Jim Baird