Can someone please tell me what the "speaker-like" holes are located on the front dash to the left of the climate control system? It has one center hole surrounded by 8 holes.

That's exactly right, http://buickforums.com/forums/threads/13345-2001-Buick-LeSabre-Limited-Holes :-- "Those are intake for the cabin air so the electron system can take a temperature reading for the _automatic_ temp control system. If I recall reading the factory service manual, air from the cabin is combined with air from the output vent and the temp taken so the system can infer whether it needs more warmth or less warmth. If your car does not have auto temp control with digital readout, then the holes are just there because the same trim piece is used for all the cars without regard to the option being present or not