Pontiac council report
MRC asked to realise trail
Mo Laidlaw
The regular meeting of 8 June 2004, with Mayor Bruce Campbell back in the chair, was attended by nearly 30 ratepayers.
Recreational trails, tourism
Council voted unanimously to ask the MRC des Collines to take responsibility for realising the Aylmer to Wyman trail, with the assistance of the CLD, because of the regional nature and scale of this project.
Marie-Claude Pineau mentioned the petition asking to exclude Kawartha, Lilas and Sumac from the trail route, now signed by 82 people from McKay and these roads. “We are not against the trail overall, please respect our opinion. In the last two months we have had two illegal expeditions by ATVs, with damage to fences and trees.” Petitions about the trail route will be sent to the MRC.
Wisha Mach said, “a trail on the old rail-line shows respect for history,” and urged council to “be bold and courageous. I have difficulty with Bill Twolan, who voted against option one. The duty of a councillor is to listen to the community as a whole.”
Council voted to support the Club Quad des Collines in their request to the NCC to acquire Hickey road as an ATV trail. Hickey road is a short-cut from North Onslow towards Wolf Lake, that passes through the northwest corner of Gatineau Park for about 5 km.
Council resolved to negotiate with the NCC to regain control of rights-of-way through Gatineau Park and for help developing the municipality's waterfront.
Shoreline damage, no rezoning
Wisha Mach repeated her concerns about illegal filling and tree-felling on the shoreline between Terry Fox and Breckenridge Creek. She claimed that when a beautiful area “falls into private hands, people try to destroy it. It is good to see that people got upset,” when Councillor Twolan wanted to rezone the area where his welding shop is.
Janet Jury asked who enforces the laws that protect the environment. Mr. Campbell replied “the municipal inspector”. Ms Jury suggested that a survey of the shoreline could be made twice a year, perhaps by a student. She felt that relying on residents to tip off the inspector can lead to bad feelings and conflict in rural areas. In reply to her question on the status of the rezoning bylaw, she was told that it “was pulled from the table.”
Enforcing bylaws
There was a long discussion on enforcing bylaws on permits and cleaning-up properties. Lorne Dagenais wants council to do something about unlicenced car lots. Councillor Lafrance said that “a flea-market received a permit on condition that material is stored inside, but now it is stored outside. The municipality gives two warnings and then takes legal action, but the provincial courts take a long time to act.” One property on highway 148 was described by a frustrated resident as “gasoline alley .” “The good suffer because of a bad minority. Our house prices go down.”
Paving
Ms. Pineau asked for a clear policy on who pays for paving. She said that McKay area residents paid $500 each to have their roads paved. “Surely residents of cul-de-sacs should pay a high proportion of the costs?” She suggested that developers of new subdivisions should put money into a trust fund for future paving costs. Councillor Larose said that a decision will soon be made on this year’s paving.
Other business
Geoff Garceau announced that he has resigned as a volunteer fireman. He has concerns about the fire committee and leadership of the fire department.
Guy Roussel was concerned that the new waste management committee is being left out of discussions with Mr. Rouleau, the promoter of an engineered landfill site. Mayor Campbell said, “Mr. Rouleau is working with me. We are still studying documents coming from Québec.”
A request by Daniel Dubuc to the CPTAQ, to build 13 residences on farmland that is already subdivided, in Eardley range 6, was approved by council.
Burning bylaw
In May, a new bylaw on open fires was passed. Briefly, a written permit is required for any open fire except those in exterior fireplaces, barbecues or small campfires. Fires must be at least 9 metres from buildings or property lines. Constant supervision by a sober adult is necessary. Fires are not allowed when it is windy, or when there is a high risk for forest fires. Smoke must not bother neighbours or hinder traffic. Fines vary from $150 to $3000 for breaking the bylaw. For complete information call the town hall, 455-2401.
The next regular council meeting will be July 13, 2004 at 8 pm.