Pontiac council report - Quyon’s new sewage tank to be repaired
Mo Laidlaw
At a special meeting on 11 January, council approved hiring six volunteer firefighters: Robert Fraser, Tristan Farant, Dominic Armitage, Stéphan Tremblay, Ryan Tracey and Scott Dagenais.
26th January special meeting
Council named a negotiating committee to deal with the Quebec firefighters’ union (QFU), consisting of mayor Bruce Campbell, councillor Garry Dagenais, municipal director Sylvain Bertrand and lawyer Michel Lafrenière. Council also resolved that the QFU produce an English version of the draft agreement, and postpone negotiations until two weeks after the English version is received, so that all council members can understand the document and give their opinions to the committee.
Maison de la famille snubbed
Council voted 4:3 against giving the Quyon family centre (Maison de la famille) an interest-free loan of $40,000 administered by the CLD des Collines, and with a councillor named to the board of directors. The four councillors who voted against said it was because “the organization (has) poor management and the administrators have rejected the solution suggested by Charlotte l’Écuyer’s office” (to lay off staff to save money).
Council voted to support Cantley in asking the MRC des Collines to control operating expenses in line with the cost of living, to reduce budget increases.
Municipal employees have asked for English language training. This is subsidized 50% by the government, so the cost will be $1250. Council passed this request.
8 February meeting
About fifteen members of the public attended the regular council meeting on 8 February, with mayor Bruce Campbell and four of seven councillors present and Isabelle Coté as acting secretary-treasurer.
Public question period
Jean-Claude Carisse asked what happened to his request a year ago to pay tax bills by internet. Mr Campbell replied, “It’s too expensive. We still have problems with the computer for employees’ pay cheques, but we will be looking for appropriate software later.”
Raymond Gougeon asked why reports are not available before council meetings, so that citizens could be informed, and unilingual councillors could be supplied with translations where necessary. Mr Campbell replied that documents do not become public information until after they are deposed at the council table, so this is not possible. Mr Gougeon also questioned the $39,400 being given to Eardley Recreation Association this year. Councillor Brian Middlemiss explained that this is to pay for the new rink and for playground equipment, as well as usual maintenance. Mr Gougeon wants a survey on how much parks in Pontiac are used. Councillor Pierre Lafrance said this will be followed up at a later meeting.
Money matters
FRAPP asked for financial assistance for their administration; they group 32 road associations. They asked for $1000 for meetings and communications, which some councillors thought should be paid 75% by the municipality, like the amounts for road upkeep. But Mr Campbell said this would be “opening a can of worms” for other community groups, and council voted 4:1 against assisting FRAPP.
Council authorized up to $3500 to be spent immediately to fix the “red packer” garbage truck’s transmission, which had broken that morning.
A report on the program of road improvements gave a total of $83,000 for gravel, asphalt, culverts and ditches. It is estimated (for requesting tenders) that the municipality needs 1400 bags (40 kg each) of calcium chloride.
Sewage, recycling, Télé-Pontiac, CPTAQ
Council received a report from Journeaux, Bédard on cracks in the poured cement at the new sewage plant in Quyon. The experts recommend that the tank is emptied, and a membrane liner installed. This will be done in the spring. The municipality has held back its last payment to the contractor until this problem is fixed at the contractor’s expense.
Council acknowledged receiving a letter about recycling bins on Braun road from Elspeth Butterworth (in 26 January Pontiac Journal), and decided to remove these bins.
A letter was received from Raymond Gougeon asking for council’s support for the Télé-Pontiac phone book to use the municipal name Pontiac in its listing, instead of dividing the municipality into Luskville and Quyon sectors, and excluding Breckenridge residents.
Council supported councillor Bill Twolan’s request to the CPTAQ (he was absent) to subdivide a one acre lot from his property, between existing houses, near 1652 highway 148. Mr Twolan follows in the steps of a former owner of this property, councillor Russell Hurdman (great-nephew of Charles Herdman who built the farmhouse), who first sold off lots for houses along the highway here.