Pontiac council report - No new trucks for garbage or fire dept.
Mo Laidlaw
More than forty citizens attended the last council meeting before the upcoming election.
Mayor Bruce Campbell, who is not running for re-election, thanked the director-general, administration, and council, as well as many citizens who contribute to the municipality’s success. Doreen Sigouin and Jean-Claude Carisse thanked the mayor and council for their support over the past three years.
Drainage, culverts and ditches
Linda Brand and Brent Corrigan presented photographs of recent flooding at their farm to back up their earlier complaints.
Madeleine Carpentier submitted two written documents requesting detailed information on watercourses in Eardley ranges 2 to 9, and accusing the mayor and councilors of dishonesty, being intimidated by the commissioner, and not having achieved very much in the last seven years.
“Chats Falls regional park”
Bob Dawson and Erik Scobie asked for information about the proposed historical and natural site in South Onslow and neighbouring Bristol. This includes Chats falls, Pontiac village, an Indian burial site, the horse railway, and much woodland and waterfront of significant importance for conservation. Mr Campbell explained that the MRC des Collines is planning to conduct an archeological and heritage survey of the area. A freeze on land sales, tree cutting and development, for two years, will allow a study to determine costs of protecting the heritage and natural locations. Council will make the decision about whether to support a regional park of this kind when the study is completed.
No new trucks for garbage and recycling
After 8 months of study, council could not agree to pass a borrowing bylaw to buy two new garbage and recycling trucks for $273,860, over 10 years. Councillor Jim Coyle wants the figures reviewed by Director general Sylvain Bertrand. He feels this decision should pass to the new council. Delaying increases the cost for taxpayers according to Councillor Pierre Lafrance and others, as municipal garbage sent to land fill costs us $50 per ton, while recycling paper, plastics, cardboard and metal costs us half this, $25 per ton. Mr Bertrand emphasized the urgent need and benefit to increase recycling and minimize garbage disposal costs. A hydraulic arm will be attached to the existing or new trucks so the wheelie bins can be emptied quickly and efficiently.
No new pumper truck for fire department
Again council did not agree to buy a tandem pumper-tanker truck for $251,000, although they had in the past approved a fire risk coverage plan which determined that a pumper-tanker truck is needed to comply. Councillor Brian Middlemiss said that our aging fire trucks are costly to maintain, and fire protection is important. He says it is too expensive to rent a truck. Mr Coyle responded, “Let the new council make the decision”.
Council also squashed a resolution to put half of any surplus in the fire protection budget into a fund to buy a cube van for the fire department
The fire committee presented a design for an official logo for the Pontiac fire department, which council approved.
Some residents on ch des Bouleaux and ch Elm will be asked to remove landscaping elements and rocks close to the road that make it difficult for fire trucks to pass.
Hunting
Up to four road accidents a day have been reported in the municipality involving cars hitting deer. To reduce deer numbers and accidents, a majority of council voted to ask the ministry of sustainable development, environment and parks to allow each hunter to kill more than one deer. Deer are also causing significant damage to farmers’ crops.
Council will also ask the ministry to ban the use of high powered rifles where there are “more than ten residences per square mile”, but allow use of shotguns, black powder guns and bows.
“No hunting” signs will be put up around the Luskville ball park, as hunting is banned on municipal property.
Bills to pay
September bills for $82,090 and fixed expenses of $173,298 were approved. Road and ditching work approved include: $10,000 for paving ch de la Baie and a few high priority intersections; $7,000 for ditching south of 3rd concession just after ch Murphy; and $10,000 for gravel for Elm and Terry-Fox roads. Bell Canada’s offer was accepted to install a new telephone system in the municipal offices.
Other business
Building permits amounting to $1.5 million were issued in September
Pat Lusk, Russell Allen and Elizabeth Hickey-Bennett were thanked for their special contributions to recreation activities in the municipality.
The council election is on Sunday November 6th. Regular meetings of council are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month at 8 pm, but the new council may not be ready to meet on November 8th. Call the municipality for information after the election (455-2401).