Pontiac council report - New council sworn in
Mo Laidlaw
About twenty-four citizens attended the first regular meeting of the new council on November 22, 2005. Mayor Eddie McCann gave a short speech thanking everyone for their support. He is proud of our municipality and intends to make sure that the administration is accessible and friendly. He promised that “all serious questions will be answered properly.” Those with questions are asked to use the microphone. All councillors will soon have microphones to improve communication.
The mayor and councillors each took the oath of office. Mr McCann read the annual financial report (see public notice section of paper) and invited ratepayers to the 2006 budget meeting on 21 December at 8 pm.
Public question period
Joan Letourneau, representing FRAPP, welcomed the new council and hoped that there would be no more tolerance roads at the end of its four-year term. Mr McCann said “thanks for giving us four years to do it.” He mentioned that councillors Coyle and Gougeon are on the tolerance roads committee.
Leonard Lloyd brought a list of concerns and comments. He asked for a 4-way stop in Quyon at the junction of St Andrew and Bruce streets, where there was a bad accident the day before. He praised municipal employees who pick up garbage and asked if pickup will be contracted out. Mr McCann explained that council is still comparing costs. Mr Lloyd has complained to the Agricultural Society about “kids smoking in the barns at the fairgrounds, which should be torn down as they are a fire risk.” Mr McCann will write to Quyon Ensemble about this.
In Mr Lloyd’s opinion the municipality should buy a new tractor to replace a damaged backhoe. Mr McCann said that insurance will pay to repair the damage and it has not been decided whether to repair it or buy new. Finally Mr Lloyd wants a double yellow line on the highway to prevent people trying to pass vehicles turning left into his place.
Louis Garneau wanted to know why there are so many power cuts. The school in Luskville has problems when there is no light or heat. Director-general Sylvain Bertrand explained that there are three main power lines into the municipality. Workers have been cutting trees near one line but have now finished for the winter. They will be working on the other two lines in 2006.
Dany Wester asked for help to clean up the lot in the Lavigne project (Xonar) that is designated as a park. Mr McCann will talk to the road inspector. Councillors McKenny, Gougeon and Middlemiss sit on the recreation committee.
Christian St-Louis handed in a brief claiming that the Lavigne area has had an “increase of 60% in taxes”, with the average evaluation of houses in this project now being $280,000. All the lots are sold, but not all built upon. “When will the roads be paved?” Mr McCann explained that there are many roads and he cannot promise paving, but he will improve roads. Evaluations have increased throughout the municipality and region, and this does not mean an increase in taxes unless the evaluation has gone up more than the average increase.
Jean-Claude Carisse had questions about voters lists, registering for voting and early voting, which he said was not well advertised.
A break has been introduced after the public question session, before the formal part of the meeting, with coffee and tea provided.
Resolutions approved
October bills for $105,058 and fixed expenses of $498,065 were approved.
The contract to outline fire risk coverage is extended. Mr McCann will ask the MRC to look into having a fire prevention officer (required by the plan) at the MRC level rather than municipal level.
Councillor Brian Middlemiss gave notice that he will introduce a bylaw lowering speed limits on certain roads. Pierre Sauvageau asked if this would apply to tolerance roads, as 50 km/h is too fast for some of these roads and a 20 km/h limit might be preferable. Mr Bertrand explained that the municipality cannot always set speed limits. Mr Sauvageau asked council to put pressure on the ministry of Transport.
Mario Allen was given the job of digging a trench at the municipal dump for $17,000, the lowest tender.
Recent CPTAQ decisions
Jason Jones has been authorized to build a residence on 0.5 ha of a larger lot on Crégheur near Montagne, “as one house does not modify the milieu significantly.” This legalizes the residence built recently.
Bill Twolan had two requests authorized, for 0.4 ha lots that he wishes to give to his sons, in “an enclave of residences along the highway”, north of Elm road. The lot on the east of the highway is the “last available building lot on this side,” and the lot on the west side of the highway already has a residence, which can be “alienated” from the farm land.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for 13 December. Meetings are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month at 8 pm in the Luskville community centre.