Pontiac council report - illegal business to cease operation?
Mo Laidlaw
Thirty residents attended the October 10, 2006 council meeting, which lasted three-and-a-half hours. Councillor Raymond Gougeon was absent, and Isabelle Coté replaced director-general Sylvain Bertrand.
Illegal welding shop
Bill Twolan asked about agenda item: “Illegal business in the agricultural zone.” He explained that recently he fixed the municipal grader at the request of the road inspector, so that the grader did not have to be taken to Quyon for repairs. Twolan’s welding shop is opposite 1659 hwy 148. Twolan claims the law changed on 21 June 2001, the day after he had shaken hands with the CPTAQ on an agreement that the shop was legal, being within a certain distance of his then residence. Twolan offered to donate his fee of $200 to Eardley RA, as an athletic scholarship and challenged the councillors and municipality to match this. He claims “entrapment” although there seems to be no evidence of deliberately using his services to raise the issue of illegality. Apparently about 10 complaints have been received by the municipality about the welding shop.
The resolution asked Twolan to cease business activities at this address, and for the municipality to send his invoice to the CPTAQ for advice and information. Also municipal employees should be informed to check legality of businesses before requesting services. Only Mayor Eddie McCann and Councillor Jean Amyotte voted in favour of the resolution so it was not adopted.
At the end of the meeting Rhoda Scott asked why most councillors had voted against the motion. “I’m not against welding, but it should not be in the farm zone where it is forbidden. Is it OK to not respect the zoning? Is there a code of ethics, or do councillors just want to help their friends?”
Councillor Amyotte explained that there is no file on this business because it is in the farm zone. This is why employees were not aware that the business is not legal. Councillors Garry Dagenais and Lawrence Tracey were quick to state that they did not support illegal businesses, but wanted a change in wording before voting for the resolution. Councillor Amyotte said that he had read the resolution at the caucus meeting and nobody mentioned problems with the wording.
Councillor Jim Coyle said that the building was originally built as a farm equipment shed, at a time when Twolan kept 32 cattle. When the bottom fell out of beef, Twolan, a licenced welder, had started a mobile welding service based on this building. According to Coyle, the problem is between Twolan and the CPTAQ. He said “We send a lot of equipment to illegal businesses for repair”. Councillor Brian Middlemiss said “If the CPTAQ don’t follow up their ordinance it’s not for the municipality to close (the illegal business) down.” So at least two councillors appear to support illegal businesses.
Michel Labelle said that seeing most councillors vote against the motion left him feeling uncomfortable for their apparent lack of ethics. “You have to show courage and stand up for what is right.” Madeleine Carpentier was concerned that council is trying to change the zoning in this area, rather than protecting residents, just like the previous council: “How many other businesses in the municipality are illegal?”
Mayor McCann said employees will be informed, not reprimanded, and there will be a further motion.
Ask first...
Milton Maxsom has bought the repair-shop at 1580 hwy 148 (formerly John’s Transmission) and would like to occasionally sell cars, which is not allowed by the current commercial/residential zoning. The municipality will get back to him on this.
In Quyon, Ronald Bégin has started building on Egan St, but because one of the property lines is an unused municipal street, Third Avenue, the required setback is greater than usual. Councillors Coyle and McKenny proposed to sell a strip of 4 feet along the road allowance, “to make the permit legal.” It is the building that is illegal. If Bégin had obtained a building permit before he started building the problem would have been corrected. The “fix” was not approved, because of servitudes for water and sewage.
Marcel and Nicole Lamoureux want to build closer than 35 m to hwy 148 on Mélèze in Breckenridge. Lamoureux pointed out that the neighbouring houses are set back 60 feet (about 18.5 metres). This was turned down as the distance is not a “minor” derogation, the setback is fixed, and there is room to comply.
Culverts, Road associations
Guylaine LaSalle asked if the standard culvert size had changed recently as many new owners on Marquis in Breckenridge have installed 10 or 12 inch culverts. The standard is in fact 18 inches. Her neighbour Sylvie Carpentier has been complaining about stagnant water in the ditches. Mayor McCann will meet them at the weekend to inspect the ditches.
$555 is granted to the Côte McKay association for grading and compacting their steep, winding dirt road as a special project. Michel Séguin wanted to know why the Phare road association could not receive a grant this year. Mayor McCann said that funds for new associations will be in the 2007 budget.
Lac Beauclair area
Jacques Lizotte, a watchdog for the Lac Beauclair area, was annoyed that the municipality ignored his suggestion for consecutive civic numbers on route 366. Instead there will be new signs at each end of the section of hwy 366 that is in Pontiac and the civic number signs will be preceded with P.
Lizotte also wanted to know why garbage collectors were opening bags and deciding what garbage to pick up. Mayor McCann said that unacceptable items in the garbage won’t be picked up. Lizotte made many comparisons of the costs of services in LaPêche. He also suggested that the road inspector attend council meetings like in LaPêche. McCann replied that council meetings are for councillors’ discussions and to answer residents’ questions. Finally Lizotte asked for follow-up on a park in the Joanisse Project.
Cleaning up lots
James Eggleton thanked council for the extension to allow him to clean up his lot. He would like to know if it is now satisfactory, and finds the process of applying for a building permit complex. McCann said plans need to be accurate and complete, not complex, although undersized lots have problems. Eggleton should call the office to get his lot inspected.
The municipality has authority from the High Court to install a septic system at 1864 hwy 148, at the owner’s expense. Raymond Bélisle will be asked to provide a complete septic system at the owner’s expense, unless a complete system is installed within two weeks.
The dump, garbage
Donald MacKechnie has been hired, on one month’s probation, to be the municipal dump attendant. Three candidates were interviewed for this post. Reminder: the dump is only open to residents between 8-4 on Saturday and Sunday during the winter.
Council voted to join the provincial program to be reimbursed $10 for each tonne reduction in household garbage. This grant can be used towards waste disposal.
Quyon
Quyon Ensemble will be asked to return unused funds advanced in 2006 to make a study of a camp site in Quyon. If needed, funds may be available in 2007. A maximum of $4500 is authorized for the Quyon Citizens’ Committee to prepare architectural plans for the Lions Club Hall.
Fondex Shermont’s latest explorations to find a ground source of drinking water for Quyon have failed. The Community Centre in Luskville should have signs indicating that the tap water is not drinkable.
Requests to the CPTAQ
Council supported Jean-Léon Marcoux’s request to the CPTAQ to build a house on 4.25 acres of farmland on Kerr, off Crégheur road. They also supported Keith Fraser’s request to build a house on one acre of 106 acres of farmland, part of lot 22B, range 5 in Onslow (Beechgrove area).
Public security
The director general will be asked to advertise for tenders on SEAO (internet) to buy two new fire trucks. There were four calls to the fire department in September, and 9 calls to animal control.
The bylaw on alarms will be modified so that if there are more than two false alarms in a calendar year because of a defect in the system, this is an infraction of the bylaw.
Other business
The Québec Regie de l’Energie has ruled that Hydro-Québec can charge for extending its electrical network into areas without municipal water or sewer networks. This is seen as unfair to rural areas. A motion was passed to ask Québec to force Hydro-Québec to modify its rules, to make them equitable for citizens and regions.
Bills for $96,410 and fixed expenses of $147,514 for September were approved.