Pontiac council report - illegal welding shop must close
Mo Laidlaw
Fewer than 20 residents attended the November 14, 2006 council meeting.
Bill Twolan referred to the agenda item: “Twolan - Illegal business.” Councillor Jean Amyotte confirmed that he had received at least 10 complaints about Twolan’s welding shop, located opposite 1659 hwy 148. Councillor Brian Middlemiss who represents ward 6, where the business is located, said he had received no complaints.
Council voted to ask Twolan to cease business activities at 1655 hwy 148, and to send Christian L’Heureux at the CPTAQ any information that may resolve the file. The resolution stated that although Twolan claims a verbal agreement with the CPTAQ, L’Heureux denies this. Twolan has no business permit from the municipality and commercial welding is forbidden in the farm zone by municipal bylaws. The municipality cannot encourage disrespect of its own bylaws, nor of provincial laws protecting farmland.
Many residents, including owners of legal businesses, will be pleased to hear that the resolution was adopted, although councillors Coyle and McKenny voted against.
Drainage, roads
Culverts near 1892 de la Montagne are deteriorating, and the cost of replacing them is estimated at $500,000. The municipality will ask MNA Charlotte L’Écuyer for special financial assistance for this.
Fondex Shermont have been asked to look at the drainage of de la Rivière, specifically, Paul Plouffe’s report, Raymond Bélisle’s work, farm drainage plans, and the surrounding area. Unauthorized ditching work has adversely affected a private lot.
Guylaine LaSalle said that the ditches on Marquis near Maple are like swimming pools.
Fire Department
To satisfy the Office de la langue française, the municipality, while confirming Tom Howard as fire chief, appoints Serge Laforest to be spokesperson in French.
Gino Chamberland, William Legare, Michelle Chartrand, Kyle Fraser, Eric Vincente, Francis Madore and Stephen Oudhuis are officially hired as firefighters.
There were four calls to the fire department in October.
Jean-Claude Carisse asked about “No parking: access for fire trucks” signs for the one-way system in the Tourterelle and Colombes area. Councillor Gougeon said 10 signs have been ordered but not yet installed.
Mail delivery
Canada Post will stop delivering mail house-to-house in places where it is considered dangerous because of lack of space to stop safely. Where new boxes have to be installed, or old ones moved, the road inspector will authorize Canada Post in consultation with the local councillor.
Housing developments
Council will support Mike Clemann’s request to divide part of the old Kerr farm at 1521 route 148 into lots for the “Bellevue project,” when the request is complete and conforms to municipal and provincial regulations. The area is zoned residential. Fondex Shermont were asked to study the plans and has made recommendations to Mr Clemann.
Marc De la Midière’s request to subdivide 65 de la Rivière into four lots was approved.
Laurie MacKechnie’s request to create four lots on Young Crescent in Quyon was approved.
Requests to the CPTAQ
Several requests to the CPTAQ were supported by council:
R.H. Nugent, Equipment Rentals Ltd to build a single family home on Westbrook. Pierre Chartrand to legalize a right of way. Marc Guèvremont to build a single family home near Cochrane. Douglas and Isabel Schwartz to build a single family home on 6th concession near Wiggins. Jack Asselin, 244 Crégheur, to join two lots together in order to build a single family home.
CPTAQ decisions
The municipality's request to the CPTAQ to extend Terry-Fox road to Townline road, has been approved by the CPTAQ after an initial refusal. Completing this road would reduce access time for emergency vehicles as required by new regulations. A strip 30 m by 2.7 km along the eastern boundary of Pontiac with Gatineau and Chelsea may be bought or expropriated for the road. The road allowance is wider than the usual 20 m because of the difficult terrain, crossing tributaries of Breckenridge Creek which have formed ravines.
R.H Nugent’s request to the CPTAQ to continue operating a sand and gravel pit in the Wolf Lake road and Alexander area was approved for 8 years, providing that top soil is stored, a maximum of 3 ha is open at any one time, and a $10,000 guarantee is posted.
A request to build a single family home on the Varney farm on Elm road, for their son, was refused by the CPTAQ.
Cleaning up lots
Mario Allen’s offer was accepted to demolish the building at 47 de la Rivière for $1,994. This amount will be added to the owner’s tax bill.
Money matters
Bills for $167,363 and fixed expenses of $192,901 for October were approved.
The service agreement with the SPCA for animal control is renewed for a year, at a cost of $11,513. The municipality will receive 40% of dog licence fees.
The plaques recording previous councils will be brought up to date, and an inscription will be put on the veterans’ plaque for not more than $500.
The municipality will put an information ad in the 2006 Pontiac Travel Guide, for $199.
Municipal employees will be able to choose between a Christmas present or a contribution to the employees supper, at a cost of $20 per employee to the municipality.
Groupe Action Jeunesse will be paid $75 a week to control access to the Luskville gym.
The municipality will grant the Pontiac artists’ studio tour $250, for a mention in the promotional brochure.
Young’s Appliance Service is awarded the contract to remove freon from appliances at the dump for $12 per appliance.
Councillor Amyotte and the director-general will talk to the Archdiocese and the St-Dominique church committee about converting the presbytery on du Village in Luskville into a municipal office.