Pontiac council report - firefighter training important
Mo Laidlaw
Nearly 30 residents attended the council meeting on February 13, 2007. Councillor Coyle was absent.
Fire department
Mario Allen had several questions about whether the fire department will be able to conform to the fire risk coverage schéma laid out by the provincial government, and whether the 2007 budget allows enough for the fire department. Allen is worried that by 2011 a 10% increase will be needed to catch up if the investment is not made now. Mayor McCann explained that the Public safety committee, (Fire chief Tom Howard, McCann, and councillors Amyotte and Coyle) makes recommendations but the full council has to pass resolutions for spending money. The fire department budget is $50,000 more for 2007.
McCann said that many rural municipalities have problems with the schéma’s requirement for 5 firefighters to be at a fire within 5 minutes, and 10 firefighters within 10 minutes, and his priorities are what is best for the firefighters, including purchasing two trucks. Amyotte said that it is important to get value for money and keep costs down, however residents will be affected if insurance costs go up.
Firefighters Madore and Tremblay spoke of their concerns at the end of the meeting. McCann emphasized that all who need training will get it by the deadline of December 2008. He explained that the committee membership changed to give more councillors experience of the public safety department.
Council approved payments for the first group of 12 firefighters to take the course starting this month, ($6,500) and for buying protective clothing and boots from Ackland Grainger ($9,300).
Bridge to Ontario
Bob Dawson, the chair of the Pontiac bridge committee, working towards construction of a bridge near Quyon, asked for funding of $3,000 to help pay for administration costs. A bridge would stimulate economic growth near Quyon and in Pontiac, he said. Mayor McCann replied that he would make sure this is on the agenda for the next caucus meeting on March 7.
Vandalism at ballpark
Doreen Sigouin listed the vandalism occurring at the Luskville ballpark, including overturned bleachers, axed tables, and holes made in the siding of the shack, only 6 months after it had been put up. She said that a system of four security cameras would cost $4,500. “If this is too much, can we get lights for the existing poles, and put the wires underground?” Mayor McCann said that cameras “won’t happen, as they’re not in the 2007 budget.” Councillor Dagenais said that police have been doing regular checks.
Another problem is getting budgeted expenses refunded. McCann explained that proper receipts including sales taxes are required by the municipality. Ms Sigouin went on to say that the park is well used, with over 100 people taking part in baseball and soccer last year.
Recreation committee recommendations were approved: $21,200 for Eardley RA, $11,900 for Quyon RA, $500 for Beechgrove RA, $1,000 for Quyon Ensemble, $4,000 for the Royal Canadian Legion for repairs to the war memorial park, $5,000 for Groupe Action Jeunesse for the day camp in 2007, $3,000 for Shawville arena (determined by the number of Pontiac youth using it), $500 for Les Blés d’Or de Luskville, $250 for Paroisse St-Dominique, and $250 for the Pontiac Artists Association.
Recycling
Jean-Claude Carisse asked how the first recycling pickup had gone. Mayor McCann replied that 20 tons of recyclables had been picked up. Starting in March, recycling and garbage pickup will be every two weeks, alternately. $3550 is budgeted for calendars and stickers to promote recycling.
Mr Carisse also said that Canada Post’s delay in sorting out postcodes for rural areas is extending to other areas. Canada411.com (Yellow pages online), is so confused that it gives Shawville as the postal address for both Mayor McCann and Councillor Gougeon, although one lives in Quyon and the other in Luskville. (The postcodes are correct, but not that of Shawville).
Eardley township bylaw 130
Madeleine Carpentier tried again to get council to take notice of a bylaw on the Bélisle and Ferris streams, which was passed in 1973 in order to get help from the ministry of agriculture for drainage work. She gave council copies of the bylaw and 12 motions made between 1971 and 1974 referring to watercourses in this area. Mayor McCann said “I can’t deal with things done in 1973.” Ms Carpentier is complaining about work recommended by the municipal inspector in 1995 to correct a drainage problem, that appears not to conform to bylaw 130. Construction of the four-lane in Luskville also modified the drainage. Recent engineering reports also take no account of bylaw 130. Is it still in force?
Roadwork on highway 366
Marcel Vaive, the chair of the Lac des Loups citizens committee, thanked council for their support in obtaining ministry of Transport funding of $805,000 to repair or rebuild 3.8 km of highway 366 between ch Saint-Louis and montée Drouin in Pontiac. Funding for 2.1 km in La Pêche is expected soon. Work starts this summer.
A bylaw about requirements (including width, slope, construction, and drainage) before a road can become a municipal road was given its first reading.
Other matters
Bills for $353,754 and fixed expenses of $558,241 up to February 1, were approved. Bills included the final payment for the gym in Luskville, hence the large amount.
New fees for the municipal dump start on April 1, varying from $10 for appliances, to $250 for a tandem truck load of construction material.