Pontiac council report - business permits, building permits
Mo Laidlaw
Despite the Québec party leaders’ debate on TV, fifty residents attended the council meeting on March 13, 2007. Councillor Dagenais was absent.
Business permits
Lorne Dagenais, Normand Beaudoin, and Tom Murdock were among business owners upset by a fee of $50 to register their businesses. “We were told many years ago that this was a one-time fee,” said Mr Dagenais. Mayor Eddie McCann explained that the intent was to use this fee for publicity, to promote businesses.
“You’re charging us commercial tax every year, and we are already registered,” said Mr Beaudoin, showing a certificate, dated 1998 with no expiry date. All agreed that new businesses should pay for a permit, and illegal businesses should be dealt with. Mr Murdock complained that the new fee was announced in a small note in the corner of a public notice, “You should write to businesses individually.” He also commented that when he opened his business in 1984 there were 35 businesses in Quyon. Now there are only seven.
Two weekly garbage pickup
Jean-Louis Parizeau suggested that there will be a problem in the summer with only two-weekly pickup of garbage because of smells. As recycling costs less than garbage disposal, the municipality is following the province’s requirement to reduce the amount of garbage. Composting vegetable waste is one way of reducing the smell and the amount of garbage, for those with space for a composter.
A resident was concerned that higher charges for the dump on Wolf Lake road will lead to material being dumped on side roads. Mr McCann explained that large items like couches and construction material are “what fills the hole,” household garbage being only a small portion. There is no extra charge for household garbage. The fees reflect the “user-pay” principle. The dump has to close at the end of this year - the site will become a recycling centre. As for nonresidents using the dump, McCann explained that one third of taxpayers are cottage-owners who may well have Ontario licence plates.
Louis Garneau and Mr Parizeau asked when the paving on Pères-Dominicains and Maple will be done. Mayor McCann reports that the engineer claims the whole paving project (not only those roads) will be complete by the end of June, but he expects it may take a little longer.
Fire department
A group of firefighters voiced their concern about getting the required training before the deadline of September 2008. Eddie McCann assured them that council supports them, and that as long as firefighters are committed to taking the training, the municipality will pay for it, “Money is not a problem.” Older firefighters who have not yet taken particular courses will be targeted as well as new firefighters. The fire chief is drawing up a schedule for training for the next 18 months.
Building permits
The recent budget required increased costs for building permits. A new fee schedule was adopted. A building permit for a principal building goes up from 25¢ to 35¢/sqft. Permit renewal is up from 12¢ to 20¢/sqft. Septic system permits and well permits go up from $150 to $250, with a refund of $100 when the septic certificate or well-drilling report is submitted. Other fees are unchanged, for example a permit to work on a river bank is $100, and a mobile canteen permit is $400 per year.
Modifications were passed to the bylaw which regulates the distance at which construction can take place next to provincial roads and highways. A setback of 35 m is standard, but in certain zones the setback is 10 m. For infill, or where there are natural obstacles, a minimum setback of 20 m may be allowed.
Laurie MacKechnie was thanked for his many years of service on the town planning committee (CCU). The CCU is asking for applications for new members.
Money matters
Bills for $64,752 and fixed expenses of $365,122 up to February 28 were approved.
A majority of council approved $500 for the ward 5 association, for operating and publicity costs.
The Pontiac Bridge Committee’s request for $250 to help with administration costs was turned down, as was a request for $500 to hold a horse-pull as a fundraiser for Shawville Hospital, and $200 for the municipality to be present at the MRC des Collines job fair (Salon de l’emploi).