Pontiac council report - Paving has started
Mo Laidlaw
Over 20 residents were at the August 14, 2007 council meeting. Councillor Lawrence Tracey was absent. Ten people had questions for council including Milton Maxsom with a question on paving. Mayor Eddie McCann announced that paving started on 12 August and will finish about the end of September. A project manager was hired from Fondex. To allow all the roads on the list to be paved within the budget, the paving will be one metre narrower than originally planned.
Roads that require little preparation work will be paved first, starting with two areas in the west of the municipality: Cochrane/River and Canal/2nd Concession. Preparation work on Alary will start about 24 August, and on Maple about 5 September.
Jim Nugent asked how truckers and suppliers are being selected. Mr McCann replied that Fondex had asked for tenders for material to be delivered to specific roads. Preference will be given to suppliers and truckers in the municipality. The work will be spread around and the lowest bid will not necessarily win if the difference is small. The project manager will decide.
Bruno Alary asked for enforcement of the “no trucks” rule on some roads. A motion was passed asking the MRC Police to enforce this bylaw to prevent heavy trucks from damaging roads.
Jean-Claude Carisse asked for a sign on hwy 148 west indicating the left turn for chemin Tremblay. Visitors are confused because Crégheur is the road on the right, and the most visible sign.
No ambulance or police on Sunday evening
Mr Maxsom complained about lack of emergency services on August 12. His wife, walking the dogs, was hit by a car driven by a drunk driver, on Dubois at about 8:45 pm. She had a cut on the back of her head and a broken thumb among other injuries. Mr Maxsom was told that the ambulance was at Masham and not available. The police were called at 9:07 and did not arrive until 10:10. The driver, who was “too drunk to walk”, was taken away in the police car after being breathalyzed. Meanwhile Mr Maxsom had to prevent the driver from leaving the scene, and would have appreciated help from someone in authority. Mrs Maxsom was taken to Shawville hospital by family members.
Nuisance properties
David Birt asked if nuisance properties are being monitored after notice to clean up has been sent. Councillor Jim Coyle explained that usually 14 days notice is given, following which there is a fine. If the owner still doesn’t act, court proceedings are started which takes time but is required to give the municipality authority to arrange cleanup with the costs added to the owner’s tax bill.
Director-general Sylvain Bertrand said it is necessary to keep up the pressure. Mr McCann said that 31 tandem truckloads of material were removed from one property on Dollard, at the owner’s expense. As the worst offenders are dealt with, others are deciding to do their own cleanup. Currently candidates are being interviewed for an inspector to improve enforcement of the bylaw.
Cedarvale subdivision
William Spekkens and partners have filed plans to subdivide their former family-cottage property into four 0.8 hectare (2 acre) waterfront lots and one 3700 m2 lot across Cedarvale road, satisfying the current zoning. Notice of motion to increase the minimum lot size on subdivision in ward 7 was passed, to protect water supplies and prevent drainage problems caused by higher density development. It will be about 6 months before the new zoning bylaw becomes law.
Mary Theresa Murdock asked why charitable foundations do not pay municipal taxes. Mr McCann replied that the decision is made by the province, and the municipality has to refund taxes paid for the previous three years. In the case of Tim Horton’s camp, this amounted to $150,000 that had to be paid back. The rest of the municipality has to make up the shortfall. The tax-exempt foundations are liable for service charges such as for garbage collection.
Reports
The fire department responded to 5 calls in July: three road accidents, one major fire caused by fireworks and one false alarm.
Thirty building permits were issued in July at a cost of $5,900 for a total value of $1.25 million. This includes permits for 3 new houses worth a total of $795,000.
Other matters
Council passed a resolution to allow the mayor to sign a letter of interest with Plasco, for treatment of municipal garbage by high temperature gasification.
The owner of 191 Pilon must remove the fence that prevents public access to ch Pilon, a municipal road.
A list of committees and the councillors that sit on them will be sent to all taxpayers, as there are changes, passed by a 4:3 majority.
Council agreed to negotiate a 6 month option to buy the lot at 34 ch du Village, with Daniel Desjardins, for a maximum of $25,000, for future municipal library and offices.
It was decided by a vote of 4:2 that in future Fondex should not be used for engineering work, as Councillor Middlemiss now works for Fondex.
Bills for $44,047 and fixed expenses of $460,693 for July were approved.