Pontiac council report - composters to reduce garbage
Mo Laidlaw
About 10 members of the public attended the council meeting on February 12, 2008. In answer to two of Jean-Claude Carisse’s questions we learned that: 1. Mayor Eddie McCann and others will be meeting Ms Green, the president of Canada Post, in March about correcting address problems in the municipality. 2. Following the input of the Nature Conservancy, owners of the Breckenridge Creek Preserve, the bicycle trail route in Breckenridge (from the boundary with Gatineau) will be on the former rail-line near Cedarvale as far as Domaine Bellevue, through the new subdivision, across highway 148 at Dépanneur Eardley, then along Dubois and Maple to Terry-Fox, north along the planned municipal road (Terry-Fox to Townline) as far as Smith-Léonard. The trail will proceed west on Smith-Leonard and de la Rivière. Sylvain Bertrand, the director-general, commented that although this route is 2 km longer than going along the highway, the cost is less.
Green space or cash?
William Spekkens is one of the inheritors of about 4 ha of waterfront property at 69 Cedarvale which council agreed last September could be subdivided into 5 building lots. A bylaw requires 4% of a subdivision to be given to the municipality for parks and green space, or cash in lieu. Mr Spekkens is asking council to accept a wooded triangular lot of 1824 m2 between the former rail-line and Cedarvale at Terry-Fox, as well another 42.5 m2 (road and ditch) at the junction of Adrien-Renaud, as the contribution to the municipality, 4.5% of the total. It appears that some councillors would prefer cash. Mr Spekkens has travelled to council meetings from beyond Hawkesbury for several months and would like to resolve this issue. In 1957 the original owner, Dr J Spekkens, and neighbouring cottage owner Dr A Nuyens, gave 0.25 ha to Eardley township for construction of Cedarvale road, for access to the cottages beyond their properties.
More bylaws, more employees
A bylaw was passed requiring businesses to have a municipal permit, renewable each year at a cost of $50. Fines start at $250 per day for businesses without permits.
A draft bylaw on swimming pool safety was passed, setting out requirements for fences, access and distance from lot lines etc.
An amendment to the planning bylaws was passed, requiring a septic system compliance certificate whenever additions are made to an existing house.
A bylaw setting the price of various municipal permits and certificates was also passed (www.heritagepontiac.ca/fees.htm).
An extension to the Town Hall of at least 100 m2 is needed to house new staff to check septic systems, issue business permits, building permits and so on. Notice of a borrowing bylaw was given, and architects will be asked for offers to draw plans for the extension.
Composting, garbage collection
Council agreed to buy 20 “composter balls” at $140 each, 10 for the use of councillors and municipal employees and 10 for residents’ use, for a 4-6 month trial. They will remain the property of the municipality. If the trial is a success these composters may be recommended to all residents who are not already composting, to reduce garbage. Information about the Plastique Rotek composter, made in Valleyfield, is at www.blueplanetsmart.net.
Councillor Amyotte gave notice of a bylaw to introduce green wheelie bins for garbage collection, similar to the blue bins used for recycling.
Town planning and zoning
Council approved a request by Roy Nugent to divide a 0.5 ha lot at 3281 route 148 into two lots.
Two requests to the CPTAQ to build a house on farmland to ensure that farming can continue were supported by council: André Richard’s for 0.5 ha at 121 Elm, Bill Hamilton’s for a lot at 4790 5th Concession.
Names for new roads have been submitted to the Toponymy commission for approval: chemin du Val de Loire, off de la Rivière, and chemin Mélémi off River.
Councillor Amyotte gave notice of a bylaw to increase the minimum size of new lots in ward 7.
Travel expenses, salaries
Municipal employees and councillors will be able to claim 43¢ per kilometre for use of their own car outside the municipality (on municipal business) as well as $50/day for meals and cost of hotel if over 100 km from Pontiac limits.
Mayor McCann gave notice of a bylaw to allow councillors to be paid extra for their work on committees. There is $10,000 in the budget for this.
Council approved $1000 to advertise an open day for Pontiac businesses to be held at the Luskville community centre on 31 May.
The ministry of Transport will be asked to put up signs warning drivers about deer on highway 148 between Lebrun and Eardley-Masham road.
Recreation and culture
Amounts recommended by the committee were approved: Quyon Legion, 50% of the cost to manage the area around the cenotaph, maximum of $10,000; $1500 to the Quyon Canada Day committee; $750 to the Blés d’Or de Luskville; and $3000 to Quyon Ensemble to buy a 60” wide, rear-discharge mower attachment for their tractor.
Council passed a resolution asking Québec to allow snowmobile clubs to continue to use trails in provincial parks, since no alternative trails have been proposed.
Other matters
Bills for $55,101 and fixed expenses of $351,315 for January were approved.