Pontiac council report - nuisances, drainage, loose horse
Mo Laidlaw
The council meeting of 19 January 2010 was attended by over 30 residents.
Public input - nuisance bylaw
William Kovacs claimed that there are many worse properties than his in Quyon (he has driven around), and wants to know the names of others who have infringed the nuisance bylaw. “My name was in the paper.” Mayor Eddie McCann told him that council does not release names - his name was in the paper because he spoke at a public meeting; municipal staff administer the bylaws and that it applies to all zones.
Jean-Claude Carisse congratulated council on the new municipal signs. He was concerned about the editorial that called the Heyworth area “Dogpatch,” and wanted to know what the mayor is doing to counter this negative image. Mr McCann said he intends to talk to Fred Ryan. Mr Carisse suggested that a letter would be better so that taxpayers know what the mayor thinks. Councillor Pontiroli said, “We should tell ratepayers what we’re doing, with their money, to clean up the municipality.”
Wandering animal
Tyler Lamont wishes to retrieve his horse, which was removed from his property by a municipal contractor after complaints of it wandering. He has to pay costs of transport, feed and care before the contractor will release the horse, but he cannot afford it, and every day the bill goes up. A majority of council voted to pay the costs of about $600, and return the horse - because the horse was on Mr Lamont’s property, not wandering, when it was picked up. Mr Lamont said he had not received any complaints from neighbours or notice from the municipality before the horse was removed.
Drainage
Madeleine Carpentier is continuing to have problems with water that doesn’t drain. She lives near the Luskville community centre on the four lane highway. The problem may have been caused by the ministry of transport altering the course of a stream (years ago when the highway was widened), plus inadequate culverts under the highway, blocked culverts under neighbours’ driveways, and the inability of the municipality and MoT to agree on who should fix it, or even whether there is a problem.
Robert Lussier asked when Cedarvale road would be paved. This is one of the projects in the 2010 budget.
Céline Gougeon would like an exterior noticeboard at the Luskville community centre, with details of upcoming events, such as recreation, fishing tournaments and so on, as well as information on committees.
After the budget was passed, (detailed in an earlier report) the regular meeting took place.
Money matters
Bills for $97,635 and fixed expenses of $1,149,970 for December were approved.
A bylaw was passed setting up a reserve fund for maintenance of municipal roads. Operators of quarries and sandpits will have to pay a fee (in 2009: 50¢ per metric ton or 95¢ per cubic metre) for material moved on municipal roads, which will go into the fund to help pay for road repairs. Fees are set annually by the province.
Caretaking municipal buildings
The Pontiac firefighters association was given the contract for looking after the Breckenridge fire station for $200 per month, and Daniel Leblond for the Albert Kennedy Centre, the Luskville Community Centre, the 2 libraries and municipal offices, for $20,700 for one year.
MRC des Collines or MRC Pontiac?
A majority of council voted to ask the ministry of municipal affairs for a study to compare costs and services for the municipality within the two MRCs.
Planning, minor derogations
A minor derogation was allowed by council for the property located at 33 de la Sapinière, which is set back 1.34 metres from the side of the lot, instead of the required 2 metres.
The bylaw on set backs has changed since the house at 231 Dubois was built in 1997, conforming to the bylaw then in force, so a minor derogation was allowed here too.
Request to the CPTAQ, Vidéotron tower
A majority of council supported the request to the CPTAQ to build a communication tower on farmland at 160 ch. Braun, because it will improve cellphone service in the area and has minimal impact on farming.