Bonnie Portelance
Local Journalism Initiative
Published in the Pontiac Journal on December 3, 2025.
MRC PONTIAC – The Council of Mayors (CoM) met November 26 at MRC headquarters in Litchfield for the first time since the municipal election. The new council includes eight newly elected mayors and ten returning members. Warden Jane Toller, renewed for another term, announced that Raymond Pilon, mayor of Campbell’s Bay, will serve as pro-warden, appointed by the warden.
New mayor challenges information gaps
New Waltham mayor Jordan Evans shook things up from the start by requesting two additions to the agenda. Her first motion called for equal access to institutional information, noting that newly elected mayors lack access to documents and analyses that shaped previous decisions. “I requested that all mayors have access to the same institutional information so decisions can be made on a fair and informed basis,” Evans wrote in an email statement. The council declined to add the item by majority vote.
Evans’ second motion sought a special meeting to brief new mayors on the legal
dispute between the MRC and Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) regarding unpaid municipal shares. This item was accepted for discussion; however, debate quickly escalated once introduced. Mayor Donald Gagnon suggested adding the matter to the December plenary session instead of calling a separate meeting. Mayor Corey Spence objected, saying plenary time was already overburdened and suggesting new mayors research background independently. He suggested AC Mayor Sidney Squitti send new members information.
Mayor Pierre Cyr of Fort-Coulonge proposed a compromise: a Microsoft Teams information session open to any mayor who wished to attend. Mayor Roger Peter Lafond of Rapides-des-Joachims argued information should simply be compiled and emailed to new mayors to avoid further conflict at the table. Toller agreed to prepare an information package for all council members, and Mayor Jennifer Quaile added that AC’s original submissions to the MRC should be included. Council ultimately rejected the special-meeting proposal by majority vote.
Blue bin rollout
Environmental Coordinator Nina Digioacchino reported that more than 6,000 blue recycling bins have now been distributed across nine participating municipalities. Residents in Mansfield and Shawville may begin using their bins immediately, while those in the remaining seven municipalities with household pickup will be able to begin January 1. Seven municipalities continue to rely on voluntary drop-off at transfer sites.
Public question period
AC Councillor Angela Giroux updated council on the effects of increased property evaluations. She said seniors seeking renovation grants are being disqualified due to the inflated comparative-factor value placing homes above eligibility thresholds. More than 100 residents have requested reassessment. Some outcomes show building values reduced, but land values remain inflated — in some cases 300 to 400% above previous assessments.
Committees
Committee appointments for the new term were confirmed. The budget committee includes Corey Spence, Donald Gagnon, Doris Ranger, Edward Walsh, Jordan Evans, Pierre Cyr, Sidney Squitti and Sandra Armstrong. The environment committee includes Spence, Cyr, Evans, Armstrong, Kevin Murphy, Valerie Twolan-Graham, Squitti and Quaile.
Quaile raised concerns about regional balance in committee composition, noting Pontiac North lacks representation on the Public Safety Committee. The issue will return for discussion at the January plenary session.
The next Council of Mayors meeting is scheduled for December 17. Beginning in the new year, MRC meetings will shift from the third Wednesday to the third Thursday of each month.
