Pontiac municipal council: Fall election already on the agenda
Nathan Quesnel-Girard
LUSKVILLE – The Pontiac municipal council held its regular meeting on April 8 at the Luskville Community Centre.
Upcoming municipal elections
With Quebec’s municipal elections scheduled for November 2 and several recent announcements of politicians stepping down—the latest being Aylmer district councillor Steven Boivin—council members were asked about their own political future.
While they did not confirm their candidacy, Councillors Gary Dagenais (District 3) and Dr. Jean Amyotte (District 6), said they will “probably” run again in November. Councillors Caryl McCann (District 2), Serge Laforest (District 4), and Chantal Allen (District 5) remain undecided.
As for Mayor Roger Larose, he expressed his intention to seek another term and encouraged fellow council members to do the same. “Personally, I want to serve another term, and I would like to see the council stay the same—or at least similar. We have
a really good team, and it shows when we vote in unison,” he said.
District 1 Councillor Diane Lacasse was absent from the meeting.
Changes coming to Braun Road
Council unanimously adopted a borrowing bylaw authorizing a loan and expenditure
of $505,000 for paving Braun Road. This amount includes road paving, net taxes, and contingencies.
To cover half the costs, a special tax will be levied annually for 20 years on taxable properties within the Braun Road tax basin. The remaining 50% will be collected the
same way, but from all taxable properties across the municipality.
A survey of Braun Road residents found that a majority support the project.
Council also plans to request that Quebec’s Ministry of Transport (MTQ) reduce the speed limit on Hwy 148 between Elm and Braun Roads from 90 km/h to 80 km/h. Members want signage added to warn in advance of the school bus stop and also to advise drivers to watch for children. Finally, the municipality is asking the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais public security department to increase police presence in the area during peak hours.
New projects underway
The municipality will borrow and spend $750,000 to purchase vehicles and equipment for the public works department. Council described the acquisition as necessary to reduce reliance on increasingly expensive contractor services. New equipment will include a tractor-trailer truck, a used garbage truck, snowplows, and more.
The Luskville Community Centre will soon have new washrooms, a project that was well received by the few residents in attendance. Renovations are valued at $40,000 and are expected to last about a month. However, the mayor confirmed the water will remain
non-potable.
The next regular meeting of the Pontiac municipal council will take place on May 13
at the Breckenridge Community Centre, located at 1491 Hwy 148.
