Mo Laidlaw
Mo Laidlaw
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – Over 60 people packed the Breckenridge Fire Station’s community room for the municipality’s council meeting, May 13, where issues such as the Group Action Jeunesse’s summer day camp, a delay in playground equipment installation, and the implementation of security cameras in municipal buildings were discussed.
Many people attended the meeting to support GAJ’s summer day camp, which is in jeopardy because of a lack of space, no municipal support, or poor communication. Several parents will meet Mayor Roger Larose to attempt to sort out the issue.
Karine Lacroix spoke on behalf of five day care operators, upset with the delay in installing playground equipment in Davis park. $38,438 is being returned to those who paid into the parks and playgrounds fund from 2011 to 2013 because they were billed incorrectly. Three parks in Wards 5 and 6 must wait until the fund is replenished to have play structures installed: Parc des Hirondelles, $5,000; Parc Davis, $19,000; and Parc Bellevue, $21,000 (equipment will be installed in each park in this order as funds become available).
Councillors Pontiroli and Amyotte attempted to add several items to the agenda, dealing with access to legal counsel, ending the suspension of the Director General, cameras in the municipal offices, and Groupe Action Jeunesse. Mayor Larose refused to allow additions to the agenda, which was passed by a majority.
Marie-Claude Pineau questioned the surveillance cameras, saying it’s not a common practice for accounting firms. Mayor Larose stated he couldn’t answer while the audit is in progress, but said, “the cops installed the cameras,” which contradicts his earlier statement that it was the accounting firm. Councillor Dubé suggested the mayor not talk about this “police investigation.”
Legal advice will be sought about the process and legality of the municipality taking over maintenance of non-conforming roads. An engineer will be asked to prepare plans and call for offers to bring Wilmer Road up to standard for takeover by the municipality, and to repair Maple Road at the corner of Dubois Road.
The MRC Pontiac will be asked to support the request to the Ministry of Transport to build a new entrance from Highway 148 to the new development in Quyon (Boulet project).
Pierre Gervais’s request for a minor exemption to the rules for setbacks at 87 Chemin de la Rivière, and Gérard Trudeau’s request to join three lots into one at 5121, 5201 and 5267 Highway 148 were passed by a majority. Charles Young’s request to the CPTAQ to build a house on a 0.4 hectare lot in the farm zone at 1869 Chemin de la Montagne was supported.
The following were approved: $24,823 in invoices for April and $335,521 in fixed expenses; $55,466 in incurred expenses for May; a borrowing bylaw for a maximum of $249,000 to buy a grader; $17,822 to Association des Propriétaires de la Côte McKay and $8,795 to Association du Domaine des Oies for special projects; $725.50 per month for three years to ORCA CTM to rent GPS systems for 15 municipal vehicles; $3,000 towards the Mise en valeur du patrimoine communautaire de la municipalité de Pontiac project; $2,302 to increase the municipality’s civil liability insurance to $5 million; $1,680 to Pioneer Wireless for internet service in 2010; $1,500 to GRH Solutions for human resources support in 2012-2013 and ongoing; and $840 to Pioneer Wireless for internet service from January to April 2014.
