Mo Laidlaw
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – The first monthly meeting of the municipal council in 2023 was held on January17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Luskville community centre.
Martial Mallet, the director of the MRC des Collines police (Sécurité publique) gave a short presentation. MRC warden Marc Carrière and Benoît Gauthier, MRC director general were also present and available to answer questions.
Bylaw 01–23 setting the tax rate and fees for services in 2023 was adopted. The rate has dropped 17% to partially offset increases in evaluation. The total budget is $10,878,590. Road work costs are up 13% ($335,955) and the share of MRC costs is up 3.3% ($78,189). Residents will receive full details later.
Council renewed the request to the Québec government to maintain bilingual status in order to allow services to continue to be offered in English as well as French, as only 42% of residents stated English was their mother tongue.
Council mandated Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités (FQM) to provide legal services as required in 2023, as the FQM offers these services and advice on human resources and labour relations for $135 to $215/hour. In 2022, lawyers RPGL charged $150/hour.
Lucie St-Aubin has retired after more than 24 years working for the municipality, most recently as communications officer.
The acting director general and the director of finances were awarded pay for unused vacation in 2022.
Jean-François Duchaine was rehired as a volunteer firefighter and an application for a grant for firefighter training was made to the Ministry of Public Security and the MRC des Collines.
Public works will do summer and winter maintenance on private road chemin Royal, as the municipality is reducing outside contracts where possible to reduce costs.
Council asks the Commission de Protection du Territoire Agricole (CPTAQ) to exclude 200 chemin Crégheur from the farm zone in order to allow for a daycare.
Council authorizes combining lots at 156 and 158 chemin Lilas and 11 chemin Quero into two lots.
