Pontiac Council April meeting report - assisting private roads is illegal

Mo Laidlaw

The monthly meeting of Pontiac municipal council was held April 12 at 7:30 pm in the Luskville community centre. Councillor Amyotte was absent. At least 20 members of the public attended, but there were no questions until the end of the meeting.

After more than two years the Municipal integrity and investigations Commissioner of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MAMH) has replied to the municipality’s request about the legality of giving annual grants to non-municipal road associations for maintenance of their roads.

Trying to come up with a policy that is fair to all residents has been ongoing since before 2010. The result of the investigation is that this is illegal and a “reprehensible act” or wrongdoing. This is a major headache for both the municipality and residents who live on non-municipal roads (private or tolerance roads).

The Director general tabled the 2.5 page letter and read it at the meeting, as required, and it will be on the municipal web page soon, with a translation into English to follow. The municipality has to inform the Litigation department of MAMH of the measures taken to follow the recommendations, within four months. It must start thinking about financing maintenance of private roads by owners or occupiers on the user-pay principle and repeal bylaw 03-10.

There was a lot of discussion on this at the end of the meeting, with Mayor Roger Larose saying that he will be meeting with FRAPP (Fédération Représentant les Associations des Propriétaires de Pontiac), the umbrella organization of road associations. Meanwhile, the municipal grader cannot be used on these roads, which have the same status as a private driveway.

Administration

$45,473.73 expenses incurred for April were approved.

Three citizens (farmers) were appointed to an Agriculture committee: Justin Alary, Blake Draper and Andrea Goffart.

Two citizens were appointed to an Environment committee: Alain Goulet and Sheila McCrindle.

Two councillors were appointed to a committee for tolerance roads: Garry Dagenais and Serge Laforest.

Pontiac agrees to take part in a project with Chelsea, Cantley and La Pêche to form a group for collection and transport of residual materials (garbage). La Pêche has received a quote from Stratzer for a feasibility study, for $21,425 plus tax.

At the 24 March special meeting 

Mario Pilon was hired as Director of Administration.

Council supported the owner of 2412 ch du Lac des Loups in a request to the CPTAQ to authorize a 5.9 ha sandpit on farm land. 

AVL Track were given a three year contract for a GPS system for Public works vehicles, for $18,720.

Public works

Mario Allen is appointed as temporary Public works director for 4 months.

The firm Cima+ carried out preliminary studies for rehabilitating Clarendon and Murray streets, and is awarded the contract for producing final plans and specifications for $88,500.

Multi-Route Inc won the contract for supplying dust suppressant for gravel roads for $76,573.

Les Fermes Renaud won the contract for sweeping paved roads for $41,460 as well as the contract for grass cutting and clearing ditches on 354 km for $34,596.

(All of these amounts are before taxes.)

Septic systems without tile beds

Notice of a new bylaw (08-22) concerning “maintenance of tertiary treatment systems with ultra violet disinfection” for wastewater was given a second time and the draft bylaw was passed.

This is an addition to technologies previously allowed for septic systems, and is intended for lots that are too small for traditional tile beds, using UV light to sterilize the effluent, which then runs into a ditch.

The bylaw requires that the municipality is in charge of maintenance of these systems, with the owner paying the cost of maintenance plus 10% for administration.

Recreation and culture

The municipality is contributing:

$11,242 to TransCollines as its share (7.8%) for the nine months of 2021 not covered entirely by the Ministry of Transport, for bus service on route 148.

$500 to the Pontiac High School scholarship program for a student of the municipality..

$125 as a sponsor of the Pontiac Artists’ Association’s brochure.

Mo’s reports are archived at: www.heritagepontiac.ca/Municipality

The municipal website is www.municipalitepontiac.com