Pontiac Council Report; home composting will be compulsory

Mo Laidlaw

Seven residents attended the monthly council meeting on October 10 at the Luskville community centre. 

Council supports the Federation of Canadian municipalities call to add municipal building projects, flood retention structures and docks as well as fire barriers to projects eligible for funding by the gas tax program (TECQ). Additional sums are required and regular increases are necessary  to adapt to the consequences of climate change. Canada and Québec governments are negotiating an agreement for 2024-2028 which must be concluded soon to allow for budget planning.

Council supports a request to the Minister of Public safety, for fair funding of the MRC des Collines Police which is required to provide the same service as a town of 100,000 to 200,000 people. (The population is about 55,000.) It must have a crime scene department instead of calling on the SQ, adding to costs. MRC citizens fund the MRC police through municipal taxes, as well as contributing to the Police Services Fund through provincial taxes.

Other Administration 

Expenses of $96,651 for October were accepted.
Solutions Acoustiques 2012 is awarded a contract of $27,830  for acoustic panels to improve sound quality at the Quyon community Centre.

A new organizational chart (organigramme) was adopted, but is not yet on the website.

Composting

Bylaw 9-23 was adopted to replace bylaw 10-16 on collection of garbage and recycling. A major change is that composting of organic matter is compulsory. Owners or occupiers may buy a composter from the municipality that will compost kitchen waste. Materials that must be composted at home include fruit, vegetable, meat, plants, dead leaves, grass cuttings, branches, soiled paper and cardboard. As an exception, there will be special collections of leaves and garden residues in paper bags. Pet feces may be put in the garbage as long as contained in bags. The text of the bylaw will be on the municipal website in the minutes of this meeting.

Other

Mountainview Turf was the only bidder for the snow removal contract for sector C and was awarded the contract, for $247,561 for 2023-4, $253,750 for 2024-5 and $260,094 for 2025-6, taxes included.

Only one offer was received to supply a snow removal truck, from Bryan Lance for $25,904. This purchase was approved.
The Coordinator of Recreation, Community Life and Communications is authorized to start working on the Pontiac Country Music Festival (Festival country de Pontiac) 2024.