Jorge Maria
Pontiac Sept. 22, 2021
The Municipality of Pontiac held its monthly council meeting on Sept. 14.
New projects include long needed repairs to Carlendon and Murray roads. Major repairs are needed for sections and the two roads are part of the municipality’s 3 year mobilization program. The projects are in the early stages and the council passed a mandate to have contractor Sema present preliminary plans and specifications for the project. This stage of the project will be funded under the umbrella borrowing bylaw. It was passed unanimously.
The council finalized and approved the purchase of a new phone system, which will prevent the need for continues upgrades and maintenance of the existing obsolete system. The new system also offers a greater range of services. The council awarded the contract to MDL Telecom and will cost $5,458 plus taxes and is funded through the non-allocated surplus.
The council also approved the purchase a compressor to fill air bottles, a critical tool for firefighters. Up until now the the Pontiac fire department has used a third party to fill their air bottles. Given that bottles are refilled three to four times a month, the Director of the Fire department recommended and approved the purchase of a used system which will cost the municipality $16,695 plus taxes to be paid to Ottawa Compressor Services.
The largest approved purchase of the evening was for a pumper truck which will cost $480,020.63, taxes included, from Battle Shield. The purchase is financed by the borrowing bylaw and will be repayable over a 10 year period.
Several new staff members were announced for the bylaw enforcement office and Urban Planning Department.
The new hires came up during the second period, when citizen Shiela Lacasse questioned the municipalities recent hiring binge. Given the municipality’s size she questioned the need for so many people on the municipal payroll. “What are we, Gatineau?” She asked rhetorically.
