The meeting began with Mayor Joanne Labadie taking questions from the public. Those residents who had submitted questions via email were given access to the meeting so that they could listen to the mayor’s answers live.

There were a total of 17 different questions from six residents.

One question was about the status of . . .

the chemin Tremblay boat launch. Labadie said that they had done an engineering study in 2018, and the cost was then projected to be $300,000. However, council is currently prioritizing road infrastructure, and the launch repairs will be discussed during the fall budget session.

There was a resident who asked whether chemin Bronson Bryant would be repaired soon, and Labadie said that it’s been an ongoing discussion between the municipality and the Ministry of Public Security regarding who will pay and how much for the culvert replacement required.

One of the residents had several questions for Labadie, beginning with one regarding the ongoing issue of the section on chemin Steele that needs repairs. A resolution was passed later in the meeting approving repairs on 200 metres of the road. The resident also asked about weight restrictions for the road, and Labadie said that no heavy trucks are allowed, except for local traffic. On July 10, the municipality released a notice of a partial closure on that 200 metre stretch, between chemin Lac-Les-Loups and chemin Murray. The section repairs began on July 13 at 8 a.m. and will take roughly two weeks. Local traffic will be able to access a detour through 6th Concession and chemin Murray.

That same resident also asked about the major project of repairing chemin de la Montagne and the timeline on its completion. Labadie explained that the engineering firm that was hired, CIMA+, evaluated the project at $3.4 million, far exceeding the amount that the municipality can afford.

“We were already approved for a $2 million borrowing bylaw for those repairs,” Labadie explained. “So we’ve asked our engineering firm to come up with a new plan that will fit in the budget and we’re expecting to have that by the end of July.”

The resident’s last question was whether the municipality would direct its focus on properties that have burnt-out or derelict buildings and potentially enforcing that owners demolish them. Labadie said that inspections were halted because of COVID, but that it will be a priority soon.

Another resident asked about the old M&R feed mill in Quyon and Labadie said that the issue would be addressed later in the meeting. Another was regarding whether lots behind Luskville Town Hall would be connected to the main water and sewer system, to which Labadie said they would not be. There was also a question on the status of the remuneration policy bylaw that was scheduled to be tabled but was not.

M&R Quyon mill

This topic was brought up during the question session, and Labadie said that the council would determine the fate of the mill by voting on a resolution to sell the lot.

Councillor Scott McDonald asked Labadie how they would be able to ensure that they’re getting the best price possible if only herself and the director general will be the ones signing off, but she ensured to him that the bidding will start off at a base price of $80,000.

The council voted to pass the resolution, allowing for the mayor or the director general to sign off on its sale to the highest bidder.

Fire department

During the meeting, the council also approved the dismissal of the previous fire captain. The captain, named as employee 10-0010, had served in that role since 2005.

The reason for dismissal was that he had been told to obtain his officer 1 certificate, mandatory for full-time firefighters, within 48 months of his hiring as captain. According to Labadie, he failed to do so and the council had been under the impression that he had.

“This dismissal does not result in the termination of employee 10-0010, so therefore the employee is encouraged to continue as a volunteer firefighter going forward,” Labadie said.

McDonald asked Labadie if the officer could complete the certification and then be reinstated, but Labadie said that he would have to reapply. Labadie said during the meeting that the council encouraged him to stay on as a volunteer. After the meeting, Labadie told The Equity that she is unsure of whether the former captain will stay on or not.

McDonald also asked Labadie if the department has a captain, and she said no. Speaking after the meeting, she said that she is confident with the last four lieutenants that they have recently hired for the department.

The meeting also featured the announcement of the hiring of a familiar face to the fire department.

The candidate served as a firefighter for the municipality for 14 years, and Councillor Thomas Howard spoke out about his skills as an officer after McDonald asked why he left the department.

“He’s a very good firefighter, very level-headed, very smart, knows his job. The only reason he left the Municipality of Pontiac fire department was to continue his employment out of Calgary, and I highly recommend that we hire him.”

Howard said that the candidate served under him when he was fire chief.

Chemin de la Montagne

Speaking after the meeting, Labadie acknowledged the need to go forward with repairs on the major route.

She referred to the road as the most important inter-municipal road in the municipality and said that she hopes to get a contractor on it by fall.

The repair work, of course, is dependent on the outcome of CIMA+’s revaluation of the previously $3.4 million price tag projection.

Domaine des Chutes

During the meeting, the council passed the final acceptance stage for the Domaine des Chutes housing development project.

The project had been in the works for years, and several of the 39 lots available have already been sold.

Council approval was required to solidify the transfer of chemin de l’Aventure and the surrounding infrastructure, as well as to give the mayor and director general permission to sign off on all documents relating to the project.

After the meeting, Labadie said that the project is a positive development for the area, noting that she had only heard complaints from ‘city folk’ who enjoy using the Luskville Falls trail that sits on the edge of Gatineau Park. She feels that there should be no reason for concern, as people building homes on the surrounding lots are required to maintain natural colours so that they blend in with the surrounding natural landscape.

Public transportation

The meeting also had Labadie announce the introduction of a new and improved public transportation plan for the region, set to kick into gear in June 2021.

In partnership with the MRC Pontiac and Transcollines, the plan will bring enhanced levels of service throughout the municipality.

Key components of the project are ensuring transportation throughout the Pontiac and providing more comprehensive interconnectivity with the transit services existing in the nearest urban centres.

“This will be good for the region,” Labadie said after the council approved the plan.

The meeting kicked off at 7 p.m. and it lasted roughly an hour and a half. The municipality’s next council meeting will be on August 25.

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