Notes on the Council Meeting held September 12th, 2023
These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
Questions from the public
- Stan Vancelli, 20657 Lakeshore – Maxi has had a truck trailer parked in the front of the plaza for quite some time. Is this considered a “sign”. Mayor Ekvedt will refer this to Urban Planning.
- Aria Campbell-Kelly, 720 Surrey – (1) Regarding traffic issues (speeding, stop signs, etc), she has had several incidents, both while driving and walking, and has reported to the local police station (PDQ1) with no response. What can be done to slow or control traffic. Commandant Couture advised that all calls and emails to PDQ1 are dealt with and answered (emails are preferred for accountability’s sake). Cllr Thompson clarified that the role of the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Committee (as with all of the Town’s advisory committees) is to respond to mandate given by the Council, not to act as an independent body. (2) What is the plan for dealing with the dead trees and broken branches in the two wooded areas along Surrey and will replacement trees be planted because the noise from the highway will be greater without them. DG Bouchard advised that a contract is being awarded tonight for the removal and disposal of some 300 dead trees in the Town; this work will be carried out in order of priority; the natural wooded areas are not high priority but will be dealt with. Mayor Ekvedt said that replanting in forested areas is difficult but will be looked into.
- Pierre Cote, 675 Westchester, Ray Graham, 87 Stafford and Bob Harris, 681 Westchester – all addressed the issue of speeding along Westchester through the Fritz Park area. They thanked the Town for forwarding the data from the traffic detector equipment but did question its accuracy. The implementation of a 30-kph zone on Westchester was appreciated and they asked about advance warning signs for the stop signs due to the road configuration as well as having the adjacent vegetation cut back.
- Brian Manning, 24 Lakeview – (1) Has a cost-management analysis been done on the current Fritz Community Centre situation and why was it felt necessary to change the system that had been in place for “40 years” (2) What were the plans for grey cottage at Fritz Mayor Ekvedt stated that, for several reasons, the management could not continue as it had and a new system was still being finalised but seemed to be working well with positive feedback and no decision has been made about the cottage. (3) Are the Town’s three major projects (Town Hall, Red Barn and Fritz) on, below or above budget DG Bouchard advised that, due to unexpected archeological finds at Town Hall, there were some additional costs but everything seemed to be going well. (4) Why doesn’t the Town install speed bumps Mayor Ekvedt stated that other areas have found that the use of speed bumps tended to re-locate the traffic problems to adjoining streets.
- Ray Graham, 87 Stafford, and Joe Kranitz, 46 David Kennedy – both brought up the topic of non-working street lights. Cllr Brown advised that the necessary replacement parts have finally be obtained and that an electrician was in the process of repairing them all, working from east to west.
- Monika Schweizer, 110 Elm – is the Town taking steps to reduce the excess exterior lighting on houses. Cllr Lowenstein stated that this is being addressed in the reformation of the Urban Planning bylaw.
- Joe Kranitz, 46 David Kennedy – (1) the pumptrack located in Morgan Park would be better used if it were in Picardy Park. Cllr Bissada stated that the pumptrack would not fit in Picardy Park with all the existing facilities there. (2) Why does the Suburban newspaper not have Baie-D’Urfé content Mayor Ekvedt suggested that Mr. Kranitz should contact the newspaper directly.
SPVM Report – Commandant Couture
During the month of August 2023, PDQ1 was very involved with the back-to-school activities as well as the Soccerfest. The bike patrol officers were present at all three schools as well as visiting the Café D’Urfé twice during the month. There were five speed-control operations in the industrial sector and three reported incidents – one vehicle theft each in the residential and industrial sectors and a break-in in the industrial sector. He asked that citizens please file reports with PDQ1 for any incidents, preferably via email. Also, a joint committee of the SQ, SPVM, MTQ, Senneville, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Baie-D’Urfé, etc. is being set up to deal with the traffic problems resulting from the work on the A40 and the Ile-aux-Tourtes bridge.
There was a reminder that citizens can contact the station at 514 280 0101 or pdq1@spvm.qc.ca.
Mayor’s Report
Thank you to Cllr Bissada for chairing last month’s meeting. The monthly Citizens’ Association meeting would be held September 19th. She invited all residents to think about volunteering with the CA as its events have a special flavour. As well, the CA is looking for a new editor for the News&Views magazine.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Bissada mentioned the Lunch & Learn program was back in September and was already fully booked. Thank you to Commandant Couture for the bike patrol joining in at the Café. The ALPS competition held at BDAC was very successful and BDAC’s team was promoted to Section A.
Cllr Lowensteyn reported that the Garden at Fritz was having a record-breaking year with 1,635 kgs (app.) of produce having been donated to local food banks. The new fencing and raised beds seems to have been a success. The Junior Council meeting will be September 26th at Fritz and their games night will be September 29th at the Red Barn.
Cllr Brown presented reports on the Coast Guard Auxiliary, VCOPs and Rescue Squad activities for the month of August. It was a very busy month for all three organisations including training, patrolling, participation at the ALPS competition, the Vintage Car Show, school openings, missing-persons operations, etc.
Correspondence
Catherine Stewart, 72 Stafford, reported an incident between a pedestrian and an electric-bike user on the path in front of Fritz. Cllr Thompson advised that Council does not, at this time, think this is a typical problem but does represent the growing trend of electric-powered bikes, scooters, etc. and that this will have to be considered.
Administration
Due to some resignations, DG Bouchard was appointed as Assistant Town Clerk for the interim. A resolution was passed supporting National Rail Safety Week and we were reminded that the railway rights-of-way are private property. A contract was given for recruitment of a Town Clerk due to the resignations of both our existing Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk. Marie Robinson was promoted to the position of Payroll and Administration Officer, her third promotion since joining the Town’s staff. Congratulations! Legal proceedings have been initiated against the owners of 10 Watterson due to the fact that the property seems to have been abandoned and is in an advanced state of disrepair. Cllr Chartrand cautioned that there are a number of properties in Town which appear to be neglected and that the Town could be “opening a can of worms” by this action.
Finance
The cash disbursements in period 13 of 2022 and January 2023 totalled $2,619,712.53. There were numerous major disbursements including payments on the Lakeview/Sunny Acres, Town Hall and Red Barn projects.
Parks, Recreation and Environment
A tender-bid contract in the amount of $399,996.88 was awarded to Service d’arbres Primeau for the removal of approximately 300 dead ash trees currently in town. Details of replacements for these trees will follow. There was a reminder that the park at the Whiteside-Taylor Centre on Lakeshore Road is a public park, not reserved for use by the building’s occupants.
Public Works and Town Infrastructure
Tender-bid contracts were awarded for the purchase of a new replacement truck for the Rescue Squad as well as a new heavy-duty pickup truck with a dump body for Public Works.
Citizen Services and Community Affairs
A new 10-year agreement was signed between the Town and the Boating Club.
Question Period
Guylaine Daigneault, 20657 Lakeshore – (1) will the Town remove all the dead ash trees this year. Mayor Ekvedt replied that it is hoped that the approximately 300 trees covered in the contract will be completed within the shortest possible delay. (2) What can be done with inhabited houses that look badly neglected Mayor Ekvedt suggested that the Town be contacted and the Urban Planning department will investigate.