NOTES from the Baie-D’Urfé Council Meeting of 10 October 2023
These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
Questions
A citizen raised the issue of road safety in the area around the Joseph Henrico School. A number of drivers are not respecting the fact that young children are arriving and leaving and the situation is potentially dangerous.
- Response (Mayor Ektvedt): This question has been referred to the traffic advisory committee. Meanwhile the police will be present in order to observe the situation and take measures to manage the situation.
Council Reports
Cllr. Gruber – presented updates on the activities of the VCOPS and also the Coastguard who have demonstrated a very fast response time to call outs.
Cllr. Brown – presented an update on recent activities of the Rescue Squad. These have included giving training sessions in resuscitation techniques to some local volunteer groups including the Library volunteers.
Cllr. Lowensteyn – noted forthcoming events with the Junior Council.
Cllr. Bissada – announced an imminent meeting of the Seniors’ Rendezvous and noted the forthcoming Public Libraries Week.
Correspondence
A letter had been received from two residents expressing ongoing concern about the current model for enforcing the town’s ban on pesticide application. It seems clear that there are residents who are not aware of or who ignore the ban and certainly it seems contractors often pay little attention. What can be done to ensure the bylaw is complied with?
- Response (Mayor Ektvedt): Thanked the authors of the letter for their understanding that town staff are engaged with this issue. Notices to residents have been published in various media and letters have been sent to contractors. Public education on this matter is an ongoing necessity but the process can be frustrating at times. Cllr. Lowensteyn added that Public Works staff and the town’s Environment Coordinator are working on the matter. Note that the pesticide bylaws are being updated in line with recent recommendations from the Environment Committee and it is intended that contractors will have to apply for a permit before offering their services to residents. All this takes time to coordinate. Residents should expect some news on this in the not too distant future.
Administration
- A list of white-collar employees for the month of August and September 2023 was tabled
- A Resolution confirming the City of Baie-D’Urfé’s intention to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the cities of Montréal-Est, Senneville, Hampstead, Montréal-Ouest and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue for the purpose of entering into an agreement with Éco Entreprises Québec under the Environment Quality Act (RLRQ, c. Q2) was passed.
Finance
The list of expenses for the month of September 2023 was tabled.
Public Works
- Authorization was given to the Director General to sign on behalf of the town with regard to reconstruction of cycle paths that are part of the City of Montreal’s network of cycle paths. Specifically with regard to an agreement with the City of Montreal on the delegation of the reconstruction of the bike path located on Morgan Boulevard between Clark Graham Avenue and the railway line.
- There was presentation of the TECQ 2019-2023 version no. 4 work program
- Authorization was given for additional expenses for contract TP-2022-08 – Expansion and restoration of the Town Hall and contingency fees. A contingency amount of $250K was noted.
- A mandate to the Union of Municipalities of Quebec to carry out a digital inventory of certain assets on the municipal public right-of-way was approved.
- Contract TP-2021-08 – Snow removal services was renewed.
Urban Planning
On the recommendation of the Town Planning Advisory Committee, approval was given for the installation of a shed at 20799, Lakeshore.
Community Affairs
- Modifications to the Excellence Support Program Policy were introduced by Cllr. Brown. This program provides small grants of up to $100 to enable residents to travel to approved sporting events in which they are competing. It is proposed that the grants will in future increase in line with inflation. It was also strongly emphasized that grants are not only offered for sporting events, but also for attending comparable events associated with the arts and sciences etc.
- Two $100 grants under this program were awarded to Stefan Aebi with regard to the Championnats américains d’ultimate Grand Master//USA Ultimate Masters Championships, Colorado, US and the Championnats Canadien Ultimate Master/Canadian Ultimate Championships – Kelowna, BC. (Note: “Ultimate” is a sport associated with frisbee throwing).
There were no questions posed during the second question period.
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