Highlights of the Baie-D’Urfé Council Meeting of 16 January 2024
These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
Meeting Chaired by Tom Thompson (Pro Mayor) – Mayor Ektvedt sends her apologies, she is attending a public consultation on School Safety Mandate (she is a member of this agglomeration committee)
Agenda adopted by Counsellor Gruber and seconded and adopted by all councilors present (1 min)
First question period
No questions from audience. Mail questions read (1 min to 8 min)
- First question is whether town hall renovations are on track. Confirmed on target and planning for occupancy July – cost is not within budget currently 12.6% above tender cost but within contingency budget. Biggest driver archaeological find.
- Will drainage system on David Kennedy be completed in 2024 – response is no – project has been split and David Kennedy will be completed in 2026.
- Resident noted that the Town lost court case with respect to 705 Westchester which cost taxpayers $100k. Wants to know who voted against the demo and are they still on the committee– this was part of a previous administration and current committee was not part of the decision
- Question regarding contractor damage to various properties on Brittany due to construction – suggestion to follow up with Urban Planning.
- Next letter has multiple questions regarding animals in Baie-d’Urfé – should follow up with administration to follow up with her questions.
- Resident suggests that the corner Westchester and Stafford has limited visibility and suggests it constitutes a blind intersection. Traffic committee has made some changes and these will be reviewed for effectiveness
- The subject was regarding fireworks without a permit at Balsam Park on the 31st December 2023 which represents a danger of damage and accidents. The town cannot do much about fireworks without permits, which are illegal, and we don’t give permits for this. The by-laws are not clear and we can change them to be clearer. We can also communicate prior to events like Saint-Jean Baptiste, Canada day and New Year’s to remind residents that it is illegal.
Report of Town Activities
SPVM Station 1: 14th Nov – 16 Jan for Town Baie-d’Urfé (8min to 11min)
Highlights: main activities between 14 November and 16 January for PDQ1.
Police were present on roads also for alcohol and drug related problems. There were no accidents reported during this period. On the crime topic: there was 1 car theft, 2 thefts inside of cars, 1 container, 1 trailer, 1 construction site, 1 fraud, 1 grandparent fraud and 1 attempted grandparent fraud.
Councilor Gruber asks commander – is it important that any incident (eg car theft/car break-ins) – however small be reported to the Police. Commander responds that however minor it is important to be reported to the Police.
Councilor Bissada (12 min) brief report on two topics . Lunch and Learn upcoming dates 17th January (full) and Wednesday 21st February and will be North African cuisine – when News and Views is published please make your reservation (First Come First Serve basis). Second topic with respect to free libraries (one at Picardy and the other at John Weir) – at this time they are being repaired by Public Works – they will be back in the Spring. The free library at Maxi may not be reopened due to theft of the bins.
Councilor Lowensteyn (13.5 min). Junior council will be held on January 23rd and Junior Council games night will be on Friday 26th January. The Junior council is accepting new members between 10-18 years old – please contact Councilor Lowensteyn Councilor Gruber (14.5 min). VCOP provided another 113 hours of volunteer time in December with a total of 1734 hours for the year 2023 – Council very grateful. They not only have supported traffic management during the Tree Lighting but also dealt with the effects of the Ile aux Tourtes bridge closure.
Councilor Brown (16min). Report on Baie-d’Urfé rescue for month of December 2023 and the first 2 weeks of January 2024. Squad provided 185 hours of volunteer hours in December and a total of 4820 hours of volunteer hours in 2023 – similar to 2022. On Dec 16th at the Christmas party Nova West Isalnd was presented with $1000 from proceeds from annual Oyster Party. The squad supported, December 2nd Tree Lighting, supported local flood calls following heavy rain on December 18th, on December 19th gave a safety escort for carolers, on December 20th – the squad delivered non-perishable deliverables to the local communities. Moving into January the squad supported the New Years Levee and Fireworks events on January 1st and on January 4th the squad participated in a missing persons search in Cote des Neiges – positive result with person being located. Finally 3 New probationary members of the squad were welcomed.
No report from the Director General
Corrections from resolutions
Councilor Bissada (19 min) – minor corrections to revenue codes. Seconded by Councilor Lowensteyn– Council all in favour and adopted.
Correspondence
No correspondence to report (20 min 40 sec)
Administration (21 mins)
Environmental Quality Act. Councilor Brown reports that one town has left group A, as such it is necessary to repeal resolution 2023-12-470 and sign a new agreement. Montreal West, Montreal East, Baie-d’Urfé , Senneville and Hampstead want to avail themselves of provisions of articles 468 of the Cities and Towns Act to conclude an agreement with Eco Enterprise Quebec for the purpose of the application of the Environment Quality Act. Therefore move to repeal resolution 2023-12-470, to accept inter municipal grouping agreement for admin and legal purposes with listed towns, to appoint the Director of Public Works as Town’s representative and authorize his right to vote on behalf of the Town. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, accepted and adopted.
Awarding of contractor for Web Casting of Council Meetings (24 min). Councilor Bissada – given that the Town has provided Web streaming for its public and council meetings, it is proposed to renew the services with WebTV. Councilor Lowensteyn seconded, all in favour and adopted.
Councilior Lowensteyn seconded, all in favour and adopted.
Appointment of 4 new blue collar workers. Councilor Brown reported that in accordance with the provision of the blue collar collective agreement the hiring 2 at Group C and 2 at Group D. Councilor Brown moves to authorize the hiring of 4 new employees and the appropriate start dates. These blue collar employees will be subject to a trial period of 520 hours. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and adopted.
Adoption of bylaw 1105 repealing 926 – disposal of waste water. Councilor Lowensteyn stated that the Cities and Towns Act requires adoption of a new bylaw to repeal an existing one – bylaw 926 is obsolete and can therefore be repealed. Details of this motion were given at the December Council Meeting. The new bylaw was given prior to this meeting and declared they had all read the proposal and it did not need to be read at council meeting. This process is to apply the obligatory provincial bylaw and repealing ensures there are no contradictions in law. Councilor Lowensteyn moves to adopt the new bylaw 1105, Seconded by Councilor Brown, all in favour and adopted.
Finance (30 Min)
Councilor Brown moved to approve expenses for December 2023 for $713,477.82. Seconded by Councilor Gruber , all in favour and carried
Councilor Bissada detailed transfer of funds for Town Hall rent totalling $45,036.15 for the first 5 months of 2024. Seconded by Councilor Lowensteyn, all in favour and carried
Councilor Lowensteyn tabled list of contractual expenses for 2024
Parks, Recreation and Environment
Parks, recreation and environment report of recommendations and draft calendar of events tabled by Councilor Lowensteyn for 2024. Council had previously reviewed and it was moved to ratify the mandate and report. Seconded by Councilor Brown, all in favour and carried.
Public Works and Infrastructure (34 min)
- Soil Management and restoration of Town Hall reported by Councilor Bissada. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried
- Councilor Lowensteyn proposed to approve additional fees of $25,000 for contingency expenses for Town Hall restoration. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried.
- Installation of 50mm water main for restoration of Town Hall. Councilor Brown proposed additional scope and expenses. Seconded by Councilor Bissada, all in favour and carried.
- Councilor Lowensteyn proposed additional scope and expenses for exterior Stucco for restoration of the Town Hall. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried.
- Authorization of additional expenses for Community Centre (Fritz) proposed by Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried.
Town Planning (42min 30 sec)
Approval of Town Planning and Advisory Committee recommendations for cadastre fusion. Proposed by Councilor Lowensteyn, seconded by Councilor Brown, all in favour and carried
Nomination of Town Planning and Advisory Committee members. Proposed by Councilor Brown to renew the mandate of 6 members and to start the recruitment of a 7th member following a resignation. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried
Councilor Lowensteyn tabled the minutes from the Town Planning and Advisory Committee meeting dated 17th November 2023.
Excellence Support Programme (46 min)
Councilor Brown proposed a candidate for the program and requested approval. All in favour and carried.
Grant Awards for 2024 (48 mins)
Councilor Lowensteyn moved that grants offered to non-profit organizations by the Town for a total of $250,903.13 be approved as tabled. Seconded by Councilor Brown, all in favour and carried.
Councilor Bissada moved to provide a grant for the Antique Car Show for $4500. Seconded by Councilor Gruber, all in favour and carried.
Second Question Period
No questions from the floor or on line
Councilor Gruber moved to close the meeting at 20hr22. Seconded by Councilor Brown, all in favour and carried