These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
Questions from the public (for issues not on the agenda)
There were a number of homeowners from Magnolia and Balsam in attendance with questions regarding the letters they recently received about their septic systems. Mayor Ektvedt explained that, in accordance with the provincial legislation regarding septic systems, the Town was conducting a survey of every system in its territory to assess whether or not systems were in compliance. Unfortunately, due to soil-permeability conditions in various areas of the town, many of the original septic tank/tile field- type systems do not meet the criteria set out in the legislation and will have to be replaced with newer types. Anyone wishing further information or information specific to their property is invited to contact the Urban Planning Department. The question of installing a Town-wide sanitary sewer system was offered. The mayor explained that the province has also introduced legislation requiring “densification” of residential housing. The Communauté Métropolitain de Montréal has also followed this path. With the large residential lots in Baie-D’Urfé, the only thing preventing us from being forced to subdivide into smaller lots and/or build duplex-style buildings is the fact that we require the large lots for the septic systems.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Bissada reported “Lunch and Learn” program had restarted and that the March 19th program would be on “Sweets vs. Sweeteners”. Please contact her for information on registering for the April event. The Citizens’ Association held a well-attended event on March 9th for International Women’s Day themed “Our Best Daily Practices for the Environment”. A synopsis of the event is available upon request.
Cllr Lowensteyn reported that night. the Junior Council participated in Winterfest with an indoor snowman-making project and that their monthly games night would be held on March 28th in the Red Barn. As well, she reminded everyone that the Environment Advisory Committee was hosting events on March 20th and 22nd on composting and “Waste Not, Want Not” as well as one on April 10th presented by Jardin Buss on re-wilding your yard.
Cllr Brown presented the February report on the Rescue Squad’s activities of 491 volunteer-hours which included first-aid support at Allan’s Hill on weekends, a missing-person search in Montréal-Nord, hotdogs and hot chocolate at Winterfest. On March 5th, the Squad held their annual general meeting and celebrated Andy Csisztu’s 91st birthday.
Mayor’s Report
The Mayor updated us on the bylaw reform process of the Urban Planning Bylaws. She advised residents to sign up for the Town’s Mail Chimp e-mail notices to get up-to-date information. In the morning of March 29th, there will be a presentation of the new bylaws at Alexander von Humboldt school. The adoption of the first draft of the bylaws will be presented for adoption at the April 8th council meeting. There will be public consultation of the bylaws on April 26th, again at Alexander von Humboldt school.
Correspondence
None
Finance
February’s list of expenses totalled $9,814,599, taxes included. This was composed mostly of payment of the first “quote-part” to the city of Montreal and the Communauté Métropolitaine de Montréal (the “agglomeration”), a total of approximately $9,200,000. A policy was adopted to establish subcategories of the types of properties allowed in the different sectors. This is a pre-emptive move prior to the establishment of the 2026-2027-2028 assessment roll.
Parks, Recreation and Environment
An application for financial assistance was made as part of the Incub’Nature project to help with the re-establishment of the Town’s tree canopy following the losses due to the Emerald Ash Borer.
Public Works and Town Infrastructures
Contracts were awarded for (a) topographic surveys of the public transport stops in the industrial sector, (b) production of plans and specs for road resurfacing work, (c) production of plans and specs to relocate a storm drain in Wilson Place, (d) street line painting. An additional expenditure was authorised for the modification of the tender documents for the bicycle path between Clark-Graham and the EXO train station.
Town Planning
Notices of motion and tabling of the proposed urban-planning bylaws Nos. 1108 through 1116 were done. One SPAIP request was approved as recommended by the Town Planning Advisory Committee and two others were refused. Minor exemptions for one residential and one industrial properties were approved in order to correct long-standing violations.
Citizen Services and Community Affairs
An Excellence Support Program award of $200 was given to Leif Peschlow for his participation in a mogul-skiing event in Bromont, Québec.
New Business
Approval was given to reimburse councillors Tony Brown and Nadia Bissada for expenses that may be incurred while they attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Ottawa on May 29th through June 1st, 2025.
Question Period (for items on the agenda)
- Farzad Shodjai, 209 Victoria – expressed his gratitude that Baie-D’Urfé council meetings were much more friendly that those of some other West-Island municipalities. He also asked for a clarification of the establishment of sub-categories in the assessment roll. The mayor explained that these had to be done by the deadline set by the Àgglomeration and no differing tax rates had been discussed as yet.
- Karin Gebert. 11 Lakeview – asked for clarification of the process for the new bylaws. The Town Clerk, Marie-Hélène Brunet, briefly explained the legal process. Mme Gebert also asked whether other bylaws, such as nuisance and pesticides, were being revised. The mayor explained that priority was being given to the urban-planning bylaws at this time.
- Gaetane Mercier, 4 Caron Point – explained that she has had trouble selling her house due to the freeze on the issuance of demolition permits. The mayor explained that there is no guarantee that the current owner nor a new owner would get any permits. Each permit application has to be submitted to the urban-planning department and the Town Planning Advisory Committee complete with all documents, permit fees, etc. as explained on the Town’s website. A consultation with the Urban-Planning department prior to submitting an application is strongly encouraged.
The meeting was adjourned at 21:35