Highlights of the Baie-D’Urfé Council Meeting of February 13 2024
These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
– The meeting was called to order at 19h30.
The agenda was adopted as presented.
Questions from the public (for issues not on the agenda)
1. Joe Kranitz, 46 David-Kennedy – Thanks to all for the birthday wishes. Why are the drainage
issues in the Gray, David-Kennedy, Maxwell area only scheduled for completion in 2026?
Mayor’s reply: The additional delay has been caused by extra work required on the Sunny
Acres/Lakeview project, As well, one of our engineers is on leave.
2. Pierre Côté, 675 Westchester – 1. Has the reduced speed limit on Westchester had any effect; it
appears that there is still a problem. Mayor’s reply: The portable radar/traffic counting device has
not yet been back in this area to see if there are any changes in driver behaviour, but it will be. A
new portable radar device with a display has been acquired and will shortly be in use on various
streets in rotation. 2. The MTQ is considering standardising speed limits in all parks, school
zones, etc.; would Council please support this initiative? Mayor’s reply: She sits on the
Agglomeration traffic committee, and it is under discussion.
3. Ross Cattrell, 104 Bedford – 1. There is a property on Lakeshore that has a Tempo-type shelter
which is contrary to our bylaws; what is the town doing about it? Mayor’s reply: The owner has
been given 7-days’ notice to have this structure removed. 2. Could the town please consider a
separate area set aside for an exercise area for tiny dogs? Mayor’s reply: She and council are
looking forward to receiving the information that Mr. Cattrell is collecting.
4. Gilbert Hajj, 27 Lakeview – When will the town resume issuing demolition permits? Mayor’s reply:
There is a “World Café” presentation planned, probably for the fall of this year and then the new
urban planning bylaw will be presented for public consultation/questions. The RCI (ban) will be
lifted after adoption of the new bylaw. If anyone wishes to get a demolition permit, they should be
starting the permit-application process now.
5. Philippe Certosini, 668 Cornwall – There are so many potholes that it is embarrassing. Mayor’s
reply: Asphalt repairs are in the combined drainage/paving program. DG Bouchard advised that
Public Works crews have been out both last week and this week filling potholes with cold-patch
asphalt which is, unfortunately, a temporary solution but the one available at this time of the year.
6. Coleen Shaw, 11 Sunny Acres – there appears to be considerable speeding on Sunny Acres,
particularly between Lakeshore and Lorraine. Mayor’s reply: This will be sent to the Traffic and
Road Safety Advisory Committee for their input.
7. Ray Graham, 87 Stafford – When will the level of security on Westchester be the same as that on
the Apple Hill/Picardy/Victoria area (i.e. radar displays, stop signs, crosswalks)? Mayor’s reply:
The situation will be reassessed once updated data is received from the portable radar/traffic
counter device.
SPVM Report – Commandant Sauvé
The commandant was not in attendance.
Mayor’s Report
Thanks to the Environment Advisory Committee for the workshop presented at Winterfest. Mayor Ektvedt
sits on the Agglomeration’s environment and transportation committees, and they are currently studying
water management and school safety. Documents pertaining to these committees are available to the
public on the city of Montreal’s website (montreal.ca). She is very pleased to welcome our new
communications person, Justin Mah.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Brown presented a report on Rescue Squad activities (429 hours in January). The squad answered
two flood calls, participated in a missing-person search, and two training sessions at the Morgan
Arboretum. They are present every weekend at Allan’s Hill to provide first aid, weather permitting. The
annual general meeting was held February 7th and Wayne Belvedere and George Motz were re-elected to
their respective positions for a 2-year period. In 2023, the squad provided 4,820 volunteer hours, 140
emergency calls (112 related to the April ice storm and the July microburst weather event). They
participated in 12 missing-person searches and provided first-aid support to 33 school events in
Baie-D’Urfé and the West Island.
Cllr Gruber presented a report for the VCOPs activity – 132 hours of patrol time in January, parking
control at the New Year’s Levee and twice at Dorset School. They provided an effective visual presence
several times during the traffic congestion caused by the Ile-aux-Tourtes bridge closures. Several new
members are in training. The Coast Guard Auxiliary unit is starting their training program for 2024.
Cllr Lowensteyn reported a change in the scheduled meeting of the Junior Council to February 22nd.
Games Night will still be held on February 23rd. The Environment Committee is presenting a seminar on
tree maintenance on March 14th with arborist Jesse Bouchard-Nestor.
Cllr Bissada reminded that the annual general meeting of the library will be held on February 26th at
19h30 in the Fritz Community Centre.
Administration
1. Justin Mah was appointed to the position of Communications Coordinator
2. Cllrs Gruber, Thompson and Bissada were appointed to the Demolition Committee for a 1-year
term. Substitute members are Cllrs, Lowensteyn, Chartrand and Brown.
3. Cllrs Bissada and Chartrand, as well as citizens Brendan Buckley, Josie Caruso and Boriana
Christov, were appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for one year.
4. Mayor Ektvedt, Cllrs Lowensteyn and Brown, citizens Karin Gebert, Richard Gregson, Susan
Hawker and Philippe Paulmier were appointed to the Environment Advisory Committee for a
period of one year.
5. The Town Clerk and Human Resources Coordinator were appointed as the committee on access
to information and the protection of personal information.
6. The Town has purchased lot No. 1 557 261 (on Surrey across from Residence Maxwell) from the
Ministère des transports, mobilité durable et électrification des transports for the sum of
approximately $1.5 million, taxes included. This is considered to be a good investment; the future
use of this land is pending.
https://www.baie-durfe.qc.ca/en/news/article/crop-survey-report-of-the-results.
Finance
1. The cash disbursements for period 13 of 2023 and in January 2024 totalled $2,152,960. Major
disbursements were for the Town Hall renovation and the annual grants to the Citizens’
Association and the Library.
2. A contract was awarded to New Look solutions bureau inc. (in our industrial park) in the amount
of $117,400, taxes included for the supply of office furniture, etc. for the Town Hall.
Parks, Recreation and Environment
1. An agreement in the amount of $75,000, taxes included, was made between the Town and
GRAME for participation in the “Ensemble on verdit” program for 2024.
2. The report on the drainage issues in John Weir Park prepared by GÉNIPUR was tabled. The
cost and complexity of solving these issues is considerable and will not be addressed in 2024.
The survey done by PRAC was tabled and all involved were thanked for their participation and
ideas.
Public Works and Town Infrastructure
Two amounts totalling approximately $47,000, taxes included, were awarded for further supervision of the
Town Hall project. A contract was awarded to Atelier Parcelle SENC in the amount of $11,700, taxes
included, for the design and planning of the landscaping at Town Hall. An amount of $106,538 was
approved to Constructions PRV for additional work required at the Red Barn; this project is now complete.
Citizen Services and Community Affairs
1. Leif Peschlow and Christian Peschlow were each awarded $200 as support through the Town’s
Excellence Support Program.
2. Financial support for residents using the Morgan Arboretum was approved.
Question Period
1. Farzad Shodjai, 209 Oakridge – what is the extent of work for the landscape architect contract
awarded – only the immediate surroundings of Town Hall and the triangle on Morgan.
2. Karin Gebert, 11 Lakeview – where will the PRAC report be posted on the website? DG
Bouchard – this is yet to be determined.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 20h45.