Highlights of the Baie-D’Urfé Council Meeting of 14 November 2023
These notes are an overview. The meeting and agenda, in its entirety, can be found on the Town website.
Public Questions
The first question asked for an update on the ongoing process for updating Town by laws. The mayor responded that there have been two world café style sessions which involved the public meeting and discussing various issues with councilors and staff. A third world café session is expected to be held sometime during early January and will concentrate on the topic of architectural integration, and SPAIP issues. Later in the year, there will be consultation periods with residents that are legally mandated as part of the by law change process. These will be announced in due course.
A question was asked regarding the subsidy given for Town children attending summer camps. Is it possible that these subsidies might be extended to other camps than the one run in Senneville ,such as the Sunny Acres Camp? The mayor responded that at the moment there were no intentions to give out subsidies other than for the Senneville camp. Given the small population of our town and the relatively low number of children wishing to attend camps, (issues which are also found in Senneville), it makes sense for us to work together with the Senneville Council. There is a formal agreement between our two towns on this matter. It is considered to be too complex at the moment to work with other camp providers.
A question was asked about long time house on Wilson. Concrete actions be taken to stop houses being abandoned, and left to decay over extended periods of years? In response, the mayor said that steps are taken and will be taken. The town is looking at various options, including bylaw reforms. This is actually a legally quite challenging problem for Town, such as ours. The substitute question was posed, asking if the term would consider purchasing the abandoned and vacant homes and turning them into green space. The mayor responded that this was not something that could be done.
.Council was asked if they could say when the new revised bylaws will be ready and instituted. The mayor responded that the final stage will be a legally mandated public consultation that is expected to occur later this year. Probably towards the end of the summer. If all goes well, formal adoption of the revised bylaws and their implementation will happen next autumn.
Asked regarding traffic speed issues on a stretch of Watson between two schools. Could a 30 km/h speed limit be instituted on this stretch. The mayor responded that this question will be passed to the Town advisory committee for consideration.
Reports
Police:
-The police representative opened by commenting on the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, and the possibility of disruptive actions taken in public. He stressed that the police will be taking aware of any possible issues should happen within the area covered by this police station. – A small number of speed checks being instituted on Lakeshore and Morgan roads.
- Thanks were given to the VCOPs and the Rescue Squad for the collaborative support and aid in various incidence and events in recent weeks. This included the search for an elderly person who disappeared.
- Several police officers were present at a community breakfast at the Maxwell residence and answered residence questions on various topics.
- Public are invited to telephone or email the police if they have any concerns to raise or discuss.
Mayor:
– The mayor opened by noting that in the new year, the editor of the Citizens Association journal (News and Views) will pass from Richard Gregson, who was thanked for his service in recent years, to Oana Silaghi. She took the opportunity to thank Aria Campbell-Kelly for contributions related to graphic design.
– The attention of residents was drawn to the existence of a new recreational program to run through the winter months.
- an excellent Halloween event was held in town
- Thanks for giving them to the rescue squad for organizing the recent oyster party
- She had represented the town at a remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony in Kelso Park on November 5
- Next week the council will be starting an intensive annual budget process. This is a big task, and there will be little available availability of individuals for handling other matters.
- Counsellors recently had the opportunity to walk through the Town Hall renovation project. All is going very well. It is hoped that some staff will start to move back into the renovated building during June.
Cllr. Bissada
The container that holds the small free library books in the entrance to the Maxi store has been stolen and so the small library facility is temporarily unavailable at that location. The facility will be replaced in due course.
Cllr. Lowensteyn
- there will be new games tonight during December for the junior Council
- It was noted that the volunteers at the Garden at Fritz have enjoyed a record tent, season growing food, which is donated to local food banks. The weight of food, harvested and distributed was in excess of 2 tons, and an estimated retail value of.$16,280. this is a record. in order to continue producing produce for those indeed at this rate, it is necessary for the number of volunteers to be increased and anyone interested in working with them in the 2024 season is invited to get in touch.
Cllr. Gruber
- The VCOPs have been running the regular patrols. Attendance of members was at the recent Halloween event. Leaders of the group attended event relating to demographic changes in this area which was to be very successful.
- The Coast Guard auxiliary have ended on water patrols for the year. The Coast Guard auxiliary have been explained very prompt response callout time approximately eight minutes over this last season. Training of new recruits will be starting and this is the time to apply if you have any thoughts of joining the Coast Guard as a volunteer.
Cllr. Brown
- the month of October and beginning of November have been very busy for the members of the rescue squad who have been involved with a number of incidents including searches in nearby town for missing people.
- First aid coverage was provided for the AVH school Terry Fox run
- A CPR demonstration was provided for volunteers and staff at the town library
- A household generator prepare, and tuneup day was extremely successful.
- A total of $5000 was raised at the recent oyster party, which will be donated to West Island organizations
Correspondence – none received
Administration
- The schedule of regular council meetings for the year 2024 was presented and adopted
- Would you go to the professional liability of city employee nut? It was recorded that the town accepts responsibility for any claims that may arise.
- The Union des municipalités du Québec was adopted as mandataryof the property and casualty insurance purchasing and risk management group – authorization was given for the term clerk to sign any associated documents on behalf of the town.
- An inventory has been completed equipment held for emergency situations. Sum of $20,000 has been transferred from a $50,000 reserve in order to enable the purchase and replacement of selected items that were identified.
- Settlement of claim to work performed on Lakeshore Road was recorded. A payment of $17,000 was authorized.
- Awarding of a professional service contract to Mr. Michel Larue for the urban planning bylaw revision project was authorized in the sum of $109,000
- The council gave authorization for the hiring of two new night guards to replace two who have retired.
- They collective agreement between the town and the union representing blue-collar workers has been agreed dated to December 2026. Retroactive salary adjustments will be made.
- A list of white collar employees was tabled
Finance
The list of expenses was approved. These expenses included some related to Townhall, renovations, and purchase of new vehicles.
Public Works/Infrastructure
- As sum of $138,000 was allocated to a three-year period maintenance contract for the aqueduct network.
- A contract was awarded for the replacement of the yacht club deck
- Additional cost to approved relating to the extension and restoration of the Town Hall specifically relating to additional work necessary because of the discovery of advanced deterioration of the entrance portal and the non-existence of an adequate foundation.
- Recording of the completion of work under the Programme d’aide financière pour les bâtiments municipaux (PRABAM).
Town Planning
Following the request to demolish 20100 Lakeshore and replace it with a new building, a recommendation was submitted by the TPAC. This recommendation was not retained, but the first option submitted was approved. (Subsequent to the end of the meeting it was clarified by councilor Lowensteyn that. there is a demolition file for this property, but because it is located on Lakeshore, the file had to pass through the TPAC before going to the demolition committee.)
Citizen Services/Community Affairs
- A contract for security services in the industrial Park was renewed.
- Holiday celebration grants for the following town associations in the summer of $3750 was approved. Recipient association are the Citizens association, Library volunteers, Rescue Squad, the VCOPs, Fritz Garden volunteers.
- A donation was approved in memory of Peter Lowensteyn father of Councillor Wanda Lowensteyn
- A donation was approved in memory of André Bouchard, father of our Director General