Notes on the Council Meeting held October 8th, 2024 – The meeting was called to order at 19h30.
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)
- Stefan Kurylowicz, 20094 Lakeshore – can the Town remove snow or not use salt on the main roads as the salt causes damages to walls and hedges. Mayor Ektvedt replied that they would look into the matter and get back to the citizen.
- Janet Ryan, 105 Saint Andrew’s – was there an agreement between Pointe-Claire, Dorval and Montreal at the time of the transfer of the water-treatment plants to Montreal for the continuation of fluoridation for a term? Mayor Ektvedt replied that, yes there was an agreement. Montreal did not provide it at the presentation and appears not to have located it. I’m working to locate it, as it did not involve Baie-D’Urfé. In addition, citizens are entitled to make access to information requests directly to any town via the clerk for this information.
- Clifford Lincoln, 108 Saint Andrew’s – could the Town initiate a petition for its citizens to bring awareness to the unilateral decision by the city of Montreal to cancel fluoridation in the 6 affected municipalities? Mayor Ektvedt replied that Baie-D’Urfé is the only municipality to have brought out a statement on the matter and has encouraged citizens to write directly to the city of Montreal. As well, she does hope for media coverage in the near future.
- Janet Ryan, 105 Saint Andrew’s – why was the process of submitting questions to Council modified? Mayor Ektvedt replied that the Town found the process instigated during COVID was not permitting Council sufficient time to consult about the questions and much correspondence was not “questions” for the Council meeting but letters to the Town on various subjects. She referred the matter to Justin Mah, Communications Director, for further analysis of the system.
SPVM Report
Cmdt Goyette was not in attendance, but DG Nicolas Bouchard presented his report. The SPVM spent two days patrolling near the schools and parks after the report of a suspicious person at John Weir Park. The citizen whose bicycle was stolen by an indigenous woman declined to press charges against the perpetrator. More than 20 traffic tickets were issued; a vehicle recorded at 133 kph was stopped in the industrial sector. The bike patrol participated in the Terry Fox runs at the various schools as well as the Spinning Wheels Relay. As always, the PDQ1 station may be reached by calling 514-280-0101 or by e-mail at pdq1@spvm.qc.ca. The SPVM website may be consulted for statistics, etc. ( https://spvm.qc.ca/en/Fiches/Categories).
Mayor’s Report
The Mayor congratulated Maureen Rose on her retirement from many years of leading the Lunch and Learn program. She also thanked Oana Silaghi-Bedikyan for the Storytime event on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, September 30th. She commented on the Pumptrack event, the Birthday Tea Party at Residence Maxwell, the Hema Quebec blood drive and the new resident Meet and Greet event. Mayor Ektvedt also reminded all of the Rescue Squad’s Oyster Party upcoming on November 8th.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Brown presented the monthly report on the Rescue Squad’s activities which included first-aid support at the Spinning Wheels Relay and several school events, two missing-persons searches, Veterans’ Day event at the Ste-Anne’s Hospital for a total of 449 volunteer hours. The Rescue Squad will hold a generator repair event on October 19th and a “meet and greet” at Picardy Park on Halloween.
Cllr Gruber presented the monthly report for the VCOPs’ activities which included patrolling for 189 volunteer hours, and approximately 70 hours of support at the Spinning Wheels Relay, the household hazardous waste collection, various school Terry Fox runs and the Pumptrack event. As always, new volunteers are welcome. The Coast Guard Auxiliary patrols weekends and holidays and has responded to 30 callouts so far this season resulting in 8 saves and 61 assists. They have also participated in combined training with the SPVM and SIM water divisions.
Cllr Lowensteyn reported that the Environment Advisory Committee was holding a “Leaf Collecting and Identifying” event on October 20th and that the Junior Council’s Games Night would be on October 19th, and, on October 26th, there would be a Halloween event at the Red Barn.
Cllr Bissada expressed her thanks to Maureen Rose on her retirement from the Lunch and Learn program and welcomed Paul Guy Germain as her replacement. The next events are October 22nd and November 19th. The Senior Rendezvous is October 10th.
Correspondence
- Karin Gebert, 11 Lakeview – would it be possible to include the replacement of the path along Victoria between Lakeview and Sunny Acres in the 2025 budget? Cllr Chartrand replied that the current situation needs to be repaired in the near future, and additional work will be considered in the 2025 budget.
- Mrs. Schweizer– path in front of the construction site on Victoria (between Lakeview and Sunny Acres) is impassable due to construction debris and grading changes. Is it not supposed to be cleaned up each day? Is the Town checking on new projects involving additional asphalt? Is “green” pavement being included in the Town Hall project? Cllr Chartrand replied that repairs to the path will be done in the near future, cleanup is not technically addressed in the bylaw, the parking at Town Hall is being done with a new style of permeable paving blocks.
Administration
- A resolution was read objecting to the unilateral decision by the City of Montreal to remove fluoride from the public water system and requesting that the city implement public consultations on the subject.
- The preliminary inventory list of buildings constructed prior to 1940 was approved.
- A notice of motion to amend the traffic bylaw to further restrict the parking on Oxford, Saint Andrew’s and Cambridge and increase the amount of the parking tickets to finally resolve the issue of students’ parking.
- Bylaw 1301-1 was adopted to correct the exclusion of water pumps.
Finance
September’s list of expenses totalled $1,082,844.14, taxes included.
Town Planning
- Approval was given for the construction of bridge for conveyance of materials between the buildings located at 625 and 725 Lee Avenue.
- Approval was given for the changes to the façade of 8 Sunny Acres by the modification of two windows.
Citizen Services and Community Affairs
- A grant in the amount of $10,000 was given to the Fritz Farm Youth Gardening Program Association for the installation/construction of a structure to house tools and supplies.
- The Excellence Support Program awarded grants totalling $600 to two resident youths for their participation in upper-level sports competitions.
- A donation in the amount of $150 was made to Église St-George in Ste-Anne de Bellevue in memory of Ann Rhodes Cumyn
The meeting was adjourned at 20h45.