HIGHLIGHTS
MAY 3rd, 2011 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

The Mayor, 5 Councillors and 12 citizens were present.

Administration

• Hired Lynn Fortney, Administrative Assistant;
  
• Analyzed the tender received for high speed internet, XIT télécom;
  
• Authorized a bank of 28 hours with Infotech, for training of our employees with Sygem
  
• Accounting Software system at the cost of $1,820.00 plus tax.
  
• Awarded a contract to Climatisation Roger Demers Inc. for $1,150.64 including tax;
  
• Assigned a contract to Mrs. Lucie Roy to write an employee manual including job descriptions at a cost of $2,625.00;
  
• Addressed a request to Minister Mr. Laurent Lessard for the installation of high speed internet service.
  
• Accepted the proposal from the Commission scolaire des Sommets for Katimavik youth transportation at $30.00/month per individual;
  
• Approved a $500.00 budget for flowers for Town Hall and Terrio Park.
  

Environment / Land Use Planning

• Appointed Mr. Léo Beaudoin for the inspection and maintenance of our geodesic network;
  
• Declared May 14th as Clean Up Day. Citizens, Councillor Prest and the Austin Firefighters helped clean the ditches along route 245;
  
• Authorized $1,000.00 excluding tax to be spent for Neighbour’s Day event and an additional $700.00 to send copies of the Green Insight to all citizens;
  
• Adopted bylaw number 224 entitled « bylaw number 224 modifying zoning bylaw number 153
  
• Accepted a minor derogation for the company Létiga permitting the installation of a sign on the neighbour’s property ;
  
• Approved the sludge measurement program for 2011;
  
• Accepted the RCM’s proposal to take six water samples on our territory;
  
• Accepted the following CEC recommendations: A 5-year municipal environmental plan, production of a municipal watershed map, production of an impact study relating to not emptying systematically our installations, etc.
  

Infrastructure

• Awarded the guardrail contract to Les Glissières de Sécurité JTD Inc. in the amount of $20,970.00 (plus tax);
  
• Authorized approximately $25,000.00 in emergency road repairs on chemin Baker Pond, Baker Talc, Mountain Road, Bellevue and Edgehill;
  
• Awarded the road sweeping contract to Entreprise Myrroy at $98.00 /hour plus tax;
  
• Awarded the dust control contract to Calclo, magnesium chloride will be used at $0,279 /litre plus tax;
  
• Authorized the MG20A and MG20B gravel purchase contract to Excavations Guy Ethier Inc., with the condition that the granulometric tests meets the standards;
  
• Awarded the road grading contract to Entreprise RTD at $85.00 /hour plus tax;
  
• Authorized payment to MacTrap Enr (beaver traps), for a maximum of $1,500.00 plus tax;
  
• Authorized the hiring of a seasonal summer roadwork employee, Mr. Jean-Luc Corbeil;
  
• Authorized a $25,000.00 transfer from the surplus account to cover added road repair expenses for 2011.
  

Public Security

• The Municipality of Austin’s Fire Services has informed us that the height of the tower located on Mont Gauvin will be increased by Bell Mobility in order to meet digital communication standards decreed by the RCM fire safety plan.

Mayor's Report

• Baker Pond : new letter from Mrs. Wardle, a written response will be sent;
  
• Convoys 243-245: additional information;
  
• MRNF – April 26th to May 5th: vaccination campaign period (racoons);
  
• Hydro-Québec Foundation (deadline September 15th);
  
• New web site: request to all citizens;
  
• Received a donation of 1500 trees from the »Organisme de bassin versant de la baie Missisquoi«te;
  

RCM's Report

• Chemin des Cantons; meeting with Mr. Bellemare, RCM Project Manager;
  
• Transport des Alentours; general meeting April 26th;
  
• CLD- workshop April 20th and upcoming meeting at the Town Hall;
  
• Rural Pact – deadline October 15th, 2011;
  
• Lac à l’épaule – April 9th;
  
• Annual Fire Coverage Plan Report
  

Two question periods:

Questions and comments were addressed to council regarding the following topics. This list is not necessarily limited to:

Municipal financial statement

• Monsieur Larochelle wishes that the financial report be made available on the municipal web site at least one month in advance of the Auditor’s presentation. In this manner, citizens may ask questions regarding various aspects of the report. Council favours this proposition for 2012.
  

Environment / Waste material

• Dry water hydrant : The next hydrant will be installed at Sperling Lake;
• Mr. Théorêt suggests placing bins at the grocery store so that citizens may bring their garbage;
• Mr. Labonville mentioned that tires have been left on a vacant lot on chemin Bellevue;
• Mr. Dubé, from the lac Nick area, requests garbage collection.

High Speed Internet

• Dry water hydrant : The next hydrant will be installed at Sperling Lake;
• Citizens from Impasse Jolicoeur (Mr. Limage, Mr. Johnston and Mrs. Roy) inquire about tower location; results from the bid for tenders, health effects resulting from the technology, etc… The Mayor mentions that he will be able to provide more information once the proposition is received and analysed.

Absence of mail boxes on Chemin de la mine

• Mrs. Cleary and Mr. Èmond mention that several mailboxes for chemin Missisquoi, chemins Andrew Galvin and de la Mine residents are located on chemin Andrew Galvin. As a matter of public safety, the question is why residents of chemin de la Mine do not have their own mail boxes on their own road. The Mayor mentions that Council will support the citizens’ efforts to procure their own mail boxes.

Note: “Minutes of the municipal council sitting are available after their adoption at the following sitting. In the event of a disparity between the minutes and these highlights (web site and Insight), the minutes will prevail.”

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