October TBL council meetings
Two council meetings took place this month on Oct, 5 and Oct. 15. Beginning with the usual monthly meeting, several important topics were discussed.
The council is delaying the adoption of the bylaw relating to short-term rentals. The reason for this delay is that the Quebec government has not yet made its position clear on the matter and therefore the council is waiting on that decision before making their own. In the meantime, the Mayor explained, there will be an unofficial citizen consultation process in which citizens will be able to read the draft of the bylaw online and submit questions and comments about it. This will precede the official public consultation of the bylaw that will take place at a later date.
The council granted signing authorities for the purchase and municipalisation of certain problem areas on Johnston Road. Specifically, the town will municipalize 11 sections of road where private properties infringe on the road or vice versa.
Virgin Hill Coffee in Foster was given authorization to redesign their building to include a drive-thru. This decision comes in consideration of the grand success the coffee shop had in operating similar service during the pandemic. The renovation of the building will consist of a structure with a roof that will allow customers to wait at the window in their cars, while protecting both clients and workers from the elements. There will also be an outside terrace installed and some landscaping done at the front of the lot.
The council approved an application for the use of public domain for the filming of an American tv show called ‘Republic of Sarah’ which will be filming in town between Oct. 16 and 22. There will be a tent set up for catering at the dog park on rue Mont Echo and certain areas in town will be blocked off for the filming. The Mayor assures that access to the dog park and parking will still be available while the show is being filmed.
The council acknowledged that Lucy Plante of the payroll department will be retiring. Mary Lyse Guay has been named the new Payroll and Accounting Technician. This leaves her old position in the taxation department to be filled.
The town intends to demolish the grey building located at 264 Knowlton road in order to move forward with the plans to make the public space at 30 Lakeside, as well as to move forward with the library expansion. The
Mayor explained that the first step is to demolish the two buildings and the second is to reconstruct the dam, once that is complete it will be possible to go forward with the establishing of the public place.
There was an additional council meeting on Oct. 15.
The Council awarded the contract for the demolition of the grey building as well as contracts for snow removal, for drainage work at Fisher Point and sewer work on St. Paul Road. The town also purchased generators for two sewage pumping stations.
One resident asked what is being established for pedestrian access to the dog park. The Council has been discussing with the owner, but the Mayor explained that the steepness of the slope (20 degrees) causes problems. The owner of the land has offered to sell the town land adjacent to the dog park to make a suitable path and the town will be looking into the pricing. If the land is not bought by the town, the park will be accessed by a path which is already in use despite having a steepness of 20 degrees.
The next council meeting will be Nov. 2.