By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Hatley Township residents are getting a mid-summer update from Mayor Vincent Fontaine, who spoke to The Record about key initiatives, ongoing challenges, and what’s on the horizon for the municipality.
The Township is continuing its long-standing policy of offering partial refunds for residents who pay to access local beaches. “We’ve had this program for a few years now,” Fontaine said. “If a family buys a seasonal pass for $300, we’ll reimburse $150. It’s about making beach access more affordable and fair.”
The refund applies to both Pleasant View Beach in North Hatley and Massawippi Beach in Ayer’s Cliff. Residents must submit official receipts to receive a 50 per cent refund, up to $150 per residence. Refunds are issued by cheque and should be requested in a single claim at the end of the season.
The mayor explained that the initiative aligns with the Township’s broader family policy. “We already cover the surtax for things like hockey in Sherbrooke,” he said. “Now we’re doing the same thing for the beach.”
The decision also follows the end of a previous intermunicipal recreation agreement with North Hatley. Fontaine said the deal broke down due to ongoing issues. “We were supposed to share a recreation staff person, but that never happened,” he said. “We were also supposed to do joint activities—never happened. But we kept getting bills for activities we weren’t invited to.”
Though the agreement once included beach access, Fontaine said the Township found it more equitable to refund residents directly. “It wasn’t fair for taxpayers who don’t go to the beach to cover the full cost for those who do. By reimbursing half, it’s more balanced.”
On the financial front, Hatley Township is also dealing with an unexpected $29,000 expense linked to landfill operations. The mayor confirmed that an administrative error by the regional body overseeing landfill management resulted in a $1 million overage, distributed among participating municipalities. “We passed a resolution asking for better transparency on their budget and spending,” he said. “We can’t be told mid-year that it’s going to cost more when we’ve already passed our own budget.”
To cover the additional cost, Hatley Township will dip into its financial surplus. “It’s not ideal, but it’s a one-time thing,” Fontaine added. “Next year won’t be like this.”
Roadwork is also underway as planned, including asphalt resurfacing projects that had already been budgeted earlier in the year. “We’ve started that work already,” said Fontaine. “But things are generally quieter in the summer.”
Looking toward the fall municipal elections, Fontaine confirmed that he plans to run again for mayor. “Yes, I’m running,” he said. As for council, some incumbents have made their intentions clear. “Sylvie Cassar wants to come back, and Georges Bogenez hasn’t decided yet, but I think he will too.”
No major summer challenges are currently facing the Township, Fontaine said, describing the season as “really quiet.” He added, “It’ll probably stay that way until mid-August.”
A recent Facebook post from the Township administration reminded residents to take advantage of the beach refund policy and included submission details. Claims and questions can be sent to Annie Desnales at admin@cantondehatley.ca.