Photo by William Crooks
Lennoxville Borough Councillors Guillaume Lirette-Gélinas, Claude Charron, and Jennifer Garfat
Pollution, speeding, and upcoming events
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Lennoxville’s Aug. 27 Borough Council meeting, presided over by Borough President Claude Charron, featured a robust question period where residents raised various concerns, followed by councillors’ messages focusing on community events and ongoing issues.
During the question period, a resident inquired about the buildability of a lot next to a local motel. He expressed concerns regarding the availability of information and recounted his difficulties in finding past records related to the property. “It’s been a long time since I owned that lot,” he said, noting that he had sought help from the borough’s services, but “they couldn’t find anything either.”
The council advised him to consult the borough inspector, who has access to all relevant zoning and building information. “My recommendation is that you come and see our inspector,” suggested a council member, adding that “he’s here on Mondays and Wednesday mornings.”
A resident raised concerns about air pollution, particularly the impact of lawnmowers, which he claimed contribute more pollution than passenger cars. He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were mowing their lawns excessively, which exacerbated the problem.
He suggested the borough consider implementing restrictions or at least raising awareness about the environmental impact. The council acknowledged his concerns, with one member noting, “It’s nice that we can do something that saves us money and improves the environment at the same time.”
Another resident raised an issue regarding traffic signs on College Street. She recounted her experience of requesting 40 km/h signs but was told they were not possible. However, she later noticed 50 km/h signs had been installed. “I went back three weeks later or something, and he looked at the books and said, ‘Well, there’s a file open from 2022 that we put in. They never closed it.’ We’re figuring it’s when they put the solar light on,” the resident said. The council informed her that her request was still under review due to unresolved issues with a prior inquiry and promised to follow up.
Following the question period, Councillor Jennifer Garfat outlined a series of upcoming community events, emphasizing their importance to local residents. “The Quilt Show will be held at Grace Village, Sept. 6 to 7,” Garfat announced. She also highlighted the Howard Rendezvous in Sherbrooke (Sept. 5 to 8), and the Community Organization Day at Square Queen (Sept. 15).
Additionally, Garfat mentioned events such as the Pumpkin Festival on Sept. 29 and the multidisciplinary festival Art Show on Aug. 31 at Square Queen, adding, “If anybody didn’t get [The Lantern], I would like to know because there should be one delivered to each door in the borough.”
Councilor Guillaume Lirette-Gélinas echoed Garfat’s sentiments and added details about the ongoing Lennoxville Market, “It’s from 10 to 1 every Saturday.” He also stressed the importance of the upcoming urban planning consultations in Sherbrooke this fall, urging residents to stay informed and participate.
Lirette-Gélinas also spoke about the “Car-Free Challenge” in September, encouraging organizations to reduce individual automobile traffic through sustainable means. “There are numerous prizes that are up to grabs, so I strongly encourage everyone to take a look,” he said. (https://www.defisansauto.com/le-d%C3%A9fi-sans-auto-solo)
Borough President Claude Charron concluded the messages with additional community updates. He highlighted a benefit supper and auction hosted by the Lennoxville Curling Club on Sept. 29 and the return of the Art Show 2024, supported by various local sponsors. Charron also mentioned the 56th biennial Dominion Convention for veterans, scheduled for Aug. 28, with a ceremony at the Lennoxville cenotaph on Sept. 8.
Lennoxville Borough Council meetings are made available on YouTube, usually within 72 hours, on the Ville de Sherbrooke YouTube channel.