BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors (CoM) held its monthly meeting on February 19 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.
New meeting rules
A draft bylaw introducing new rules for MRC meetings was presented and will be voted on at the March CoM meeting. MRC Warden Jane Toller said the goal is to align the meeting management with the municipal code, focusing on order and decorum.
Toller and MRC Director General Kim Lesage outlined the key points:
• Virtual attendance
Mayors can now attend meetings virtually for health or disability reasons. A doctor’s note is required if attending more than three meetings virtually per year. Virtual attendance is allowed only from within Quebec or a neighbouring province. This option is also available for special meetings.
• Agenda
The agenda must be sent to council members at least 72 hours before the meeting. A second question period has been added at the end of the meeting, limited to 10 minutes. Committee reports and correspondence will also be included on the agenda.
• Recording devices
The new bylaw prohibits all filming and photography during meetings. Local media members expressed concern during the scrum about the lack of an exception for them. Warden Toller acknowledged that an exception should be considered.
Audio recordings are allowed under specific conditions.
• Public question period
If time remains after all questions are asked during the designated 30-minute public question period, attendees may ask a second question and a follow-up question until the time is up. The bylaw specifies that “speech must not use offensive or libelous language.”
Public attendees are prohibited from shouting, heckling, singing, making noise, or taking any action likely to disrupt the meeting. Attendees must show respect to council members and others present. The meeting president has the authority to expel anyone who “disrupts order.”
Violations may result in a $200 fine for a first offense and $400 for subsequent offenses.
The bylaw specifies that “speech must not use offensive or libelous language.”
Public attendees are prohibited from shouting, heckling, singing, making noise, or taking any action likely to disrupt the meeting. Attendees must show respect to council members and others present. The meeting president has the authority to expel anyone who “disrupts order.”
Violations may result in a $200 fine for a first offense and $400 for subsequent offenses.
The full bylaw (No. 299-204) is available on the MRC website at:
https://mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/residents/bylaws/
AgriSaveur kitchen
The MRC has secured a commercial kitchen for the AgriSaveur project and will sign a three-year lease starting April 1 at $2,500 per month. Lesage said user fees would cover the rent, and Assistant Director General Terry LaFleur added that the rent could be paid from the second stream of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR 2) if needed.
The fully equipped, 1,250 sq. ft. facility is located on Rue West in Shawville and is owned by Bill Telford. It is ready for immediate use, allowing the project to start without investing in a new building. Users will be able to begin processing non-meat products right away.
While the MRC will lease the facility, it is purchasing the equipment that comes with it for $45,000 using FRR 2 funds. The equipment includes ovens, worktables, an outdoor smoker, kitchen utensils, a dough sheeter, and a meat slicer. Professional inspection of the equipment will occur before the purchase offer is signed.
Coop shuffle
Clarendon Mayor Ed Walsh noted that three executive members of the Coopérative de solidarité AgriSaveur du Pontiac (CSAP) resigned and questioned the impact on the abattoir. He also mentioned that several farmers were expected to attend the meeting regarding the abattoir, but none showed up.
Warden Toller explained that a new executive was elected at a meeting on February 17. She added that one member who had been advising on the project felt their role was complete. During the media scrum, she elaborated, “It’s been a bit challenging to separate the abattoir from AgriSaveur. Our funding from FRR 2 is mainly for AgriSaveur, but it will also benefit the abattoir business.”
The Journal contacted former CSAP Chair William Armitage for comment but received no response before press time.
Lesage announced that the General Manager position for the abattoir would be posted that week, although it was not yet online at press time.
The next CoM meeting is scheduled for March 19.
Photo – The new Youth Council President, Aidan McCann, presents his first report to the CoM on February 19. (BJ)