William Crooks
Stanstead council members, led by Mayor Jody Stone, addressed a full agenda on June 9, including infrastructure upgrades, zoning adjustments, and heritage promotion initiatives

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Stanstead’s municipal council tackled a wide range of issues during its regular June 9 meeting, from delayed web updates and development fees to a cross-border trash dispute and local zoning frustrations. Presided over by Mayor Jody Stone, the meeting drew about seven residents, including a concerned neighbour from Derby Line, Vermont.

A large portion of the meeting focused on concerns brought forward during the question period. Frank Davis, a Derby Line resident, raised the issue of an unsightly accumulation of garbage at the entrance to the customs station on the Canadian side of Caswell Avenue. Although the trash is in Stanstead, Davis said he believed it originated from American tenants trying to avoid private garbage pickup fees across the border.

“Frankly, it doesn’t look good,” Davis said, offering to help clean it up himself. “If I hear positive things on your side, [I’ll] bring it to the trustees of Derby Line and the town of Derby.”

Mayor Stone responded with historical context and acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. Because the building straddles the border, its Canadian side receives municipal trash pickup, which residents from the U.S. side have allegedly abused. “We are somewhat obliged, if not completely obliged, to offer the service to that particular building,” he said. Stanstead has already taken steps to manually clean the area but is considering fines or service changes. “We just want to make sure it’s clean,” said Stone. “That’s all we want.”

Another lengthy exchange involved a request to waive or refund a parkland fee paid during a property subdivision. A local resident was surprised to learn he owed the fee, which is typically 5 per cent of the land value. Mayor Stone explained that while council agreed the charge discouraged housing development, “we’re not sure if we’re legally allowed” to issue a refund for past projects. The town is awaiting legal advice on both the reimbursement and regulatory changes to abolish the fee going forward.

One resident raised concerns about a property line dispute related to fencing and zoning limits. The issue involved old infrastructure, possibly dating to the 1940s, and a lack of clear boundary markers. Town officials confirmed they were investigating but noted they lacked an in-house surveyor and wanted to avoid overstepping legal boundaries.

A separate resident asked why council minutes and agendas were not regularly posted online. Town staff admitted the website had fallen behind and said they were working on updating the necessary documents.

There was also a question about an amendment to firearms regulations. Stone explained that the original bylaw had prohibited residents from crossing the street with an unloaded, uncased hunting firearm. The new language would allow that under reasonable and safe conditions.

In regular business, council passed multiple resolutions. Among them:

• The hiring of part-time municipal inspector, a former inspector for Coaticook and Sherbrooke, to help clear the backlog of permit applications.
• The renewal of a summer contract with a municipal employee to handle park and building maintenance.
• Approval of a $42,811 backup pump purchase for the Rock Island wastewater treatment plant, deemed essential for emergency preparedness.
• Adoption of a bylaw change clarifying rules around the carrying of firearms in public.
• Acceptance of an $809 software migration cost as part of a portal upgrade used by notaries, agents, and legal staff.
• A motion to authorize the potential sale of properties for unpaid taxes, though council noted that most major debts had already been resolved and that payment arrangements were encouraged.

Council also approved participation in the Balado Découverte platform, a digital heritage and tourism initiative, through a $7,500 grant application and a conditional $11,611 contract. The initial rollout will include a walking tour of 24 historic sites across Stanstead with accompanying photos, text, and audio guides.

Other approved motions included support for minor zoning variances and the appointment of Greg Duncan to the town’s Urbanism Consultative Committee.

Mayor Stone closed the meeting by updating residents on several ongoing initiatives. He reported steady progress on the town’s website updates, staff recruitment, and legal consultations. He also noted that construction of the new firehall had officially begun, and public works crews had finished sweeping roads and were preparing for summer asphalt repairs and dirt road upgrades, including applications for infrastructure grants. “We budget $100,000 a year [for paving],” he said, adding that he hoped to increase that amount without overly burdening taxpayers.

In his closing remarks, Stone also mentioned a recent trip to the National Assembly, where he raised the issue of the local SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) being at risk of closure. He said the building was considered too large for current use and could be shut down, but he is lobbying for a solution. “We want to keep our SAQ,” he said, noting the town’s efforts to explore options with the provincial government.

The mayor also praised the upcoming launch of the day camp and encouraged families to register. “We have a lot of history, and people are fascinated by the story of Stanstead,” he said, referring to the upcoming podcast-style walking tour. “It deserves to be heard and seen.”

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for July.