William Crooks
Members of Stanstead’s town council gathered at town hall for the regular April 14 meeting

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Stanstead’s April 14 public council meeting was a packed and wide-ranging session that touched on everything from housing density to fire hall construction to the town’s growing national and international profile. Presided over by Mayor Jody Stone at the town hall, the meeting drew approximately 10 residents and was also covered by members of the German press.

A central feature of the meeting was the first question period, where residents raised concerns about infrastructure. One resident asked about upcoming work on Pierce Street and expressed frustration with persistent water issues. “There’s also a water problem on the street. The water is blocked and coming back to Rue Stanley,” he noted. Mayor Stone responded that although some asphalt repairs were planned for this summer, a decision on which streets would be prioritized had not yet been made.

The town’s finances also came under review. The financial report showed a significant increase in expenses, with $274,340.57 in accounts payable—$143,000 of which stemmed from the town’s share of the shared fire service. “More than half of that is the fire department,” explained the mayor. Council later confirmed that a special meeting will be held April 29 to finalize the construction mandate and borrowing bylaw for the town’s new fire station. Stone clarified that although the town must approve the borrowing regulation, the project would be financed by the fire department, not from municipal coffers.

Housing development was another major topic. Council unanimously adopted amendments to the zoning bylaw to increase allowable housing density in certain sectors. “We move from eight to twelve dwellings per building,” the mayor explained, particularly in the Dufferin and Rock Island areas. This shift was made possible by recent upgrades to the town’s wastewater treatment plant, which previously restricted growth.

Another housing-related topic was the town’s lingering non-compliance with a provincial requirement to install 65 water meters for residential monitoring. The meters, which are paid for by the town and not used for billing residents, are required in order to maintain access to provincial grants. “They’re just used for leak detection… we’ll have real-time data,” council explained. Only about 30 meters have been installed so far, though work continues.

Council also approved an $850 budget to participate in the annual Stanstead College alumni golf tournament. While symbolic, the mayor said it contributes to the town’s visibility. “They talk about us during the tournament,” he noted.

Visibility and representation were in fact a major theme throughout the meeting. Mayor Stone received council’s support to submit his candidacy to the board of directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The council committed to covering his participation costs if he is elected. “With everything that’s going on… I want to go a little higher, to try to send clear messages,” Stone said. “Stanstead is being talked about around the world. Even in China, there are articles.” He added that his candidacy had also received preliminary support from other local mayors.

The topic of Stanstead’s international reputation also came up in the second question period. Stone confirmed that Vermont politicians had recently reached out, hoping to meet with Stanstead council as part of broader cross-border cooperation. “If anything, we can get our relationships with our close neighbours even stronger from this,” he said.

Local revitalization efforts also continued to advance. Council approved a purchase offer of $100,000 for a vacant building on rue Dufferin near the border crossing. The structure is set to be partially demolished, with plans to convert the remaining foundation into a riverfront observation platform. “Personally, I’m ashamed to say that’s the entrance to Canada in that sector,” said Stone. The project has secured $114,000 in funding from the MRC, with the city contributing an additional $75,000.

Other resolutions passed at the meeting included the creation of a “paysage committee,” which will be integrated into the town’s existing urban planning advisory committee (CCU). The measure was required by the MRC to maintain eligibility for certain development grants.

Two infrastructure maintenance contracts were also approved. One will see the aqueduct system flushed twice a year rather than once to improve water quality and transparency. “It’s primarily to make the water quality better and less brown,” said Stone. The other contract extends the town’s road sweeping agreement with Simon-Maurice Inc. for another three years at $8,000 per year, allowing for earlier and more efficient clean-up of the town’s main roads.

Stanstead’s updated action plan for seniors (MADA 2025–2029) was also adopted, with a formal launch planned for May 2 at the Centre d’Action Bénévole. The plan aims to improve inclusion and quality of life for residents aged 50 and up.

Finally, a bylaw amendment to clarify firearms regulations in rural areas was introduced and will return for adoption in May. The proposed change would allow hunters to carry unloaded firearms or crossbows on their backs in public rural areas without triggering unnecessary interventions. “Even if the police hadn’t done it, we just wanted to make sure the wording was correct,” said Stone.

The meeting ended on a lighter note, with one resident thanking council for their bilingual service and community harmony. “Where else do you get that?” he asked. “We always live in harmony with the Americans.”

The next meeting is set for the second Monday of May.