Photo by William Crooks

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Public Safety Committee in Stanstead held a pivotal meeting May 30, focusing on a comprehensive review of a recent fire incident in the town and laying out a series of future safety measures. The fire last month at an apartment building on Dufferin Street left 16 residents displaced and involved a citizen-led rescue from a second story window before firefighters arrived.

This session was crucial in dissecting the city’s emergency response and pinpointing areas that require enhancements to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. Mayor Jody Stone and General Manager Hughes Ménard reported on the meeting and its results during the town council’s June 10 monthly public gathering.

The May 30 meeting commenced with a thorough post-mortem analysis of the recent fire incident, which had raised significant concerns among the town’s citizens. The committee meticulously examined what aspects of the emergency response were effective and what areas fell short of expectations. This introspective review led to several recommendations aimed at bolstering the city’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

One of the key outcomes of this analysis was the proposal to integrate new members into the Public Safety Committee. These individuals bring critical expertise and hands-on experience in managing emergencies such as fires and other disasters, making them invaluable additions to the committee. Chris Goodsell, the Fire Chief of Station 1, and Mylène Labonté, the Director of the Centre d’action bénévole de Stanstead, were nominated to join the committee.

In addition to enhancing the committee’s composition, plans were laid out for a series of training and simulation exercises. These exercises, to be conducted by an external firm specializing in emergency preparedness, are designed to simulate various emergency scenarios, including fires and chemical spills.

The objective is to create a realistic training environment where committee members can practice their response strategies and improve their coordination and decision-making skills. This hands-on approach will be monitored by the specialized company, ensuring that the exercises are as realistic and beneficial as possible.

Another significant point of discussion was the city’s plan to implement a mass communication system. This system is envisioned as a vital tool for disseminating important information to residents during emergencies. Under this plan, citizens will be invited to voluntarily register their mobile phone numbers or email addresses.

In the event of an emergency, such as a boil water advisory or a road closure, the city will be able to send timely alerts directly to the registered residents via SMS or email. This system aims to enhance communication efficiency and ensure that critical information reaches the public swiftly. The city is currently evaluating various options to select the most effective tool for this purpose and plans to finalize this decision by next month.

Progress on new fire station

In a related development, the city addressed the ongoing project of constructing a new fire station. This project, integral to the city’s infrastructure improvement plans, has encountered some financial and logistical challenges.

Initially, the city committed $1.5 million to the project, covering the operational costs and any additional expenses that might arise. An engineering firm was initially granted $31,050 before taxes to cover the engineering work. However, as the project progressed, several unforeseen issues surfaced.

One major issue was the need for soil capacity tests, which delayed the project. These tests were essential to determine the suitability of the site for construction. Initially, there was hope that the building could be constructed using wood, which would have qualified for additional provincial government subsidies.

However, the soil tests revealed that the site did not meet the required load-bearing capacity, necessitating a shift in construction plans. This change had a ripple effect on the engineering plans, leading to additional costs.

Furthermore, the site for the new fire station is located on Notre-Dame Street, a provincial road, which added another layer of complexity. The city had to negotiate with the Ministry of Transport regarding the access to the road and the drainage issues that would arise from paving a new parking lot.

These negotiations and the required studies caused further delays and additional expenses. As a result, the engineering firm requested an additional $15,520.60 before taxes to cover these unexpected costs. The city council, acknowledging the necessity of these adjustments, approved the additional expenditure to keep the project on track. Despite these challenges, the project is making steady progress, with 75 per cent of the planning phase completed.