Summary of the September 7, 2021 Town Council Meeting

The municipal council meeting was held in public on Tuesday, September 7 at the Saint-André church in Sutton. It was recorded and broadcast on our YouTube Channel. The minutes of the official meeting (in French only) are also available on our website.

The Mayor spoke about water and informed that the situation is not critical, our reserves being adequate, but we must continue our good water saving practices.

BY-LAWS:

Tabling of 3 draft by-laws:

  • Bylaw number 117-3-2021 entitled “Bylaw modifying the construction bylaw number 117 as amended, in order to remove the application of the National Building Code”: the objective is to no longer make municipal officials accountable for the respect of the Building Code, since they do not have the skills unlike architects.
  • By-law number 251-4-2021 entitled “By-law amending the Permits and Certificates By-law number 251 as amended, in order to add elements to the required information and documents, and to specify paragraph 10) of article 53”: the purpose is to clarify all the documents required when applying for a permit or certificate.
  • By-law number 313 entitled “By-law concerning the increase of the working capital”: the council wishes to increase $800,000 of the working capital which has been at $645,000 for many years; this does not mean spending the whole amount, but having more leeway and flexibility for the implementation of projects.

Adoption of 2 by-laws:

  • By-law number 210-7-2020 entitled “By-law amending Appendix A of by-law number 210 (RM 330) concerning traffic and parking, as amended”: its purpose is to be able to review and harmonize signage, particularly of stops, which remains a great concern to citizens.
  • By-law number RM 460 entitled “By-law concerning peace, order and nuisances”.

TOWN STAFF

  • Council confirmed the permanent hiring of:
    • Ms. Isabelle Capmas to the position of Communications Coordinator.
    • Ms. Sophie Patry to the position of Foreman.
  • Council noted the termination of employment of Mr. Alain Beauregard, Urban Planning and Development Advisor.
  • Council confirmed the salary adjustment of the Public Works Department managers who were working 40 hours but were only paid 35 hours.
  • Following the resignation of a skilled labourer and a temporary skilled labourer, council approved the hiring of a labourer and permission to hire additional labourers.
  • Council extended the service agreement for First Responder Coordinator Marie-France Lépine to February 28, 2022, and for her assistant, Jean-Benoit Pommerleau, to November 30, 2021.

FINANCES

  • The Board authorized 3 lines of credit: this standard accounting procedure allows for the temporary financing of expenditures pending permanent financing
    • A line of credit of $262,470 for Maple Street sewer protection expenditures (By-law #302)
    • A line of credit of $488,192 for paving expenses on Mountain Street (By-law No. 304)
    • A line of credit of $2,613,601.35 for rehabilitation of Scenic Road between Schweizer Road and Old Notch Road and the replacement of 17 culverts on Scenic Road and Alderbrooke Road (By-law No. 310)
  • The council authorized the payment of the 2nd instalment of the 2021 financial contribution of $80,000 to the Sutton Economic Development Corporation.
  • The external auditor contract for the fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023 was awarded to the firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in Cowansville. 
  • Council authorized an additional $20,000 for the purchase of traffic signs and speed limiters.
  • Council authorized the submission of 2 applications for financial assistance to the Ministry of Transportation within the framework of the Local Roads Assistance Program:
    • One for work to be done on Réal Road
    • One for work to be done on Draper, North Sutton, Vallée-Missisquoi, Schweizer and Favreau roads
  • Council authorized the allocation of $21,525 from the Park Fund for work to secure the playgrounds at Goyette-Hill and Gagné parks [the work was done first at Goyette-Hill Park].
  • Council approved the awarding of the contract to repair Scenic Road and drainage work on Alderbrooke Road to the company Denexo for an amount of $1,663,069.16 excluding taxes.
  • Council approved the purchase of a 1500 gallon tanker truck and a 2000 gallon pumper truck with tanker for $1,588,425: due to general price increases, the amount exceeds the total amount of the borrowing by-law by approximately $50,000, net taxes included.

OTHER

  • A request for advice to the Town of Sutton’s toponymy committee was submitted to study the naming of a future public square hosting a petanque court.
  • Council authorized the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Nature Conservancy of Canada concerning the development of new trails in the Mount Echo sector.
  • Council authorized the signing of an agreement with Hydro-Quebec for the application of adhesive film on electrical transformers located on the Blue Muse route.
  • Council authorized the signing of a commercial lease to move the first responder service to 54 Principale Street North as of October 1st.
  • Regarding the complaints against dogs on Morgan Road, the Mayor confirmed the visit of a veterinarian to assess the dangerousness of the animals and that a letter has been sent to the owner to request that he complies with the municipal by-law. The file is ongoing. 

Details of the decisions regarding all the urban planning applications, as well as the other items on the agenda, are available online in the complete minutes of the September 7, 2021 meeting (in French only).

Publications