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2007-12-19: Property taxes
to increase 10.5%
In the 2008 budget adopted by municipal council last
night, property taxes will go up $0.08 per $100 of evaluation in
2008, to $0.70 per $100 plus a Sureté du Quebec tax of $0.14 per
$100, for a total of $0.84 per $100. This is an increase of 10.5%
over the rate for 2007, which was $0.76 per $100 including $0.13
per $100 for the police. There will be a new tax of $10 per
evaluation unit for Mont Avalanche, which was supported by 69% of
voters in a referendum September 16. Most other taxes will remain
the same. Total spending is budgeted at $7,620,594, an increase
of 7% over the projected amount for 2007.
2007-12-06: New Board for
the Chamber of Commerce
At its Annual General Meeting yesterday, the Chamber of
Commerce and Tourism of Saint Adolphe d'Howard elected its Board
of Directors for 2007-08. The new Board consists of Yves Trempe
(individual member), President; Hélène Grenier (Espace Bell),
Vice-President; Sylvain St-Hilaire (Ingénat, Genie Conseil),
Treasurer; Louise Quennevile (individual member), Secretary;
Sophie Brunet (Alain Audet Paysagiste); Claude Charbonneau (Atome
Électrique); Albert DiFruscio (individual member); Cynthia
Millette (Assurances Marcel Godin et Fils); et Jean-Guy Pagé
(Recreation Centrale). The members gave a standing ovation to
outgoing president Richard Bessette, and his predecessor,
Francois Belair, who is leaving the Board after 6 years
2007-12-02: Michel
Theriault named Volunteer of the Year
At the annual volunteer brunch held this morning at Mont
Avalanche, Michel Theriault was named Volunteer of the Year. Mr.
Theriault has been the President of APEL Ste-Marie since 2005, a
member of the Board of Directors of the Horticultural Society
since 2005 (he is currently Vice-President), as well as
Vice-President of the 2007 Great Wine-Tasting Festival.
The other finalists were Richard Bessette, President of the
Chamber of Commerce, and Richard Daoust, President of the Health
Co-op and a former municipal councillor. Last year's recipient
was Sylvain Forget, then President of Mont-Avalanche Sports
Station.
2007-11-22: 25% raise for
Mayor and Councillors
At its meeting of November 16, 2007, the Municipal
Council approved a draft by-law that will increase remuneration
and expense accounts for the Mayor and Councillors by 25%,
retroactive to January 1, 2007. The Mayor's remuneration will
increase from $16,704 to $21,000, while his expense account will
go from $8,300 to $10,500. The Mayor receives additional
remuneration of $9,027 from the MRC des Pays-d'en-Haut.
Councillors' remuneration will increase from $5,574 to $7,000,
and their expense accounts from $2,790 to $3,500. The pro-mayor
will receive an additional $2,790, and the councillors will
receive an additional $1,260 for their participation on
committees.
The current amounts represent an increase of 11% for inflation
since the adoption of the previous by-law in 2002. The new
amounts, which will also be indexed to the annual inflation rate,
represent a total increase of 40% over the amounts set in 2002.
The regulation is expected to be adopted at the Council meeting
of December 14, 2007.
2007-11-05: New Board of
Directors for Mont Avalanche
At its annual general meeting on October 28,
Mont-Avalanche Sports Station elected its new board of directors.
Representing the Chamber of Commerce are Gilles Godin (who is
also the new President) and Yves Trempe, representing the
municipality are Michel Binette and Michèle Beaudoin, and
Geneviève Sirois is the new user/member representative. The
administration expressed a big thanks to outgoing president
Sylvain Forget for his years of dedication to the station.
2007-10-18:
Roy Administration's expertise rejected... again
In a unanimous decision
rendered in Quebec Court of Appeal today, the honourable judges France Thibault J.C.A.,
André Rochon J.C.A. and Yves-Marie Morissette J.C.A., rejected
the Roy Administration's appeal of a Superior Court
decision rendered February 27, 2007, which rejected an expert report
submitted in defense of by-laws restricting access to the lakes.
(see News
2007-03-12) In today`s
decision, the Honourable Justice Thibault states:
"[translation] To authorize the filing of this expert report
would have the effect of diverting the litigation from its real
objective, and to allow it to engage in the environmental
question. But it is not this issue which is at the heart of the
debate. (...) It is rather to examine the measures imposed by the
appellant and to decide whether these restrict navigation on the
waterways concerned."
The report was prepared by the firm Option Environnement last
fall at a cost of $14,341.18.
Chalets St. Adolphe, a tourist lodging establishment in
Saint Adolphe d'Howard, is contesting the regulations
before Superior Court because they impede its clients' right
to navigate on Lakes St. Joseph and Ste. Marie, a restriction
that falls under federal jurisdiction. The company is represented
in the case by Me. Luc Gratton of the firm Miller Thomson
Pouliot. Me. Gratton won a precedent setting case in 2005
concerning Lake Becs-Scie in Saint Sauveur.
2007-09-16: Strong support
for Mont Avalanche
In today's consultative referendum, 68.8% of voters
agreed with the proposal to impose a tariff of $10 per evaluation
unit to support the operations and infrastructures of Mont
Avalanche. Results
2007-09-16: Diane
Corriveau elected to Council
Candidate Diane Corriveau has won today's by-election
for Municipal Council seat #4, with 561 votes against 498 votes
for Pierre Lauzon, a majority of 63 votes. Results
2007-09-14: Pierre Lauzon responds to Mayor's comments
In a communique addressed
to Mayor Pierre Roy today,
candidate Pierre Lauzon denounces the Mayor's remarks in an article in L'Information
du Nord to
be published tomorrow, already posted on the weekly's web site.
In his communique, Mr. Lauzon expresses doubts of the Mayor's
claim that he does not support any candidate, and he accuses the
Mayor of confusing disagreement with confrontation.
2007-08-29: Referendum on
a tax for Mont Avalanche
At a special meeting last night, the Municipal Council
unanimously approved a consultative referendum on the following
question [unofficial translation]:
Do you agree that in order to preserve the current
infrastructures and to support the operations of the
Mont-Avalanche Sports Station (SSMA), the Municipality imposes a
tariff of ten dollars ($10.00) per evaluation unit (tax account)
and this for the next three (3) years, that is to say 2008, 2009,
and 2010, if necessary?
The referendum will be held in conjunction with the Council
by-election on September 16, with the advance poll on September
9.
2007-08-25: Two candidates
in by-election
At the close of nominations yesterday, two residents have
presented themselves as independent candidates in the by-election
to fill the Council seat vacated by the resignation of Yves
Trempe on May 18. The two are Diane Corriveau, resident of the
Lacs Boisés sector, and Pierre Lauzon, resident in the village.
The Vision team of Mayor Pierre Roy has not presented an official
candidate. The election will be held on September 16, with the
advance poll on September 9.
2007-05-24: Water Sports
Association denounces Mayor's comments
In a press release on May
22, the Association des
sports nautiques des lacs St-Joseph et Ste-Marie denounced
comments made by Mayor Pierre Roy, who recently accused the
Association of mounting a campaign of misinformation, based on a
passage in an email addressed by the Association's President to
members of the municipality's Nautical Consultative Committee.
The Association contends that the passage was cited out of
context. In the press release, the Association encourages boaters
to respect federal regulations in force, and reiterates its
appraoch based on self-regulation and its code of ethics.
2007-05-18: Yves Trempe
resigns from municipal council
Yves Trempe resigned from Municipal Council in a letter deposited a half-hour before the opening
of the council meeting of May 18. In the letter, Mr. Trempe
reproaches Mayor Pierre Roy for his lack of transparence, and
adds that "[translation] the current atmosphere no longer
allows me to be efficient and objective and this situation
directly affects my family." Mr. Trempe was elected in a
by-election in January 2004 and re-elected in the general
election of November 2005. A by-election must be held no later
than September 23, 2007.
2007-04-23: New urban
development plan
At its regular meeting of April 20, the Municipal Council adopted
several draft by-laws related to the new urban development
plan. A public
consultation will be held at 19:00 on May 11 at the Recreation
Centre. The document is available for consultation at City Hall
and is posted on the municipal web site. Copies may be ordered
for $35.
2007-04-15: Petition to
keep Caisse Populaire open
A petition is now circulating to ask the Caisse
populaire de Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts to keep its Saint Adolphe
service centre open, in response to reports in local media that
the branch may be closed. The petition is available to sign at
Boni-Soir/Ultramar, Marché St-Adolphe, Resto-Pub Motel
St-Adolphe, Salon Koko, and Electricien Claude Beaulé.
2007-03-23:
Boating restrictions application suspended by Transport Canada (updated
2007-03-30)
The Roy Administration's boating restrictions
application is effectively suspended, according to a letter from Mme.
Lucie Vezina of the Office
of Boating Safety - Quebec Region (BSN-RQ) addressed to Mayor
Pierre Roy on December 7, 2006. In the letter, Mrs. Vezina
advises the Mayor that the BSN-RQ "[translation] has
received various information... from people preoccupied with the
file and this, following the consultations. Upon reading these
documents, we note inconsistencies between the direction of the
suggested solutions and the definition of problems. In light of
this information, we recommend a profound review of the need for
restrictions by (the municipality)... Following this, the BSN-RQ
will be in a position to examine the file..."
Previously, in an email date November
9, 2006, Mrs. Vezina
advised the administration "[translation] that certain
stages of the process are incomplete or missing and/or do not
meet the Federal regulatory policy."
The boating restrictions application was prepared by Option
Environnement Inc. at a cost of $13,070.00.
According to information provided by the municipality, the Roy
Administration has not yet responded to the two corresondences.
2007-03-12:
Roy Administration`s expert report rejected at Superior Court
In a decision rendered on
February 27 at Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Jean Crépeau,
J.C.S. rejected an expert report submitted by the Roy
Administration in its defense of the by-laws restricting access
to the lakes. The report, prepared by the firm Option Environment
Inc. at a cost of $14,341.18 (according to invoices provided by
the municipality), addresses the efficacity of the by-laws
[translation]"to ensure the protection of the environment of
the territory."
In his decision, the judge noted that [translation] "The
present litigation addresses a constitutional question, namely:
'the regulatory powers of the defendant municipality in matters
of navigation'" and that "to introduce to the debate
the efficacity of this regulation constitutes a major deviation
that may cause a procedural derailment that will drag the parties
into an endless debate."
Chalets St. Adolphe is contesting the regulations
before Superior Court because they impede its clients' right
to navigate on Lakes St. Joseph and Ste. Marie, a restriction
that falls under federal jurisdiction. The company is represented
in the case by Me. Luc Gratton and Me. Mélissa Paquin of
the firm Miller Thomson Pouliot. Me. Gratton won a precedent
setting case in 2005 concerning Lake Becs-Scie in Saint Saveur.
2006-12-06: Chamber of
Commerce excluded from environment committee
At the City Council meeting of November 17, the Roy
Administration announced the composition of the new environmental
committee: the environment inspector, a city councillor, and five
members of environmental groups. The nomination of Mr. Sylvain
Saint-Hilaire by the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Saint
Adolphe d'Howard was rejected by the councillor responsible,
despite the promise of Mayor Pierre Roy during the 2005 election
to include the Chamber in any consultative committee.
Revised: 2009-04-05