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2008-12-20: Average property tax increase 10.2%
Property taxes will increase an average of 10.2% in 2009, according to the 2009 budget adopted by Municipal Council last Tuesday. The general tax rate is reduced from $0.70 per $100 of evaluation to $0.58 per $100, while evaluations have increased an average of 33%. However, 67% of properties went up in value less than the average, which means that most taxpayers will see tax increases below the 10.2% average. Mayor Pierre Roy explained that sectors where private roads have been municipalized have seen the greatest increases, thus raising the average. The tax rate for the Sureté du Québec remains unchanged at $0.14 per $100 despite the increased evaluations, as the Municipality's contribution increases by $237,745 to $952,863. Garbage and recycling collection will increase by $40 per lodging. The overall budget rises from $7,620,594 to $8,346,552, an increase of 9.5%. Communiqué budget 2009 (in French)

2008-11-20: New Board for the Chamber
At its Annual General Meeting yesterday, the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Saint Adolphe d'Howard elected its Board of Directors for 2008-09. The new Board consists of Albert DiFruscio (individual member), President; Jean-Guy Pagé (Récréation Centrale), Vice-President; Sylvain St-Hilaire (Ingénat), Treasurer; Louise Quennevile (Vitrerie Ste-Agathe), Secretary; Claude Charbonneau (Atome Électrique); Guy Dubuc (Courtier du Village); Paul Ladouceur (P.L. Graphique); Pierre Poisson (Muroc) and Ann Robert (Assurances Marcel Godin et Fils).

2008-11-07: Corriveau confirms resignation
In a communiqué dated yesterday, Diane Corriveau has confirmed her resignation form Municipal Council, as presented in a letter last spring (see News 2008-04-18). Mrs. Corriveau stated that this decision, while difficult, was supported by the "[translation] attitude and comportment of the Vision St-Adolphe Council members who... confirmed my allegations." In the communiqué, Mrs. Corriveau extended thanks to several people she worked with during her term as Councillor.

2008-10-25: Volunteer of the Year: Nicole Desharnais
At the Volunteer Tribute Evening  last night at Mont Avalanche, Nicole Desharnais was named Volunteer of the Year 2008. Mrs. Desharnais is active in the Health Co-op, the Walking Club, blood pressure testing, the Church Choir, and is Treasurer of the Association of Lac de la Montagne.
The other finalists were Nicole Desrosiers, of the Circle of Farmwomen, Yolande Dubuc, active in the Lions Club and a volunteer with the Great Wine-Tasting Festival and the vestry, Daniel Landry, active in the Outdoors Club and the Association of Lac Bois-Franc, and Yves Trempe, former President of the Chamber of Commerce and previously a Municipal Councillor. Last year's recipient was Michel Theriault, then President of the APEL Ste-Marie, Vice-President of the Great Wine-Tasting Festival, and member of the Board of the Horticultural Society.

2008-10-03: Pierre Roy responds to councillors
In a communique dated October 1, Mayor Pierre Roy has accepted the decision of the four Municipal Councillors elected with his Vision team to sit as independents (see News 2008-09-24), [translations] "given our differences of opinion in at least three important issues." Mayor Roy cited disagreements concerning the protection of the environment and the completion of the request for restrictions on navigation, as well as his refusal of a request by Councillor Robert Gauthier to attempt to erase a debt owed to the municipality by a group of property owners, including the Mayor and Mr. Gauthier, as a result of judgements upholding the land tax (see News 2008-07-31 and 2008-02-12). Mayor Roy expressed doubts about Mr. Gauthier's pledge to ensure harmony within Council, saying "the statements and actions of Mr. Gauthier suggest that his personal interests are above those of the Municipality," and added, "I will continue to represent the Municipality of Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard with all the dedication and integrity that you know of me."

2008-09-24: Vision Councillors quit team
In a communique released today, Municipal Councillor Robert Gauthier announced that he and Councillors Michelle Beaudoin, Duncan Howard, and Lise Villeneuve are quitting Mayor Pierre Roy's Vision team and will sit as independent Councillors until the November 2009 election. The communique cited [translations] "the inability of Mayor Roy to make difficult decisions," and "hasty decisions without consulting members of his team," among the reasons for their action. Mr. Gauthier added that "all efforts will be made to ensure harmony within the Council and that he and his colleagues enter the final year of their mandate with an open mind, in the best interest of the people of Saint-Adolphe!"

2008-07-31: No appeal on land tax
In a judgement made public today, the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed with costs an application for leave to appeal the judgement of the Quebec Court of Appeal rendered on February 8, 2008, which ruled that the municipality's land tax was legal. (See News 2008-02-12) The Supreme Court does not give its reasons when leave to appeal is rejected.
The tax, which was imposed in 2004 and 2005, was contested by a group of large property owners, including current Mayor Pierre Roy and current Councillor Robert Gauthier; under the direction of current Councillor Duncan Howard. The three withdrew their participation in the case following their election in November 2005.

2008-06-26: New President for the Chamber
Former Municipal Councillor Yves Trempe has resigned as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Saint Adolphe d'Howard, citing health reasons in a letter dated June 17. President since December 2007, Mr. Trempe led the Chamber in a more active direction, playing a greater role in the promotion of new businesses, and leading the campaign against the purchase of the former Caisse Populaire building by the municipality this past winter (see News 2008-02-01). The new President is Albert Di Fruscia, who has been a member of the Administrative Council since December and Vice-President since February. A permanent resident of Saint-Adolphe since 1972, Mr. Di Fruscia was a Muncipal Councillor from 1976 to 1988, as well as Past President and a founding member of the Lions Club. He said that he intends to continue to lead the Chamber in the direction embarked upon by Mr. Trempe, actively promoting its members and defending their interests.

2008-06-06: Waters Sports Association denounces new measures
In a communiqué released today, the Association des sports nautiques des lacs St-Joseph et Ste-Marie denounces new measures adopted by the Roy Administration regarding nautical security and access to navigable waterways in Saint-Adolphe, including the recent price increases for access stickers, and the request to the Minister of Public Security for the right to hire special constables to replace the Sûreté du Québec on the lakes, "with the goal of distributing tickets and pursuing its interventions of a repressive nature." The association reiterates "its opposition to the adoption of these coercive and expensive measures, which will only serve to increase the level of dissatisfaction on Adolphins," as well as "its offer to collaborate with the municipality to intensify the campaign of education, awareness and conciliation among boaters initiated by the Association a few years ago."

2008-05-17: Council meetings on Tuesdays
At last night's regular meeting, Municipal Council adopted an amendment to the regulation governing Council meetings in order to move the regular meeting from the 3rd Friday of each month to the 3rd Tuesday, except in December, which will be the 2nd Tuesday. At the April meeting, Mayor Pierre Roy announced that meetings would be moved to Thursdays. He cited administrative reasons for the change. Council also eliminated the question period at the beginning of the meeting; there will be a single question period of 30 minutes at the end, which the Mayor can extend by 30 minutes. The changes take effect in June.

2008-04-29: Boat ramp fees increase
At a special meeting tonight, Muncipal Council increased the fees for access to the municipal boat ramps. The first motorized craft remains at $80, a second craft at the same address increases from $80 to $160, and each additional craft increases from $100 to $200. The fees for personal watercraft, which were previously the same as other craft, are now $160 each. The Council cited a drop in revenue from sticker sales in 2007, and the implementation of the municipal patrol, as the reasons for the increases

2008-04-19: 1st question period to be cut
At last night's City Council meeting, a notice of motion was given to amend the rules governing council meetings in order to eliminate the first question period and to change the day of Council meetings from Friday to Thursday. Currently, there is a general question period near the beginning of the meeting, and a question period relating to items on the agenda at the end of the meeting. Under the new rules, there would be a single question period at the end of the meeting. Mayor Pierre Roy said he did not see any contradiction between the elimination of a question period and his 2005 campaign promise of a "real right of speech for citizens at Council meetings." If the proposals are adopted at the May Council meeting, they should take effect in June.

2008-04-18: Corriveau to stay until November
At tonight's City Council meeting, Diane Corriveau submitted her letter of resignation (see News Item 2008-04-11), which will take effect in November 2008 in order to avoid a by-election to replace her. (A by-election is not required if a vacancy occurs less than 12 months before the next regular election, which will be held Novmeber 1, 2009.) Mrs. Corriveau has resumed responsibility for the 125th Anniversary celebrations.

2008-04-11: Diane Corriveau to resign
In a letter addressed to co-citizens dated April 9 and distributed by mail today, independent Councillor Diane Corriveau announces that [translations] "I seriously intend to formally submit my resignation at the next meeting of Council." After losing responsibility for communications in March "following the denunciation of the autocratic and outdated management style of our mayor and deputy mayor at that time," Mrs. Corriveau was advised by the Director-General last Monday that responsibility for the 125th Anniversary would return to Councillor Lise Villeneuve, "who, as soon as I arrived and in agreement with the mayor, gave me this file quietly, on the pretext of her heavy workload and lack of time." Mrs. Corriveau also cites attempts to "muzzle" her and Councillor Danielle Pilon, as well as "meetings on the sly", adding that "this type of conduct is totally ridiculous, childish, and malicious," and concludes with the statement that "My limits of what is acceptable have been reached." (See News Items 2008-02-22, 2008-02-29 and 2008-03-05)

2008-04-01: Big changes to question period
Today, the Mayor announced major changes to City Council's question period, "in order to better serve our vision of transparency." All questions must now be submitted in writing two weeks before the Council meeting to allow the municipality's lawyers enough time to find grounds to declare them irreceivable. Any questions about anything that may offend or criticize anybody will also be banned. The mayor justified the changes by saying that "it is intolerable that a small group of rabble-rousers use the question period to voice complaints about the perfect work of our Administration," and added that, "these changes will allow us to move closer to the Chinese model of democracy that we aspire to." Full text of changes.

2008-03-14: Roy team walks out of meeting
Tonight's monthly Municipal Council meeting came to an abrupt end when Mayor Pierre Roy and the two members present of his Vision team, Robert Gauthier and Duncan Howard, walked out during question period, before the regular monthly business of Council could be dealt with. The incident occurred when the Mayor refused to hear a question from Guy Bourbeau, husband of independent Councillor Diane Corriveau, and Mr. Bourbeau continued speaking. Text of the question (in French).
The meeting will continue at 19:30 on Thursday, March 20, at City Hall.

2008-03-05: Threat of lawsuit
In a letter from her lawyers dated February 29, independent Councillor Diane Corriveau demands a retraction from Councillor Robert Gauthier of comments he expressed in a communique last week (see New 2008-02-29). The letter accuses Mr. Gauthier of [translations] "false, defamatory and slanderous remarks" which "cause considerable harm to the reputation of (Mrs. Corriveau) as a Municipal Councillor," and threatens legal action if Mr. Gauthier does not issue a retraction and an apology.

2008-02-29: "...disloyal to Council..."
In a communique distributed this week, Municipal Councillor Robert Gauthier of Mayor Pierre Roy`s Vision Saint-Adolphe team accused independent councillor Diane Corriveau of [translations] "statements disloyal to Municipal Council" in a letter distributed last week (see News 2008-02-22). Mr. Gauthier added that the four Vision councillors and their mayor "intend to maintain solidarity to give our citizens an honest, accessible and dynamic municipal administration."

2008-02-22: "...a misused and negative power..."
In a letter addressed to co-citizens on February 21, independent Municipal Councillor Diane Corriveau criticized the Mayor and [translations] "his right arm" for their leadership style, and cited a culture of "putting out fires" and "we don`t have time," as well as a "misused and negative centralization of power." Mrs. Corriveau, who was elected in a by-election last September, added that she will "take a period of profound reflection on the orientation of my political future."

2008-02-15: School break activities cancelled
In a communique yesterday, the after-school activity centre Les Petits Dolphins announced the cancellation of all activities during the school break due to the tardiness of administrative decisions on the part of the municipality. According to the communique, the non-profit organization no longer has enough time to organize and publicize a succesful week.
During the past five years, an average of 40 children and teens per day participated in activities that included ski days at Mont-Avalanche, trips to the movies, swimming at Mont-Tremblant, and a day of hip-hop and video games at the centre.

2008-02-13: "Astounded by the incoherence of the Mayor"
In a communique dated February 10, Normand Beaulieu, former organizer of Vision Saint-Adolphe, said he was "[translation] disgusted by the attitude of the Mayor who let down all those who massively supported him" and that "after two years in office, Pierre Roy has not yet understood that his role as Mayor is to communicate and to bring people together around a clear vision ... " In the communique, Mr. Beaulieu, who played a key role in the election of the Mayor and four candidates of the Vision team in November 2005, hints at a candidacy in the November 2009 elections, but makes no official announcement.

2008-02-12: Land tax legal: Court of Appeal
In a unanimous judgement rendered on February 8, 2008, the Honourable Justices Paul-Arthur Gendreau JCA, Francois Doyon JCA, and Marie-France Bich JCA of the Quebec Court of Appeal, upheld the judgement of Superior Court of November 11, 2005, that the municipality's land tax was legal. The tax, which was imposed in 2004 and 2005, was contested by a group of large property owners, including current Mayor Pierre Roy and current Councillor Robert Gauthier; under the direction of current Councillor Duncan Howard. The three withdrew their participation in the case following their election in November 2005. The judgements are available at www.jugements.qc.ca. (Do a plain text research with the file number 700-17-001939-049)

2008-02-01: Purchase of the Caisse Pop subject to referendum
The register to force a referendum on the purchase of the former Caisse Populaire building by the municipality (see News 2008-01-18) was signed by 629 people at City Hall today, 85% more than the 340 required. At its next meeting, the municipal council can either set a referendum date or withdraw the loan bylaw.

2008-01-18: Purchase of the Caisse Pop: Register on February 1
At its regular meeting tonight, Municipal Council adopted a loan bylaw in the amount of $584,850 for the purchase and renovation of the former Caisse Populaire building in order to relocate the municipal library. A register will be held at City Hall from 9:00 to 19:00 on February 1; if 340 or more eligible voters sign the register, the loan bylaw will be subject to approval by referendum. PUBLIC NOTICE (in French)

Revised: 2009-06-17