WINTER 2017 Volume 58 VilledeMercier Word from your mayoress...p.3

Transcription

1 Word from your mayoress...p.3 WINTER 2017 Volume 58 Mayor s report on the financial situation...p.4-6 Municipal services... p.6-7 Special events...p.8 VilledeMercier

2 NEWS FROM THE COUNCIL Mayor s Cabinet and Town Council Ext. 250 Ms. Lise Michaud Mayoress lise.michaud@ville.mercier.qc.ca M. Stéphane Roy Councillor district 1 stephane.roy@ville.mercier.qc.ca Ms. Johanne Anderson Councillor district 2 johanne.anderson@ville.mercier.qc.ca Ms. Anik Sauvé Councillor district anik.sauve@ville.mercier.qc.ca Ms. Philippe Drolet Councillor district philippe.drolet@ville.mercier.qc.ca M. Louis Cimon Councillor district louis.cimon@ville.mercier.qc.ca M. Martin Laplaine Councillor district 6 martin.laplaine@ville.mercier.qc.ca MUNICIPAL SERVICES Town Hall 869 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd., 2nd floor, Mercier, Québec J6R 2L info@ville.mercier.qc.ca Monday-Thursday 8:30am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:30pm; Friday 8:00am-12:00pm General Management Ext. 250 Urban Planning and Environment Ext. 240 (application for permit, traffic, regulation) Finances Ext. 230 (collection, taxation and assessment) Town Clerk Ext. 252 Communications Ext. 235 Human Resources Ext. 239 Recreation, culture and community life Ext. 249 Library Ext , Parc St. Public works/eco-centre option 5* 485 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd. * Also dial this number in case of urgent problems concerning roads and municipal infrastructures (aqueduct, sewers, etc.) outside municipal services opening hours. Monday-Thursday 8:30am-12:00pm and 1:00 pm-4:30pm; Friday 8:00am-noon PUBLIC MEETINGS Citizens are invited to attend the next public meetings in the Town Hall Council Room: Tuesday, December 13 8:00pm Video recordings of Council meetings are available at To subscribe to the and/or telephone list to be notified of a special meeting, please write to: direction.greffe@ville.mercier.qc.ca or call us at ext Fire safety Ext Saint-Joseph St. The Info Mercier municipal bulletin is published by the Town of Mercier Legal deposit: Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec Circulation: 5,200 copies 3 INFO MERCIER

3 WORD FROM YOUR MAYORESS Dear citizens, It is with great pride that I address you today. Indeed, all the members of the Town Council are pleased to present to you a report on some matters which have greatly progressed during the year now ending. First, beginning summer 2017, Mercier firefighters will have a new building to house the fire station. Please note that 86% of the building s financing is assumed by provincial and federal governmental aid and that the remaining 14% will be paid by the Town of Mercier from the accumulated surplus. In short, there will be no impact on future citizen taxes in relation to this purchase. We should also mention that our firefighters also take on the role of first responders in the town territory. We see these services as essential to our community. In addition to construction of the building to house the fire station, the Town Council proceeded with purchase of a building that will house our Mercier municipal police department. Purchase of this building is also entirely assumed by the accumulated town surplus and will have no impact on future Mercier citizen taxes. In addition to these purchases, we would like to report that the Town of Mercier s long-term debt decreased by $5,247,200 over 3½ years. In conclusion, a lot of misinformation about the establishment of our municipal police force was conveyed by the Chateauguay police union and it is for this reason that, beginning from the start of 2017, information and exchange sessions will be organized for Mercier citizens only. The new Mercier Chief of Police will participate in these evenings to answer all your questions and concerns. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a great holiday season, with lots of fun among family and friends and I wish you all a year 2017 full of health and happiness! Lise Michaud mayoress INFO MERCIER 4

4 IMPORTANT ISSUES MAYOR S REPORT on the FINANCIAL SITUATION In accordance with the provisions of section of the Cities and Towns Act, I am pleased to present the report on the Town de Mercier s financial situation. Here are the points we will address: > the 2015 financial report; > preliminary indications of financial results for 2016; > main achievements for 2016; > general orientations of the 2017 budget and the three-year capital program; > salaries of elected officials; > the list of all contracts involving an expenditure of more than $25,000; > the list of expenses exceeding $2,000 with the same contractor when all of the contracts total an expenditure exceeding $25, Financial Report Here are the highlights of the 2015 financial report tabled at the August 9th meeting and audited by Chiasson Gauvreau Inc. Revenues totalled $16,350,882 and operating expenses including allocations totalled $15,210,928, leaving a surplus of $1,139,954. Looking at some of the elements of interest in this report, we find the following: The accumulated surplus is $3,025,079 as of December 31, All the investments made during the year 2015 amount to $274,364. An amount of $48,454 is attributable to work for which the Town de Mercier took out a long-term loan. All other capital expenditures were funded by working capital, park funds or sand /gravel pit funds. The statement of long-term debt is $16,171,000 as of December 31, 2015 and breaks down as follows: Balance available $120,900 $131,200 Government $2,304,441 $2,927,587 Sector or activity $5,601,157 $5,825,855 Overall $8,144,502 $9,347,458 $16,171,000 $18,232,100 Preliminary indications of the financial status for the current financial year With respect to the 2016 operating budget of $16,996,000, we plan to complete the year with no cost overruns. A surplus is thereby anticipated. Main achievements of year 2016 > Ministère obtained authorization for creation of the Town de Mercier Police Department; > Cash purchase of the building at 1049 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd. to house the police station; > Cash purchase of land for the construction of the new fire station; > Work began on construction of the new fire station without impact on future taxes; > Installation of a water-play at parc Raymond-Pitre; > Continued representations necessary to prevent quarrying (blasting) on the territory; > Repair work on various streets; > Optimized research for different subsidy programs; > Reviewed complaint and request processes of various departments; > Continued negotiations on the blue- and white-collar collective agreement; > Continued negotiations on contamination of Mercier lagoons; > Acceptance of an offer to purchase land for an extension of Côté St. (Gateway to the new industrial park - development of the Highway 30 corridor) and a municipal incentive parking lot; > Monitored implementation of new leadership in restructuring public transport; > Organization of block parties; suite 5 INFO MERCIER

5 IMPORTANT ISSUES Main achievements of year suite > Completed repairs to Roger-Tougas community centre parking lot and parking lots near Martinez and De l Église; > Development of a master plan for the development of our territory with a research chair and specialists; > Installation of mobile speed radars in all school zones; > Continued simplification of urban planning regulations and processes; Upcoming projects for 2017 ROADS AND PUBLIC TRANSIT: > Traffic lights on St-Jean-Baptiste - continue negotiations with the Ministère du Transport du Québec: - The traffic light for intersection 138, Church and Marleau is approved, the agreement remains to be negotiated; > Conclude process with governments to obtain a 75% subsidy for complete repair of Ste-Marguerite road; > Monitor work of committee to implement new leadership of public transport imposed by the Québec Government; PUBLIC SECURITY: > Commencement of operations by the Mercier municipal police department; > Official opening of the new fire station; > Purchase of a new vehicle for first responders - fire. ENVIRONMENT: > Monitor the decision of the Commission de la Protection du territoire Agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) in the matter of establishing a quarry with blasting along Sainte-Marguerite Blvd. and Montée St-Isidore: - The Town de Mercier hopes that the CPTAQ commissioners will have heard from citizens, farmers and specialists and will refuse the blasting project on our territory to protect our environment and the invaluable wealth of our drinking water; > Official launch of digital book loans and a new on-line catalogue at the library; > Installation of a library book-drop service; > Implementation of surveillance cameras for sand/gravel pits throughout the territory; > Speed reduction measures (40 km/h, speed displays and speed bumps). > Creation of a steering committee with multiple partners: Government of Quebec, Government of Canada, Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), MRC de Roussillon, prefects, citizens, scientists, etc. to establish a research network in relation with decontamination of Mercier lagoons; > Continue my involvement in the steering committee with a number of Quebec mayors toward protection of our invaluable drinking water in relation to the oil and gas industry. ECONOMIC AND TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT: > Presentation of the new development plan to Mercier citizens at the start of 2017; > Adoption by the Council of the new master plan on the development of our territory - residential, commercial and industrial; > Preparation of the plan for the new industrial park along highway 30 (between Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Sainte-Marguerite); > Continue solicitation of various bodies for subsidies for a range of projects: industrial park, municipal incentive parking, street infrastructure works, etc. ADMINISTRATION: > Sign a new collective agreement with our blue- and white-collar workers; > Establish an open house day on Town of Mercier citizen services. Budget Estimates 2017 (general guidelines) The budget is currently under study and all of our actions will respect Town Council guidelines. Salaries of elected municipal representatives 2016 The Mayor s annual remuneration is $55,352 and that of a Councillor is $15,824. The Mayor receives an annual allowance of $15,662 and a Councillor receives $7,912. The expense allowance is paid as compensation for that portion of expenses inherent in their function for which Councillors are not reimbursed. As a member of the Roussillon Regional County Municipality (RCM) Council, the Mayor receives a monthly remuneration of $757 as well as $170 per attendance at Council meetings. Elected representatives decided to cancel salary increases scheduled by former Councillors, following their election in November suite INFO MERCIER 6

6 IMPORTANT ISSUES List of contracts In accordance with the requirements of the Cities and Towns Act, I hereby report: > List of all contracts involving an expense exceeding $25,000 the municipality has entered into since the date of the last report; > List of all contracts involving an expenditure of more than $2,000 entered into during that period, with the same contractor, where the total of such contracts involve a total expenditure of more than $25,000. The lists can be consulted at the office of the director of finance and treasury, Ms. Nadia René, (450) , ext MUNICIPAL SERVICES SPEED Displays To maximize citizen safety, the city has equipped itself with a new technological tool to achieve road traffic safety: speed displays. This mitigation measure will sensitize drivers to excessive speed in school areas. Five displays are installed on posts in school zones on the following streets: > de l Église; > St-Joseph; > Vervais, at the corner of Bonnier; > Marleau; > Beauchemin. In addition, three others have been installed on the following streets: > Vallée, heading toward 138; > Édouard-Laberge; > Josime-Pelletier. FIRE STATION Construction of the new fire station is proceeding according to schedule. Soil and foundation decontamination have been carried out. The walls will be erected in the coming weeks. If construction continues as scheduled, opening of the fire station will be in summer Fire Safety Cover Plan At the time of writing, the Mercier fire department was about to sign a multi-station response agreement with the Chateauguay fire department. This agreement will allow the simultaneous deployment of both fire departments when a call requires a higher capacity response. This is one of the actions provided for in implementation of the Fire Safety Cover Plan. 7 INFO MERCIER

7 HOLIDAY SEASON Schedule of Municipal Services for the Holiday Season Please note that municipal services, including Public Works and Engineering, will be closed during the holiday season starting December 23 at 12 noon. All services will be opened on the usual schedule as of January 3, The library will be open December 27, 28, 29 and 30, 11:00am-3:00pm. The staff will be pleased to welcome you. Please note: the library will be closed December 24, 25, 26 and 31 and January 1 and 2. * The regular schedule will resume on Sunday, January 3, Special collection of surplus cardboard Tuesday, January 3 TRAFFIC lights Regular collections There are no changes to garbage or recyclable materials collection dates during the holiday season. To ensure traffic fluidity and citizen safety, two traffic lights are planned on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd (Highway 138), one at the Église/Marleau/138 intersection and one at the Bourdeau/ Loiselle/138 intersection. As Highway 138 is under provincial jurisdiction, these lights must be installed with the permission of the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l Électrification des transports. The Ministère has conducted an analysis and recognized the need for the lights. More details will be given in the coming months regarding the timetable. Door-to-Door Christmas tree collection Door-to-door collection will take place January 9-13, 2017 to allow you to dispose of your tree. Your tree should be placed at the edge of your lot no later than January 8th. Your tree must be stripped of all decorations. Note that no trees will be picked up at garbage collection. If you miss the collection, you can always dispose of your tree at the eco-centre (485 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd). MUNICIPAL SERVICES Temporary car shelter: some rules to follow Many of you have surely already proceeded with shelter installation for the winter season. As a reminder, here are the regulations to follow: > It may be erected from October 15th of one year to April 30th of the following year; > It must be erected on a parking space; > It must be kept in good condition; > It must be made of a tubular metal framework coated with a non-rigid material (fabric) or not (eg fiberglass); > There can be only one temporary shelter per lot; > It must be at least 2.5 meters from the street pavement or curb; > It must be installed a minimum 1.5 meters from a fire hydrant. INFO MERCIER 8

8 FRIDAY FEBRUARY WINTER SHOW Dress warmly, bring your blanket and chair for our first open-air film projection in winter. E E R F 10 TH 7:00 pm FOR ALL Les Trolls LOISELLE PARK In case of intense cold or winter storm, the projection will take place at the Roger-Tougas Community Center. Popcorn and hot drinks will be offered free of charge. Auxiliary heating under the tent. *Film in French version