The mayor chaired the meeting. Councillors Robert Laflamme and Karine Fortin were absent. About 15 citizens attended.

Question period – A citizen contested the town’s decision to allow the demolition of a barn on Mt.Echo & Sugarhill. He claimed the building has patrimonial value and should have been protected. The mayor replied that procedures were properly followed. A testy exchange followed concerning the validity of a minor derogation to rebuild in a different spot. Commenting on fibre-optic Internet, a citizen said he had good service in Knowlton and he did not want to pay for those in TBL who do not. The mayor responded that the future service would be paid by the users not by all taxpayers.

Another citizen asked if the town knew that many private roads leading to the lake were assessed at $100. Others can run as high as $50,000. He asked that the town review this situation. The mayor replied that it was the job of the assessor to determine property values. DG Gilbert Arel said that the town would look into 20 such “collective properties”.

Administration/Legislation – Marc-André Boivin has been hired as project manager for Public works. Nathalie Michaud was hired to replace Hugo Brière as person in charge of promoting prevention and safety.

Land use and Environment Management – All eight requests for building alterations were granted. The request for a minor derogation on Cedar Bay Rd. was granted, allowing a 5-metre extension of a collective wharf. (Article. p. 14).

Leisure, Culture, Tourism and Community Life – Council voted grants to: Canada Day celebrations, $8,000; Optimist Club Lobster dinner, $1,375; Knowlton Academy, greenhouse project, $7,500 (over and above the $11,000 granted by the Pacte rural). Canada Day celebrations to take place on Sat. July 1, from 1 to 10:30 p.m. at Lions Park; postponed to July 2 in case of rain.

Local Economy – Adoption of a motion to support the maintenance of the International Programme at École St-Édouard.

Varia – The August council meeting is changed to the 14th. Adoption of motion to support Internet Haut-Richelieu in its request for government grants for fibre optic high speed Internet.

DG mandated to examine installation of two electric car charging stations in TBL at budgeted cost of $20,000.

Next meeting: 7 p.m. on May 1, at Club de la Bonne Humeur, 5 Mill Rd.