By : Jean-Loup Beaulne-Morin (Translation : Guy Côté)
On the agenda, the council announced a review of elected officials’ compensation and proposed a 20% increase, which remains lower than comparable cities and the scale suggested by the Union of Quebec Municipalities. Mayor Lee Patterson explained that he wants to make compensation fairer and more attractive, without making it the sole motivation for participating in municipal politics.
Bylaws and notices of motion
Notices of motion were tabled for draft bylaw 2026-04 concerning the adoption of a new code of ethics and professional conduct for elected municipal officials, 2026-05 concerning the remuneration of elected municipal officials and 2026-08 amending the pricing for the financing of certain city goods and services for the year 2026. Draft bylaw 2026-03 financing the reconstruction of Fulford Road was adopted.
A second proposal amending Zoning Bylaw 596 was presented. In response to citizen criticism, the council chose to remove section 3, which would have allowed a two-metre height increase for buildings with a garden level, and thus prohibited the calculation of average height. Patterson stated, however, that it had not been possible to find a satisfactory solution regarding the construction of flat roofs and excessive backfilling; as the primary objective of the proposal is to prevent overbuilding in areas such as Bondville Street, he does not wish to further delay its adoption.
Public consultation and reactions
Referring to the public consultation of February 23, 2026, Patterson expressed his disappointment with the lack of decorum and announced that shouting or applauding during question periods, using speaking time for lengthy speeches, and attempting to speak outside of allotted time would no longer be permitted. This did not prevent the meeting from lasting over two hours due to heated question periods during which some disgruntled citizens repeatedly approached the microphone to once again accuse the administration of not doing enough on the issue and of failing to communicate its objectives effectively. The council ultimately reminded the public that they had until March 26, 2026, to request participation in a referendum, failing which draft bylaw 596-20 would be adopted.
Bondville-Fulford meeting
On March 12, 2026, Councillor Claude Rajotte, accompanied by Patterson, organized a public meeting with Bondville-Fulford residents at the Club de la Bonne Humeur, following up on the meeting held on September 11, 2024. No informal meetings of this kind took place in 2025 due to the elections. Approximately forty residents were present, and the discussions, sometimes lively, focused on development issues in the district, most of which had already been addressed at previous meetings.
Next meeting
April 7, 2026, 7 p.m.