By : Jean-Loup Beaulne-Morin (Translation : Guy Côté)
Speaking to a packed room, Mayor Lee Patterson once again encouraged residents to consult the Town newsletter and website rather than relying on rumors he described as “misinformation.” He also thanked the business owners who attended the participatory meeting on the village core on April 23, 2026, who highlighted issues such as the lack of parking and the division of Town of Brome Lake into two sectors: the downtown area and the commercial sector, which includes the IGA grocery store.
Draft By-law 2026-09: Public Trails
Draft by-law 2026-09 concerning public trails within the Town of Brome Lake has been revised based on citizen feedback: the maximum speed limit, unless otherwise indicated, is 20 km/h, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted. A resident suggested that pedestrian traffic light buttons at Lakeside Road be moved to the right side of the paths rather than the left to prevent pedestrians from having to step into oncoming traffic.
Draft By-laws 2026-10 and 2026-11: Environmental Incentives
The town announced draft by-law 2026-10 to provide financial assistance to residents who install rain gardens, rain barrels, storm drains, riparian buffer strips, etc. The subsidies are quite generous—for example, up to $1,250 for a rain garden per property—and include donations of shrubs and plants to improve water and land management. A second draft by-law (2026-11) will provide free geotextile to residents who request it in order to combat harmful and invasive plant species.
Zoning By-law 596: No Referendum
There will be no referendum on provisions 21, 22, and 23 of the new zoning by-law 596, which concern building height and land occupancy percentage for new constructions, due to an insufficient number of signatures. The provisions will therefore be adopted without further amendment. Council is satisfied with the outcome and is now awaiting approval from the Regional County Municipality (RCM) to finalize the process.
Hydro-Québec Project and Next Steps
Finally, Mayor Patterson relayed Hydro-Québec’s intention to build a new electrical substation, possibly in West Brome. The Town of Brome Lake and other stakeholders have already formed a committee with Hydro-Québec, and public consultations are expected to take place this summer.
Next Regular Meeting
Next regular meeting: June 1, 2026, 7:00 p.m.