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The Town of Two Mountains is preparing to tighten its regulations for the ownership and control of domestic cats. During town council's monthly meeting last week, Mme. Brutsch, a resident of Eighth Avenue, reported reading a rumour to the effect that a crackdown on cats was pending by the town. "If we start to prohibit cats, we're going to have field mice," she said. "I have two cats that brought back two big rats." On the other hand, she said she favoured cat owners having the animals neutered. "But I don't see cats being tied up."
'Cause damages' - Lauzon
Mayor Marc Lauzon confirmed that the town administration is on its way to establishing an animal control bylaw specifically for cats, just as there already is one for dogs. "There's no doubt that it won't necessarily be the same regulations, however we want absolutely to consult the citizens to get their opinion on this situation," he said. "It must be understood that you are right that cats are useful for certain purposes, to clean up the undesirable animals in a municipality," he added. "On the other hand you have to understand, too, that cats left free to roam can cause damages on neighbouring properties.
"So we must absolutely conduct a consultation for this bylaw. It is our wish to have a consultation." Lauzon said a questionnaire on the subject will soon be posted on the town's web site for citizens to respond to. "After that we will be in a better position to judge, have some further consultation, and finally arrive at some regulations. But definitely we are not going to stay with the situation as it is now, where people can do as they want." Lauzon said he agreed with her view on the need for cats to be neutered and that he wanted to hear more on the issue from other residents.
No rules now
In an interview with the North Shore News, Lauzon said there are no specific rules about cat ownership in Two Mountains at this time, "but we're working on that … We are checking right now to have new reglementation, so we don't know exactly if it's going to be a license or something else. Right now for the cats we don't have anything special." Last week's meeting was being held on International Red Cross Day, so the mayor and councillors wore Red Cross pins in their lapels, and the flag of the organization was placed on display in a prominent place at the front of the council chamber.
Nicolas Bouchard, who had been filling in as the town's interim director-general since the resignation of the last person in that position, Maude Lefebvre, was hired full-time by town council. Bouchard had been interim d-g since February. He was hired following an executive search conducted by an outside consulting firm. For the time being, Bouchard will also be serving as town clerk. In addition, Denis Berthelette was appointed director of public works. And as it does every year before the summer period, council approved the hiring of several dozen seasonal employees, most of whom are students.
Summer hiring
According to council documents, they're being paid salaries ranging from about $9 for recreation department monitors, up to $19 per hour for a swimming pool lifesaver. The town has signed a collective agreement with unionized. officers in the Two Mountains regional police department. Lauzon said the union was "very happy" with the agreement. Councillor Mario St-Charles was named pro-mayor for the months of May, June and July. Should Mayor Lauzon be unable to attend or preside during certain official functions, the responsibility goes to St-Charles. Nearly three dozen local organizations and non-profit groups are being granted a total of $53,565 in subsidies by the town.
The largest amount, $8,800, is going to the Association Culturelle Deux-Montagnes, followed by $7,500 to Soccer Deux-Montagnes, $5,500 to the Four Corners Family Resource Center, $5,000 to the Maison des Jeunes Deux-Montagnes, and $4,000 to the Parade du Père Noël. During question period, the mayor confirmed that the town wants to develop a pedestrian walkway to be built over the water along a length of the lake front, but that due to current financial constraints it remains a long-term plan.
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