A word from the Mayor - Ville de Bromont

A word from the Mayor
My dear fellow citizens;
At the heart of the action:
Action conservation du bassin versant du lac Bromont
(ACBVLB)
For the third consecutive year, the June edition of Voici
Bromont presents in its centre pages the over all
investments for the year 2007. In addition to the amounts
set out in the annual budget, we have added a part of the
operational surplus accruing from the 2006 financial
operation. Among the works that will be realized this
year, I would like to point out the renovations to that last
portion of Gaspé and the construction of the last phase of
the redesign work on exit 78 at theAutoroute.All citizens
will benefit from these investments.
We also would also like to continue the discussion on
sustainable development that we started in the last issue.
I would invite you, in particular to read the article about
Bromont Lake and I invite your support for the effort of
the Action Conservation du bassin versant du Lac
Bromont.
The adoption of a colour chart for the Heritage sector is
further evidence of our wish to maintain the very
particular cachet of the classic buildings on Shefford;
both residents and business will benefit from this
initiative. We expect that Shefford Street will welcome
even more tourists this season since it is now part of the
new tourism route called Chemin des Cantons
(www.chemindescantons.qc.ca)
In order to take well informed decisions in matters of
urban planning by-laws and projects, the city relies on its
urban planning committee (CCU) A section of this
newsletter will, from now on cover the work of this
committee in order that our readers be well informed of
all of the issues and planning trends that are dealt with.
The municipal council is pursuing its efforts to become
part of the MRC of Brome-Missisquoi. We will be
meeting the minister on this matter early in the Fall. In the
meantime, Bromont, along with the cities of Cowansville
and Brome Lake is supporting the region's candidacy to
host the finals of the Quebec Summer Games in 2010. A
decision is expected in November.
In closing, I want to thank you for your support and wish
you an enjoyable Summer. Take advantage of the
numerous activities that are offered such as the concerts
Les Beaux Dimanches, the productions (SAKA spectacle
équestre, and those at the chapiteau), Bromont en Art, the
cycling championships, the Bromont International and at
the end of August, a concert by Gregory Charles for the
benefit of theAu Diapason home. For more details about
these event, consult our web site www.bromont.com
under the heading Évènements.
On behalf of all the elected officials, I wish you an
enjoyable Summer vacation period!
Pauline Quinlan
Mayor
ACBLVB
Action conservation du bassin versant
du lac Bromont (ACBVLB) is a
uniquely independent environmental
mouvement that started 18 years ago
and was then called « l'Association
pour la protection du lac Bromont ». It
is now made up of 129 members. The
ACBVLB is attracting more and more
comments, and that's just the
start…The group stands for a healthy
Bromont Lake with a healthy ecosystem,
catchment area and tributaries.
This will insure not only our recreational
activities but also the quality of the
water.
Is the Lake sick?
As early as 1996, we began to note an
advanced state of eutrophication (a
premature aging brought on by the
presence of phosphorus and nitrogen in
the lake which brings on a significant
reduction in the levels of oxygen.) For
the past two years, the regional public
health authority of the Montérégie must
close the beaches because of the
presence of cyanobacteria.
Consumption or even contact with
water that is contaminated with
cyanobacteria can be harmful to your
health, your digestive and nervous
system or bring on skin rashes.
Human activity such as agriculture, the
draining of wet lands in the catchement
area of the lake, septic installations, the
use of fertilisers and pesticides, erosion
from the clearing of trees brought on by
residential and recreational development
have not only changed the
catchment areas significantly but have
also caused a warming and an over
fertilisation of the lake, and these are
the main causes of the proliferation of
cyanobacteria.
Solutions?
Studies conducted by biologists in the
late 90's have offered a number of
possible solutions. The ACBVLB is in
full support of the following:
A reforestation of the shore line,
including the shore line of the
municipal and private beaches
must be undertaken.
We must stop cutting down the
existing vegetation that grows
along the shore.
We must protect the catchment area
wet lands that act as filters.
We must regulate and supervise the
cutting down of trees and require
the planting of replacement trees
when any unauthorized cutting is
noted.
Finally, we must either limit or
regulate development in the
catchement area in order to reduce
the deforestation.
« Our main mandate at the ACBVLB is
sensitisation. We must educate people
through different activities and
workshops, and involve people so that
they will become true “actors” in
solving the problem », states Mme
Anne Joncas.
!!! ATTENTION!!! If you are boating
on the lake you might come across a
number of bouys made of plastic which
are situated at four different spots to
indicate where equipment is located.
DO NOT TOUCH THEM OR
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THEM!!! If
you have any question about this
operation, do not hesitate to call the
association.
A strong partnership with the City of
Bromont
The City of Bromont is deeply
committed to this cause. While taking
full advantage of the collaboration of
Ms. Mylène LeBlanc, biologist and
representative of the city, of Mr.
Nicolas Rousseau, director of
development and of Mr. Alain Chénier,
municipal councillor, the ACBVLB
will coordinate the various projects at a
cost $33 000.00, the budget set by the
City for the conservation efforts on the
lake.
« Today's environmental problems are
mainly the result of human activity and
were the result of pure ignorance that
nevertheless contributed to the
degradation of our ecosystems and our
wet lands, let's get informed! », says
MmeAnne Joncas.
For more information about this
organization, or to become a member or
a volunteer and take an active part in
saving our lake, you may call Anne
Joncas at 450 263-3360 email her at
acbvlb@yahoo.ca.
11 Juin 2007