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Council members’ reports

Cynthia Homan, councillor for District 5 – Lakeside Heights, encouraged residents to register for the “Climate Resilience and Heavy Rainfall ” lecture on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 7 p.m., which will discuss sewer backups and surface flooding and how to protect property.

The councillor for District 3 – Valois, Kelly Thorstad-Cullen, talked about the plan for the old post office site, confirming that it will become a Supermarché PA, with the building remaining at its existing height and that changes will be made to facilitate pedestrian traffic.

Flooding

Residents from several areas of Pointe-Claire filled the council chambers and downstairs lobby, waiting for their chance to ask how the city was going to handle neighbourhoods that suffer from poor drainage, overflowing storm drains, and clogged sewers.

Mayor Thomas responded to residents’ concerns by explaining that the city was performing studies and seeking out solutions, with each area being unique in its needs. “We have to now change our infrastructure to adapt to a modern reality, and that’s going to take a while,” said Thomas. “But we do have to do it if the houses are going to be saved, and that’s the reality of what’s going on here.”

To mitigate some of the flooding, Thomas touted green infrastructure solutions that have been, and are continuing to be, implemented across the city, including the installation of retention basins, rain gardens, and new underground pipes.

Demolition Committee decision overturned

With the mayor abstaining and one councillor absent, council voted 4-3 in favour of rejecting the Demolition Committee’s decision regarding demolition of the bungalow located at 191 Bord-du-Lac-Lakeshore Road, allowing owner Ryan Derrig to proceed with plans to replace the 1963 structure with a two-storey home.

In a 30-minute discussion, Councillors Claude Cousineau of District 1 – Cedar/Le Village and Paul Bissonnette of District 2 – Lakeside reviewed their reasoning behind their votes to approve the demolition of the building, while Councillor Brent Cowan of District 8 - Oneida, who acts as president of the Demolition Committee, explained the committee’s reasoning in coming to its original decision.

Mayor Thomas outlined his reasons for abstaining from the vote, discussing his own understanding of the amended by-law, believing that the family of six “had waited an awful long time,” and not wanting to potentially extend the decision-making process beyond the next election.

Examination of legal fees

A resolution was passed to authorize a request for conciliation and possible arbitration with respect to legal fees incurred by the law firm representing Mayor Thomas in an ethics case before the Commission municipale du Québec.

Councillor Cowan summarized the motion by explaining that the insurance company had requested an “itemized listing of all the expenses” and “tabling of what the costs were and hours billed for” in the $65k legal bill, and that this motion had been submitted in response to a specific deadline that had to be respected following the presentation of the law firm’s invoice.