By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Stanstead’s April 14 public council meeting was a packed and wide-ranging session that touched on everything from housing density to fire hall construction to the town’s growing national and international profile. Presided over by Mayor Jody Stone at the town hall, the meeting drew approximately 10 residents and was also covered by members of the German press.
A central feature of the meeting was the first question period, where residents raised concerns about infrastructure. One resident asked about upcoming work on Pierce Street and expressed frustration with persistent water issues. “There’s also a water problem on the street. The water is blocked and coming back to Rue Stanley,” he noted. Mayor Stone responded that although some asphalt repairs were planned for this summer, a decision on which streets would be prioritized had not yet been made.
The town’s finances also came under review. The financial report showed a significant increase in expenses, with $274,340.57 in accounts payable—$143,000 of which stemmed from the town’s share of the shared fire service. “More than half of that is the fire department,” explained the mayor. Council later confirmed that a special meeting will be held April 29 to finalize the construction mandate and borrowing bylaw for the town’s new fire station. Stone clarified that although the town must approve the borrowing regulation, the project would be financed by the fire department, not from municipal coffers.
Housing development was another major topic. Council unanimously adopted amendments to the zoning bylaw to increase allowable housing density in certain sectors. “We move from eight to twelve dwellings per building,” the mayor explained, particularly in the Dufferin and Rock Island areas. This shift was made possible by recent upgrades to the town’s wastewater treatment plant, which previously restricted growth.
