The MRC Pontiac meeting of mayors saw a divided vote of nine against nine on the matter of payment for consultant Pierre Vézina, responsible for the development of the Biomass Valorization Center (CVB).

The Warden of the MRC Pontiac, Jane Toller, discussed the Nov. 25 vote.

Half of the mayors were asking for conditions to be attached to funding for the consultant and the other half believed that more time should be allowed. It was Toller who made the decision and who voted to attach conditions to the sums intended for the consultant. Toller says the council of mayors is only divided on this issue.

“It is only on this issue. For me, what was important is that the vote takes place in a transparent way, publicly and that citizens can hear the positions of all the mayors," said Toller.

Toller’s position is clear.

“No, we should not use public funds to pay a consultant’s salary, as is the case with Pierre Vézina. CVB is no longer a project of the MRC. The project is now led non-profit organization, Fiber Pontiac."

Toller also said that the CVB project is a project that will primarily benefit the Municipality of Litchfield. This statement was made even though the “Portage” site has often been identified as the Pontiac Regional Industrial Park.

“There are several industrial parks in the Pontiac and not just one," the warden said.

Toller also said that the most likely project to come to fruition is Davidson Energy’s in Mansfield.

Here is the full interview with the Warden of the MRC Pontiac Jane Toller.