With this council’s first 20 months dominated by the newcomers adapting to their portfolios, four senior staff changes and the ongoing agglom problems, we are only now entering the fall period when the results of council’s preliminary work could at last be unveiled.

So it is a good time to review the progress made in the first part of the present council’s mandate and determine what is still on a very comprehensive “To do” list.

I believe we are near to details of some projects, but most remain behind the city fortress with little or no public discussion.

So, let’s discuss. First, water.

In the demerger legislation, the water supply lines on secondary streets were transferred from Montreal to Westmount; those on arterial streets stayed with Montreal.

Without personnel to handle this new responsibility, Westmount contracted out the maintenance.

The contractor, Dessau-Soprin, gets praised for good response times and Utilities Commissioner Patrick Martin goes out of his way to explain their work at council meetings. But no comprehensive report on the first 20 months has been presented to the public. One is currently promised for the fall.

The major task will be to develop a strategy for renewing the water infrastructure, much of which was installed 80 and more years ago. The contractor plan, promised by the summer, is now expected in September.

Many other water issues are raised from time-to-time and should be re-examined in view of the huge investment Westmount faces.

For instance, should we invest in metering?

Should we require “grey” water systems? Is it time to end the use of water purified to be safely drunk, to flush toilets, wash cars and treat lawns?

Chlorination

Indeed, should drinking water be chlorinated, with its attendant, unwelcome, residual chemicals? Should we use other methods of purification instead? Is there a future role for rain water?

Do think about these matters because Council is about to make proposals for water services. Most of the projects mentioned are costly, but these are decisions that will affect Westmount for many years beyond this council’s mandate. They are far more fundamental than whether or not to tolerate a plastic surface in the Park.

But as the interveners on the artificial turf issue discovered, it is better to speak out sooner than later.

Look at the new Kensington Ave. Beautiful and smooth; its black surface is set off on either flank by neat, white undulations where vehicle driveways interrupt pedestrian progress on the sidewalks.

Easy for motorists, no doubt, but rotten for those of reduced mobility, with walkers or baby strollers or wheelchairs and even more difficult in winter.

More seniors

There will be more such citizens in the next decade. Many will probably be under doctors’ order to walk at least 20 minutes every day and leave their car in the garage. The undulations certainly will not help them.

For a handicapped person in a motorized cart, a voyage along Kensington must be akin to an ocean swell!

For the first time, Westmount had jurisdiction over the water pipes. These and connections to residences were renewed as the road was reconstructed.

There was no need to persuade Montreal to come and dovetail their work. There was one schedule and residents paid tribute to the thoughtful construction planning.

How many years do we have to rethink our sidewalk policies before Kensington needs to be reconstructed again?

There is much more reconstruction to come. Mayor Karin Marks warned, when preparing the year’s budget, that Westmount was up to eight years behind in its major road works’ schedule. Martin believes that modern cost-efficient technology will mean that the schedule for water pipe replacement work can be accelerated.

The Arena is the next public building due for improvement or renewal, which began with the Library and Victoria Hall. It was also a project interrupted by the forced merger.

Some residents want a higher priority for the Arena and Pool, which they say are outdated and need to be replaced. “Disgrace” is one of the politer words used to describe them.

Arena steering

The mayor, with Cllrs Lulham and Forbes, already form a steering committee for the project.

MNA Jacques Chagnon is promoting some tempting support money from the Quebec government — tobacco taxes that previously went to pay loans for the Big O.

The arena project cannot be easily resolved because it will need substantial investment — as much as $15 million has been mentioned by some supporters, although others have spoken of a stratospheric $25 million.

Does a city of 20,000 need such a costly facility? Can it afford one? Can it afford not to have one comparable to neighbouring cities?

Park resolution

The council’s agenda is by no means filled by construction projects. There are many smaller ones; not least is the answer on possibilities for artificial turf in Westmount Park.

Then there is the long-awaited need to have compost collection and reverse the trend for increased garbage.

Of course, most of these projects require big investments. Reversing damage to the capital structure, a result of the forced merger is a costly project.

Account settling

There is still no settlement of the final account with the megacity. The transition committee’s auditors have closed the books and it is now up to lawyers to examine how the provincial laws and decrees were applied.

Certainly, Montreal’s civil servants applied them to suit the big city and not its partners. In fact, too many Montreal staff do not recognize “partners”.

Let us hope that they will soon be receiving a letter on Westmount’s behalf from Cain, Lamarche, Casgrain, Wells — the business lawyers retained by Council last month to investigate the big city’s financial interpretations.

What happened to Westmount’s carefully-saved pay-as-you-go funds?

The debt ballooned at least four times during the years that we were annexed to Montreal. Why should we lose the reserves that had been built in the Trent years?

Can there be any doubt they will find errors that need adjusting in our favour? Will the result be Tremblay-Zampino running again to Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec’s bemused Municipal Affairs Minister, for protection?

Team complete

Council can think of addressing these problems with a full house now. The selection of Mario Gerbeau to be the City Clerk fills a gap on the city’s nine-person directorate,

At least, it is complete until Marc Roy leaves at the end of the year. The Hydro director has carefully given sufficient notice to ensure that his successor is in place and there is a smooth handover.

Alan Kulaga, who heads the Human Resources department, is very proud of the selection process that the city has developed and which resulted in earlier top appointments —Treasurer Claude Lachance, Public Security chief Richard Blondin and Public Works director Jacques Lahaie.

“Mario Gerbeau seems to be ideal for the position,” Kulaga said. “We were looking for a strong academic record, but also someone with the strength to overcome problems that every manager must face.

“He will make Westmounters very proud of their new City Clerk.”

Community activist Don Wedge can be reached at calert@web.net. His columns are archived at www.westmountexaminer.com, go to Opinion.