Civic Alert: Big decisions ahead — debt, park turf and ADQ

Two are municipal decisions and the third, the Quebec election, will be driven by the lack of response by the Charest Liberals to the dysfunctional results of their creation—the Agglom—so it also has a municipal dimension.

Lest this be viewed as a tally of doom, let us celebrate being able to discuss these issues in a way that could get a considered reaction. Had Charest not kept part of his promise to allow demerger, we would still be trapped in the megacity with little or no say in the decisions. Indeed, the ADQ option would probably not even be on the table; thank you, Jean Charest!



Taking them in order



The four years in the megacity led to their grabbing the “float� (about $4 million) which previously funded the routine maintenance of roads, buildings and similar facilities. The work allowed by the megacity was funded by borrowing, often for 20 years. The accumulated debt—about $37 million—has been passed back to Westmount.

Because the “float� has disappeared, most of this year’s capital spending will also have to be met by borrowing. Soon the debt will be $43 million. At the same time, the new rates include an element that will partly restore the float.

If all goes according to plan, in 10 years the debt will be contained and once again the routine work will be done out of income. Then the penalty of borrowed money will be eliminated, and more work can be done with no interest charges to pay—the situation before the annexation the PQ forced on us.

In outline, this seems a great approach. Unfortunately no one from City Hall has spelt out the details. Should it really take 10 years to get to this level? Should we bite the bullet and do it in five or three years? Or would it be more comfortable if we spread the debt over two decades, not one? Should current borrowing take 20 years to pay back?

What would it do to our tax rates if we were to choose another course? What would it do to road and water infrastructure if the programs were delayed five or 10 years?

After the suspension of reconstruction during the megacity years, are our side street conditions so bad that they cannot be tolerated—particularly when compared with those of our Montreal neighbours?

There is occasional talk about participatory budgets. It was tried in the Plateau borough in 2006 and found to be disappointing, probably because too much was expected.

But it confirmed that the citizenry at large can help determine the broad strokes.

Surely the population—the shareholders in a municipality with their own services and properties at stake—have the right to be consulted on the grand lines of the budget! Council must provide the data and subsequently look after the appropriation, as now.

Westmount is full of discerning citizens with huge personal stakes in their properties and the lifestyles that go with them. They should take the responsibility of speaking out.

Council has outlined a path. It has been accepted so far with very little detail having been supplied. Anything is better than the megacity! But citizens should express themselves in a formalized setting so that the future path is clear.



Turf tempest



The proposal to install artificial turf on one of the sports fields in Westmount Park is one that must, in the end, be evaluated by the whole population.

It has attracted some high profile campaigning. The Save the Park group is even advertising their petition in the Examiner! When was the last time you saw a political ad other than at election time or from the megacity spin doctors?

The proposal has taken on a rare controversial aspect. All sides must be evaluated publicly, before this becomes an even more divisive issue.

There seems to be five main elements:

• A need for expanded soccer facilities, coupled with the fact that natural grass fields need restricted, not heavier, use.

• Provision for children from Westmount Park School and playgroups.

• The range of aesthetics and heritage issues, particularly the impact on those who overlook the Park.

• Cost.

• Health concerns.

The people who have been heard from so far are Council, who are under pressure to maximize use of the existing soccer fields, school supporters and—most vocal of all—the neighbours who have produced lots of arguments.

Those who could benefit most—the soccer players and their families—are unbelievably silent. Don’t they care?

Council took years before agreeing even to consider the option. Mayor Marks has taken much of the criticism, ironically, as she was among the last to accept that artificial turf was viable.

Because of the criticism, Council has hired an environmental engineer to make a report. Publication of this is awaited. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see how an engineering analysis will address the social concerns or the research brought forward by the Healthy City Project.

With such diverse views, the population must be given the opportunity to speak and guide Council’s decision. Raw emotion will have its place, but there should be a factual analysis, too. Experts should be involved, with their evidence open to rebuttal.

The hearings should be modeled on those of the province’s environmental board (BAPE).



Dumont’s improved stance



Can it be that Mario Dumont and the ADQ will get Westmounters’ votes in the spring election? The party intends to run a candidate in every riding. Liberals have a tough position to defend over the broken demerger promises and the mess of a solution they legislated and continually defend.

The personal popularity of Jacques Chagnon will be a factor, and his spirited prophesies this week on possible face savers for the Liberals could be an early shot in his campaign. But it could well be it is the ADQ that offers a viable and acceptable program for municipal reform when the different platforms are unveiled in a few weeks.

What seemed to be a purely opportunistic foray into the troubled waters of the Agglom when Mario Dumont came to speak at Westmount Rotary Club in June is now being fleshed out.

Then he defined the Liberal municipal legislation as being politically motivated, rather than designed to bring good local government to the Montreal Island.

Dumont, who once seemed a stronger supporter of One Island, One City than Pierre Bourque, has moved on and is offering some better solutions. Westmount Council will be expected to evaluate his promises and compare them to Charest’s failures. So will all the voters.



Civic Studies



Big 90: Irene Marks, the mayor’s mother, celebrated her 90th birthday on Monday. Her family hosted a dinner for her in Old Montreal. Who would believe Irene is 90?! There is hope for us all!



Big spending #1: Quebec Transport Ministry is planning either a major reconstruction of the Turcot interchange to cost about $500 million and extend its life for 15 years, or a complete rebuild, which would cost at least $1 billion, but last much longer.



Big spending #2: Longueuil spent $29.5 million on its new City Hall, but has upset citizens in demerged St. Bruno and St. Lambert by charging it to their Agglom.



Park Ave. renamed #1: “I would not have done it.� — Former PQ premier Bernard Landry, editor for the day, on Daybreak.



Park Ave. renamed #2: “I’d be surprised if Robert Bourassa would be very happy at the mess surrounding his name. He was forever watching every social movement everywhere.� — MNA Jacques Chagnon on his former boss.



Reductions: Montreal Police want to reduce the number of local stations from 39 to 32, according to Assistant Chief Yves Charette. Among the cutbacks, two stations in CDN would be merged, as would NDG and Côte St.-Ham-West.



Extended: Three of the morning rush-hour trains on the CP line through Westmount now originate in St. Jerome. In the afternoon, service on the five trains between 3.35 p.m. and 7 p.m is extended to this new AMT northern terminal.



Copying Montreal?: Using its new charter, mega-Toronto has formalized community councils in four of its former cities (Scarborough, Etobicoke-York, Toronto and East York, North York), empowering them to create and enforce bylaws and name citizens to boards and committees.



Royal Flush: Since 2001, Guelph has issued 4,500 rebates to homeowners who have introduced low-flush toilets. It is now promoting a Royal Flush program with models that use even less water while achieving the appropriate result!