Old wine in new bottles

However, since the mid-1990s, your city has systematically upgraded a number of our municipal structures. The library was renovated and expanded; Victoria Hall was given a complete upgrade, which also included the addition of an extraordinary art exhibition space; the Stanton Street Protective Services facility received significant improvements to police, fire and Public Security quarters and finally, the main conservatory greenhouse was completely reconstructed. Now City Hall itself is ready for a long overdue 'makeover'.

The goal of this project is to improve our ability to serve citizens. We’re particularly pleased with the prospect that there will be a Customer Service Centre on the lower level that will provide ‘one stop shopping’ for the majority of our clients. But this is just one element of a number of opportunities inherent in this work.

The overhaul itself will take about five months to complete. After due diligence total costs will be $400,000 (half of this amount will be for the renovation work, the other half for new functional furniture and technology equipment). The work itself will be split into two phases. Phase 1, which will begin on Feb. 16, will concentrate on the lower level. During Phase 1, the Human Resources and Urban Planning Departments will be temporarily relocated to the former municipal court area at 21 Stanton Street (just north of City Hall). Once the construction work on the lower level is completed (by April 30) the ‘new’ lower level at City Hall will be occupied by the Urban Planning and City Clerk’s Departments as well as our new Customer Service Centre (including cashier services).

After April 30, Phase 2 will begin on the upper level which will last until July 16. Once completed, the Finance and Human Resources Departments will be permanently located in this area. Again, while the work is being carried out, both Human Resources, Budget Planning and Accounting will be temporarily relocated to 21 Stanton St.

During the construction period, there will be some inconvenience for residents who wish to do business at City Hall. However, once all the tools are put away and the staff are settled in, you’ll find the facility far more welcoming and user-friendly. It will also complete one more of our outstanding infrastructure needs. Next the roads! The parks! The Arena?

If you would like any additional details regarding the project or where the various departments will be located during the construction period, I would encourage you to check our Web site at www.westmount.org.">www.westmount.org.">www.westmount.org.



Tom Thompson is Councillor for District 2 and Commissioner of Administration.