Highlights of the Borough Council Meeting on March 2, 2010

VERDUN, QC, March 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Claude Trudel, Verdun Borough Mayor and member of the Executive Committee responsible for public safety and security, reported on the regular Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 and, in particular, on the main highlights:

During the question period, the residents who had registered raised the following topics, in particular: the exhibition of the artwork of Carl Duplessis; the environmental impact of the future high-rise buildings in the Symphonia project; the possibility of keeping the outdoor pools open for two additional weeks at the end of the season; the project to redevelop the site of Gravel Automobiles; the noise at the outdoor dance floor; the blue-collar strike on February 12; and lastly, the amount of soap used by the Borough and the possibility of using environmentally-friendly products. The Mayor promised to follow up on the questions that he couldn't answer at the meeting.

With regard to orientations, Council authorized submitting to the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs, a request for a certificate of authorization to build a water main under boulevard Champlain, between Crawford and Stephens streets.

With regard to declarations, the Council members approved the resolution confirming the Verdun Borough's participation in the "Earth Hour 2010" event, which will be held on March 27, 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

With regard to contractual matters, Council:

    
    - approved a draft deed whereby Ville de Montréal grants Hydro-Québec and
      Bell Canada a public services servitude to install, maintain and
      operate the underground electrical power supply for the building
      located at 3501, boulevard Gaétan-Laberge, including the related
      equipment and accessories;

    - approved the evaluation and weighting grid for compliant bids in order
      to select the team of consultants for the project to redevelop
      Willibrord chalet;

    - approved the addendum to clarify articles 9 and 10 of the contract for
      collecting and transporting residual materials and signed on
      October 18, 2008;

    - authorized the acquisition of private water supply and sewage systems
      for the SAX residential development located at 210, chemin du Golf as
      well as the servitudes for public services allowing for their
      maintenance;

    - approved Addendum no. 1 of the contract with the L.G.M.A. company to
      collect and transport bulky items, covering an amount of $984,938.20,
      all tax included, for a 10-year period, starting October 18, 2008, with
      a 60-month cancellation option, and ending on October 17, 2013. This
      addendum specifically concerns the adjustment formula with regard to
      the cost of fuel.
    

With regard to finance and administration, Council:

    
    - authorized the payment of a $1,000 sponsorship of the southwest
      Montréal division of the Québec entrepreneurship contest (Concours
      québécois en entrepreneuriat - division sud-ouest de l'île de
      Montréal);

    - granted authorization to the Société de développement commercial
      Wellington to hold two sidewalk sales this year, June 2-5 and
      September 1-4, and consequently, to close rue Wellington between
      boulevard LaSalle and 6e Avenue during these two events;

    - authorized the increase in the 2010 budget allocation for revenues and
      expenditures, for an amount of $250,000, coming from an out-of-court
      settlement;

    - granted a financial contribution of $160,300, divided among 15 projects
      coming within the anti-poverty and social exclusion components of the
      City Contract. This contribution is being paid by the Agglomeration, in
      accordance with the established budget allocation. The following
      organizations will benefit from a contribution:

                 Corporation l'Espoir                $5,500
                 Club Optimiste Verdun               $2,000
                 L'Ancre des Jeunes                  $7,700
                 APABEMSO                            $5,200
                 Le Repère des jeunes                $6,000
                 Projet PAL                          $9,500
                 COSAV                              $40,000
                 Réseau Bénévoles de Verdun         $12,100
                 Réseau d'entraide de Verdun         $4,500
                 Centre communautaire Dawson        $17,300
                 J'apprends avec mon enfant         $12,800
                 CHAPOP                              $8,700
                 Casa C.A.F.I.                      $17,300
                 TRAC                                $7,700
                 CACV                                $4,000

    - approved the memorandum of understanding to be signed with Groupe
      Vélo-Sécur, with regard to a prevention and awareness program among
      Verdun cyclists and residents for the 2010 summer season, for a maximum
      amount of $33,084.98;

    - approved the lease agreement to be signed with Réseau-Bénévoles de
      Verdun, with regard to the use of Poirier park chalet, for a period of
      12 months, starting on January 1. 2010 and automatically renewable each
      year in accordance with the same terms and conditions.
    

With regard to regulatory matters, Council:

    
    - authorized applications for exemptions from being prohibited to convert
      into condos the buildings located at the following addresses:
           4457 - 4459, rue Wellington and 249 - 259, rue Willibrord
           3265 - 3267, rue Wellington

    - authorized the requests relating to the site planning and architectural
      integration program and concerning the following buildings, some of
      which are conditional:
           Lot 1 154 545 (rue Claude, between rues de l'Église and Galt)
           Lot 1 153 959 (rue Newmarch, between rues Hickson and de l'Église)
           960, rue Moffat (formerly St .John the Divine Church)
           4455, rue Wellington
           40, Place du Commerce
           4844, rue Wellington
           400, rue de l'Église
           3 & 5, Cours du Fleuve
    

The Council members also adopted:

    
    - the first draft under the Bylaw on specific construction, modification
      or occupancy projects of a building, in order to authorize the
      regularization of an existing two-storey structure having acquired
      rights and located at 3083, rue Wellington;

    - the first draft under the Bylaw on specific construction, modification
      or occupancy projects of a building, in order to authorize the
      construction of a 7-storey residential building with a commercial
      ground floor and the construction of 12 townhouses (ZUNI project)-all
      on a lot located along rue Jacques-Le Ber;

    - the first draft under the Bylaw on specific construction, modification
      or occupancy projects of a building, in order to authorize the
      construction of four buildings (and not five, as initially submitted)
      for the purpose of setting up car dealerships on the site presently
      occupied by Gravel Automobiles.
    

Council also adopted two notices of motion, the first regulating garage sales and the second one amending Bylaw RCA09-210005 on 2010 rates, in addition to adopting the following bylaws:

    
    - Bylaw RCA10-210004, authorizing a loan of $1,331,000 for the road
      repair program

    - Zoning bylaw 1700-74-1, amending the standards on storing containers of
      residual materials on rue Gabrielle-Roy
    

At the close of the meeting, City Councillor Ginette Marotte, on behalf of her colleagues on Council and Verdunites as a whole, extended wishes of good health, happiness and long life to Mayor Claude Trudel on his birthday.

The minutes of the regular Council meeting on March 2, 2010 will be posted on the Borough's website (ville.montreal.qc.ca/verdun), as soon as they are approved by Council. In the meantime, the documents forming the subject of this report on the proceedings of this Council session may be consulted at the Borough Office's Secrétariat (4555, rue de Verdun, Suite 102).

For further information: Francine Morin, Responsable du protocole et des relations publiques, Verdun Borough, [phone], [email protected], [email protected]; Source: Verdun Borough, www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/verdun