Borough council highlights

According to a citizen, a huge pothole on the service road parallel to highway 40 caused damages to her car and had to pay $1200 for repairs. Mayor Alan DeSousa admitted that potholes were indeed a problem and that the months of March and April are the most problematic because of the important changes in temperature. Mr. DeSousa then invited the citizens to e-mail the borough’s office when potholes were spotted.

With Old Man Winter still sending down snow, it was expected to see many Laurentians complaining to the council about snow removal. Mayor DeSousa answered that he and his team were working on new rulings that would forbid citizens to clear snow directly on the streets.

The borough invites all St-Laurent citizens and businesses to participate in the Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., by switching their lights off for a whole hour. More details in an upcoming edition.

For a third consecutive year, an agreement of $25,000 with the Comité Écologique du Grand Montréal was approved. This will allow the improvement works at Marcel-Laurin Park to be continued. A $34,246 contract was also awarded to Arbo-Design inc. for trees cutting and pruning works in the borough. A call tender was also authorized for tree planting. Borough director Serge Lamontagne mentioned that “it was necessary to plant more vegetation and that there’s a will to keep up with the tree policy created two years ago.”

A three-year $1,518,572 contact was awarded to Sécurité Serca inc. for the urban security patrollers services. Read a detailed article about the urban security patrol in the next issue of the St. Laurent News.

A call for tenders by invitation was authorized for the maintenance of the synthetic surfaces of tennis and basketball courts.

The recreational program for spring and summer 2008 and this year’s program of the Fêtes estivales laurentiennes should remain the same, while the possibility of creating evening swimming classes is currently being analyzed.

A agreement in principle was reached between the borough and the Cégep St. Laurent for the borough’s financial participation of $1,000,000 for the renovation of the Salle Émile-Legault. “The Cégep presented us a $9-million project and is willing to invest $1 million,” said the mayor. With that being said, both parties hope to receive $7 millions from the government. Councillor Patricia Bittar added that the auditorium really needs to be improved as it currently doesn’t respect the universal access criteria.

St. Laurent’s Chamber of commerce and industry received a $20,000 subsidy, while seven senior citizens organisms were awarded individual subsidies ranging from $1,000 to $7,750. This year, the Carrefour des aînés will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Two by-laws were adopted for the accordance of the borough’s town planning by-law to the Montreal planning program. All the details can be found in the March 2 edition of the St. Laurent News.

When will the borough’s second library see the light of day? Many Laurentians are still wondering. According to the council, some elements still need to be fixed before getting the green light from the City. Its integration to a cultural center seems doubtful as the borough has agreed to invest $1 million in the Salle Émile-Legault.

The last public question was about the possibility of adopting a policy regarding the food available in the vending machines in the borough’s public building, like the Centre des loisirs. This question couldn’t have come at a better time as the executive comity is currently working on the issue. “We’re looking at ways to offer more healthy snacks as oppose to junk-food, like at the Raymond-Bourque arena,” said Mayor DeSousa. The objective is to give Laurentians more healthy food options.

(Translated by Pascal LeBlanc)

(Photo: Martin Alarie)