Opening comments by Mayor Peter J. Malouf - Regular Meeting of Tuesday, August 23, 2022

" Good evening to all of you and welcome to this August council meeting. 

I will now address several files that have been at the forefront of discussions between council members and that have been the subject of some public concern.

OPINION VS GOVERNANCE AND MAJORITY CONSENSUS

I understand that divergent opinions can exist. We live this in our everyday lives just the way we express our opinions on whom we elect as a candidate to represent us.

In my role in guiding best practices of good governance I need to ensure that we in caucus arrive at a majority consensus to move forward on our numerous files. We are a completely new council and we have had a steep learning curve, and we have accomplished much despite the lack of visible results that resident’s comment on. However good governance dictates that we debate privately in caucus and support publicly even if we may personally oppose a decision.

We need to respect the process and support the decision of the majority as this is exactly what happens in any democratic society.

SAFETY

As summer draws to a close, the school period is around the corner. I remind you all and urge you to exercise caution and be vigilant in the school zones. Many children start school for the first time or are now old enough to be alone to go to school and therefore vigilance is required.

REM

The demobilization of the REM site will begin shortly. As I have already mentioned this will be done in the coming months. However, we must not think that everything will return to normal in the city center. Some work and therefore obstacles will remain, especially with regard to the work related to the new station.

NEW FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL

We continue to work on the new Francophone school project. We have nothing new to announce at this point as due to the summer vacation period advancement has been slowed down. However, I would like to inform town residents that we will be having an information session regarding the issues and considerations about a new French elementary school. Currently the tentative date is set for mid-October at Town Hall. I am coordinating a mutually convenient date with the directors general of both the CSSMB Mr. Dominic Bertrand and of the EMSB Mr. Guissepe Ortona who have agreed to attend this session to provide factual information that is at play regarding the need for a new school in our community and correct the misinformation circulating.

ADM AND AIRPLANE NOISE

Unfortunately, the flight path for Montréal- Trudeau Airport is in part above TMR. The disturbances caused are dependent on the direction of take-off and landing. In general, both take-off and landing are to be done against the wind, therefore in a westward direction. There has been work over the years on the runways and this has an impact on flight routes and therefore often take-off is done in an easterly direction, over TMR. We suggest you go to the Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) website where you can find additional information.
 

The Town is transparent with residents regarding the problem of noise pollution caused by airplanes. In fact, the Town has intervened and expressed its position and that of TMR residents to ADM on several occasions by way of resolutions of Council, asking to implement solutions that will reduce the noise impact of airplanes, which is annoying to many residents. 

The same request has been made concerning flights after midnight. The last one was made by Council very recently at the June 14, Council meeting and was sent to ADM as well as to the MP for Mount Royal, Mr. Anthony Housefather.  (RESOLUTION N° 22-06-04).
Although ADM has shown a great deal of openness in accepting the grievances of the elected officials of Mount Royal concerning noise pollution, ultimately this is a federal jurisdiction and Transport Canada is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules of noise control generated by air traffic and not the municipalities bordering the airport. Thus, the boroughs and municipalities bordering the airport, such as ours, unfortunately have no "decisional" jurisdiction on matters concerning this mode of transportation.
For this reason, the members of the current and previous councils have made representations to the federal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, Mr. Anthony Housefather, to obtain support on this subject and to have him intervene with the Minister of Transport.

QUARTIER SPORTIF & COMMUNAUTAIRE

As far as the Quartier Sportif et Communautaire is concerned, there too the summer holidays of members of council and of various professionals involved in the file has slowed down advancement on the file and the possibilities for holding working sessions on the file. 

I hope that by September or October at the latest, I will have developments and news to share with you and that an information and a communication session can be organized to present the fruits of our reflection and discussions. I understand the frustration of residents regarding this project.

A little bit of context may help:

• The previous mayor and council announced that the sports center project would be shelved in April of 2021 and that a reassessment of the scope of the project would be entertained.
• I and 8 new councilors were elected in November 2021, since then amongst all other duties, the Quartier Sportif and Communautaire has been a priority.
• I had shared a vision during my campaign and am pursuing that in order to deliver an infrastructure project that would service the needs of our community for decades to come.
• Several iterations of the existing and new designs have been discussed in caucus and we are to receive our latest version shortly.
• I am hoping to arrive at a majority consensus in council and will soon be planning an information session to share our recommendation to the public. 

BUDGET

In the coming months we will work on the budget for the year 2023 with the administration. A new assessment roll will be filed in September and this one with the increases that can be expected from the agglomeration and the increase in costs in all areas prepare us for a hard job; difficult discussions and decisions await us in order to be able to present a balanced budget that meets your expectations in terms of services and that provides a tax rate commensurate with taxpayers' ability to pay.  
On a more pleasant note, the Town will be celebrating 110 years of existence this December. Without planning major events, we are planning an activity in December to mark this anniversary.  More info will be forthcoming shortly.

FINALLY – A BIT OF SAD NEWS TO ANNOUNCE

In closing I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to our former long serving councilor John Miller and his wife Betty on the passing of their son Greg. It is with great sadness that we heard the news and on behalf of council and the Town administration I send our sympathies.

I wish you all a good council session and a nice end of summer." 

Peter J. Malouf