Opening Comments by Mayor Peter J. Malouf - Regular Meeting of Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Here is Mayor Peter J. Malouf's opening comments at the December 12, 2023, regular meeting of the Town Council. It has been adapted for the Web.
Note: The full recording of the meeting is available on the Town's Youtube Channel.
" Good evening to all,
Thank you for joining us, and for those who are here in person, thank you for braving the winter elements.
We have a long agenda this evening which started at 6 pm with the adoption of our 2024 budget, so I will be brief with my opening comments.
BUDGET
Our operating budget of $130 million was approved at the 6 p.m. special meeting, of which $70.3 million is for agglomeration expenses.
SNOW REMOVAL
As you all know, we received 34 cm of snow overnight from December 3 to December 4. It was heavy wet snow, which makes snow removal even more challenging.
Our blue-collar workers worked diligently to clear the streets, school zones, downtown, and the industrial sector. Collection was completed on Friday morning. We are proud of their hard work and of our snow removal service.
It is evident that we are ahead of our neighbors, as can be seen in Glenmount or Outremont.
TMR RANKING
This brings me to an article in the Globe and Mail a few weeks ago where TMR was ranked 11th as the best place to live in Canada and 5th for raising a family. I am particularly proud of the results that also ranked TMR 1st in the province of Quebec.
This ranking continues to prove the high quality of services provided, the Town's sound financial position, and the necessity of constructing our Sports and Community centre.
The rankings were based on an extensive list of criteria, including but not limited to: economy, housing, demographics, healthcare, safety, education, community, amenities, transportation, climate, raising children, and retirement.
BETH-EL SYNAGOGUE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
An informational evening was held regarding the Beth-El Synagogue redevelopment project.
The evening was by invitation and intended for those residents living in the contiguous zones to the synagogue.
The promoter gave a presentation, followed by a question period. Council Members were in attendance and, after hearing the comments and reviewing the presentation in more detail, they will now hold caucus discussions to determine the next steps.
We expect to be able to announce the rest of the project in early 2024.
PIIA / CCU
In an effort to continue to improve service to our residents and clarify the process and rules associated with a renovation project, we have prepared video brief explaining the role of the CCU as well as the reasons behind a PIIA and its advantages. I invite all residents to visit our website and view the capsules.
Thank you for attending our monthly meetings over the past year and for your interest in town matters.
In conclusion, we wish you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year in 2024. Take care and enjoy your time with your loved ones."