December 4, 2018 Council Hikes Pay Given ‘Tax Issue,’ ‘Treats and Treasures’ Raises $4,000 to Align with Other Cities; Uses UMQ Calculation – Mayor
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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT Weekly. Vol. 12 No. 12a We are Westmount December 4, 2018 Council hikes pay given ‘tax issue,’ ‘Treats and Treasures’ raises $4,000 to align with other cities; uses UMQ calculation – mayor By Laureen Sweeney is being taken at this time to offset new federal taxation affecting the tax-free ex- City council was expected to table leg- pense allowance of elected officials. With- islation December 3 to increase the remu- out increases, this would reduce the total neration of the mayor and councillors, take-home pay considering the expense ac- Mayor Christina Smith said last week. It count amount has not required receipts. has been frozen since 2009. “It’s uncomfortable giving yourself a The move of Westmount along with a raise,” Mayor Smith said in announcing number of other demerged municipalities the plan last week. Council’s proposed increases fall at the Don’t Miss It lower end of a recommended range by the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) Thursday, December 6 – Hanukah cel- Centre Greene’s annual ‘Treats and Treasures’ artisan Christmas fair on November 17 raised for a city of Westmount’s population and ebration, candle lighting and reception around $4,000 for the community centre on Greene Ave. A wide variety of crafters who rented services, she said. by the city of Westmount in collabora- tables donated items that were then raffled off for the benefit of the centre. Seen in the photo The mayor’s base salary would go from tion with Congregation Shaar Hasho - wearing mittens produced and sold by an artisan for the benefit of the Chez Doris women’s $43,934 to $68,000, in the UMQ’s re - mayim and Temple Emmanu-El Beth shelter are, from left, Centre Greene executive-director Beth Symansky, board member Erica commended range of $67,000 to $94,000, Sholom. Lawn Bowling Clubhouse, be- Bloom, assistant-director Sophie Cram and special events coordinator Heather Hodges. and the expense allow - Photo: Martin C. Barry hind city hall. 5 pm to 6:30 pm. ance from $16,216 to continued on p. 6 This issue is the Independent’s second to last before our usual Christmas break At site of former Hillside clinic Demo hearing Dec. 17 to present Max General Dentist new townhouse project Castle Comprehensive Dental By Laureen Sweeney the northwest corner of Metcalfe across Restorative Services from the six-storey condos at 175 Metcalfe Advanced Aesthetic A hearing December 17 to demolish the that replaced the Vanguard School build- Smile Design former medical centre at 65 Hillside will ing. 514.941.8802 examine the plan to build what would be The hearing to lay out the case for de- 1 Place du Commerce Suite 100 île des Sœurs H3E 1A3 the first new townhouses in Westmount molishing the one-storey industrial-type in many years. building and to consider the replacement 514 769-3939 Proposed are four adjoining three- project is scheduled for 5:35 pm, follow- RE/MAX ACTION INC. storey houses that conform to the current ing the 5:30 pm mid- 1225 Greene Ave, Westmount drmechanic.com residential zoning and will face Hillside at month ly permits council continued on p. 6 WISHING YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 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COMPLETELY RENOVATED Ville-Marie – 3940 Ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Notre-Dame-de-Grâce apt. B22 – $998,000 5460 Av. Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – $985,000 3864 Rue Addington – $869,000 Please Contact For More Information WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 4, 2018 – 3 Community liaison for MUHC super-hospital tunnel Letters & photos Kiely, McCallum represent Westmount to STM to the editor, p. 8 Classifieds, p. 25 By Laureen Sweeney hands” at a public consultation meeting The new tunnel had been part of the June 18 when the STM asked who would initial plan for the super-hospital project Social Notes Two longtime volunteers have been be interested in serving on the committee, but had been eliminated to reduce costs. (MUHC Breast Clinic), p. 28 chosen to represent Westmount on the Kiely recalled. Its construction began in January 2018 at Comin’ Up, p. 14 community liaison committee for the tun- “I’ve been badgering planners over the a projected cost of $76.5 million and now, nel under construction by the Société de lack of an accessible tunnel for so many after delays, is to be completed sometime Dodge on real estate: Transport de Montréal (STM) as a univer- years and have been about as popular as a in 2020. August transfers: Up!, p. 20 sally accessible entrance to the super-hos- skunk in a cabbage patch,” she added. The three NDG members of the STM pital from de Maisonneuve at Vendôme. Kiely is also a member of the Royal Victo- liaison committee are Anouk Laurent, Mood of the market A high-profile project under way for a ria Hospital’s patients’ committee and a James Luck and Jo-Anne Wemmers. in October: Up!, p. 22 year, the aim of the long-sought tunnel is subcommittee on functional accommoda- to provide a wheelchair-accessible link not tion. McCallum is a longtime member of currently available between the Metro sta- the city of Westmount’s Community tion and the Glen hospital. Events Advisory Committee. Along with three residents of NDG, the While the tunnel committee has held Westmounters are Maureen Kiely of The only one meeting, September 6 in the trail- Boulevard, a longtime advocate for the er on the construction site, she said the new entrance, and Liz McCallum of St. STM was very receptive to her insistence Catherine, whose house backs onto the that handrails be installed in the tunnel. tunnel construction site. McCallum said she also found the STM While both had volunteered and ap- very “responsive and proactive” to her own plied for a position on the Comité de liai- complaints that included requests for a son Project Vendôme, their acceptance at fence to provide a visual barrier of the con- the end of summer was announced at the struction site from the back of her house. November 5 city council meeting by Coun- They had been very good about “commit- cillor Marina Brzeski, commissioner of ting to resolve issues.” sustainability and accessibility. She said she has been telling other af- “We were the only two who raised our fected residents “the trick is to make a complaint.” Kiely is still concerned, however, that when many people start using the new de Maisonneuve entrance, there will be no es- calators to move them more quickly than elevators. She said she has been told that escalator installation is technically impos- sible due to configuration of the land. Technically tough The work has been technically tough CARLY WENER FRIDMAN because of a retention basin, unstable soil and other challenges such as replacement Courtier Immobilier Real Estate Broker of the railway tracks, she said. These have been encountered in trying to “shoe horn” the tunnel into available space after the hospital had been built. 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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 4, 2018 – 5 REAL ESTATE BROKER | B.ARCH Wishing all of my friends, clients and colleagues Happy Holidays! SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD Upper Belmont, Westmount Breslay, Westmount Adj. Grey, Westmount Adj. Montrose, Westmount 514.660.3050 josephmontanaro.com 6 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 4, 2018 Demo hearing , cont’d. from p. 1 meeting at city hall. Both aspects have been recommended by the city’s Planning Advisory Commit- tee (PAC) as allowing for the transforma- tion of a nonconforming structure and use into what is now permitted. The proposed development, according to the PAC, would integrate into the residential zoning and context as “an improvement to the current situation.” The vacant corner building that faces Metcalfe but also has an address at 100 Metcalfe abuts a Category I Victorian house whereas the proposed townhouses will face Hillside.