WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT December 17-18, 2008 We are Westmount Vol. 2 No. 12b Homeowners face 1 percent Closing an era tax hike to ease past burden By Laureen Sweeney imize their share of the tax burden. In adopting a $79.8 million budget, half of which Owners of single-family dwellings in Westmount face goes to the island-wide agglomeration council, city coun- an average 1 percent tax hike for 2009, down from 2.5 cil at its meeting December 15 revealed the new basic rate percent, as the city implements a variable tax rate to min- of $1.07 per $100 of evaluation for single-family dwellings and other buildings with five housing units or We’ll be back! less. On the average single-family dwelling’s tax bill of $10,184, the increase amounts to $101. This is the Independent’s last issue of 2008. Thank you – advertisers, readers, contributors and well-wish- Larger building, larger rate ers – for all your support this year. We have great The rate increases to $1.19 for larger apartment build- hopes for the future. Our first issue of 2009 is Janu- ings (an average increase of 1.97 percent) ary 14. and to $3.94 for commercial property, continued on p.13 First demerger contract ‘reinstates’ Westmount labour culture Public Security Sergeant Robert Stringer supervises closing time at the Westmount Public Library December 2. Stringer – the last original public safety officer – retires next month. For the whole Council hails 6-year blue-collar accord story, please see p.6. By Laureen Sweeney gotiations, Westmount and some 125 per- in 2009, and 2.5 percent in 2010, 2011 Finance commissioner Guy Charette in After more than two years of labour ne- manent and auxiliary blue-collar workers and 2012. The retroactive increases are re- his budget presentation called it “re-estab- have agreed to a six-and-a-half year con- flected in the city’s 2009 budget. lishing a climate of trust and mutual re- tract that reinstates some of the working Other highlights include a return to 13 spect and a stable work force … which conditions enjoyed before the merger legal holidays a year, compared with five balances wage increases with working con- CTR BKR years with Montreal. during the merger years and the rein- ditions that maximizes our productivity.” Ratified by council at its meeting De- statement of the student employment sta- The city’s negotiating team, led by HR cember 15, the contract was built anew tus that enables the city to hire students director Alan Kulaga, was thanked for page by page, based on local needs “that under a special pay scale. It also embodies what Mayor Marks described as an “ac- were crucial to us,” Mayor Karin Marks the city’s determination to maintain a five- complishment.” said, “and not those dictated by Montreal.” day work week, but extends to the blue The contract extends from July 31, collars the 4.5-day summer work-week en- Don’t Miss It 2006 to December 31, 2012 and had al- joyed by some other city workers. Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom’s VIVIAN & BRIAN GRANT ready been accepted by the union, SCSP “One of the many issues was to try to local 301, which continues to represent return to the culture and philosophy that Hannukah party and 592-4636 • 249-1500 Westmount’s blue collar workers. characterized our labour relations,” ex- the First Candle Lighting at It provides for 2 percent pay hikes for plained Councillor Tom Thompson, who Westmount city hall “Working hard to exceed Sunday, December 21 your expectations.” the last six months of 2006 as well as for chairs the Finance & Administration com- 2007 and 2008, along with 2.25 percent mittee. See Comin’ Up on p.12 for details. Your Independent Choice in Wealth Management For further information on our financial services, visit our website 150 years Proudly celebrating 150 years of client trust and service (1858-2008) 2 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 17-18, 2008 Best Wishes Court throws ball back to city in Bellevue ruling The ruling in a high-profile court case Steven Goldberg to add another storey to from Marc Garneau involving a proposed additional storey at his Bellevue Ave. home. The addition, they Member of Parliament 27 Bellevue has once again upheld the said, would impede their views and have a Westmount-Ville-Marie powers of the city to determine architec- negative impact on the neighbourhood. tural standards. At the December 15 meeting of city Marc Garneau & his family would In his ruling, Superior Court Justice council, Councillor Cunthia Lulham un- like to wish all the residents of Robert Mongeon referred to the recent rul- derlined the court rulings. ing by Quebec Court of Appeal recogniz- Among those who spoke during ques- the riding a year full of health, ing the powers of the city’s Planning tion period, Gary Ikeman asked if council happiness and success. Advisory Committee and the city council. was considering changes in the permit In the Bellevue case, residents of Sun- process, given the courts had essentially 4060 Ste-Catherine Ouest, Bureau 340 nyside Ave. Mireille Raymond and her thrown the ball back into council’s court. Montréal, QC, H3Z 2Z3 husband, John Keyserlingk, had asked the Lulham said a number of projects would [email protected] court to quash a city permit that allows be tabled in the near future. Merci pour votre confiance et votre appui. Joyeuses fêtes! Thank you for your confidence and your support. Happy Holidays! Jacques Chagnon M.N.A. Westmount-Saint-Louis Vice-President of the National Assembly 1155 University, Suite 1312, Montreal (Quebec) H3B 3A7 Tel.: 514-395-2929 – Fax: 514-395-2955 [email protected] WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 17-18, 2008 – 3 Marie José bids farewell ’Tis the season to be jolly By Laureen Sweeney With the leadership roles undertaken by the two most recent Westmount mayors in She’s been the interface between the associations of suburban mayors, on is- mayor, Westmount residents and elected land-wide councils and in Quebec political officials across the island for so many life, nothing was ever routine, she said. years that Marie José Aubertin’s retire- “She’s front line when someone calls to ment will come as a shock to many. speak with the mayor or councillors,” In fact, as executive assistant to current Mayor Marks explained. “What character- mayor Karin Marks and previously to izes her is this incredible professionalism, Among many volunteers who pitched in to help at Westmount’s tree lighting ceremony and party December 9 was Girl Guide Katherine McKenna. Other participants included representatives of Path- finder and Scouting groups, the St. Matthias’ boys’ choir, the Harmonia Westmount Women’s Choir and St. John Ambulance. Marie José Aubertin at her post outside the mayor’s office. Mayor Peter Trent, Marie José’s name courtesy and pleasant tone she maintains alone took on its own persona. even under great pressure. I’m certainly “The work is very challenging,” she going to miss her.” said. “Nothing is ever the same. Especially Marie José also worked closely with with the ups and downs of the mergers now-retired director general Bruce St. and demergers. It was another world to Louis and said she has enjoyed her brief me.” time with his successor, Duncan Campbell. Aubertin came to Westmount from the Now, with the opportunity to enjoy corporate world in July 1991, initially to “Freedom 55,” Aubertin said, she’s looking work for director general Manley Schultz. forward to a sunny vacation and having But with the municipal election in No- the time to enjoy many things she has vember, she was drafted by Mayor Trent been wanting to undertake. “It’s just won- into her current position. derful,” she said. “I’m so excited.” 4 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – December 17-18, 2008 Letters to the editor Provs cut, not Feds can be fatal in a matter of minutes if left Tanzania. the same rights. untreated. Individuals who are anaphylac- Perhaps your fact-finders could clear So the true slant of your feature article, “Orpheus Singers hit hard by feds’ art tic must always be vigilant and carry an this up for us; otherwise, we’re off to the I suggest, should not focus on the news of cuts” (December 2, p. 3) sure makes a EpiPen (injectable dose of epinephrine/ Douglas. the court decision, but rather tell the citi- catchy headline, and any publicity for the adrenaline) with them at all times. Alan Moscovitch, Dawson College zens of Westmount to wake up, as the city choir is good publicity, but the reality is Residents who feed the squirrels are allows these drastic changes. that, as far as I know, the Orpheus Singers Editor’s note: Although we never said Andy causing potential fatal harm to their neigh- The legacy of this present council will never received funding from the federal Rosenhek didn’t go to Dawson, we have bours even if they do so in their own back- not be the financial strains of dealing with government. now spoken to him and can confirm that yard, since the squirrels travel with their the botched forced amalgamation, but The grant that we applied for annually, he did attend. No need to visit the Douglas. loot. These residents certainly mean no rather the way they have allowed changes and received up until several years ago, harm, but need to understand and be that will profoundly change the character was from the Quebec Arts Council. Owners buy into made aware of the potential severity and of our community.