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For the second time in recent months, Mayor Marc Lauzon has authorized architectural studies to be carried out in conjunction with the Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes theatre project — an undertaking that residents had rejected in a register in February, although Lauzon himself has not given up.
Cheque register
During city council’s monthly meeting on July 8, opposition councillor Guillaume Bouvrette questioned the mayor about a disbursement listed in the registry of cheques paid by the administration over the past month. At the June council meeting, Bouvrette had also questioned Lauzon about a $4,500 disbursement listed in the register as a payment to a St-Eustache architect for a preliminary study on the auditorium project.
This month, Lauzon didn’t deny that the latest payout, raising the total over the last two months to more than $10,000, is for work that could lead ultimately to the development of an upscale entertainment venue in the PDM’s auditorium, comparable to theatrical facilities like the Salle André-Mathieu at Montmorency College in Laval. Lauzon estimates it would cost more than $500,000 to complete the project.
Benefits of PDM project
While the polyvalente and the school commission, which would also invest, would get a renewed auditorium, Lauzon claims that the City of Two Mountains would benefit from concert and event goers who would generate revenue for local businesses. He told Bouvrette that the preliminary studies are justified in that residents will need to be fully informed if and when the time comes to provide them with more information on the project.
While Bouvrette reminded the mayor that the idea for the PDM project was soundly rejected in the pre-referendum register voted by residents, Lauzon has consistently said since then that he interprets the results of the register as a failure on his part to effectively communicate the benefits of the PDM project. He still hopes to convince residents that it is viable and can help generate badly-needed tax revenue and boost business in Two Mountains.
Praise for Bigras
Also during the meeting, Robert Montplaisir of 7th Avenue asked the mayor whether Councillor Suzette Bigras (who made waves recently when she stepped down as chairwoman of council’s traffic committee even though she is a Lauzon ally) will be “financially disadvantaged” as a result of her decision. “I don’t think it will have much impact on Mrs. Bigras’ finances,” Lauzon responded. Montplaisir praised Bigras for her “sense of duty and moral integrity which have no parallel.” Montplaisir said the citizens “need people like you, Mrs. Bigras.”
August softball tournament
Doug Parr reminded members of council that the 20th annual Two Mountains Mixed Tournament will be taking place Aug. 6, 7 and 8 in Central Park. The Cedars Cancer Institute at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is involved and invites everyone to step up to the plate for a good cause. To date, more than $25,000 has been raised from the softball tournament to benefit the Cedars CanSupport Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program.
The program addresses the unique psychological needs of cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 29. Cancer patients in this age range have unique life stage needs that are different from younger and older cancer patients. For more information on the tournament, call Margie Lavalée at (450) 974-7412, or (514) 772-6865. Those who would like to help out can call Andale Evans at the Cedars Cancer Institute at (514) 843-1606.
McAllister’s defence
Council has voted in favour of paying for Councillor James McAllister’s legal expenses, relating to a court challenge launched by a resident. The resident claims McAllister wasn’t eligible to run for office last November, because McAllister works on-call as a firefighter for the Deux-Montagnes/Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac fire service, and as such is a municipal employee.
As an elected municipal official, McAllister is entitled to have his legal expenses paid in cases involving his functions as a city councillor. In a brief interview following the council meeting, McAllister said he had difficulty at first getting the administration to pay his lawyer’s costs. After some negotiation of the hourly fee, council arrived at a consensus and a resolution in his favour was passed.
