Councillors in Verdun celebrated their first year in office during their November 4 regular council meeting.
They handed out a brochure emphasizing key accomplishments in administration, finances, capital expenditures, and citizen involvement.
They also approved the minutes from October in which the financial ramifications of possible construction collusion where detailed.
Budget
A budget for 2015 of $41 million has been established under new rules. This budget includes two millon dollars from local sources, 32 million dollars from the city centre, six million dollars in local taxes and the use of half a million dollars in surplus funds. It will set aside another four million dollars for capital cost expenditures.
Since staffing costs more than half of Montreal’s budget, Verdun will comply with city centre requests by eliminating 29 jobs in the next five years.
The budget can be downloaded.
Contracts
In the past two months, the borough of Verdun awarded another $429,310.82 for compost and recycling pick-up to Services Environnementaux Richelieu Inc., a Beloeil-based company owned by Laval-based 9199-5290 Québec Inc. and BFI Canada Inc. The total contract is now worth more than 30 million dollars.
Almost $500,000 was spent on truck and vans, including $233,610.33 to Les industries Halraie, $134,000 to Montréal Chrysler Dodge Jeep in LaSalle to purchase four Ram cargo 2015 trucks and almost $60,000 to Le centre du camion Ste-Marie.
Three different companies—Sauver Remorquage Ludos Autos Inc., Remorquage Mobile and Auto Cam 2000—got $117,734.40 for the rental of six trailers.
Grants
Several organizations received grants in November:
- The Centre local de developpement de Verdun got $118,150 to cover operations from January 1 until December 31, 2015;
- The Maison de jeunes Le Point de Mire received $13,167.50; and
- L’Ecole de cirque de Verdun received $9,097.71 to cover a rent subsidy from January 1st until March 31, 2015.
Note: A version of this story appeared on page 22 of the City Edition of the Suburban yesterday.
