City approves new lease for merged police station
Despite impassioned appeals by opposition councillors, Montreal city council voted Monday night to expand Station 9 in Côte-st-luc and renew the lease for another six-and-a-half years, thus sealing its merger with Station 11 in Notredame-deGrâce.
Councillors voted 39 to 22 to spend $2.1 million to rent the station on Westminster Ave. from Sept. 1 until Jan. 31, 2027.
That includes $551,880 in renovations for the additional space the station will occupy in a strip mall and four-storey office building at 5501 Westminster Ave.
The 6,000-square-foot station will be enlarged by 2,000 square feet.
Opposition members called on the city to put the station merger on hold for one year and refer the issue to Montreal’s public security committee.
Côte-des-neiges—notre-damedeGrâce Mayor Sue Montgomery accused local Projet Montréal councillors of abandoning residents.
“Since the beginning, N.D.G. residents have been asking to be heard through a public consultation. That’s all we are asking for. Nearly 3,000 residents have signed a petition demanding a public consultation,” she said.
Independent Coun. Marvin Rotrand said he was disappointed that the administration has not yet followed up on his suggestion of substituting a mini-station in eastern N.D.G.
St-laurent Mayor Alan Desousa said that in the past decisions over the future of police stations were made collaboratively.
“I’m surprised that the administration is not listening to the local communities, local democracy, local councils and local residents,” he said.
Earlier, Mary Deros, the Ensemble Montréal councillor for Parc Extension, said she feared that plans are underway to close Station 33 in her district.
“There has been no transparency on this issue,” she said. “I’m afraid.”
But Rosannie Filato, the executive committee member responsible for public security, denied that the station merger sets a precedent.
She said station closings have been happening for years, with only 31 today, down from 49 a couple of decades ago.
Loyola Coun. Christian Arsenault said the administration demonstrated its open-mindedness by investigating the possibility of a mini-station in N.D.G.
If residents are unhappy with the merger after one year, the administration would re-evaluate the situation, he promised.
“If the community feels our needs for public safety and security are not being met, then all options are on the table,” he said.