NEWS & ANALYSIS
McQUEEN
Cont?d from page 3 going to want to discuss things that are partisan. If the situation were reversed, I?m sure I?d be asking for the same thing.? McQueen, it seems, will choose his battles wisely and will make transparency an ongoing theme during his mandate. ?I have to fight the battles I have a chance of winning. And I will,? he said. ?They don?t give enough information to citizens. It needs to open up.? As the district?s councillor, McQueen was relieved to learn that he now has the right to attend the closed-door Comité consultatif d'urbanisme (CCU) meetings which map out the borough?s urban development plans. Chaired by mayor Michael Applebaum, the in camera CCU meetings have been one of the more controversial topics for debate in the borough. Former Loyola councillor Warren Allmand, who also served as Canada?s Solicitor General, was fiercely opposed to the closed-door meetings. During McQueen?s first borough council meeting last week, he quickly proposed that the CCU meetings be made open to the public, like those in the St. Laurent and Pierrefonds- Roxboro boroughs. That suggestion was shot down quickly by councillor Marvin Rotrand, as McQueen could not find a someone on council to second his motion. This will pose an ongoing challenge for McQueen as he tries to introduce bits of Project Montreal?s agenda into the borough; it will also test the bipartisanship of the Union councillors who may look to Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay?s example and attempt to extend an olive branch to the opposition. ?We?ve got to do something about the closed door meetings,? said McQueen. ?The public has a right to know what?s going on during those meetings but as long as I have nobody to second my motions, it?s all of them against me, which is why we need more opposition on council.? McQueen said there is a lot of work to be done over the next four years, which is why he preferred to concentrate on local issues which required his immediate attention as he chatted with part of The Suburban?s editorial board. ?We have to fix the bike path along de Maisonneuve Blvd.,? District 1 (yellow) - The collections scheduled for Friday, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 will be postponed until the next day (Saturday). District 2 (green) District 3 (orange) - No changes. District 4 (blue) - No changes. - No changes. District 1 (yellow) - No changes. District 2 (green) - No changes. District 3 (orange) - No changes. District 4 (blue) - No changes. he said. ?It?s a disgrace and there?s more than enough traffic on that path to warrant the borough?s immediate attention.? As a committed urban cyclist, McQueen also believes the borough must quickly find a solution to the dangerous zone on Decarie Blvd., beneath the five-way intersection, near the Vendôme Metro station. McQueen fears more drivers, pedestrians and cyclists may get hurt before transport authorities finally get around to building the new overpass. McQueen also feels that the second part of the MUHC construction plan in the in the Glen Yards, is ?insane!? Not only does he think closing off access to Upper Lachine Rd. to be a bad idea for those who live in St. Raymond, but turning de Maisonneuve Blvd. through NDG into a two way street is ?totally ridiculous.? McQueen made his support for urban densification clear, saying he supports air rights. ?I?m for building up. Project Montreal is for building up.? He would also like to see more parks built in NDG, particularly those for children, and better maintenance for the ones already in existence. nCLARKE
Cont?d from page 3 processes. ?It was very interesting and helpful. It gives you an inside track on how everything works.? Clarke has lived in the district for roughly 25 years and replaced the popular Warren Allmand as Loyola?s councillor. She has already taken on more responsibilities with centre city, being named to the public safety committee. With the borough in ?excellent financial shape,? as she put it just before last month?s election, that leaves the basics to be refined, like garbage and snow removal, recycling and staying closePEREZ
Cont?d from page 3 concern for the many residents Perez has had discussions with. He said he has received requests for more speed bumps, stop signs and crosswalks. Snow removal is also an ongoing issue, but he is delighted with how borough contractors have been handling the job so far. Last winter, Zajdel observed on a number of occasions that contractors would either put up ?no parking? signs when removal would not take place, or signs would be placed on both sides of the street, leaving drivers with nowhere to park around their homes. District 1 (yellow) - No changes. District 2 (green) District 3 (orange) - No changes. District 4 (blue) - No changes. District 1 (yellow) - No changes. District 2 (green) District 3 (orange) - No changes. District 4 (blue) - No changes. - The collections scheduled for Friday, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 will take place the day before (Thursday). - The collections scheduled for Friday, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 will be postponed until the next day (Saturday). No such trouble this year, Perez said. A father of four and the founder of an internet business specializing in corporate law, Perez said he will be paying close attention to the housing situation in his district. Although there have been no serious complaints in Darlington lately, the Vezina Ave. slum in the neighbouring Snowdon district is cause to remain vigilant, he said. ?When I first considered taking a run for the position, a lot of people around me asked if I wanted to deal with the headaches. I?m happy to say that it?s the most satisfying part of the position. It?s when I have a direct impact on people?s lives.? n District 1 (yellow) - The collections scheduled for Friday, Jan. 1 will be postponed until the next day (Saturday). District 2 (green) District 3 (orange) - No changes. District 4 (blue) to citizens. ?All the major projects that were supposed to happen are happening,? said an optimistic Clarke earlier this fall. She works in telecommunications and has volunteered with the NDG Food Depot and the CNIB; she hopes to apply her customer service skills in the political arena. ?I?ve been an activist in the community forever,? added Clarke, who also volunteers as head of the Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDEC) board of directors in Côte des Neiges. ?I see political service as service and not an opportunity.? n - No changes. - No changes. THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009 ? 7
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