Marie-Andrée Beaudoin said she received a report showing that the borough's building located on Bois-de-Boulogne is unsuitable for occupation. (Photo: Martin Alarie)
Call for tenders before report
During the borough meeting, the mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville stated her controversial decision to move the borough's services under one roof was the result of reading a report the borough received in June. But the call for tenders for the move had already been published in the weeks prior to that moment.
From the beginning of the saga, Mayor Beaudoin explains her quick decision to move all of the borough's services and out of the building at 12137 Bois-de-Boulogne because of the results of a report indicating the building was unsuitable for occupation. The final report received in June indicated a number of problems, including asbestos on the premises.
Montreal's official opposition is contesting the last claim, saying they have confirmed the levels of asbestos in the building are not high enough to harm humans.
Either way, the mayor claims the diverse problems associated with the old fire station would've required multiple, considerable expenditures, and thus preferred moving to renovating. The short window of time between receipt of the report and the decision to move left the mayor no choice but to spring it on the public unannounced.
However, the call for tenders shows the deadline for submitting a lease proposal was May 11 – a long time before the mayor received the final report on the Bois-de-Boulogne building. The call for tenders also stated the location required for the contract would have to be "On Chabanel Street between l'Acadie and St. Laurent boulevards."
At press time, it had been impossible to get Marie-Andrée Beaudoin’s comments on this story, nor to obtain a copy of the report.
Météo: Montréal, 17 mai 2008 / 10°C
/ Quelques nuages
/ Vents: 6 Km/h / Humidité relative: 66 % 
Steven Guilbeault - 
