The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 16

The eyesight professionals It" 1 P''i I Ml I. nrifam Art lilt a niiijUHirt. I -ntjunnjfl 1iW nMi I Bill 30 LOCATIONS 336-5330 MONTREAL, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1986 Jduncil halts City business grinds a halt as council BEST AVAILABLE COPY efunding power split in Anjou i 'I i. These professional advisers had received almost $1 million in fees during the last year, he said. "This money could be put to better use, while the municipal civil servants could provide the same services more cheaply," H6bert added.

The independents have long been critical of Corbeil's preference for paying professional consultants to provide the sort of advice many municipal administrations get from their own staff. "These aren't real motives, these are excuses," Corbeil responded. "I've been advocating less government and more outside work since I've been mayor. This has been my credo and since the people who were elected with me knew that, I assume they also believe it." After yesterday's meeting, Quirion said the independent councillors were feeling their way -1 '4 i i Montreal East city council, which last month to reimburse Do-ilnion Textile Inc: $171,000 in overbid municipal taxes, has changed its tind following the company's deci-on to go! to court to seek a larger fund. Ani the councillors instructed mu-icipal lawyer Maurice Laramee at londay night's council meeting to nsure the city's interests are deeded when the case comes to court metime within the next year.

Dorhtex, which operated a large yeing plant on Marien Ave. until ist year, asked the Bureau de R6vi-ion in February to lower its munici-al tax evaluation from 1979 to Vppposed amount j' The bureau, a provincial board iat iears contested evaluation ases, awarded Domtex $171,000 in ulyand Montreal East council oted one month ago to pay the loney. "The award did grant some reliel, ut we feel that the board did not ake Into account two important ele-nents when making its decision," aid Hubert Senecal, the company awyer. These are that the company sold ts plant in 1985 for a fairly low price ind the textile industry has suffered i severe economic decline in recent I-' 4. 'W 1 i By DAVID WIMHURST of The Gazette Municipal business at Anjou city council bogged down Tuesday night when tied votes between the weakened ruling Alliance Municipale d'Anjou and the newly strengthened group of independent councillors prevented decisions on several matters.

The major item of the evening, selecting a contractor to landscape city parks, was left unresolved when the independent councillors voted to refer the matter to city experts be-' fore deciding which bid to accept. Mayor Jean Corbeil's party opposed the idea, because outside consultants are paid to advise the city on contract selection. Under the Cities and Towns Act, a tied council vote means no decision. Change to accounting Three minor resolutions were passed unanimously before another impasse was reached when independent councillor Richard Quirion proposed the city's monthly accounts be published in a different format to show how much was being spent on current expenses, current loans and professional services. No decision was taken because of a tied vote.

Independent councillor Michel Si-mard then proposed that complete accounts of fees awarded to two consultants' firms over the last year be given to council within two weeks. Corbeil's team again opposed the idea and a tied vote prevented a decision. The Alliance has six council seats, including the mayor's, facing the six independents. This new situation left Corbeil undismayed, even though he is running a sort of minority government for the first time in 13 years as mayor. "I'm very optimistic," he told The Gazette.

"The people will have to judge the situation and decide who is right. As far as I am concerned, two turncoats don't mean my mandate is erased." Corbeil lost majority control of the council after Jean-Pierre Hebert quit the party last week to sit with the independents. Marcel Tremblay did the same thing in June. Hebert said in an interview one of the reasons he quit was to protest the amount of money Anjou spends on outside consultants. ears, he said.

exDlainina whv the ippeal was being launched. As soon as the council learned of the appeal, it decided to withhold payment, city treasurer Rejean Guil-lettesaid. Laramee told The Gazette that the textile company lost a key argu ment during the hearing when the commissioners refused to take into account the economic decline of Montreal East's petro-chemical industry in assessing Domtex's claim, Laramee said in an interview. Five companies Although the appeal could take up 4 a vJh A fjto a year to be heard in Provincial Jt Court, its outcome could be more im-f portant than the amount of money, I) Domtex(is seeking, Laramee ex- plained. Five oil companies, which own re forward in the new situation.

I "We don't know what will happen, but one thing is absolutely certain. -We are not blocking things for the -sake of it. We are acting in the inter- -ests of the citizens." Independent Michel Simard added the group is very confident and -happy at "giving control of Anjou back to its residents." The independent councillors will be forming a new party with the next few months, both Hebert and Simard confirmed. And the search is on for a mayoral candidate to lead the slate at the next elections, which are due in November 1989. Mayor issues challenge The mayor said he would resign and stand for immediate re-election if his political opponents also gave up their seats to go to the voters.

"The only true test is an election, and if there were a proposal that we all resign, I'd do it tomorrow" he said. "If these people are going to gang up on the mayor, what are their motives? "The population has had the opportunity to judge this administration, and after the last elections (in November 1985) the Alliance had seven councillors, while I won 61 per cent of the mayoral vote. "If some people think this support is no longer there, then in a true democracy, they should resign and face the electorate again. "They will definitely not force me to resign, but if everybody quits, I'll have an election immediately." ference the same afternoon," Bastien said. Renaud said the ''straw that broke the camel's back" was an article that appeared two weeks ago in Le Lec-teur, a local newspaper, in which Bastien was quoted as saying Renaud was not as good a politician as Anjou Mayor Jean Corbeil.

Bastien claims he was misquoted. 1 "What I said was, because Mr. Corbeil has been mayor longer than Mr. Renaud, he has had the time to acquire many titles and important positions," Bastien said. "I said that maybe with time Mr.

Renaud will be able to do the same. "I don't wish to attack Mr. Renaud. In fact I was one of his supporters when he ran in a byelection in 1984." Also running for mayor is Rosario Nobile, president of the Rassemble-. ment des citoyens et citoyennes de St.

lionard. Quarters make sense for church A member of Montreal's Portuguese commu- at the Santa Cruz community centre on Ra-nity tries his luck with a quarter to win a soft chel St. W. The money will help pay for a new drink at a fund-raising party held last Sunday church. The party raised about $4,000.

i it 1 4 Gazette, Robert Lee fires foe "I acted in good faith when I named him," Renaud said. "But then I became aware of a few little problems." Renaud said Bastien made comments at the opening ceremonies for the centennial that irritated some of those present. "He made some bad jokes," Renaud said. "They were in bad taste and I hate to go so far as mention the word racism, but a lot of people didn't like what he was saying." Bastien said he didn't recall making any such jokes. "I'd like to hear what they were," he said.

"If I said some things that he (Renaud) found in bad taste, then he's entitled to his opinion. But why is he saying all this now? These things happened almost nine months ago." Renaud said another faux pas by Bastien in April almost cost the city one of its major sponsors of the centennial celebrations. St. Leonard's mayor from volunteer post fineries in Montreal East, are asking the Bureau de Revision to lower iheir tax evaluations, and they want the decline in the petro-chemical in-, dustry to be taken into account in their cases. "They are also pleading economic devaluation, which the bureau rejected in the Dominion case." If the oil companies win, the city stands to lose between $20 million and $30 million.

Petanque, bocce players will get an indoor facility St. Leonard will soon have the first indoor boulodrome in Canada, allow- ing bocce and petanque players to practise their favorite games all I year long, Mayor Raymond Renaud innounced yesterday. The boulodrome will be built next to the sports complex at the back of city hall. 1 The two Mediterranean games are 1 both very popular i St. Leonard, where players are organized in com- game, and petanque, from France, are piayea wun neavy meiai Dans in large 1 firing Bastien was conflict of interest.

"The general rules of the constitution of this city state that all persons named to certain posts by city council should not be involved in politics," Renaud said. Bastien said he was devastated by Renaud's decision. Devoted to city "I've been deposed," Bastien said. "I've devoted all my energy, my heart and my guts to St. Leonard.

My family has been here for four generations and I have always served this city on a volunteer basis, never asking for anything in return." Bastien said nobody told him anything about not engaging in politics when he was named chairman of the centennial celebrations committee at the beginning of the year. Renaud said Bastien's behavior since he was named committee chairman also had been a concern. heritage. The discussions will be held every Wednesday from Oct. 8 to Nov.

5, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $40; or $25 for students. The centre is also offering a one-day seminar on Montreal's Greek community, for $10, on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m. Both workshops will be held at 4917 St. Urbain St. For information, call 288-7229. St Leonard, in collaboration with Development and Peace, a non-profit Roman Catholic organization devoted to international development and peace, and Les amis de la peinture, will host a happening called Sidewalks in Color this Saturday.

Residents are invited to use chalk to color 1 ,000 squares of sidewalk around the city hall and the library. Each square contains a word from a poem on peace by Quebec poet Ra6ul Duguay. The event will begin in front of the city library, 8420 Lacordaire at 1 p.m. Persons wishing to participate will pay $5 for each square of sidewalk. For information, call 321-7635, local 447.

We must receive vour announcement least one week before the publication date. To tell us about your planned meeting, open house, lecture orplay, send a letter stating the date, type of event, address andtime, to: By ELOISE MORIN of The Gazette St. Leonard Mayor Raymond Renaud and mayoralty hopeful Andre Bastien have engaged in a bit of mud-slinging before the Nov. 2 municipal election. Renaud, who said last week that he intends to run again, has fired Bastien, an insurance broker, from his post as volunteer chairman of the city's centennial celebrations committee.

The firing was proposed at last week's city council meeting by councillor Alex Pacetti, who represents city council on the committee, and seconded by councillor Pari Montan-aro. Renaud told The Gazette that he decided to fire Bastien when Bastien refused to resign after announcing his candidacy for mayor early this month. Renaud said his main reason for TYCAL 8 p.m. An exhibition of works by four Quebec nature painters will be presented from today until Sept. 29 and an informal meeting of the Club de Lecture 86 will be held next Tuesday, Sept.

23. For information, call 872-2200. The annual Take Back The Night march, to protest violence against women, will start tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. from Carre St. Louis, ending at Dominion Square.

All women are invited and asked to bring candles, placards and noisemakers. Babysitters will be provided. For information, call 842-4785. The Thursday Afternoon Group of senior citizens at St. Luke's Church in Rosemount is going to the Lachute flea market next Tuesday, Sept.

23. The bus leaves from the corner of Holt St. and 8th Ave. at 8:30 a.m. For information, call 721-0035 or 722-9584.

The Monchanin Cross-Cultural Centre is offering a workshop on the English-speaking black community of Montreal. Topics will include Canadian and West Indian black history, community organizations and common cultural The problem occurred when Mol-son breweries agreed to sponsor a performance of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra July 3, Renaud said. "We told him (Bastien) that the announcement would be made by the vice-president of marketing for Mol-son (Roger Samson) and to keep his mouth shut," Renaud said. "In spite of everything we told him, he took it upon himself to make the announcement." Wanted to walk out "The vice-president of Molson was so insulted that he wanted to walk out of the celebrations. I convinced him to stay." Bastien said he was not the first to make the announcement and that the announcement was never supposed to have been made by Samson.

"The official announcement was made by Jean Lefebvre, local representative for Molson, at a press con Please send your Hem, including date, lime and exact address of the event, as well as your own telephone number, tcr. The' Gazette, co East Island Calendar, 250 St. Antoine St. Montreal, H2Y 3R7. berry, Centrale (children's), Rosemont, Langelier, St.

Charles, Notre Dame de prace and St. Michel libraries. For information, call 872-2815. An exhibition retracing the political; social and religious history of the Montral diocese will be presented, beginning today, in the hall of honor at Montreal city hall to commemorate the diocese's 150th anniversary. St.

Cuthbert's Anglican Church, 7290 Bloomfield in Park Extension, will sponsor a card party Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1:30 p.m. Bus routes 80, 179, 92 and 16 go to the church. Door prizes and refreshments will be offered. For information, call 324-2267.

The Agoraphobic Foundation of Can ada will be holding a general meeting next Monday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Montreal General Hospital, Room 540, 1 650 Cedar Ave. Guest speaker Dr. Michael Spevack will talk about how to explain symptoms to family and friends.

For information, call 253-1 164. The Kitchesipi Walk-a-thon for boys and girls of all ages will take place this "at ctu. Montreal Dial-A-Poem will celebrate its ftrsranniversary with a party for 100 poets, this Sunday from noon to 1 1 p.m. at Qaierie Articule, 4060 St. Laurent Suite 106.

Admission is a $2 donation at the door. For information, call 843-3873 or 844-6562, Pianist Andre Gagnon will give a recital at the Maison de la Culture Plateau Mont Royal, 465 Mont Royal Ave. on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. The program will include original works as well as music by Gershwin, Mozart, Chopin and Satie.

Tickets are free. For information, call 872-2266. The Canadian Red Cross will hold a ijiood donor clinic today in the basement of St. Esprit church on Masson St. from 10 a.m.

to 8:30 p.m. f-or information, can 272-5681: Tenor Paul Trepanier will give a re-val of songs from France and Quebec Now is the time to subscribe to three plays by St. Leonard's Theatre Populate du Quebec. The cost for the three plays is $20. Tickets for each play cost $9.

All the plays will be presented at toine de St. Exupery comprehensive high school auditorium at 5150 Robert Blvd. Voulez-vous jouer avec a poetic comedy by Marcel Arcand, will be presented Nov. 8 at 8:30 p.m.; La nuit des p'tits couteaux, by Suzanne Aubry, on Jan. 25 at 8:30 p.m.; La mouette, by Anton Chekhov, March 29, at 8 p.m.

Subscriptions to the theatre are on sale at the municipal library, 8420 Lacordaire Blvd. For information, call 321-7635 Loc. 447. Karate classes for people aged 50 and older will be offered this fall in St. Leonard.

For information, call 321-7630, local 261. Montreal is presenting an exhibition related to the embryonic development of birds. The Mile End library, 5235 Park will present the exhibition from today until Oct. 7. Call 872-2141.

The exhibition will continue at the de Sala- Sunday in Montreal North. Races will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Calixa Lavallee Stadium. 4444 Henri Bourassa Blvd.

For information, call 321-6271. The Rosemount Home League women's group of the Salavation Army will hold their annual bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6735 Pie IX Blvd.

A spaghetti luncheon will be served for $2.25 for adults; $1 for children under 12. SL Leonard will hold a flea market on Saturday, Sept. 27; from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the parking lot of the city arena, 5300 Robert Blvd. To reserve a place, call 321-7630, local 246, 420 or 421.

The cost is $1 0 for residents and $20 for non-residents. The best athletic walkers from the Americas will meet in St. Leonard Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 4-5, to compete in the 1966 America's Cup walk-race along Lacordaire starting in front of city hall. The men's 50-kilometre race is Saturday at noon.

The 10-km women's race is Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The men's 20-km race begins an hour later. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 a.m. at de Maisonneuve Maison de la Cul A Oth ture, 4120 Ontario St.

E. Tickets are free. The maison will present comedian Daniel Lemire next Monday. Sept. 22, af.