The drop-in centre at CLSC Rene Cassin at Cavendish Mall will not be closing at the end of this month after all, officials announced Friday. The decision to close it is now under review.

Officials insisted as recently as three days ago that there would be no going back on the decision to axe the facility, even though they admitted they “could have done better” by consulting users and their families.

However on Friday afternoon officials backtracked and decided to review the decision.

In a written statement, the officials said that Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, who runs the CIUSSS Centre West, said that he opted to suspend the closure until the impact of health reform Bill 10 could be evaluated.  The CLSC - as a result of Bill 10 - is now part of a larger umbrella group known as the CIUSSS.

Cote St Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather, who fielded many resident complaints, said a review is the right decision.

I think when you're changing a program today - it's like renovating a park. You consult with the users of the service and this was missing from the process. I hope now the CIUSSS when they've recognized the error of the decision and how it was communicated will now communicate clearly with the users and get their input,” he said.

About 40 users of a drop-in centre and their families had expressed disappointment with the closure.

“It was a shock there was absolutely no forewarning, no consultations, no meeting,” said Sharon Freedman, whose mother attends the centre. “My mom was going there three times a week and my mother loves it.”

Freedman felt other nearby day centres offered would not adequately suit their needs.

“When they called me they gave me another heart attack, saying there won't be drivers. So how is a 90-year-old demented lady going to get there and back? I work,” she said.

The decision is yet to be finalized, but to Freedman and her mother, it’s a relief it’s at least given them a reprieve.

“For now, I'm waiting to see,” she said.