MONTREAL - One week after announcing its possible closure, councillors in Montreal's Plateau borough have figured out a way to keep the Schubert pool open.
The Plateau is facing a budgetary shortfall of $2 million and was floating the idea of closing the pool to save money.
Each year the borough pays nearly $500,000 on the pool in rent to the central city, maintenance costs, and to run activities.
Since the borough council was only considering a year-long closure of the pool, councillors decided the minimal amount to be saved was not worth it.
Terrence Regan spearheaded a petition campaign that garnered 4,000 signatures to keep the pool open, so he was obviously pleased to hear the council's decision.
"Well, I'm exhilarated," he said. "And I saw the parents there, and they're exhilarated too."
At Thursday night's borough meeting councillors decided to raise the rate for residential parking permits by $65 a year in an effort to make up the budgetary shortfall, nearly doubling the current price.
"It was a preferable way raise this money in order to be able to keep this pool open than imposing a tax increase on everybody," said Projet Montreal councilor Alex Norris.
Projet Montreal has a majority on the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough council, and the party has long been at odds with the central city, administered by Gerald Tremblay's Union Montreal.
The two governments are squabbling over parking meter revenue.
Montreal executive committee chairman Michael Applebaum says this is another example of Projet Montreal targeting the borough's car owners after a series of measures meant to discourage through traffic in the borough.
"Once again he is throwing this situation on the backs of the people who own cars in the Plateau, and that is wrong," he said. "They should take a course in basic finances and take the proper decisions to serve their population properly."
In September the Southwest borough, also facing budget cuts, announced it would close the Ville Emard Baths to save money.
Regan feels it is somewhat unfortunate that his goal was achieved in such a divisive way.
"It's pitting people who drive against people who use the pool," he said.
