Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter

Montreal West will maintain its ban on tempos — temporary shelters for cars during the winter — Councillor Colleen Feeney said in response to an emailed question from a resident at the Nov. 27 town council meeting.

The resident referenced a recent Suburban article about Côte St. Luc now allowing tempos throughout the city this winter. The allowance of tempos where they were previously not allowed is a pilot project, Feeney noted as part of her response.

The Strathearn North resident asked why Montreal North cannot do what CSL is doing, “especially for those who do not have a garage or are elderly.” The questioner added that it could help the town reach its goal of being senior-friendly.

Feeney, who has the Municipalité amie des ainés (MADA) age-friendly town portfolio, pointed out that the town has answered the question many times.

“It’s not the intention of this council to change our policy on tempos at this time,” she said. “In addition to the fact that they’re not aesthetically pleasing and and that they can be up for up to six months of the year, some studies have found that they pose security issues, whether it’s the sight line for drivers backing into the street or even going forward, whether it is the potential collapse if the snow is not cleared [from the tempo] — it does have to be cleared after a heavy snowfall. Then there are other security issues — they can block the view of a front door, somebody can hide in them.”

The councillor added that the town does feel for seniors, and that there are options other than tempos, such as “hiring a snow removal service, or a neighbour.

“But let’s face it, the cost of investing in a tempo and then paying for the installation and de-installation every year, you might want to compare the cost.” n