Anjou mayor says he won't pay for clearing streets without approval

Anjou Mayor Luis Miranda says his decision to start removing snow and ice on the streets before getting the central city's permission was a matter of public safety.

"Our streets were mired," Miranda said. "As mayor I am responsible for the security of my constituents."

After last week's freezing rainfall, Anjou streets were so treacherous that paramedics had to take a detour to access ahome where someone had called 911, he said.

In an email exchange provided to CBC News, a civil servant from the central city informed the borough that going rogue would be costly Anjouwould be on the hook for theentire price tag.

Miranda said he expects the bill to be between $200,000 and $300,000, but he isn't planning on paying up.

The central city announced its snow removal operation on Saturday. Jean-Franois Parenteau, the executive committee member in charge of citizen services, apologized for not making a plan to clear the snow earlier.

Crews began removing the snow and ice Sunday night at 7 p.m.As of Tuesday afternoon, 61 per cent of the streets werecleared.

Calling for borough-specific snow removal

Miranda has been a vocal critic of the city's decision to centralize snow removal, a decision that was made by the Coderre administration.

He said he believes it's impossible to paint the whole island with one brushbecause not every borough deals with the same circumstances.

He wants the current administration to rethink the notion of centralizing services.

"They're more receptive to listen to what we have to say than ...Coderre.Coderrewas his way or no way."

Miranda added that he does not want to blame theValrie Plante-Benoit Doraisadministration, but that he believesJean-Franois Parenteau, the city councillor in charge of services to citizens, didn't do his job properly.

"Boroughs are in the best position to locally manage this operation, and to give better services for what's happening there."