Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position asking the agglomeration council to authorize an extra $229,950, taxes included, for contingencies under Construction Savco inc.’s contract to restore and renovate Maison Smith at parc du Mont-Royal. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal, according to city staff, is to cover some extra work and delay costs after major water damage.
- If approved, the extra amount would raise the contract’s total authorized expense from $3,363,962.41 to $3,593,912.41, taxes included.
- It would raise the contingency amount from $525,975.83 to $755,925.83, taxes included—33.05% of the base contract amount.
- The contract is for work at Maison Smith, 1260 chemin Remembrance, in parc du Mont-Royal. The original contract was awarded through a public call for tenders with 10 bids; the materials do not say whether Savco’s bid was the lowest compliant bid.
- The proposed extra contingency covers some demolition, cleanup, drying, reconstruction and delay costs. Reconstruction costs are not included in this request.
What it means for you#
- The public: The extra funding is intended to support work toward reopening Maison Smith, including maintaining services such as public washrooms. The decision does not set a reopening date.
- Taxpayers: The expense is assigned entirely to the agglomeration and would be funded through the agglomeration borrowing bylaw identified in the decision documents.
- The city and contractor: If the agglomeration council approves the position, the contract’s contingency budget would increase. This decision does not settle who is responsible for the water damage or related claims.
Money#
The requested extra amount is $229,950, taxes included; the stated cost after tax rebates is $209,975.
- City staff say the budget is available in the 2026–2035 capital program and would be financed through borrowing bylaw 5022032.
- The request covers only part of the extra work and delay costs. The cost of reconstruction is excluded while the parties await a response from Savco’s insurer.
What is unclear#
- The agglomeration council’s final decision is not in these materials.
- The final reconstruction cost, and whether the insurer will pay any of it, are not known.
- The materials do not give a final cost for all work and delays resulting from the water damage.
Case for#
- City staff say the existing contingency budget is 97% used and cannot cover some costs caused by the water damage, added work and schedule delays.
- Staff say added funding would help secure and restore the building, protect it from further damage, and support its eventual reopening.
- Staff warn that without the extra contingency, work could stop, the contract could break down, and the city might need a new public tender.
Case against#
- The increased contingency would be 33.05% of the base contract amount, while the full cost of restoring the water-damaged areas is still unknown.
- Reconstruction costs are excluded from this request, and the insurer’s response is pending, so the total public cost could change.
- The decision does not settle responsibility for the damage or explain how any later insurance recovery would affect the city’s costs.