Montreal’s search for city manager ends in Laval
Mayor Valérie Plante announced Thursday that Serge Lamontagne, former city manager of Laval, will be Montreal’s new city manager.
Lamontagne has 30 years of experience in municipal management, Plante told a news conference at city hall.
“Mr. Lamontagne has a deep knowledge of the complex structure of the city of Montreal and the agglomeration, which means that he will be able to quickly move forward on several projects, in areas from mobility to economic development to housing and green space,” Plante said.
EXPERIENCE
Lamontagne became city manager of Laval on Jan. 1, 2014. He worked for the city of Montreal from 2002 to 2013, and was Montreal’s interim city manager in 2013.
Lamontagne was selected from a short list of five candidates who were interviewed and then the list was narrowed down to two, Plante said.
“The advantage that I have is that I spent 12 years at this city,” the new city manager said at the news conference.
He said the important thing in a role like the one he’s taking on is to understand both the organization and the need to develop a good working relationship with the elected administration.
Plante said Lamontagne’s expe- rience of working for the city of Pointe Claire from 1993 to 2001 and subsequently for St-Laurent borough means he has an in-depth understanding of issues affecting local boroughs.