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Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève residents search for ways to prevent future floods

Jean-François Cadieux stands in his driveway surrounded by floodwaters on Île-Bizard. west of Montreal, Saturday, April 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Residents in Montreal’s flood-stricken Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève borough gathered Wednesday night to discuss ways to avoid future problems.

In a closed meeting, residents proposed several options, including building a dike and installing permanent barriers.

READ MORE: Possible class-action lawsuit against Île-Bizard-Sainte Geneviève borough

One particular sector, Joly Street, was badly flooded in 2017 — and then again this spring, when the area was blocked by water for an entire month.

WATCH BELOW: Île Bizard residents ‘neglected’ during floods, plan to sue

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Île Bizard residents ‘neglected’ during floods, plan to sue

Residents blame borough Mayor Normand Marinacci for not allowing them to build a dike on their streets.

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READ MORE: Frustration growing on flooded Île Mercier, where residents have been cut off for nearly a month

“I think because he [the mayor] saw how frustrated people were in our street, he thought well, maybe this will appease us — you know, for the time being,” said Helen Taylor, a resident on Joly Street.

“We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe I’m wrong, but hopefully we’ll find a solution.”

A class-action lawsuit against the borough of Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève and the mayor is in the works.

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Île-Bizard flood volunteers at odds with borough officials

“We did the right things at the right place,” Marinacci claimed.

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“We’re not perfect. Maybe a pump could break — these things happen.”

READ MORE: Army will stay to help with cleanup operations for Quebec floods

Some residents say they feel abandoned, claiming the borough’s administration has let them down.

They argue the mayor did not do enough to protect them from the flood or provide adequate relief.

“Given the pervasive, escalating and cumulative effects of flooding and related pollution their [the borough and mayor] intentionally denying Charter rights and the bad faith of those decisions, punitive damages are equally due to the elderly, disabled, the dispossessed, flora and fauna,” the lawsuit states.

WATCH BELOW: Montreal communities still dealing with flooding

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Montreal communities still dealing with flooding

Those pushing for the lawsuit say they want someone to be held accountable for what they see as negligence.

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“The mayor announced that there would not be enough sandbags for all residents and that it was up to residents to protect their own dwellings,” the document continues.

“With no assistance offered to them in order to protect their homes, they had nothing to do but watch as floodwaters rose around them.”

READ MORE: Data reveals scope, damage of spring floods in Quebec and New Brunswick

The class-action lawsuit estimates that at least 1,000 Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève residents are affected.

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