Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini is keen to get the ball rolling on a vote for a new fire hall but said Thursday there is no timeframe for holding the vote.

Last week, the city of Port Moody submitted an application to the Inspector of Municipalities in Victoria asking to hold a residents’ vote on whether the city should borrow $16 million from the province to replace the current fire hall building on Ioco Road.

The inspector’s office confirmed it received the application by last Friday and would look at whether the city has the assets to cover the loan before giving its approval.

A spokesperson at the inspector’s office told The Tri-City News the approval process could take as long as the inspector wants but is usually resolved in a matter of weeks.

If the vote is approved, the city has 80 days from the time of approval in which it must hold the referendum.

“We hope that it’s done as quickly as possible and we expect a prompt response so that we can plan the referendum,” Trasolini told The Tri-City News, adding that the city is already working to get out the vote if and when the time comes.

tcoyne@tricitynews.com