Pelham’s independent news source from the Heart of Niagara
The
Vol.16 No. 27
VOICE
Thinking of Buying? Thinking of Selling? Call Me Today!
Call Me Today! 905.733.8996 www.pennylanesold.com pennylane@royallepage.ca Office 905.892.0222
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Proud to be
The Voice of Pelham
for 15 years
Celebrating our 15th anniversary in print
Council’s strategic planning to include bylaws BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff Another Pelham family is complaining about bylaw enforcement in this community, not about the infractions, however, but the way enforcement is carried out. “It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about the way she’s treating people,” says Ada McCormick on how bylaw enforcement officer Heather Stone treated her family.
“We don’t allow bullying in our schools yet we allow ourselves as adults to be bullied,” - Ada McCormick Ada explained at the first visit by bylaw enforcement her son, Joe, spotted a woman on the property and asked who she was, while his dog was barking and straining to approach her. Despite being warned by Joe, the enforcement officer walked toward him. After securing the dog, Joe said he went to get his mother because he wasn’t going to let anyone inspect their property without her consent. “She is the rudest person I’ve ever met,” says Ada, noting she thought Joe may have been rude and that’s why the enforcement officer was rude, but that doesn’t appear to be the case after subsequent visits.
The family acknowledges there were some property standards bylaw infractions, including some stuff that was on the property from the previous owner, but say the offensive and demeaning way they were talked to has nothing to do with the bylaw. “We don’t allow bullying in our schools yet we allow ourselves as adults to be bullied,” said Ada. Repeatedly referring to antiques and other items used as garden decor as “junk” the enforcement officer told Ada all of it had to go, including her teapot garden and a wooden chair under a shade tree. “Who is it hurting,” says Ada, who lives on a large piece of land on Weber Road surrounded by storage businesses. Scott McCormick said the enforcement officer’s approach was “insulting”, explaining she took pictures of his truck and his wife’s van, their daily drivers that are plated and in good condition, along with his new Goldwing trike - saying she has to see if they are “derelict.” After complaining to the enforcement officer’s immediate supervisor, and feeling like they were getting nowhere, the McCormick’s met with Mayor Dave Augustyn and CAO Darren Ottaway last week. Augustyn said after that meeting that he believes they will resolve the issue. Council, he said, discussed bylaw enforcement during their strategic planning session on Aug. 29. During that discussion, said Augustyn, there was talk about prioritizing bylaw infractions as well as the possible need for flexibility and whether all bylaws need to be black and white. “Maybe we prioritize pools
Niagara Regional Exhibition, home of the
WELLAND FAIR
being fenced or maybe whether a brick or pail is in the backyard,” said the mayor, referring to some of the complaints against the McCormicks. “It’s one of the things we want to put on the radar,” said Augustyn. “We (council) did identify it as an issue.” Augustyn also said council discussed the way bylaws are enforced as a customer service issue. “We want to ensure we have the best customer service possible,” he said, noting staff has been trained in customer service but there will be more training sessions in the near future. Along with the bylaw procedure the issue of notice and power
of entry has been identified by the public as a concern, since a power of entry bylaw was suggested at a past council meeting. The issue of notice and whether a roaming dog is as important as neat yards when it comes to allowing enforcement officers to be on privately owned land, is also part of the issue, said the mayor. Along with the bylaws Augustyn said council and staff will also be looking at zoning and the way Pelham does its zoning. He pointed out things like the property standards bylaw may not need to be as stringent in a rural area as it is in town. “We want to deal with it,” he
COOLING OFF AT MARKET
said. One of the things council will be doing is conducting a customer service survey, hearing from the public how town staff handles customer service and, he said, if the public knows who to call with complaints. Scott said he’s satisfied with how the meeting went with the mayor and is happy with their response. “They both really seemed to sit and listen,” said Scott. “I don’t feel like I was being patronized at all.” The real test, he said, will be when he talks to Augustyn and Ottaway again next week to learn what the outcome of the meeting will be.
Another exciting event at the Pelham Market. Young children were treated to complimentary Freezies, donated by Friends of the Market, Giant Tiger, Fonthill. Pictured is Seth Boyd receiving a Freezie. To all the children and parents, thank you for your politeness. /Special to the Voice
$25 Advance Ride-All-Day Bracelets Now available at the Fonthill & Welland Sobeys and the Fair Office until Tuesday Sept. 11th. www.niagararegionalexhibition.com
Sept. 13, 14, 15, 16 Featuring
CELEBRITY RACING PIGS