Town approves new bylaw

Times Contributor       

 

The Community Standards bylaw was brought before town council at the April 16 meeting for approval. The bylaw includes direction and regulation for things like graffiti, public behaviour, noise, curfew, snow removal from sidewalks, signs, weeds and unsightly premises, and bullying within the town limits. At first reading there had been regulations about smoking in public places that has been removed and brought up in the newly proposed parks and pathways bylaw. 

“Other changes that have been made to this bylaw since first reading include changes to the sidewalk snow removal. As we do it now residents have 48 hours to remove snow or ice from their sidewalks,” said Municipal Clerk Jennifer Sawatzky. 

“The proposed changes are that residents will have 24 hours to remove snow from sidewalks. If snow is not removed within 24 hours the town will then contract someone to go in and remove the snow and the charges for that will be put back to the resident plus an administration fee.

Another change is an ATV may be used to clear snow off of a sidewalk, but the operator must have a permit to do so, and in order to obtain a permit they must be at least 16 years of age, have proof of insurance, registration, and they must be able to provide a map of the area to be cleared. The operator also cannot deposit the snow on a roadway, driveway, wheelchair ramp, in front of a fire hydrant or impede storm sewer run off.  

“We also added under public behaviour provisions for littering. There’s strict guidelines in regards to littering on the street or public place, littering from a vehicle and littering of burning litter,” said Sawatzky. 

Disposing of litter on any street or public place is a $500 first offence, and $1,000 second offence. For litter being tossed from a car it’s a $750 first offence and $1,500 second offence and disposing of burning litter starts at $1,000 for the first offence and $2,000 for the second.

In the previous bylaw, spitting at sporting events was allowed; that has since changed, and anyone caught spitting will be given a $250 fine for the first time. 

Also included are the new anti-bullying provisions. No person shall in any public place communicate directly, or indirectly, with any person in a way that causes the person, reasonably in all circumstances to feel bullied. Anyone who has been bullied, reasonably in all circumstances, will face a $250 fine for a first offense, and anyone who encourages or cheers on someone who is bullying will get a minimum $100 fine.

Councillor Brad Walls asked if administration foresees any problems with the 24-hour time limit for snow removal, to which Sawatzky said yes, there possibly could be. 

“The reason that that is going in is because in order to serve a ticket for snow removal, you have to serve it personally. It’s very hard to serve a ticket to someone that’s not there. It makes it safer for the town to send somebody in to clean it up and then charge the fees back to the residents,” said Sawatzky.

“Seems to me we had this 24 hour time frame in our previous bylaw and it got changed to 48 hours to allow for snow removal on sidewalks, simply because the town cannot commit to getting their sidewalks and pathways clean in a 24 hour period, especially if it snows on a weekend. How do we expect people to have their sidewalks cleared with a 24 hour time period from the time it snows until they have to have the sidewalk cleaned,” said Councillor John Rempel. 

The Director of Operations and Engineering Jesse Parker said 24 hours is not doable for the town to clean sidewalks and pathways with the current level of staffing. 

The town’s curfew is between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. No child is allowed in a public place during those hours without proper guardianship or a legitimate excuse. Any child between the ages of 12-15, inclusive, found between those hours could be subject to a fine of $100. The guardian whose child is out between those hours could also face a $200 fine. 

Under offences for Part I- Graffiti,  section three states that every owner or occupier of premises shall ensure that graffiti applied on the premises is removed, painted over, or otherwise permanently blocked from public view within seven days of receiving written notice from a peace officer. The first offense is $50, a second one within one year is $100, and a third offence also within one year will be a $300 fine. Fines for those caught causing graffiti to a property range from $500 to $2,500. 

Councillor Bob Sobol made a motion to accept the bylaw, but amended it so that the snow removal time frame remains at 48 hours. The motion passed unanimously.