Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Greater Napanee councillors were split on how to deal with concerns over property standards.
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, council heard from a pair of concerned individuals, Gloria Alcock and Cathy Conrad, who proposed the idea of forming a property standards committee that would include citizen board members.
After some discussion, council agreed to put forward a motion that would see them raise the issue again at a later council meeting.
“As I became more familiar with the town, I saw eyesores that detract from the town’s fundamental beauty,” Alcock told council during her deputation. “Once gracious old homes in a state of neglect. Needing paint, sagging eaves, collapsing porches, abandoned buildings, garbage lying about, boarded up buildings, weed and little trees sprouting out of old parking lots.”
“Our recommendation is to establish an active property standards advisory committee of which a councillor, a department person, three citizens and a staff reporter,” added Conrad. “This committee would meet regularly and this committee would review the current complaint process and access its effectiveness.”
While both mayor Gord Schermerhorn and deputy mayor Marg Isbester expressed support of at least part of the recommendation, other councillors weren’t as receptive.
“I’m sure these ladies and the group they’re representing are well intentioned and have the best interests of the town at heart,” said councillor Roger Cole. “I don’t think it’s going to help. I think the process is already there if it’s used and given an opportunity. To create another property standards committee, I don’t think that’s the way to go.”
Councillor Mike Schenk added that often times there’s deeper issues at play when it comes to property neglect, whether it be health or lack of funds. Councillor Max Kaiser commented that at times beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to a person’s front yard.
Schermerhorn also called upon chief administrative officer Ray Callery for insight into the process, noting that property standard complaints can take a long time to resolve because homeowners have the right to appeal any complaint levelled against them.
While council will discuss further whether it will entertain the idea of a citizen run committee, Schermerhorn had an idea for the interim.
“Maybe we could even go into some kind of, and I hate that I’m going to say this, contest of some kind,” said the mayor, suggesting tickets to a Toronto Blue Jays game as a possible prize for best looking property. “I do believe it’s just a matter of ambition, cleaning your yard up and tidying it up. My wife and I were just talking about this the other day. I can’t understand people making an investment in their home and not keeping it clean and tidy so their investment stays the same that they paid for it.”