Due to a backlog caused by increased building department activity, Wellington North has decided to hire a contract bylaw officer.
On June 5 CAO Mike Givens explained the hiring of David Koop as bylaw enforcement officer was a temporary solution for the township.
“The activities within the building department pick up this time of year, as do property standards and bylaw enforcement activities, as do development opportunities, so they all tend to happen at the same time of year,” said Givens.
“This was our plan from a staff perspective to try and address it so we didn’t fall behind on any of those matters.”
Darren Jones, chief building official, said an influx of residential development applications and non-residential building permit applications was taking time away from dealing with bylaw enforcement.
“We’re looking at 10 to 15 complaints right now that we haven’t had a chance to even do an initial inspection of, that’s on top of the ones we’re dealing with,” he said.
Councillor Sherry Burke asked why council was not discussing the matter in closed session.
“The way that this is presented, makes me presume and feel and appear that this is a done deal,” she said.
Givens explained department heads have the ability to hire short-term or seasonal staff without council approval.
“This position, because there’s an actual requirement that [Koop] be appointed via bylaw, that’s why there’s a subsequent report to draw attention to that,” he said.
Jones said he expects the position to be in place until late summer.
The property standards budget of $6,812 will cover the cost of the contract bylaw officer.
“We’re dealing with unprecedented amount of development applications and building activity which is a nice problem to have and I think this is a really good solution,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
“(It) looks like a cost-effective solution to deal with the problem and not let these other things fall by the wayside.”
Council approved the recommendation unanimously. Councillor Dan Yake was absent.
