OPINION
editionap.ca
City dragging heels on property standards
To the editor:
ers for debris, furniture on balconies and garbage everywhere! Properties with con- struction and safety issues have not even entered this discussion yet; just think of the revenue possibilities (other cities fine $25,000 and more for some infractions). The advisory committee could have put the city back on track by looking at the lack of enforcement and revise the by-laws. So now, we will have to wait for yet another report (the third since June). This will prob- ably get lost with the budget deliberations starting soon and the mess in Cornwall will go on. A proposed property standards advisory committee could have been a great help at solving the problems created by a prop- erty standards lack of enforcement and I encourage outraged citizens to make their voices heard and contact the mayor and city councillors with their complaints. The above information is based on a re- port prepared by property standards, re- quested by Councillor Dupelle and present- ed to council Aug. 13, 2012.
Mr. Rogers of the Property Standards De- partment reports that “educating the of- fenders, friendly notices and grace periods are good practices”. He claims that, “early formal action (fines) is inconsiderate and confrontational”. He is more concerned about the offend-
wall prefers to have a truck pick them up ev- erymorning, free of charge to the offenders. Tying up provincial courts is an excuse used by Mr. Rogers but, cities like Sudbury, trans- fer fines directly to the offender’s property taxes. Mr. Rogers admitted to not knowing about fine transfers to property taxes and
Council made a huge mistake Tuesday night in deferring a solution that citizens of Cornwall have been helplessly waiting for. Council has no idea what its citizens put up with and what the real problem is. Councillors obviously do not drive around to see the garbage everywhere, dilapidated houses, furniture stored on balconies, dogs defecating anywhere and grocery buggies everywhere. Believe it or not, we do have by-laws to protect us from all this mess. The problem is no one at the property standards depart- ment is willing to enforce them and council couldn’t care less except maybe for council- lors Dupelle and Clement. The city of Cornwall received 2,164 com- plaints in 2010 and 1,756 complaints in 2011. Are the problems of messy proper- ties getting better? No, complainants have just given up because the city does nothing about the complaints! When the property standards depart- ment receives a complaint, they inspect, is- sue a notice and then . . . everything stops.
fines for grocery bug- gies. Neither was he aware of Cornwall’s free pick up service of buggies. Another excuse given is lack of staff. In 2011, citizens paid taxes for a property standards depart- ment, to the tune of
ers’ well being than the poor people who have to put up with the unsightly proper- ties. Which part of by- law enforcement does he not get? As the by- law officer, it is his job to enforce the by-laws to protect the rights of other tax payers.
“Are the problems of messy properties getting better? No, complainants have just given up because the city does nothing about the complaints!”
$236,665 in salaries. With more than 2,000 property standards complaints a year at now $105 per com- plaint, you do the math! This is enough revenue to support more staff if they had issued fines! This is not even taking into ac- count clean yard by-laws fines and fines for repeat offences. Offenders are just loving this by-law enforcement! The city must begin to charge offend-
The total revenue for 2011 by-law en- forcement was $77,828. (This includes 3,500 dog licenses and 345 building per- mits). How much revenue was actually tak- en in by property standards for by-law fines is a mystery! Could it be that there were no fines issued? Mississauga charges individuals for tak- ing grocery buggies from stores while Corn-
Liane Geoffrion Cornwall
Time for new arts and culture centre for Cornwall
To the editor:
art accessible to everyone. It also enhances the city’s image and promotes tourism and eco- nomic development. At the present time, the art gal- lery has outgrown its present loca- tion. As we celebrate the 30th anni- versary of the art gallery, it is time for the city of Cornwall to bring back the Lynch
position of arts and culture co-or- dinator and to begin working with the art gallery and other local arts organizations to develop plans for a new community arts and cultural centre.
groups, dance troupes, and local mu- sicians. A new arts and cultural centre will make Cornwall’s arts and cultural scene more vibrant, make Cornwall a better place in which to live, and attract new businesses and jobs.
I wish to congratulate the Cornwall Re- gional Art Gallery on its 30th anniversary in our community. The art gallery has been a tremendous asset for the city of Cornwall. The art gallery through its exhibitions and educational programs improves the quality of life in our community by making
We badly need an arts and cultural centre to house the art gallery with a studio theatre to accommodate the city’s theatre
Brian Lynch, Cornwall
Canadians need answers on E. coli controversy
23 000 copies
To the editor:
This government is putting Canada’s food safety at risk. Consumption of beef contam- inated with the bacteria can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. And by the way Conservative M.P Guy Lauzon voted in favor of the austerity bud- get. Most importantly, Canadians deserve answers on E. coli contamination.
Do Canadians expect their government to keep them safe? Last spring, the Harper government slashed $46 million from food inspection in Canada. Can you believe it ? One-third of all Canadian beef has been pulled from the shelves. The truth is, we’re facing the larg- est beef recall in Canadian history and more than 20 Canadians are sick. Three city residents are facing drug charges in separate incidents over the span of six days earlier this month. A 16-year-old youth was arrested was found to be in possession of approxi- mately five grams of a substance believed to be marijuana after he was stopped by police on Thursday. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
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Mario Leclerc Former NDP candidate
Drug charges laid in three separate busts
Mark Seguin, 45, was charged Oct. 6 with possession of a controlled substance believed to be marijuana. Andrea Menard, 49, was charged with possession on Oct. 5 after members of the Cornwall Community Police Service Street Crime Unit alleged she was in possession of a controlled substance believed to be marijuana.
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