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I would like to hear that the bylaw officers are being monitored. I complained about the businesses near me that plowed their parking lots onto the sidewalk (making the sidewalks impassable even now that most of the snow is gone) and have seen no improvement and heard nothing since.
LFP, do you know whether they are supposed to take a name when a complaint is phoned in? Because the person I talked to seemed utterly uninterested in getting my vitals when I called?
Blair, Cllr. Richter should be able to respond as she regularily looks at this site. I do know that all complaints are handled in confidence and the source is never revealed.
Hi Blair. As I understand it, Bylaws staff do not respond to a complaint unless it is in writing and signed. I believe this operational standard has been in place for many years (at least as long as I've been on Council anyway). And, the LFP Editor is right. All complaints are held in the highest confidence. Even Mayor and Councilllors cannot find out who made complaints to Bylaws.
I must wonder, therefore, who it was on the phone when I called the bylaw office. They didn't tell me I had to sign anything and the man on the phone suggested that they would look into my complaint. Had I been informed on the phone that I had to fill out a form and sign it I would have done so. I hope someone didn't just blow me off (which I'm guessing they did by the lack of action on my complaint) in the hopes that I would forget about the whole thing.
It seems like the only way to get heard in this 'burg is to make a ruckus. Maybe my letter in the Advance will get the bylaw people to pay a bit of attention to pedestrian safety but I'm guessing not. I was hoping it would at least shame the property owners into cleaning their sidewalk but here another week has come and while most of the snow is gone on most roads etc.. the piles still sit nice and tall on the sidewalk I use to walk to work, thus sending me out into the road to get by.
So next question, does the Township tape all incoming calls? I'd like to know a record still exists of my call.
Blair: I don't know the answer to your question on taping calls but perhaps you should give Bill Storie, the Township's Chief Bylaws Officer, a call on this. His direct line is 604-532-7517. He will also be able to correctly advise you on the full bylaws/complaints protocol. Thanks.
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