Van Vliet wants tougher property standards

Leo Van Vliet wants to see the city tighten its property standards bylaws and put some teeth into them after hearing complaints from residents about abandoned homes with unkempt lawns.

The Welland Ward 2 councillor also wants city staff to respond to residents in a more timely fashion when it comes to complaints about such issues, he said Tuesday night at the last meeting of the current council.

In early September, the councillor was approached by a resident who said a neighbour had weeds more than a metre high in a neighbouring backyard.

“They said they called city staff. I spoke with staff and was told it would be looked after. In early October the weeds still hadn’t been touched,” said Van Vliet.

He said he spoke with Welland chief administrative officer Gary Long about the issue, who said he would speak with staff.

A couple of days later though the weeds had been cut by the property owner.

“Why does it take three to four weeks to get things done. It’s unacceptable … it shouldn’t make a difference who calls staff, we should get some action on it even if its a simple response. We can’t let things go and not say anything.”

Van Vliet said a message has to go to city staff that they need to respond in a more timely fashion.

Mayor Frank Campion said he too spoke with Long over the issue and agreed communication could have been better.

Long said he took it up with staff.

“We need to do better,” Long told council.

While on the topic of weeds, Van Vliet spoke about subdivisions with empty homes and properties being left to go wild.

“You have $500,000 homes on either side of these houses, where raccoons and squirrels are going in and out. And when I go to staff they say there’s nothing the city can do about it,” the councillor said.

Those half-million-dollar homes, said Van Vliet, aren’t worth much with neighbouring properties that look like wildlife preserves, adding the issue has been going on for far too long.

He asked that property standards bylaws be looked into and the rules tightened so the city can do something about such properties. Campion said Van Vliet could present a notice of motion once the new council starts its term. The new council will hold its inaugural meeting on Monday, Dec. 3 and a regular meeting the following night.