Goderich Council Looking For Ways To Reduce Volume Of Complaints Going To Bylaw Department

by Bob Montgomery

Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet says the towns Bylaw Department is receiving too many complaints that are not related to bylaw infractions.

Bazinet says dealing with those calls is taking bylaw staff away from things that are bylaw related. He says there is a process in place on their website that allows people to fill out bylaw complaint forms, and that goes to the Bylaw Department. They also have a Citizens Request Form for citizens to share their concerns about other issues, and that goes to town hall. Bazinet says this time of year the Bylaw Department is dealing with a number of calls, including animal control, that should be going to other departments.

Blylaw Enforcement Superviser Dave Duncan made a presentation to council last night outlining some of the things they're dealing with and council hopes to streamline the process and eliminate some of the issues that don't belong with Bylaw Enforcement so they have more time to deal with the issues they should be dealing with.

Bazinet says it's not just a Goderich problem and in some municipalities bylaw enforcement people have left because of the work load, so he says they want to make sure they keep the people they have.