By Mark Squibb | Vol. 7 No. 6 (March 28 2019)
Mount Pearl residents who violate the cities’ building regulations will now face a stiffer fine.
Following a unanimous vote by council last week, the City has amended it’s Building Regulations, which were last amended in 2011.
A first offense will now carry a fine of $250— up from $100 in 2011. A second offense in 2011 cost you $250- that’s now doubled to $500. Also, as per the new amendment, you’ll now need a permit to perform service repairs on private property.
The amendments were brought forward at the private Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 5. A Notice of Motion was then brought to the public Council meeting on Feb. 19, and the matter was voted on March 19.
“What we’re doing right now is updating to reflect current practices and a general review,” said Bill Antle, councillor and chairman of the Planning and Development Committee.
Pointing out the regulations were last amended in 2011, Antle noted it was time to review them and make the appropriate amendments.
Proposed amendments are made by the Department of Municipal Affairs, not the city council. Council anticipates the amended regulations will be posted in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette on March 29.
Meanwhile, council has also amended the Remuneration and Reimbursement Regulations, which pertain to how they are paid.
As noted by councillor Andrew Ledwell, the amendments “correct errors of a minor nature that are generally classified as typographical and formatting, use consistent terms/phrasing throughout the document and modify language removing the requirement to amend the regulations annually.”
Both sets of amendments are meant to be minor, with no intent to change the purpose of either regulation. For example, councillors will now submit their expense claims to the Director of Corporate Services, and not the City Clerk.
There was no change in salaries for council members: annually, the mayor earns $57,399, the deputy mayor $42,659, and councillors $38,263.
