Spaniard’s Bay to clean up property after owner fails to meet deadline
By Olivia Bradbury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Town of Spaniard’s Bay will hire a contractor to clean up a private property after the owner failed to meet a deadline to do the work himself.
Town Manager Tony Ryan reminded councillors last week that the order had been issued in August.
The property was said to be untidy and had a pest problem.
“In my opinion, little or nothing has been done,” said the Town Clerk.
Ryan recommended council pass a motion to seek quotes from excavating companies the Town can hire to clean up the property. Once the work is completed, he said, the Town will charge the property owner accordingly to recover the cost. He also suggested the public works committee review the site to make sure it agreed with his assessment of the area.
Councillor Sherry Lundrigan moved to obtain quotes from excavating companies, as Ryan had recommended, and have public works look at the site as well.
However, councillor Paul Ryan expressed concerns about the plan. He argued it hasn’t been uncommon in recent years for some residents to disobey Town orders. Ryan said he was worried the Town will be unable to recover the cost of the cleanup from the property owner.
“You can’t get blood from a turnip,” said the councillor, who recalled an instance in which an owner did not reimburse the Town after it had to tear down a property.
“This is someone else’s problem, and the rest of the town has to pay for it?” said councillor Ryan, incredulously.
Councillor Eric Jewer countered councillor Ryan’s question with one of his own, asking if it was fair for other residents in that area to have to live next to an unsightly and pest-infested property.
Councillor Ryan insisted the property owner should be the one to take responsibility for his own actions.
When put to a vote, all councillors except Ryan voted in favour of the motion to get quotes from excavation companies for the cleanup work and to have public works look into the site.