Chatham-Kent Council will have lots to chew on at their meeting Monday night as several councillors will be making motions to resolve some issues.
The councillor for Ward 2 in Chatham-Kent wants the municipality to have more power to address those who keep disobeying municipal bylaws.
Anthony Ceccacci is asking administration to send the province a letter requesting a review and enhancement of powers to address repeat offenders of bylaws and provincial legislation that regulate neighbourhood issues, such as the Building Code Act.
Council is set to discuss and vote on the issue at its meeting Monday night.
Ceccacci said most bylaw complaints from citizens arise from neighbourhood issues such as property standards, garbage, and derelict vehicles.
Administration has been reviewing Chatham-Kent’s existing powers to address repeat offences after a similar motion was made in 2019 however, some processes to address these neighbourhood issues are constrained by existing provincial legislation.
He noted neighbourhood issues will likely be further exacerbated because of the need for more housing and the intensification of existing neighbourhoods.
Ceccacci lamented said staff time directed towards neighbourhood complaints reduces staff availability to work on other growth related projects, which can assist with current housing and growth priorities.
Meanwhile, Ceccacci is also asking administration for updated and current information on the Beach Bus to Erieau and Mitchell's Bay.
The Beach Bus was discontinued in 2020 because of low ridership.
He said several inquiries have been made about the possibility of re-establishing the bus.
Also on Monday evening, the councillor for Ward 6 is asking for a review of municipal day camps.
Brock McGregor said there has been significant feedback from the public regarding camp costs and the registration process.
"Municipal day camps have been an important, low-cost resource for families in Chatham-Kent to provide supervision for youth in CK in summer months," McGregor said in his notice of motion.
He wants administration to report back to Council by the fall of 2024 with an overview of operational budgets for 2023 and 2024 Stay'N'play municipal camps, including costs and revenue by camp location; an overview of the programming included at differing sites; options for registration fee changes to be considered and forwarded to the budget committee; and an overview of available and utilized individual funding supports.
