By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl council recently approved a new delegation of authority that could see some developments contrary to City rules cleaned up quicker.
The move allows council to delegate authority to staff to administer orders to “pull down, remove, stop construction, fill in or destroy” a building or development that has fallen contrary to the City’s regulations.
Previously, the regulation required that a cleanup order be passed through a number of committee meetings before being presented to council for a public vote. The new delegated authority will allow the director to issue the order directly once non-compliance is identified by staff.
“I’m glad this is coming forward and I certainly support the recommendation,” said councillor Mark Rice. “We have a lot of areas in the city that are starting to get run down and dilapidated, so I’m glad this is coming forward. At least we have some autonomy and authority to move forward and make some decisions on behalf of the City.”
Councillor Bill Antle, who made the motion on behalf of the engineering committee, said he believed it was a great idea.
The motion passed unanimously.
