By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
In the Guns N’ Roses song Welcome to the Jungle there’s a line that says, ‘It gets worse here everyday.’ Well, with grass and weeds in front of some properties – particularly vacant properties – having grown knee-deep in some cases, the situation has hit a sour note with Yarmouth town council.
The issue of unkept properties was the subject of a lengthy discussion at a June 25 committee of the whole meeting. The issue was placed on the agenda by Councillor Dan MacIsaac, one of many councillors receiving complaints about the state of properties that have been foreclosed or abandoned by their landlords in the past few months.
He questioned whether there was anything the town could do to force property owners, banks or custodians of the properties to mow the lawns.
Regardless of whether or not tall grass is listed anywhere on paper or in a bylaw as being “unsightly,” councillors around the table said when it boils down to it, it is. “In my opinion a hayfield lawn is unsightly,” said Councillor Ken Langille
A lot of the meeting’s discussion focused on the issue of enforcement. Does the town have the right to order people to mow their grass?
Councillor Esther Dares said the town should be notifying the property owners or custodians of the property to tell them: “Get on it, mow it, clean it up.” She said the town should be acting as if these situations are indeed unsightly because they are.
Deputy Mayor Bryon Boudreau suggested maybe town staff should be doing the job if it won't get done otherwise.
Council deferred the matter for more discussion at its next meeting with guidance from the solicitor.
YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY IN JUNE 30 ISSUE OF THE YARMOUTH VANGUARD OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ONLINE EDITION
